Young patients celebrate Halloween at USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital
Members of the Mapp Child and Family Life staff coordinated the fall festival, plus trick-or-treating for patients, siblings and their families.
To bring the fun and excitement of Halloween to hospitalized patients, dozens of staff members at USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital dressed up and handed out treats – everything from candy to plastic guitars and squeezable Legos during a fall festival held at the hospital on Thursday morning.
Those who could not leave their rooms because of illness were treated to bed-side deliveries of bags filled with candy and other novelty items. Throughout the last few weeks, patients and their siblings have also been able to pick out free costumes courtesy of Spirit Halloween stores to wear to the fall festival on Thursday and other holiday-themed activities in the hospitals classroom and tree house.
There’s also some science behind the celebration. Research shows that making the hospital experience as normal as possible, such as including fun activities a patient might take part in at home or school, often leads to better outcomes for patients and their caregivers.
Members of the Mapp Child and Family Life staff coordinated the fall festival, plus trick-or-treating for patients, siblings and their families. USA Health’s team of four child life specialists also provide procedural preparation and support, therapeutic play and other therapeutic activities for pediatric patients receiving hospital and emergency department care.
