Why Donate?
Emily's House is Toronto's only hospice for children and families facing life-threatening illnesses. In moments of grief and difficulty. Help us add life to a child's years by helping children and families find support.
Programs
Emily’s House delivers respite and palliative care services to children and their families who are living with a life-limiting illness. The multi-disciplinary team of professional staff provides numerous types of therapy along with spiritual and bereavement care.
Emily's Story
Emily’s House is named in honor of a young client who we have supported through our community hospice programs. She is battling MLD, a rare terminal neuro-degenerative disease. Her courage, faith, compassion, gentleness and laughter are the qualities we are reflecting at Emily’s House.
Events
Emily's House hosts numerous fundraising initiatives through donor and public events, drives and more. click above to view our next event.
FAQs
Emily's House is located in beautiful Riverdale neighbourhood at 45 Jack Layton Way (Just North of Gerrard St. East/Broadview Ave.) There is paid street parking along Gerrard, as well as some free street parking on side streets nearby between certain designated times. It is serviced by TTC Streetcar Routes 504, 505, 506 and by Bus Routes 306 (blue night streetcar route). Please click here to see a map.
A referral to Emily’s House can come from a parent/guardian, pediatric palliative care physician, family physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, social worker, or case manager. Admission guidelines, referral and application forms can be found here
Emily’s House receives government funding that is further supported by fundraising efforts and generous private donations.
Therapies
Art therapy is proven in palliative circles to help reduce anxiety and provide some means of emotional expression. Emily’s House has trained staff and volunteers as well as physical resources such as an art room and art supplies to allow for satisfying creative exploration. It is one of the children’s favorite therapies!
Play therapy at Emily’s house provides children opportunity to express their feelings and emotions through play. Children are provided with play therapy techniques and materials that will encourage them to process and express what their unique experience is in the universal language of children's play.
Like art therapy, music therapy is intended to take minds off the reality of pain or suffering into something beautiful, fun and creative. Many of our young clients have enjoyed the attention of our in-house music therapist who encourages the children to discover the joy and relaxation and expression of feelings through musical expression.
A controlled multi sensory environment is a therapy for children with developmental disabilities and/or complex care conditions, and consists of placing them in a soothing and stimulating environment, called the "Snoezelen room". These rooms are specially designed to deliver stimuli to various senses, using lighting effects, colour, sounds, music, scents, etc. The child is accompanied by trained staff or a volunteer.
At Emily’s House we aim to provide spiritual care according to a family’s context and need. Questions about life, death and spirituality often emerge during times of crises such as end-of-life. For some, spirituality is expressed in the form of religion and others with a less formal approach. The important thing is that the client family directs the type of spiritual services needed for the child and we aim to deliver compassionate care accordingly. Emily’s House has professional Chaplains on staff who are able to either provide spiritual care directly or indirectly by making appropriate referrals. A quiet meditation room is provided at Emily’s House for client and staff use.
Many client families appreciate access to bereavement support counselling, either individual and/or group. It is an extremely difficult and isolating transition between the intensity of caring for a sick child to grieving their loss. The Emily’s House Chaplains and other support staff are trained and compassionate care-givers in this field.
