Blog

Families Find Comfort at Camp Carousel

by Lane Foster, Volunteer Coordinator – Community Partnerships & Special Events at Kansas City Hospice

Camp Carousel is a weekend camp held each year in September for families who have been affected by the death of someone close to them. It is made possible by Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, but it isn’t just for people who have experienced hospice-related deaths. Families at Camp Carousel have also lost loved ones to medical emergencies, accidents, suicide and murder. They come together to grieve, process, connect and find ways to honor the memories of their loved ones.

At Camp Carousel, KCH&PC staff members hold support groups for adults and kids, leading them through discussions, writing exercises, art therapy, and other activities to help them process their grief. Volunteers assist with activities and escort children to fun outdoor activities such as trail rides, archery, and challenge courses. At night, families stay together in comfortable, air-conditioned rooms.

 

This year special visitors came in for recreation time. A local Star Wars group from the 501st Legion joined the kids (and kids at heart) for photos and play.

 

 

The Half-Pint Heroes miniature horses made another appearance, too. The kids love to brush and braid their tails, accessorize them, and lead them around. 

 

Adults enjoyed massage therapy from volunteer massage therapists. A volunteer yoga instructor led yoga on Sunday morning.

 

 

Many generous people donated salads, desserts, and snacks to help feed campers, staff, and volunteers. And what camp could be complete without s’mores, songs, and skits around the campfire?

 

At Camp Carousel, kids see that it’s okay to talk about the death and their feelings. Adults learn how to support their kids even as they struggle through their own grief. It takes a lot of planning and work to host this annual camp, now in its 24th year, but it’s worth it because families tell us about the meaningful moments at camp that impacted their lives and helped them grieve, cope, and even heal.

 

To learn more about Camp Carousel, click here.


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Our Programs

Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care provides comprehensive, expert care for all ages at all stages of serious illness.

Hospice Care

When the focus shifts to comfort instead of treatment, care comes to your home or nursing facility with a plan tailored to your needs, including emotional and spiritual support for the whole family.

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Hospice Care

Palliative Medicine Fellowship

Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care is the community clinical site for the University of Kansas Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship. We're committed to developing physicians with specialty-level training in caring for patients with serious or terminal illness.

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Palliative Medicine Fellowship

Community-Based Palliative Care

Beginning as early as diagnosis and at any stage of serious illness, our nurse practitioners make home visits as needed to help coordinate your care and provide expert pain and symptom management.

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Community-Based Palliative Care
Hospice House

Hospice House

When symptoms cannot be easily managed at home, two hospice houses provide 24/7 expert care in comfortable home-line settings where family members can be relieved of caregiving duties to focus on loved ones.

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Carousel Pediatric Care

Carousel provides palliative and hospice care for perinatal and for babies through young adults with a dedicated team of pediatric nurses, social workers, chaplains and other specialists.

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Carousel Pediatric Care
Solace House

Solace House

Our center for grief and healing supports individuals and families who have been impacted by the death of a loved one, whether anticipated, or sudden and unexpected. We provide opportunities to share, listen, learn and heal with peer group support from age 3 through adult.

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