End of Life
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End of Life
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Important Issues in
the Your “Job”
in the Death and Hierarchy of the
Dying Living with Spiritual Distress Overview on Death from
a The Role of Culture and Diversity Resources “Real” Intersection of Systems Helping Individuals
Face Important Questions That are Good Conversation Starters Durable Power
of Attorney for Helping Survivors Deal With Grief |
Resources National AARP, is a membership organization for people age 50 and over, dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all as people age. It provides information on estate planning, financial powers of attorney, hospice and palliative care, talking about final wishes, information on establishing a will, and Web resources for consumers and professionals helping other cope with loss. 888-OUR-AARP, http://www.aarp.org/life/endoflife/ Aging with Dignity provides practical information, advice and legal tools for individuals as decide how to live out the remainder of their lives, including an Advance Care Directive that recognizes the medical, personal, emotional, and spiritual needs of a seriously ill person. 888-5-WISHES http://www.agingwithdignity.org The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, is an international organization of physicians dedicated to advancing palliative medicine in the management of patients with terminal illness. 847-375-4712, http://www.aahpm.org The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a professional organization of more than 6,000 health care professionals dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all older adults. It is becoming a pivotal force in shaping attitudes, policies and practices regarding health care for older people. 212-308-1414, http://www.americangeriatrics.org/education/forum/endoflife.shtml The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging aims to build a bridge between the research and practice of geriatrics, providing information for health care professionals and the general public. The organization also advocates on behalf of older adults and their special needs, such as wellness, preventive care, self-responsibility, independence, and connections to the family and community. 800-563-4916, http://healthinaging.org/about/ The American Medical Association supports initiatives that help medical professionals and their patients deal with the clinical and psychosocial issues at the end of life. It offers knowledge and skills for providing compassionate and competent end-of-life care, as well as a new book on the use of advance directives, to help frame discussions on end-of-life care decisions. 800-621-8335, http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2719.html The American Pain Foundation is a grassroots, consumer-driven, patient-focused organization dedicated to promoting better pain management by providing practical information for patients, raising public awareness and understanding of pain, and advocating against barriers to effective treatment. http://www.painfoundation.org The American Psychological Association, offers a wealth of information on end-of-life issues and care, particularly for health care professionals. 800-374-2721, http://www.apa.org/pi/eol/homepage.html The Association for Death Education & Counseling is working to improve the quality of death education, as well as materials related to counseling and caregiving. 860) 586-7503, http://www.adec.org. Before I Die is an on-line PBS documentary exploring medical, ethical, and social issues surrounding end-of-life care in America today. http://www.wnet.org/archive/bid/ . It also includes a Bereavement and Hospice Support Netline listing various groups and services at http://www.ubalt.edu/www/bereavement The Caregiver’s Home Companion is a monthly newsletter and national website dedicated to addressing the information, resource and community needs of family caregivers to the elderly. The newsletter is available both in print and online. (203) 254-3538 www.caregivershome.com. Center for Death Education and Bioethics is a resource center for academic materials concerned with the issue of death, dying and bereavement in contemporary society. http://www.uwlax.edu/sociology/cde&b/ Children's Hospice International provides medical and technical research and education for children with life threatening conditions and their families. 703-684-0330, http://www.chionline.org The Compassion in Dying Federation provides legal advocacy and public education to improve pain and symptom management, increase patient empowerment and self-determination and to expand end-of-life choices to include aid-in-dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults. 503-221-9556, http://www.compassionindying.org/ The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium is a national education program to improve end-of-life care by nurses. The ELNEC project brings together leading nursing groups and perspectives to form a collaborative approach to improve end-of-life education and care. (202) 463-6930, http://www.aacn.nche.edu/elnec/ FuneralPlan.com is a free Web-based consumer information and education resource on funer planning and financing, funeral products and services, and grief support and counseling. The site also has an easy-to-use free, on-line funeral planning guide. http://www.funeralplan.com/index.html Growth House, Inc. provides educational resources for life-threatening illness and end of life care. It provides medical professionals a comprehensive Web-based collection of reviewed resources for end-of-life care. 415-863-3045, http://www.growthhouse.org Hospice Foundation of America sponsors an annual living with grief teleconference series, a monthly bereavement newsletter and other publications. http://www.hospicefoundation.org. The International Cemetery and Funeral Association offers information for consumers regarding grief, funerals, burial, and cremation. 