End-of-Life Decisions
End-of-life decisions involve choosing what kinds of medical care we would or would not want at the end of our lives, who will be empowered to carry out our wishes, and how we want to spend our final days. For some, it may mean choosing the time of our death. The resources listed on this page provide information and assistance with making and communicating these important decisions. Some of the organizations also engage in policy advocacy.
Click on the v-shaped arrow to the right of each program description to view more information.
This state agency's website provides information about end-of-life care and planning as well as a link to California's Advance Health Care Directive form.
Cost: no cost
Who Is Eligible: anyone
Address: Public Inquiry Unit, P.O. Box 944255, Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
Phone: (916) 210-6276
Email: can send message through Contact Us page on website
This website, published by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Association, offers information about advance directives and other end-of-life planning tools as well as end-of-life care options.
Cost: no cost
Who Is Eligible: anyone
Phone: (800) 658-8898
Email: caringinfo@nhpco.org
Website: https://www.caringinfo.org/
This national non-profit offers information and guidance about planning for the end of life, including the Caring Conversations workbook.
Cost: no cost
Who Is Eligible: anyone
Address: Harzfeld Building, 111 Main Street, Suite 500, Kansas City, MO 64105-2116
Phone: (816) 221-1100
Email: center@practicalbioethics.org
Website: https://www.practicalbioethics.org/programs/advance-care-planning/
This organization provides information, training materials, and other tools to promote advance care planning and help health care proxies understand their roles. They also host webinars and special events. Resources are available for health care providers as well as the general public.
Cost: no cost
Who Is Eligible: anyone
Phone: (916) 489-2222
Email: info@coalitionccc.org
Website: https://coalitionccc.org/
This national non-profit organization provides advance planning guides and advocates for expanded choices at the end of life.
Cost: no cost
Who Is Eligible: anyone
Address: 101 SW Madison Street, #8009, Portland, OR 97207
Phone: (800) 247-7421
Email: can send message through Contact page on website
Website: https://compassionandchoices.org/
This organization provides guides and videos to help people talk about end-of-life wishes and choose health care proxies.
Cost: no cost
Who Is Eligible: anyone
Address: 53 State St, 19th Floor, Boston, MA 02109
Email: conversationproject@IHI.org
Website: https://theconversationproject.org/
Note: this program is affiliated with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement
This national organization provides information about medical aid in dying and engages in policy advocacy.
Cost: no cost
Who Is Eligible: anyone
Address: 520 SW 6th Avenue, #1220, Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 228-4415
Email: can send message through Contact Us page on website
Website: https://deathwithdignity.org/
The Five Wishes form helps users reflect on what is most important to them and address their personal, emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life in addition to documenting their preferences about life-sustaining treatment and medical decision makers.
Cost: forms and guides range from free to under $100, see website Store for details
Who Is Eligible: anyone
Address: PO Box 1661, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1661
Phone: (850) 681-2010
Email: info@fivewishes.org
Website: https://fivewishes.org/
This step-by-step program with videos and guides walks users through the process of communicating end-of-life care wishes, choosing medical decision makers, and completing advance directives for health care.
Cost: no cost
Who Is Eligible: anyone
Email: info@prepareforyourcare.org
The VA offers information about advance care planning specifically tailored for veterans, including how to complete the VA Advance Directive form.
Cost: no cost
Who Is Eligible: anyone (targeted to veterans and their loved ones)
Phone: (800) 698-2411
Website: https://www.va.gov/geriatrics/pages/advance_care_planning_topics.asp
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This page was created by Catheryn Koss. Last updated 2/3/2023