Links

Organizations/general information
Physician/pain management
Caregiving
Grief/bereavement
Spirituality/faith/last rites

Organizations/General Information

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Missouri End-Of-Life Coalition
Every Missourian deserves compassionate care and comfort at the end of their life. This is why the Missouri End-of-Life Coalition was formed — to ensure every Missourian has the resources they need to die with dignity.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization is the largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. The organization is committed to improving end of life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones.

The American Association for Death Education and Counseling
A professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence in death education, bereavement counseling and care of the dying.

Planning For The "End Of Life" Care Program
With all of the changes and advances in medicine, there is more talk about issues concerning life and death. We all know that we can't get out of this world alive. But at the same time, we Americans avoid discussions about life and death. Another means of achieving the freedom to focus on the present is to communicate your desires about life and death.

Compassion In Dying
This advocacy group is working with the health care community for changes in medical care for the terminal ill. This group is involved in legalization of assisted dying, as well as judicial and legislative efforts to improve pain management and to sanction providers who fail to treat pain.

The National Family Caregivers Association
Offers practical information and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), as well as “A Guide to Improving Doctor/Caregiver Communication.”

National Public Radio’s Series “Exploring Death in America”
An exceptionally wide-ranging and well-balanced collection of “voices” and resources including bibliographies, interviews, sample chapters from important texts and personal stories.

“On Our Own Terms – Moyers on Dying.”
This groundbreaking PBS series, first aired in the fall of 2000, spurred an ongoing program of community outreach.

With Eyes Open
"With Eyes Open" was produced by KQED television in San Francisco and aired throughout the country in September 2000 as a companion to "On Our Own Terms." The four programs discuss caregiving, grief, difficult decisions and what may lie beyond death.

Growth House
This group is an international gateway to resources for life-threatening illness and end-of-life issues. The primary mission is to improve the quality of compassionate care for people who are dying through public education about hospice and home care, palliative care, pain management, death with dignity, bereavement, and related end of life topics.

National Association for the Terminally Ill
The National Association for the Terminally Ill gives financial assistance to the children and families of those suffering from a terminal illness whose life expectancy is two years or less. The association's goal is to help these families regain financial independence. NATI services two major programs, the Life-Threatening Illness Program and Children and Family Cancer Program.

Center to Advance Palliative Care
Search the latest resources in palliative care available to hospitals and health care systems.

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Physician/Pain Management

American Medical Association, Institute for Ethics

EPEC (Education for Physicians on End of Life Care Project) offers information on end-of-life care education for professionals.

The Center for Practical Bioethics

Americans for Better Care of the Dying
Founded in 1997, Americans for Better Care of the Dying (ABCD) is an organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans can count on good end of life care. This group is committed to ensuring that every person experiences comfort, dignity and meaning at the end of life, and that every loved one knows that life came to a close in a dignified and meaningful way. By sharing expertise, building collaborative networks and public commitment, ABCD seeks to achieve substantive health care reform through improved policy, professional practice and care reimbursement.

Supportive Care of the Dying: A Coalition for Compassionate Care
A non-profit coalition committed to bring about cultural change regarding pain and symptom management and relief of suffering for persons living with and affected by life- threatening illness.

The American Pain Foundation
Provides a survey to screen yourself for depression and access to on-line support.

The End of Life Physician Education Resource Center (EPERC) is a central repository for educational materials and information about end of life (EOL) issues designed for physicians and other educators. After registration one has full access to the "educational resources" link, including the invaluable series of one-page publications called "Fast Facts."

Dale Larson's Web Page is an excellent site for hospice professionals. This site provides numerous tips from Dr. Larson's "Great Ideas" sessions given at national hospice management conferences. He provides practical ideas in clinical care, bereavement, volunteer management, marketing, fundraising, community education, and much more.

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Caregiving

Stoppain.org

The Family Caregiver Alliance
Provides resources, including information about specific diseases and related public policy news.

Empowering Caregivers
A comprehensive site offering information, emotional and spiritual support through featured expert columns, articles on caregiving, journal exercises, a newsletter, forums, chats, healing circle, caregiver and caregiving spotlights, inspiration, humor and more.

Aging with Dignity
A privately-funded, non-profit organization that advocates for the needs of elders and their caregivers, with a particular emphasis on improving care for those at the end of life.

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Grief/Bereavement

AARP
Information for widows and widowers.

GriefNet
An Internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss.

Bereavement
A Magazine of Hope and Healing has been designed to be a "support group in print" - a friend who arrives in the mailbox six times each year

Willowgreen
This site offers information and inspiration in the areas of illness and dying, loss and grief, healthy caregiving, life transition and spirituality. Willowgreen is the creation of James E. Miller, writer and photographer, trainer and speaker, grief counselor and clergyman.

Gilda's Club Worldwide
Ths site offers emotional and social support to those living with cancer and their families.

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Spirituality/Faith/Last Rites

Ethical Wills
This site offers a way to leave your legacy by writing down your values and beliefs.

American Association of Pastoral Counselors
This site provides information about pastoral counseling, resources and a searchable directory of pastoral counselors.

“Funerals: A Consumer’s Guide”
Published by the Federal Trade Commission.

The National Funeral Directors Association
Offers useful consumer guidelines, demographic information and helpful links to other national and international organizations.

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