Helpful Links

When you or a loved one requires Hospice Care, it can be overwhelming. No one is ever really “ready for it,” but there are things you can do to prepare ahead of time. If you haven’t had time to prepare, or you are in need of helpful resources and tips, we have assembled the following list of links.

Advance Care Planning

Advanced Directive documents (Living Wills) tell medical care professionals what methods they can or should use in the event of a terminal illness diagnosis or injury. You are never too young to prepare these documents, nor do you have to be sick. If you have more questions, let us know. Click on the links below to learn more.

• Begin the Conversation: Focused on planning for your health care.
• Caring Connections: Brought to you by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, this site provides free resources to help people make decisions about end-of-life care and services before a crisis.
• Center for Practical Bioethics: For over 30 years, the Center for Practical Bioethics has been a leader in providing guidance and resource materials for bioethics advocacy, end-of-life care and health policy advancements.
• Compassion and Choices: Compassion & Choices is the nation’s oldest, largest and most active nonprofit working to improve care and expand options for the end of life.
• Lifecare Advance Directives: As a courtesy to you, Lifecare Directives offers a free download of your state’s standard advance directive.
• MedicAlert: MedicAlert is a non-profit, charitable, and membership-based organization dedicated to the well-being of others. The foundation’s mission is to protect and save lives by serving as the global information link between members and emergency responders during medical emergencies and other times of need.
• National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives: The ABA Commission on Law and Aging is a collaborative and interdisciplinary leader of the Association’s work to strengthen and secure the legal rights, dignity, autonomy, quality of life, and quality of care of aging persons.
• Organ Donation Choices: Donate Life America
• Organ Donation Choices: US Government information on Organ Donation and Transplantation
• The Patients’ Rights Council: Through its constantly updated website, the Patients Rights Council provides accurate, credible and compelling information to people around the world.

Caregiving Resources

If you find yourself in the role as a caregiver for a spouse, parent, or other loved one, it can be challenging, rewarding, tiring, stressful, uplifting, and more. The following resources are designed to help you find answers to any number of questions you may have.

• Caregiver.com: Information, support, and guidance for family and professional caregivers.
• Family Caregiver Alliance: Caregiving education, services, research and advocacy.
• Help Guide: Managing the demands of caregiving.
• Lotsa Helping Hands: Easy to use, private, online group calendar to organize caregiving volunteers.
• Caregiver Action Network: Tip sheets, stories, newsletters for caregivers.
• National Council For Aging Care: Advice for other older adults who want to live independently, plan finances, and enjoy better health.
• Caregiver Stress: Information, safety tips and resources for caregivers.
• VA Caregiver Support: Support for veterans and their caregivers
• Cancer.Net: information for caregivers of cancer patients

End-of-Life Resources

• AARP End of Life: End of life care issues.
• Finding Our Way: Living with Dying in America: Compelling end-of-life personal stories, information, and resources.
• National Institute on Aging: End-of-life care.
• Nearing the End of Life: what to expect during the last few months of life, from American Cancer Society.

Hospice and Palliative Care Resources

• AARP Hospice Facts: Is hospice right for your loved one?
• Medicare Hospice Benefits: Federal hospice program facts.
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: End-of-life care, hospice care, and quality of life for people dying.
• National Association for Home Care & Hospice: Home care and hospice basics.

We have many resources available in our offices as well. To learn more, please call 336-475-5444 during regular office hours.