Conversations

Talking about hospice care

Caring Connections has always pushed for the best in end-of-life care, and their latest project is no difference. Titled, "Private Conversations and Public Discource: The Importance of Consumer Engagement in End-of-Life care," the report seeks to make public a subject that many, even those in health care, still find difficult to discuss. A Fort Morgan Times article has more details:

Private Conversations and Public Discourse is a call to action that encourages - and provides a framework for - a national agenda for consumer engagement in end-of-life issues. The call to action details eight specific areas that must be addressed, including:

Individuals need to talk about and document their wishes for care at the end of life.

Health care providers need to initiate honest, timely and culturally-relevant discussions with those for whom they are caring.

Policy makers need to eliminate barriers that prevent timely access to hospice and palliative care.

Employers need to support staff who are living with a serious illness or are caregivers or grieving.

The media needs to explore ways to demystify dying and help normalize the experience for the general public.

The stories of Karen Ann Quinlan, Nancy Cruzan, and Terri Schiavo are shared to help paint a picture of public discourse involving death. Past efforts to advance care at the end of life conducted on the national level are also cited.

The report was written and published by NHPCO`s Caring Connections, the organization`s consumer engagement initiative that provides free information on care, caregiving and community engagement. Funding for the report was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, New Jersey.

"Far too many people don`t have the information they need to make informed decisions about end-of-life care, " said Kathy Brandt, a senior vice president at NHPCO who leads Caring Connections. "We must not allow fear of the subject to discourage Americans from learning more and engaging in thoughtful discussions with family, loved ones, and healthcare professionals. The consequences of not understanding available choices are far more serious than many people realize."

People deserve the right to make informed choices about their health care, and without an understanding of those choices it simply isn't possible. Thanks to organizations like Caring Connections, more people will be able to make the choice that's right for them.