the goal of end-of-life care is to help people prepare for and make decisions about what they want for support and care.
compassion & choices improves care, expands options and empowers everyone to chart their end-of-life journey.
each of the following three sections in this guidebook include documents necessary to outline a path for loved ones to follow, assuring dignity, security and peace for an individual reaching life's end, represented by the bird in flight.
your wishes are more likely to be followed if you receive hospice care. use this infographic to start the conversation now.
research guides: supporting end-of-life care: death doulas, death cafes, & grief resources: free end-of-life checklists & advanced directives
an nhpco resource to help patients and caregivers understand topics like advance directives, end-of-life care, and related issues.
don’t leave your end-of-life care to chance. our advance care planning (acp) kit invites you to think about and express your wishes for health care and treatment at the end of life.
talking about end-of-life wishes can be difficult, but it is important. learn about advance directives and their importance with cedar valley hospice.
message ideas for what to write and say to someone who is dying or terminally-ill. includes examples for caregivers and what not to say from pro writers.
although talking about hospice and end-of life options may feel uncomfortable, it is vital to have this important conversation with your loved ones. when you know their preferences for medical intervention and where they want to be when they die, you can ensure that their wishes are met. discuss options early most americans want to...
end-of-life planning for people with alzheimer's or another dementia – get facts on hospice, dnr and more to help you express your wishes and plan ahead.
by karin as a chaplain with hospice of the red river valley, i have the privilege of providing spiritual support to many of our patients and their families. my passion and interest in the spiritual dimension of hospice care emerged from my own experience. when i was twenty-eight years old (thirty-two years ago), my dad died from lung cancer. he was able to remain in his home due to the support and care of his children and an area hospice program. in a formative way, my dad’s death and my early experience with hospice care significantly shaped my understanding of the spiritual journey, particularly during this season called “end of life.” the hospice staff encouraged us to talk openly with each other and to take notice of what dr. ira byock has come to call the “four things that matter most”: expressing love, saying thank-you, forgiving others and asking for forgiveness. generally, these four practices are not only at the heart of what sustains healthy relationships in this life, but are also essential for meaningful and grace-filled goodbyes. i have found this to be true regardless of whether one has a strong spiritual tradition or religious affiliation—or none at all. in my dad’s case, he had long been alienated from the church of his childhood, which was catholic. he also had some significant relationship issues. accepting that the end of life was in sight became an opportunity to consider our spiritual needs in a new light. the question we were looking into was, “what might bring healing and reconciliation to our family relationships and also to the relationship between my dad and his higher power?” after some conversation with my dad, he acknowledged that he would like to see a priest, even though he felt guilty and undeserving. i made the call. the priest came as quickly as he was able. i can honestly say that in the many calls i have made on behalf of our hospice patients, rarely have i noted anything but eagerness on the part of spiritual leaders in response to the spiritual needs of those who are “turning toward home.” the priest’s visit, confession, communion, the baptism of a new grandchild and the extended family praying around my dad’s bed—all profoundly changed the spirit of those last days. it didn’t matter that each of us, my dad’s five children, were following very different spiritual paths. when my aunt initiated prayer with her rosary, we all joined in. the words of the hail mary were particularly poignant in those final hours…“pray for us now and at the hour of our death…” what i had previously judged to be an “empty ritual” seemed to come alive in those moments. when one aunt handed my dad a broken rosary blessed by the pope, he hung it on his bed and said, “it is broken, just like i am.” from a dad who lived most of his life spiritually troubled, came these humble and beautiful words. in his dying we were able to receive some of the most healing gifts of his life… and my life has never been the same… about hospice of the red river valley hospice of the red river valley is an independent, not-for-profit hospice serving all, or portions of, 29 counties in north dakota and minnesota. hospice care is intensive comfort care that alleviates pain and suffering, enhancing the quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones by addressing their medical, emotional, spiritual and grief needs. for more information, call toll free 800-237-4629, email questions@hrrv.org or visit www.hrrv.org.
the dying patient management (end of life care jigsaw) patient wishes exploring wishes following on from the communication section above, collaboratively establishing what a patient wants for their care is essential. if they have capacity and can communicate, open questions can be useful, such as ‘given what i’ve told you about your health right now, […]
photo by georg arthur pflueger on unsplash […]
navigate assisted living, hospice, palliative care, funerals, and more with these thoughtful resources, and learn how to cope with such transitions.
it is important for the family members of someone who is facing the end of their life to respect their wishes and follow through with the requests of their loved one as much as is practical and possible
guide to late stage and end-of-life care. includes caregiving tips on providing comfort, dealing with grief, and making final decisions.
facing the loss of a loved one is one of the most difficult life events. from care to celebrations, you can better understand their end-of-life wishes with a few questions.
even though 90% of those surveyed think that talking about end-of-life care is important, only one-third actually do so. how can patients, family members, and clinicians work through tough end-of-life decisions together?
a living will is part of an advanced directive, which can help guide healthcare decisions if you're seriously ill. learn why it's so important to discuss your end-of-life wishes with your family.
end of life — from making end-of-life decisions to facing grief after a death.
our helpful guide to get you confident talking about your wishes for end-of-life care with loved ones, doctors and nurses.
discussing end-of-life wishes with your spouse, or your long-term romantic partner, is an important and sensitive conversation. there are tips on how to discuss end-of-life topics and conversation starters you can use to start discussing end-of-life wishes with your spouse in this blog post.
