Patient Education Information

Anticipatory Grief Symptoms: What's the Big Deal? -The American Hospice Foundation explains why it is a big deal.

Five Wishes - This web site offers a document (for a fee) that can help you explain your last wishes.

Funerals, A Consumer Guide - The Federal Trade Commission provides this site with information on how to purchase funeral services without being cheated.

Palliative Care - This patient page is from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and explains pain medications at the end of life.

Advanced Directives - A short explanation of advanced directives from the MedlinePlus Encyclopedia.

Artificial Hydration and Nutrition - FamilyDoctor.org explains about feeding tubes and similar things.

Autopsy: Questions and Answers - Learn more about autopsies from FamilyDoctor.org.

Conversations Before the Crisis - The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization encourages you to talk about these issues before the time comes.

Coping with Bereavement - Mental Health America offers these tips.

Death and Dying - The Merck Manual Home Edition for Patients and Caregivers offers this information.

Doctor, How Long Have I Got? - The site InteliHealth, from Harvard Medical School discusses how hard it is to pinpoint the answer to this question.

End of Life Choices: Feeding Tubes and Ventilators - Learn what happens when you choose to use, or not use, these aids.

End of Life: Helping with Comfort and Care- This information comes from the National Institute on Aging.

Funeral Arrangements and Memorial Services - AARP supplies this excellent review of what to expect (and expect to pay) for these services.

Funeral Consumers Alliance - A federation of nonprofit consumer information societies, FAMSA~FCA is dedicated to a consumer's right to choose a meaningful, dignified, affordable funeral.

Glossary on Death and Dying - Look here for explanations of terms used when talking about death and dying.

Grief: Coping with the Reminders After a Loss - The Mayo Clinic offers these excellent tips.

Interacting with a Terminally Ill Loved One - The Mayo Clinic provides this advice for someone with a dying relative or friend.

Making Your Loved One Comfortable During the Last Days of Life - The Mayo Clinic offers these suggestions.

Pet Loss and Bereavement Support - Learn more about the Delta Society and see their links.

Social Security and Burial Funds - Find out more about the burial fund and social security payments.

Talking about End-of-life Treatment Decisions - The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offers this advice.

Talking About Your Final Wishes - AARP has created this handout of good talking points for all families.

Ten Healing Rights for Grieving Children - Although the Dept. of State offers this for children, it makes sense for everyone.

Things to Do After Someone Dies and
What Happens When Someone Dies? - The National Institute on Aging offers this information.

You Know You Are Getting Better When... -The American Hospice Foundation explains how you can tell when you are recovering from the death of someone close to you.