Custom Living Care Urges Holiday Planning for Medically Fragile Kids
Atlanta pediatric home-care provider offers guidance for families caring for children with complex medical needs as Thanksgiving approaches.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Children’s Health
Custom Living Care, a pediatric home healthcare provider serving Atlanta and surrounding Georgia communities, advised families caring for medically fragile children to prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday season. The guidance follows a 2026 Hospital Pediatrics study that found caregiver education reduced medical technology-related complications by 39%.
Why it matters
Holiday gatherings, travel and changing household routines add considerations for children who require specialized medical care at home. Recent research on home-care safety highlights how caregiver preparation may influence outcomes for these families in Atlanta and across Georgia.
A six-month Hospital Pediatrics study linked caregiver education to 39% fewer medical technology-related complications, but showed no significant drop in emergency visits or hospitalizations. A May 2026 Lurie Children's study found more than one in 10 children with medical complexity had a home-care incident, with about a quarter resulting in harm.
The players
Custom Living Care
A pediatric home healthcare provider serving Atlanta and surrounding Georgia communities, offering skilled nursing and care coordination for medically fragile children.
Georgia Department of Public Health
The state agency that monitors influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19 during the fall and winter respiratory illness surveillance period.
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
A Chicago children's hospital whose researchers released a national study on safety incidents affecting children with medical complexity receiving home healthcare.
The details
Custom Living Care coordinates individualized care plans with families, physicians and medical specialists, and its registered nurses and licensed practical nurses provide skilled pediatric nursing in the home. The company also assists eligible families with understanding the Georgia Pediatric Program. Pediatric home nursing supports families in carrying out physician-directed care plans in their home environment.
Timeline
May 2026: Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago released a national study on safety incidents involving children with medical complexity receiving home healthcare.
2026: Hospital Pediatrics published a study finding caregiver education reduced medical technology-related complications.
November 3, 2026: Custom Living Care issued its Thanksgiving holiday planning guidance.
Big Picture
The May 2026 Lurie Children's Hospital study documented home-care incidents affecting more than one in 10 children with medical complexity, and Custom Living Care's Thanksgiving guidance applies those safety findings to the holiday season. The Hospital Pediatrics caregiver-education results suggest preparation is one lever families can use as these risks are assessed.
Families caring for medically fragile children in Atlanta may face added planning needs over Thanksgiving, when travel and changing routines can disrupt established care schedules. Caregiver education studies suggest structured preparation may reduce medical technology-related complications at home.
The takeaway
Families caring for children with complex medical needs can reduce risk by building caregiver education and a clear holiday care plan with their medical team before schedules change. Reviewing equipment, medication routines and emergency contacts ahead of gatherings helps keep home-care routines steady.
Further reading
Explore more on Children's Health for context on caring for medically fragile children.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Sun Chronicle.
