Ryan House

Designed to deliver multiple adaptive modes of on-site care, Ryan House embraces all children and their families as they navigate life-limiting or end-of-life journeys. Here, we are realizing both the philosophy and the practice of pediatric palliative care. We are the only organization of our kind in the Southwest, and one of three in the country. Our services are provided at no cost to families.

Pediatric Respite Care
Respite care is a gift of time; short-term overnight stays that help a family take breaks from the stress of ‘round the clock home care. It also creates opportunities for kids to be kids, where they can spend time with other children like them. Respite care becomes a necessity, not a luxury. It is the solution for renewed energies and fresh perspectives, as regular “time off” for caregivers is essential to help prevent family fatigue and breakdown. At Ryan House, children and families can receive up to 28 days of respite care per year.

Pediatric Palliative Care
Pediatric palliative care is both a philosophy and method of care. It aims to holistically identify and alleviate the physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and emotional pain for both the child and the family. Its primary goals are to enhance quality of life, minimize suffering, optimize functions, and provide opportunities for personal growth.

Life-Enhancing Therapeutic Activities
Certified child life specialists and trained volunteers provide activities that address the isolation, pain, and fear children and their siblings face with diagnosis. They also improve overall quality-of-life by providing opportunities to experience new sensations, develop skills, and gain confidence. Activities include: Legacy Building, art, music, pet, sensory, recreational, and hydro-therapeutic activities.

Pediatric End-of-Life Care
Families with a child facing end-of-life receive supportive planning and compassionate care consistent with clinical, cultural, and ethical standards. Ryan House also provides parents or guardians and siblings with a loving system of support and comfort. End-of-life care is provided in partnership with our Care Partner, Hospice of the Valley.

Grief and Bereavement Support
Ryan House offers grief and bereavement support to families in a number of ways, including: Sibshops, family counseling through various programs, an annual community event to honor passed children, bereavement boxes to families that are filled with special keepsakes. Additionally, the Care Team provides anticipatory grief support to children, siblings, and their families.

Ryan House is a 12,500 sq. foot home built to provide respite care, pediatric palliative care, and end-of-life care as well as appropriate therapies and activities in a supportive, home-like setting where all are welcome.

Ryan House has eight bedrooms for children, each with their own theme such as The Camp Fire, Once Upon a Time, and the Wild, Wild West. The cabins, designed to meet the unique needs of children who stay there, each have a daybed where friends and relatives can spend the night.

There are three family suites at Ryan House where families stay during the first visit and are always welcome, these rooms are also available to our hospice families while their child is staying at the house. The hotel-like rooms offer a quiet space of refuge and comfort for caregivers, including a private patio, bathroom, and daybed for siblings, relatives, or the child themselves.

Common areas in the house include:

Family Room
Using the great-room concept, the family living room has many inviting areas for individuals, families, or small groups. This large, attractive room includes a library, reading corners, a captivating light wall, video games, TV and cozy furniture groupings. It is bathed in light with open views and access to the outdoor play area and patio.

The S’mores Café (Kitchen)
Our family-style kitchen provides a home-like atmosphere, where children and their families can gather and share a meal. Ryan House kids have fun baking cookies or cupcakes, and volunteers often provide home-cooked meals for families. You can always find a hot cup of coffee, or a chilled beverage. Families and kids have a variety of snacks to choose from in our walk-in pantry, supplied with donations from our community partners.

Lake Squeaky Clean (Bathing Room)
Ryan House has a welcoming room with the necessary lift, bathing bed and shower to ensure good hygiene, safety and privacy. The room is handicap accessible, offering a fun, spa-like experience for the children. Often, it is the only chance children who stay at our home have to get a bath.

Landscaped Patios and Play Area
A colorful and fun accessible playground stands at the center of the patio area. The playground has picnic tables, life-sized cartoon characters, and a working train (along with other amenities) to encourage kids to play.

Sanctuary
This non-denominational space offers a quiet and peaceful space where adults can take time for reflection and can have private and intimate discussions with the Care Team or their Spiritual Advisors.

Memorial Garden
A tranquil and inviting space, the Memorial Garden features benches, fountains, and a pergola that make it a peaceful area to reflect, share, mediate, pray, plan or perhaps a place “just to be.”

Specialty rooms include:

Creative U (Arts and Crafts Room), The Sensory Tent (Sensory Room), The Swimming Hole (Indoor Hydrotherapy Pool), Do’ Re’ Mi’ (Music Room), and the Story of Me Multimedia Room.

For eleven years and counting, Ryan House has cared for over 1,000 children with life-limiting and/or end of life conditions. This includes over 16,000-plus days of respite and hospice care, and outreach and grief support to 4,200-plus parents or guardians, siblings, relatives and friends of the children we serve.

We continue to provide care and support to medically fragile children and their families when they need it most. We look forward to the future and our ability to have a positive impact on those we serve.