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COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO END-OF-LIFE CARE

Handbook for Mortals -- full text of authoritative consumer guide to end-of-life care

http://www.growthhouse.org/educate/flash/mortals/layouts/frameset1.html

 

CAREGIVING BASICS

Providing comfort
http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/hospice/caregiving/providingcomfort.htm
           
Comfort management
http://www.healproject.org/seriesI/Vol1No6-Jun2003.pdf

Personal care
http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/hospice/caregiving/personalcare.htm

Skin care
http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/hospice/caregiving/skincare.htm

Infection control
http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/hospice/caregiving/infection.htm
http://www.txhca.org/BestPractices/InfectionControl/univprec.doc

Dealing with incontinence
http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/hospice/caregiving/dealing.htm

Using a hospital bed
http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/hospice/caregiving/using.htm

Turning and positioning
http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/hospice/caregiving/turning.htm

Moving and lifting
http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/hospice/caregiving/moving.htm

 

THE ROLE OF A HOSPICE VOLUNTEER

Hospice Volunteer Association
http://www.hospicevolunteerassociation.org/Default.aspx

Hospice Volunteer Association Newsletter
http://www.hospicevolunteerassociation.org/hvaHospiceVolunteerNews.aspx

The Hospice Volunteer
http://www.americanhospice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=290&Itemid=37

Visiting Someone Who Knows He or She is Dying
https://www.americanhospice.org/_articles/He%20Knows%20He%20doc%20American%20%20Hospice%20Fdtn%20Excerpt.pdf

 

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR THE DYING

Treatment Options
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec01/ch008/ch008d.html

 

NUTRITION IN THE TERMINALLY ILL

Artificial Nutrition and Hydration in the Terminally Ill
http://www.americanhospice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=8

Some Facts About Artificial Nutrition and Hydration
http://endoflifecare.tripod.com/Caregiving/id90.html

Use of Artificial Nutrition and Hydration in End-Stage Neurological Illness
http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=399

 

HOSPICE AND PATIENTS WITH IMPAIRED BRAIN FUNCTION

Alzheimer's Disease (and Other Brain Diseases) and Hospice Care
http://www.americanhospice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=8

Hospice and Alzheimer Disease
http://www.growthhouse.org/nhwg/alz.htm

Role of Hospice in Caring for Persons with Coma or in Persistent Vegetative State
http://www.americanhospice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=8

Compassionate Presence and Comatose Patients
http://www.heartmath.org/research/rd-effects-of-states-of-compassionate-presence-on-people-in-comatose-states.html

 

HELPING THE NON-COMMUNICATIVE PATIENT

Conditions Associated with Speech Disturbances and Intervention
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/careandcommunication/speech.htm

Tools to Help Non-Communicative Patients Communicate
http://www.healthcareinspirations.com/hci_ezboard.html

Role of Speech-Language Therapists in Hospice Care
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15588361

Communicating with an Alzheimer’s Patient
http://www.alzheimersadvice.org/deficits-of-alzheimers-disease/communication-or-language-problem

CHILDREN FACING END OF LIFE

Communication Issues with Children Facing End of Life
http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2009/091215/LastWordsLastConnections.htm

 

PAIN MANAGEMENT and OTHER MEDICATIONS FOR TERMINALLY ILL

Identifying and Addressing Pain in Cognitively Impaired Older Adults
http://www.americanhospice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=412&Itemid=8

Use of Opiates to Manage Pain in the Terminally Ill Patient
http://www.americanhospice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=233&Itemid=8

Hospice Pain Management
http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/hospice/caregiving/painmanagement.htm

Physician Guidelines for Pain Management and Symptom Control
http://www.hospicekc.org/publications/doctors/physician_guide.pdf

 

COMMON SYMPTOMS AT END OF LIFE

Common Symptoms During a Fatal Illness
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec01/ch008/ch008f.html#sec01-ch008-ch008f-415

 

PREPARING FOR DEATH

Understanding the Dying Process
http://www.healproject.org/seriesI/Vol1No5-May2003.pdf

Talking About Dying
http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/talking-about-dying/

Preparing for the Dying Process
http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/hospice/preparing/default.htm

Time Course of Dying
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec01/ch008/ch008b.html

Acceptance – Finishing Life’s Work
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec01/ch008/ch008i.html

Grief of the Dying Person
http://www.healproject.org/seriesI/Vol1No9-Sep2003.pdf

Nearing Death Awareness
http://www.healproject.org/seriesI/Vol1No7-Jul2003.pdf

When Death is Near
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec01/ch008/ch008j.html

When Death Occurs
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec01/ch008/ch008k.html

 

CULTURAL ASPECTS OF DEATH AND DYING

The Culture of Death and Dying (powerpoint video)
http://www.maricopa.edu/diversityinfusion/documents/Scottsdale%20Diversity%20Presentation(2).ppt

Belief Systems – Faith and Spirituality
http://www.healproject.org/seriesI/Vol1No8-Aug2003.pdf

Rituals Around Death
http://www.healproject.org/seriesI/Vol1No10-Oct2003.pdf

 

LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES

Introduction to Legal and Ethical Issues
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec01/ch009/ch009a.html

Confidentiality and HIPAA
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec01/ch009/ch009d.html

Do Not Resuscitate Orders (DNRs)
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec01/ch009/ch009g.html

California Advance Health Care Directives for Consumers
http://www.ag.ca.gov/consumers/general/adv_hc_dir.htm
and
http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=429

California Advance Health Care Documents for Hospice Organizations
http://www.caringinfo.org/UserFiles/File/California.pdf

Ethical Issues for Hospice Volunteers
http://www.hospicevolunteerassociation.org/documents/Repository/HospiceVolunteerEthicsResearch_AJHPM_gschneider_30-Jun-09.pdf

Ethical Issues and Alzheimer Patients
http://www.alzheimersadvice.org/alzhemier-disease/ethical-issues-caregiver

End of Life Care:  An Ethical Overview
http://www.ahc.umn.edu/img/assets/26104/End_of_Life.pdf

 

DEALING WITH CAREGIVER GRIEF

The Bereavement Process
http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/hospice/bereavsupport/default.htm

What About YOUR Grief?  (written for nurses, but just as applicable to volunteers)
http://www.americanhospice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=348&Itemid=8

Helping Yourself Through Grief
https://www.americanhospice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=8

Anticipatory Grief Symptoms
https://www.americanhospice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=8

Anticipatory Grief Work: What Is It and How Do You Do It?
https://www.americanhospice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=81&Itemid=8

 Bereavement Support - Continuing Your Life After Their Death
http://www.healproject.org/seriesI/Vol1No11-Summer2004.pdf

 

DEALING WITH VOLUNTEER STRESS

Common Sources of Volunteer Stress and Suggestions for Alleviating Stress
http://www.jpalliativecare.com/article.asp?issn=0973-1075;year=2008;volume=14;issue=1;spage=30;epage=37;aulast=Claxton-Oldfield

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