Resources
Advanced Care Planning
Advance care planning is making decisions about the healthcare you would want to receive if you happen to become unable to speak for yourself. These are your decisions to make, regardless of what you choose for your care, and the decisions are based on your personal values, preferences, and discussions with your loved ones.
Advance care planning includes:
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Getting information on the types of life-sustaining treatments that are available.
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Deciding what types of treatment you would or would not want should you be diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.
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Sharing your personal values with your loved ones.
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Completing advance directives to put into writing what types of treatment you would or would not want – and who you chose to speak for you - should you be unable to speak for yourself.
Caregivers provide support to someone who needs help. It doesn't matter how many hours per week are spent providing support. Caring for a family member or friend is not easy, nor is it something most of us are prepared to do. Learning about being a caregiver may help you provide the care your friend or loved one needs.
Preparing for Giving Care
Providing Care
Caring for the Caregiver
Caring for Children
Hospice & Palliative Care
Living with a serious illness can impact every part of your life, but hospice and palliative care can help. In this section you will learn about how to manage symptoms and pain as well as information about how hospice or palliative care may be right for you or your loved one.
​Living with a Serious Illness
Hospice
Grief & Loss
Grief may be experienced in response to physical losses, such as death, or in response to symbolic or social losses such as divorce or loss of a job. The grief experience can be affected by one’s history and support system. Taking care of yourself and accessing the support of friends and family can help you cope with your grief experience.
There is no right way to grieve. It is an individual process and a natural part of life. Life won’t be the same after a loss, but experiencing your grief will allow you to adjust to life after loss.
Grief lasts as long as it takes to adjust to the changes in your life after your loss. It can be for months, or even years. Grief has no timetable; thoughts, emotions, behaviors and other responses may come and go.
The Grief Experience
Grief Support