Study recommends support for siblings of children with rare life-limiting conditions
The Cancer Care Research Centre at Stirling University has carried out the following study: The symptom profile and experience of children with rare life limiting conditions: Perspectives of their families and key health professionals.
Their findings about siblings included:
- Siblings have to perform a balancing act between protecting themselves, their parents and their brothers and sisters
- Siblings were often managing a range of complex emotions at home and school
- Siblings felt they knew more about their brothers' and sisters' conditions than their parents realised
- Siblings felt isolated and that their social experiences were limited due to the needs of their brothers and sisters
The recommendations were that siblings should be offered support and should be routinely signposted to resources to combat isolation.