Access our services

Le Phare provides an active, comprehensive and holistic approach to care which focuses on relieving all dimensions of suffering experienced by children and families who face a life-threatening condition, throughout the entire span of the child’s life, including death and beyond. All services are free.

A specialized and innovative environment

Le Phare caters to the needs of seriously ill children and adolescents under the age of 18 registered with the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec. Our services include:

  • Medical respite care
  • Symptom management stay and end of life care
  • Transitional care (from hospital to home)
  • Bereavement support
  • In-home respite (vonlunteer)

Children can benefit from services offered at Le Phare as soon as they meet criteria for pediatric palliative care. These services are complementary to, and do not replace, those offered in the hospital setting.

Interdisciplinary team available 24/7

  • Pediatricians and general practitioners (on call 24/7)
  • Nurses, Nurse clinicians and Nursing assistants (onsite 24/7)
  • Patient care attendants
  • Social workers
  • Specialized educator
  • Therapeutic recreation specialists
  • Family services coordinator
  • Facilitation team
  • Trained volunteers

Who can refer?

Health care professionals and parents can refer a child for services at Le Phare. The child’s case is presented to the Admissions Committee, a multidisciplinary team that evaluates and responds to all requests.

Admission requests

To be eligible for our services, the child must:

  • be followed by a care team in a healthcare facility
  • meet criteria for pediatric palliative care
  • be under the age of 18 years
  • be registered with the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)

The eligibility conditions are indicative. Le Phare Admissions Committee may accept, refuse, or make a conditional offer of admission at its discretion, following an in-depth analysis of the child’s case.

Criteria for pediatric palliative care

Group 1

Children with conditions for which a curative treatment is possible. Palliative care may be required during periods of uncertainty or when curative treatments are ineffective.

Group 2

Children with conditions involving premature death. These children may require long periods of intensive care in order to extend their lifespan and allow them to take part in activities that are normal for children of their age.

Group 3

Children with progressive conditions with no hope of a cure. The treatments offered to these children are solely palliative in nature and may span over several years.

Group 4

Children with severe neurological problems that are considered non-progressive, but can heighten their vulnerability and risk of complications and may lead to an unpredictable deterioration of their health condition.

Group 5

Newborns whose life expectancy is very limited.

Group 6

Members of a family that unexpectedly lost a child due to illness, external causes, according to the tenth international classification of diseases (CIM-10), or loss in the perinatal period.