800-645-7700, http://www.icfa.org The National Association for Home Care and Hospice is a large trade association including home care agencies, hospices, home care aide organizations, and medical equipment suppliers. It works to make life easier for providers of end-of-life care through professional development, advocating for better regulation, understanding federal and state regulations, and providing the latest information. 202-547-7424, http://www.nahc.org The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization works to combine the art and science of end-of-life care. Search its site for hospice providers in your area and educational materials. 800-658-8898, http://www.nhpco.org/templates/1/homepage.cfm National Public Radio’s All Things Considered staff prepared a bibliography for a series on exploring death in America. The bibliography contains both books and journal articles dealing with terminal illness, death, dying, and care of the terminally ill. http://www.npr.org/programs/death/bibliogra.html Partnership for Caring offers a variety of resources for medical professionals and the general public, promoting excellent care at the end-of-life, on its Web site, http://www.partnershipforcaring.org, including:
Resources for Cross Cultural Care promotes language and cultural competence to improve the quality of health care for minority, immigrant, and ethnically diverse communities.http://www.diversityrx.org In Minnesota LawHelpMN.Org provides low-income Minnesotans with answers to legal questions, contact information for legal aid offices, links to courthouses and local community organizations. http://www.lawhelpmn.org/MN/index.cfm/County/%20/City/%20/demoMode/%3D%201/Language/1/State/MN/TextOnly/N/ZipCode/%20/LoggedIn/0/so/1 The Minnesota Palliative Care Partnership is a group of major health providers, working in several areas aimed at expanding access to excellent palliative care for anyone who may need it. 763-450-3043, http://www.minnesotapartnership.org/cgi-bin/commission.cgi The Minnesota Medical Association is a professional association representing physicians, residents and medical students. It’s Web site contains information and resources on end-of-life care, as well as the accepted Minnesota health care directive. 612-378-1875, http://www.mmaonline.net/publicEdu/EPEC.htm To find a treatment provider in the community, or local services for a wide variety of needs, search MinnesotaHelp.info, a Web site developed by the Minnesota Board on Aging, the Department of Human Services, Greater Twin Cities United Way and First Call Minnesota. It provides access to comprehensive community resources as well as information about public and private service providers across the state. The Minnesota Board on Aging is the gateway to services for seniors and their families. First established in 1956, the organization works closely with its Area Agencies on Aging, which are located throughout the state, to provide services that seniors need. 1-800-882-6262, http://www.mnaging.org/index.html The Minnesota Area Agencies on Aging help the elderly throughout the state by creating and sustaining a comprehensive continuum of supportive services in the community. http://www.minnesota-aaa.org The Senior LinkAge Line® is a free state-wide telephone information and assistance service that makes it easy for older adults and their families to locate community services. Call toll-free 1-800-333-2433. TDD/TTY users can call the Minnesota Relay Service at: 1-800-627-3529 and ask for the Senior Linkge Line® number listed above. The State of Minnesota Department of Human Services connects individuals to a variety of services intended to help them live as independently as possible. To find out about Minnesota’s health care plans, prescription drug coverage plans, or find your county human service agency, contact (800) 657-3659, http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/groups/healthcare/documents/pub/DHS_id_006260.hcsp The Office of the Ombudsman is an independent state agency that receives and reviews complaints about the service delivery system for persons with mental disabilities. Contact: 651-296-3848, www.ombudmhmr.state.mn.us In Minnesota, each county human/social service agency is responsible for linking individuals with appropriate health care resources. Some counties have information on-line. For a list of county Web sites, click on http://www.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/portal/mn/jsp/content.do?az_type=description&subchannel=-536879913&programid=536879800&sc2=null&id=-8494&agency=NorthStar For a complete listing of county social service agencies
and phone numbers in Minnesota, go to: County and city public health agencies provide support, health counseling, assessment and nursing care to individuals and families. Fees are based on income and family size. If a person cannot pay the fee, most services are still available. For a complete listing of county and city public health agencies, go to: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/contact.html |