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George Mark Children's House is a 15,000 square foot "home" for children with life threatening, life limiting illnesses. GMCH provides respite care, transitional care and end of life care for children and their families as well. GMCH is unique, it offers 8 themed rooms for children, 2 suites for family members, beautiful grounds, aqua therapy pool, crafts for patients and siblings but most of all support for the patient and their family.
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- EIN 94-3255845
- 510-346-4624
- 2121 George Mark Lane San Leandro CA 94578 USA
- www.georgemark.org
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Health, Hospices, Human Services, Pediatrics
Mission: George Mark Children’s House is the first and only pediatric, residential, end-of-life and respite care facility for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. The organization strives to enhance the quality of life for the child and the entire family by offering medical, emotional, and spiritual support in a home-like setting that is full of life and activity. Our services are available to medically eligible families, regardless of race, religion, national origin, socioeconomic status, or the ability to pay.
Geographic areas served: San Francisco Bay Area, Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and beyond
Programs: Respite Care: round-the-clock 24/7 skilled nursing care replicating the home environment. The ability to create a sense of normalcy and provide the routine of care received at home is paramount. Family members can stay at the House with scheduled visits in the family apartments, go home and leave their child at the House and attend to day-to-day errands and neglected chores, or take a long needed vacation with the other children. Transitional Care: between the hospital and home, transitional care is a period of education and learning in order to prepare the family and the primary care giver with the skills necessary to care for their sick child at home. This may include how to use equipment, how to provide treatments, the ability to recognize and deal with symptoms, and overall delivery of care. Transitional care can also include admissions to the House for pain and symptom management, avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations. End-of-Life Care: the ability for parents and siblings to stay together with a child during the final stages of his or her life, when care at home or the hospital is no longer practical and/or desirable. The three programs operate in an 8-bed facility and serve more than 150 families in the Northern California Bay Area and beyond. Admission priority will be given to families in Northern California who have a child (birth to 19 years) with a diagnosis unlikely to survive childhood. A child and family facing imminent death will always have priority at GMCH. Any child facing a life-limiting condition will be eligible for respite care, up to 28 days per year. Two beds will have guaranteed reservations while all others will be subject to rescheduling if needed for admission of a child at the end of life. A point system has been developed to help staff prioritize. All families will be aware that end-of-life care takes priority at the House, and their respite visit may be rescheduled if the need arises.