a lack of adequate systems to share end-of-life wishes causes anxiety and poor experiences at the end of life. this report proposes an overhaul of electronic records and sets out what people need them to do.
understand the importance of living wills in making your end-of-life wishes clear. learn how to create, update, and communicate your living will effectively.
freewill lets you make your last will and testament quick, easy, and completely free. it is a simple online legal will maker that helps you compile will forms to print and sign, or to take as a basic will template to an estate planning lawyer. freewill is built alongside will making experts.
find information and resources to prepare patients and caregivers for dealing with a terminal illness. learn what steps to take now and to plan for the future.
many seniors do not plan in advance when it comes to their end-of-life wishes. by encouraging your loved one to have a talk, you can prepare.
for people with terminal illnesses or who are dying, the care they need at the end of their life will look different. end-of-life care can last from days to months, and it can be physical, medical, mental, or spiritual. this type of care can also take a toll on caregivers and family members—they may not know what’s best. nih medlineplus magazine’s latest article gathers helpful information from the national institute on aging to point caregivers in the right direction. remember that whatever the person needs, being present however you can is helpful.
explore our resource for helping establish end of life care wishes.
planning and making decisions about the end of your life can be a positive experience. it is a good opportunity to reflect on the things that are important to you, and to make arrangements that suit you.
this chapter discusses the end-of-life wishes arc, the goal of which is to explore the end-of-life wishes of patients and families, including advance directive and code status preferences. the chapter outlines a series of questions to help patients articulate their...
it
navigate end-of-life planning with our guide to essential documents and faqs. ensure peace and uphold wishes for yourself and loved ones. learn more now.
a letter of instruction is an informal estate planning document that clearly communicates instructions and desires that are to be handled after a person dies. it guides surviving family members through personal, financial and funeral information.
objectives to describe communication regarding cancer patient’s end-of-life (eol) wishes by physicians and family caregivers. methods an online questionnaire and telephone-based surveys were performed with physicians and family caregivers respectively in three teaching hospitals in colombia which had been involved in the eol care of cancer patients. results for 138 deceased patients we obtained responses from physicians and family caregivers. in 32 % physicians reported they spoke to the caregiver and in 17 % with the patient regarding eol decisions. in most cases lacking a conversation, physicians indicated the treatment option was “clearly the best for the patient” or that it was “not necessary to discuss treatment with the patient”. twenty-six percent of the caregivers indicated that someone from the medical team spoke with the patient about treatment, and in 67% who had a conversation, caregivers felt that the provided information was unclear or incomplete. physicians and family caregivers were aware if the patient had any advance care directive in 6% and 26% of cases, respectively, with low absolute agreement (34%). conclusions there is a lack of open conversation regarding eol in patients with advanced cancer with their physicians and family caregivers in colombia. communication strategies are urgently needed.
facilitating a loved one’s wish to die at home might sound challenging, but with pre-planning and professional end-of-life care, you can honor this wish
completing your advance directives before a crisis occurs can help ensure your end-of-life wishes are made known to your healthcare provider, family, and friends.
don't wait to discuss end-of-life choices. make your wishes known with an advanced health care directive or living will.
although it can be hard, planning for and making decisions about the end of life is important. doing it ahead of time can reduce stress for you and your family.
respecting patient wishes and values at end of life as mortality is an intrinsic aspect of the human experience, the manner in which individuals spend their final days is paramount.
it’s never too early to prepare for the end of life. registering with hospice signals it's time to ask these important end of life questions.
make your end of life wishes known it's no secret that writing a will is not something most people want to think about. it can be difficult to face your own mortality and consider what will happen to your belongings after you're gone. however, drafting a will is an important step in ensuring that your
covid-19 highlighted the need to plan for medical emergencies, but most people still avoid the issue.
a blog by dr kath lambert, consultant in palliative medicine at harrogate and district nhs foundation trust we will all experience death and dying but we can find it hard to talk to friends and family about it. as a palliative medicine consultant, i know that by talking to people and having honest conversations about […]
talking about your future healthcare choices and end-of-life wishes may be one of the most important discussions you have. contact us to discuss your options.
life is unpredictable. advance directives are one of the best ways to ensure your care or end-of-life preferences are honored if you become incapacitated.
living wills and other advance directives describe your treatment preferences in end-of-life situations when you can
more folks are realizing it is a natural and necessary way of alleviating pain, misunderstandings and of bringing considerable peace of mind for the whole family.
what are advance directives? they are documents that express the type of care you want to receive at end of life.
the e•o•l (end of life) deck is a tool used by families, caregivers, and healthcare providers to help facilitate conversations about end-of-life wishes.
get a complete checklist of important end-of-life documents to prepare. protect your wishes and ease your loved ones' burden.
knowing your options for end-of-life care will help you make the best decisions for you and your family. learn more.
go wish card game—exploring end-of-life wishes of patients in oncology palliative care: a qualitative study
embrace the hospice heart
a estate planning article.
the conversation project is a public engagement initiative with a goal to have every person’s wishes for end-of-life care expressed and respected.
create a healthcare plan before a crisis demands it. five wishes provides a legally valid roadmap that’s easy to understand. learn more.
the traditional way to communicate one’s wishes is through an advance directive, and a growing number of americans have these documents. but while a...
how we want to die is the most important conversation americans aren't having
treatment options at the end of life - explore from the merck manuals - medical consumer version.
helping to make meaningful memories at end-of-life
i talked last week about how important it is to make your end-of-life wishes known before it is necessary. i emphasized that you need to have difficult conversations with whoever you anticipate wil…