Experiencing place identity and place belongingness at a children’s hospice: parents’ perspectives

Children’s hospices are key players in the provision of palliative care services for families with children with life-limiting conditions (LLCs). However, evidence suggests that some of the negative terminology/language which surrounds the notions of palliative and hospice care may contribute to the lack of uptake of hospice services by families. This paper reports two elements of place bonding: parents’ experiences of place identity and place belongingness at a children’s hospice in a region in England. Underpinned by a constructivist grounded theory methodology, focus groups were undertaken with 24 parents of children with life-limiting conditions accessing a children’s hospice. Despite initial reservations associated with the identity of the hospice, parents described how and why their view changed and therefore consequently how they were able to experience the hospice differently. This paper demonstrates how parents’ views of the identity of the hospice change and how the hospice becomes a place where parents experience a sense of belongingness.