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Providing Compassionate Pediatric Care and Family Support in Times of Need
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  • Our Story
    • Mission and Vision
    • GMCH Milestones
    • Our Founder’s Vision
    • Our CEO’s Story
    • Meet the Team
  • Our Care
    • Model of Care
    • Clinical Services
    • Social & Emotional Services
    • Child Life Program
    • Social Work & Spiritual Care
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Make a Donation
    • Spirit of Children Campaign
    • Support Our Playground Project
    • Legacy & Planned Giving
    • More Ways to Support
    • Events & Experiences
    • Schedule a Tour
    • Join Our Team
  • House Happenings
  • Impact Stories
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Daily Archives: December 30, 2021

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Joy, Imagination and Play in Children’s Palliative Care

In the NewsBy RickyDecember 30, 2021

[Eirene] An overview of pediatric palliative care, highlighting the importance of joy, imagination, and play, includes insights from George Mark Children’s House on their approach to supporting children and families in palliative care.

George Mark Children’s House is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Tax Id#94-3255845
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Take a Tour of the House

Home
Patient Rooms & Family Suites
Gardens
Hummingbird Hill
The Great Room
Art Room
George Mark Hub
Ruth's Cafè
Palliative Aquatics Spa
Great Vibes Room
The Sanctuary
Tile Wall

George Mark Children’s House is your home. Welcome! George Mark Children’s House is a pediatric palliative care center intentionally designed to feel like home. With a dedicated, compassionate nursing and therapeutic team, we deliver high-quality, round-the-clock care for the children and young adults who we serve. Our committed staff and volunteers provide families a warm, loving environment where they can create memories together.

Explore Welcome! George Mark Children’s House is a pediatric palliative care center intentionally designed to feel like home. With a dedicated, compassionate nursing and therapeutic team, we deliver high-quality, round-the-clock care for the children and young adults who we serve. Our committed staff and volunteers provide families a warm, loving environment where they can create memories together.
Start Video Tour Patient Rooms &
Family Suites There are eight patient rooms, and two family suites for extended stays. These child-like bedrooms are themed and designed to capture a child’s imagination. All of the rooms have daybeds so that a parent, family member or caregiver can stay with their loved one. Medical equipment is discreetly tucked behind sliding panels and brought out only when needed, maintaining the home-like atmosphere for the patient and their family. Prev Next There are eight patient rooms, and two family suites for extended stays. These child-like bedrooms are themed and designed to capture a child’s imagination. All of the rooms have daybeds so that a parent, family member or caregiver can stay with their loved one. Medical equipment is discreetly tucked behind sliding panels and brought out only when needed, maintaining the home-like atmosphere for the patient and their family. Gardens Situated on a beautiful 5-acres property in San Leandro, California, George Mark Children’s House is surrounded by rolling hills and lush greenery with ample room to enjoy the outdoors. We have lawns, gardens, fountains, picnic areas and several pathways to explore
our outdoor space. Prev Next Situated on a beautiful 5-acres property in San Leandro, California, George Mark Children’s House is surrounded by rolling hills, lush greenery with ample room to enjoy the outdoors. We have lawns, gardens, fountains, picnic areas and several pathways to explore 5-acres of outdoor space. Hummingbird Hill This picturesque hill and stunning restorative garden feature an accessible pathway, wheelchair-height vegetation, a water feature, a sound bath structure, a gazebo, an outdoor kitchen, a fire pit, and most importantly, hummingbirds! The presence of these tiny fliers is why they hold special meaning for our George Mark patients, families, staff, and volunteers.
 Prev Next This picturesque hill and stunning restorative garden feature an accessible pathway, wheelchair-height vegetation, a water feature, a sound bath structure, a gazebo, an outdoor kitchen, a fire pit, and most importantly, hummingbirds! The presence of these tiny fliers is why they hold special meaning for our George Mark patients, families, staff, and volunteers.
 The Great Room Our house hums with activities, excitement, and fun. There are several spaces for gathering, like our Great Room, where families, friends, staff, and volunteers come together for engaging moments, meaningful conversations, and creating lasting memories. Prev Next Our house hums with activities, excitement and fun. There are a number of community rooms, like our Great Room, where families, friends, staff and volunteers gather to create meaningful moments and lasting memories. Art Room Fully equipped with crayons, paints, markers, stickers, clay and other craft materials, our art room is a creative space for children, siblings, parents and friends to express themselves. Local artist volunteers regularly visit to lead arts and craft projects, adding to the creativity and fun! Prev Next Fully equipped with crayons, paints, markers, stickers, clay and other craft materials, our art room is a creative space for children, siblings, parents and friends to express themselves. Local artist volunteers regularly visit to lead arts and craft projects, adding to the creativity and fun! Play Room This room has something for everyone—books, board games, puzzles, blocks, a foosball table, a pool table and a play area for toddlers and younger children. Friends and family can also watch TV, play video games and enjoy a movie. Prev Next This room has something for everyone—books, board games, puzzles, blocks, a foosball table, a pool table and a play area for toddlers and younger children. Friends and family can also watch TV, play video games and enjoy a movie. Ruth's Café Children, families, and guests are all welcome to gather together and share a homemade meal in our family-style kitchen and dining area. Our talented kitchen staff craft delicious home-cooked meals, serving comfort and warmth as part of our holistic care. Prev Next Children, families, and guests are all welcome to gather together and share a homemade meal in our family-style kitchen and dining area. Our talented kitchen staff make three hot and delicious home-cooked meals every day! Palliative Aquatic Spa Spending time in our heated and accessible indoor hydrotherapy spa is a wonderful way for children to experience relaxation, decreased pain, alleviation of symptoms, and improved sleep. The activity provides a special opportunity for family bonding.

We are expanding! A larger, state-of-the-art pool is being built to increase our palliative aquatic services. Prev Next Spending time in our heated and accessible indoor hydrotherapy spa is a wonderful way for children to increase relaxation, reduce discomfort, and improve sleep. The activity provides a special opportunity for family bonding. We are expanding! A larger, state-of-the-art pool is being built to increase our palliative aquatic services. Great Vibes
Room Our Great Vibes Room is a calming and therapeutic space for children and families to experience different modes of sensory input through special lighting, soothing music, and tactile objects, promoting a sense of calm. Prev Next Our great vibes sensory room is a calming and therapeutic space for children and families to personalize sensory input through special lighting, soothing music, and beautiful objects to help calm and refocus themselves—strengthening community and togetherness. The Sanctuary Our freestanding, non-denominational sanctuary provides a private space of peace, tranquility, and reflection. It serves as a place to celebrate, honor, and remember the journeys of our George Mark children and their families.
 Prev Next On our grounds is a non-denominational freestanding sanctuary that provides a private and peaceful space for thought, quiet time and reflection. It is also a lovely venue for us to gather for special occasions and for celebrations of life moments.
 Art for Life Children’s Remembrance Wall There are several places for quiet and reflection, both indoors and throughout the property grounds. Fountains, engraved stones and handcrafted tiles are just some of the ways we honor George Mark families.
 Prev Restart There are several places for quiet and reflection, both indoors and throughout the property grounds. Fountains, engraved stones and handcrafted tiles are just some of the ways we honor George Mark families.
 House-Video Tour Patient Rooms & Family Suites George Mark Garden Path Palliative-Aquatics-Spa The GM Wall Game-Room George Mark Great Vibes Sensory Room Ruth's Kitchen Cafe Sanctuary