Age Appropriate Environments

"Being on the adult ward was terrible. I made it very clear I was going to be staying with my son and they put him in a six bedroom with five females. There was nowhere for me to sleep. Eventually they found a single room for us and gave me a La-Z-Boy to sleep in. But then they moved us out again. I was in tears trying to pack up all of our stuff. They said I'd have to sleep on a couch in the corridor."

AYA patient

Support Directory

For young people receiving treatment in a paediatric environment, play therapists are likely able to be available to provide support & recreational resourcing.

Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand | https://www.leukaemia.org.nz

LBC patient support coordinators may provide one-on-one support, provision of recreational resources, ward-based social activities, and facilitation of peer support in the hospital environment. These coordinators aid in providing age-appropriate environments.

Canteen | www.canteen.org.nz

CanTeen patient support coordinators may provide one-on-one support, provision of recreational resources, ward-based social activities, and facilitation of peer support in the hospital environment.

Guidelines/Research

Impact of the Built Environment

Viner R, Keane M. 1998. Youth matters: Evidence-based best practice for the care of young people in hospital. London: Caring for Children in Health Services. (Currently the AYA Cancer Network are trying to source copies of this book for distribution)

Age Appropriate Environments

Support Directory

Guidelines/Research

Interested in joining the AYA Network?

Heidi Watson