Ryan House

Ryan House enriches the quality of life and creates cherished memories for children and their families, providing a much-needed break from 24/7 caregiving, as they navigate life-limiting or end-of-life journeys.

Ryan House has cared for over 1,000 children with life-limiting and/or end of life conditions since opening our doors eleven years ago. This includes respite and end-of-life care, and outreach and grief support to parents or guardians, siblings, relatives and friends of the children we serve. The Ryan House care model cuts down on emergency room and hospital visits while improving quality of life for the entire family. Over 95 percent of families say that their child's respite stays at Ryan House help them to experience less stress and anxiety as a caregiver.

Our services are available at no cost for all families with a child younger than age 18 who has been diagnosed with a life-limiting condition. Highly individualized care is provided regardless of financial or health insurance status. Ryan House is a 12,500 sq. foot facility built to provide pediatric respite, palliative, and end-of-life care as well as appropriate therapies and activities in a supportive, home-like setting.

Respite care is a gift of time; short-term overnight stays that help a family take breaks from the daily routine and stress of home care. Regular breaks for caregivers prevent family fatigue and breakdown. 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. Families with a child facing end-of-life receive supportive planning and care consistent with clinical, cultural, and ethical standards. Ryan House also provides parents or guardians and siblings with a loving and long term system of support and comfort. It all adds up to an essential opportunity to focus on being a family and living life to the fullest.

Testimonials

Paisley has a neurological condition called Aicardi Syndrome so rare that only six other children in Arizona have it. Paisley has regular seizures and developmental delays and requires 24/7 care. Her life-limiting disease gives her the life expectancy of 8-10 years, although some individuals have lived into their 20s and 30s.

At the time, the Serrs were living in Pinetop and not equipped to take care of Paisley's needs. But they mobilized quickly, relocating to Scottsdale to give her full access to the services she needed and providing 'round-the-clock care. They were so busy caring for and giving their attention to Paisley that they didn't even realize how exhausted they were until months later.

This is when they discovered Ryan House. Finally, they could receive a much-needed break and time away while Paisley stayed within the very capable care of Ryan House's nurses and staff. Still new in Scottsdale and without a community of friends to help them, the Care Team and the families they met at Ryan House became their community. Paisley lights up every time she has a visit to Ryan House. She loves the sensory room and activities, watching movies and just being around the other kids.

"She has her ways of letting us know she's happy. And she's happy at Ryan House," Bob said.