Community Resources
Our mission at CompassionCare Hospice is to improve care for those facing life-limiting illness through direct support of patients and their families. One way to improve care is to ensure that patients and caregivers have access to the information they need to make comfortable and informed decisions about end-of-life care.
This sections provides various resources for useful information; the names and contact information of organizations, helpful books and Web sites. We encourage everyone to take advantage of the materials provided, not only to increase their knowledge about the subject, but to take comfort in the realization that others have walked in their footsteps and truly understand the efforts they make and the losses they suffer.
Helpful Organizations
AARP
601 E. Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
800.424.3410
202.424.2277 (publications on caregiving)
www.aarp.org/caregiving
Eldercare Locator
927 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
800.677.1116 (Nationwide Area Agency on Aging listings)
www.aoa.dhhs.gov/elderpage/locator.html
National Family Caregivers Association
10400 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 500
Kensington, MD 20895-3944
800.896.3650
www.nfcacares.org
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Greater Washington Chapter
1920 Association Drive - Suite 102
Reston, VA 20191
703.476.5780
www.mdausa.org
ALS Association
800.782-4747
www.alsa.org
Alzheimer’s Association
800.272.3900
www.alz.org
American Cancer Society
800.227.2345
www.cancer.org
National Parkinson’s Foundation
800.327.4545
www.parkinson.org
Stroke Connection
800.553.6321
www.americanheart.org
Publications
The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer's Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life by Nancy L., M.A. MacE, Peter V. Rabins (Contributor)
The Healing Companion: Simple and Effective Ways Your Presence Can Help People Heal
by Jeff Kane M.D., Larry Dossey
Always on Call: When Illness Turns Families into Caregivers
Levine, Carol, Editor. 2000 United Hospital Fund of New York
The Comfort of Home: An Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide for Caregivers
Meyer, Maria and Derr, Paula. 1998 CareTrust Publications LLC, PO Box 10283, Portland, OR 97296 Tel: 800.565.1533
Handbook for Mortals: Guidance for People Facing Serious Illness
Lynn, Joanne, MD and Harold, Joan, MD. Oxford University Press, 1999
Living with a Life-Threatening Illness: A guide for patients, their families, and caregivers Doka, K.J. New York: Lexington Books, 1993
Hard Choices for Loving People
Dunn, Hank. A booklet written by a hospice chaplain to explain end-of-life decisions to patients and families from a spiritual/faith perspective. A & A Publishers, Inc., 2004
The Sacred Art of Dying: How World Religions Understand Death
Kramer, Kenneth. This volume offers information on not only religious customs, but also on different faith perspectives on death, dying and the afterlife. New Jersey, 1988
The Grief Recovery Handbook : The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death Divorce, and Other Losses by John W. James, Russell Friedman
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
Kushner, Harold. Rabbi Kushner deals with the many common questions people ask about human suffering, in particular about death and dying. New York: Schocken Books, 1981
Web Links
Growth House
http://www.growthhouse.org
This award-winning Web site is your international gateway to resources for life-threatening illness and end-of-life care. Our primary mission is to improve the quality of compassionate care for people who are dying through public education and global professional collaboration.
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
http://www.nhpco.org
NHPCO is the largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. It 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.
Connecticut Hospice
http://www.hospice.com
The Connecticut Hospice inaugurated hospice care in America in 1974. Since then, it has been the beacon and teacher of the growing hospice movement throughout the nation, and beyond. Connecticut Hospice addresses physical, spiritual, social, and emotional needs of patients with advanced irreversible illness, and their families. Such care is provided regardless of diagnosis and as long as the Hospice level of care is needed by the patients.
Crisis, Grief, and Healing
http://www.webhealing.com
This page is meant to be a place for all to explore the many different paths to heal strong emotions. It is run by Tom Golden, LCSW, of Washington DC, an internationally-known psychotherapist, author, and speaker on the topic of healing from loss.
Hospice Net
http://www.hospicenet.org
This information-only site provides a well-organized, clearly written introduction to hospice care. If you only have time to visit one site, visit this one.
Last Acts
http://www.lastacts.org
Last Acts is a call-to-action campaign to improve care at the end of life. Its goals are to bring death-related issues out in the open and help individuals and organizations pursue better ways to care for the dying.
On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/onourownterms
Filled with honesty, courage, and humor, this PBS series breaks through the culture of denial to wrestle with how we can die better in America.
