Benefits of hydrotherapy at a children’s hospice

Why do we have a hydrotherapy pool in the hospice?

The hydrotherapy pool is a safe place for everyone. It’s an accessible and soothing space that everyone can enjoy, and there’s some key reasons why it’s so important for children’s hospice care:

• It’s relaxing: One of the things that makes it so relaxing is the warm, bath-like water. The temperature is always around 33°C which helps muscles to relax; easing joints, reducing pain, and making gentle exercise much easier.
• It’s freeing: The warm water supports the children’s bodies and for those of them who spend a lot of time in a wheelchair, or have limited mobility, they can experience an otherwise impossible sense of freedom and weightlessness.
• It’s confidence-boosting: For other children, it might be the only place they can walk, as they’re able to take small steps on the bottom of the pool, which is hugely empowering.
• It’s therapeutic: Or the gentle movement of the water can calm them if they are feeling anxious or agitated.

Fun for all the family

Our specialist team make sure that as many children as possible can access the hydrotherapy pool – even if they have highly complex medical conditions or need to be on a ventilator to help with their breathing.

With at least one nurse in the water at all times, parents don’t have to worry about their child’s care needs and whole families can have fun together. For children and their siblings, to take part in an activity that all their peers are doing is a huge confidence boost for them. They love to play ball games, have fun with the floats or have water pistol fights with the staff!

For the children, parents and siblings, it’s moments like these that matter most, and the hydrotherapy pool is just one of the facilities we have that can enhance their quality of life. But most importantly, it’s a place where they can have fun, play, feel confident and splash about in a safe environment like any other family.