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Family course for children with epilepsy

The adaptation training course is suitable for children

  • who suffer from hard-to-treat epilepsy
  • who are in lower secondary school or younger (over the age of 1)
  • whose family has received initial information from a healthcare provider and been referred to treatment, but is in need of multidisciplinary support and guidance.

Use the course search to look up when courses are arranged

Use the search term ”epilepsia”. Please note, the service is in Finnish and Swedish only.

Rehabilitation course search

Rehabilitation is arranged for the following target groups:

  • children with hard-to-treat epilepsy, whose epilepsy is caused by a genetic defect or chromosomal aberration
  • children with other hard-to-treat types of epilepsy.

Purpose of the course

The aim of the course is to provide comprehensive information and guidance for children and their families and to help them live a full and meaningful life despite the condition. Rehabilitation is also a way of strengthening the family’s resources and life management skills as well as a means of providing support for the family and its support networks. It also provides opportunities to meet other families who are in a similar situation.

Content of the course and implementation

The rehabilitation is implemented as group rehabilitation taking each child’s and family’s individual goal and need for rehabilitation into consideration.

The course includes group discussions and working in small groups, a variety of activities as well as individual interviews, meetings and discussions with rehabilitation experts.

The course is arranged on the service provider’s premises. It lasts 5 days.

The child’s family accompanies the child throughout the rehabilitation. 1 to 2 adult close relatives and up to 2 siblings participate in the family course. If the number of siblings wishing to participate in the course exceeds this, Kela will contact the service provider in order to decide and agree on practical matters and make sure that there is sufficient room for all. The family can stay overnight at the place of the rehabilitation or travel there from home each day.

Course personnel

The course is implemented by the following experts:

  • specialist in pediatric neurology
  • registered nurse or public health nurse
  • psychologist or neuropsychologist
  • social worker, Bachelor of Social Sciences, rehabilitation instructor or Master of Social Sciences (major subject rehabilitation science).

Depending on the child's individual needs, other rehabilitation professionals and assisting personnel may also take part.

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Last modified 19/6/2023