Denver, CO - The Colorado Collaborative on End Of Life Care is a 40-member board comprised of doctors, nurses, clergy and caregivers. According to co chairwoman, Judy Hutchison, the Collaborative is dedicated to breaking down barriers to communication regarding end of life care. The group's primary vehicle is Many Voices, Many Choices, a newsletter that contains articles for patients and caregivers. Write them at 1445 Market Street, #350, Denver, CO 80202.
Tallahassee, FL - The Florida Commission on Aging with Dignity has released a booklet to help Floridians make decisions about end-of-life care. The booklet, Five Wishes, gives people a way to talk about how they want to be treated should they face a life-limiting illness. The wishes enhance standard living will language by including personalized instructions about the palliative care the person desires. Jackie Roberts, commission spokesperson, reports that many other states are considering adapting the "Wishes" statement for their residents. Free copies are available by writing the commission at P.O. Box 1180, Tallahassee, FL 32301, calling 850-681-2010, or faxing your request to 850-681-2481.
Boston, MA - End-of-life care for people with Alzheimer's disease and advanced dementia is complex, at best. This spring, several groups in Boston will present a conference, "Hospice Care for Persons with Advanced Dementia." Professional caregivers will talk about providing palliative care at the end of life, ethical considerations for decision-making in late-stage Alzheimer's, and other issues important to those in this field. The meeting, sponsored by the Bedford, MA, Veteran's Administration Medical Center Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center, and the College of Nursing at Northeastern University, will be held on April 1, 1998. The GRECC has developed an integrated palliative care unit, as well as a series of videotapes on decision-making in late-stage Alzheimer's; a CD for caregivers is under development. For more information, contact Ms. Mary White at 781-687-2904. The address for the GRECC homepage is http://med-www.bu.edu/Alzheimer/home.html.
Washington, DC - Approximately 50 people, including federal and congressional staff, attended a half-day roundtable discussion, "Policy Options for Delivering and Financing Care at the End of Life," sponsored by George Washington University's National Health Policy Forum. David W. Rehm of Lifespan Diversified Services; Charles T. von Gunten, M.D., Center for Palliative Medicine Education and Research at Northwestern Memorial Hospital; Joanne Lynn, M.D., Center to Improve Care of the Dying; and James D. Lubitz of the Office of Strategic Planning at the Health Care Financing Administration described some of the pressing issues in paying for palliative care. For more information, visit the Forum's website at www.nhpf.org or order their very useful Issue Brief No. 711 by calling 202-872-1390.
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