Supporting families with paediatric homecare when it matters most
At Bluebird Care Ireland, we believe no family should face the challenges of serious childhood illness alone.
That’s why we are proud to partner with Cliona’s Foundation – an organisation dedicated to supporting families of seriously ill children across Ireland.
Together, we’re raising awareness of the hidden financial and emotional pressures families face and working to ensure they receive the support they need during the most difficult times of their life.
The hidden costs of childhood illness in Ireland
For families of seriously ill children, the burden goes far beyond just medical care.
Many parents face non-medical costs of up to €15,000 just to remain close to their child during hospital treatment. These costs can include:
- Travel to and from hospital
- Accommodation near treatment centres
- Loss of income
- Everyday living expenses
At a time when families should be focused on their child, financial pressure can quickly become overwhelming.
Across Ireland, around 4,000 children are living with serious or life-limiting conditions, requiring ongoing hospital care.
This highlights the growing need for practical and financial support for families with sick children, both inside and outside the hospital setting.
The role of Cliona’s Foundation
Cliona’s foundation provides direct financial assistance to families, helping to ease the burden of these hidden costs.
To date, the foundation has supported over 1,700 families across Ireland.
This vital support allows parents to focus on what matters most – being there for their child, without the added stress of financial strain.
Meeting families who are going through this brings home just how overwhelming the reality can be. No parent should have to worry about how they are going to afford to stay close to their child in hospital. What Cliona’s Foundation does is incredibly important, it gives families the space to focus on what really matters, being there for the child
- Miriam O’Callaghan, Ambassador, Cliona’s Foundation
Paediatric Home Care: supporting families beyond the hospital
This partnership highlights an important shift in how care is delivered – recognising that care does not begin and end in hospital.
At Bluebird Ireland, we provide nurse-led paediatric home care, supporting children with complex or ongoing needs in the comfort of their own home.
Our paediatric home care services in Ireland help to:
- Enable children to receive care in a familiar, safe environment
- Support families with sick children at home
- Reduce pressure on parents and siblings
- Ensure continuity of care after hospital discharge
- Ease strain on the wider healthcare system
There is a growing recognition that care does not begin and end in hospital. Supporting families in the home, particularly in paediatric and complex care, is a critical part of the overall healthcare journey. Our role is to work alongside families and organisations like Cliona’s foundation to ensure children can receive the care they need in the most supportive environment possible.
At Bluebird Care, we know the stress and pressures illness places on families in caring for a loved one and particularly paediatric care, where it’s never just caring for one child, because it impacts sisters and brothers, older and younger. That’s why in Bluebird Care we say, we hear you, we know your pain and we support you
- Mark McInerney, COO, Bluebird Care Ireland
By combining hospital care with professional home care for children, we help families navigate their care journey with greater confidence and support.
Supporting the whole family
When a child becomes seriously ill, the impact is felt across the entire family.
At Bluebird Care, we understand that supporting families with sick children means supporting everyone involved.
- Parents managing emotional and financial pressures
- Siblings adjusting to changing family dynamics
- Households adapting to new care needs
Our approach to paediatric and family-centred home care ensures that care extends beyond the individual – supporting the wellbeing of the whole family.
We see first-hand the pressure families are under when a child becomes seriously ill. The focus should be on the child, but the reality is that many parents are also trying to figure out how they are going to afford to stay close to them. That is where Cliona’s foundation steps in. Our role is to ease that financial burden so families can be where they need to be, with their child, without that added stress.
- Brendan Ring, Co-Founder of Cliona’s Foundation
Working together to support families across Ireland
Our partnership with Cliona’s foundation reflects a shared commitment to:
- Improving support for families with seriously ill children
- Raising awareness of the hidden costs of childhood illness
- Expanding access to paediatric home care in Ireland
- Ensuring no family feels alone during difficult times
Together, we are helping to create a more compassionate and supportive care system for families across Ireland.
How You Can Help
Cliona’s foundation is calling on individuals, businesses, and communities to support its work.
By raising awareness or donating where possible, you can help ensure more families receive the financial and practical support they need when caring for a seriously ill child.
If you need support at home caring for your sick child, Bluebird is here to help! Find your local office and enquire today for more information on how we can support you during this difficult period.
