We have compiled this helpful list of online resources.
| Advance Directives and Living Wills | |
| Advanced Care Planning Resources from NHPCO | The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization offers free brochures and state-specific advance directives to provide you with information and resources for advance care planning. |
| Five Wishes | An inexpensive, helpful booklet to help you express how you want to be treated if you are seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself. |
| Cancer | |
| American Cancer Society | Find information about specific cancer diseases, learn about treatments and coping with cancer. |
| Caregiving | |
| Adult Family Homes | DSHS’s guide to Adult Family Homes. |
| Caregiver’s Handbook | A guide for family and other unpaid caregivers who care for an adult or senior with disabilities. Published by the Washington State Dept. of Human and Social Services. |
| National Alliance For Caregiving | Gives caregiving tips and has a comprehensive guide to end-of-life information on the internet under “Family Care Resource Connection page, click on “search resources” at the bottom of the page. |
| National Family Caregivers Association | Click on caregiving tips. |
| End-of-Life Issues | |
| Engineering the End: How Planning for Loss Helped a Family Through it | An article from CNN about how one family’s experience with death. |
| New Efforts to Simplify End-of-Life Care Wishes | An article in the Wall Street Journal about advance directives. |
| On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying | This television series hosted by Bill Moyers addresses the process of dying and issues faced at the end of life. The website offers suggestions and helpful information. |
| Grief and Loss | |
| Bereaved Parents USA | A national non-profit, self-help group that offers support, understanding, compassion, and hope especially to the newly bereaved. This site is for parents, grandparents, siblings, and other family members. |
| Children Grieve | “The National Alliance for Grieving Children promotes awareness of the needs of children and teens grieving a death and provides education and resources for anyone who wants to support them.” – NAGC Mission Statement. |
| The Compassionate Friends | An organization that provides support after the death of a son, daughter, sister, brother or grandchild. Each chapter, along with the supporting National Office, is committed to helping every bereaved parent, sibling, or grandparent seeking support. |
| The Dougy Center | The Dougy Center provides support in a safe place where children, teens, young adults and their families grieving a death can share their experiences. The center provides grief resources and tool kits for individuals, families and communities. |
| Grief Share | An online tool for finding local grief support groups around the world. |
| Whatsyourgrief.com | Grief education, exploration, and expression in both practical and creative ways. Includes blog, podcast, and a wide variety of other resources. |
| Heart Disease | |
| American Heart Association | A national voluntary health agency working to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. |
| HIV/AIDs | |
| AIDS.ORG | The mission of AIDS.ORG is to make access to HIV and AIDS information on the Internet faster, easier, and more accurate; and to connect professionals and the public together to share their knowledge and experiences. |
| HIV InSite | Comprehensive up-to-date information on HIV/AIDs treatment, prevention, and policy from the University of California, San Francisco. |
| Spokane AIDS Network | The Spokane AIDS Network is a community based, non profit agency dedicated to minimizing the impact of, and maximizing awareness about, AIDS and other consequences of HIV infection on communities and individuals in the Inland Northwest. Provides direct links to help in the Spokane Area. |
| Hospice Professional Organizations | |
| Hospice Foundation of America | Features general information about hospice care. |
| National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization | An organization that educates and advocates for the fundamental philosophy and principles of hospice care to meet the unique needs of each terminally ill person and his or her family. The website has many resources. |
| Washington State Hospice and Palliative Care Organization | Offers educational conferences and advocates for issues involving hospice care and facilities with members of the state legislature and regulatory bodies. |
| Lung Diseases | |
| American Lung Association | A not-for-profit organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Features a ‘Wall of Remembrance’ page to memorialize loved ones who have died from lung disease. |
| Neurological Diseases | |
| ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease | Provides links to ALS-related sites. |
| Alzheimer’s Association – Inland Northwest Chapter | Spokane’s chapter educates and supports individuals, families and community affected by Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders. |
| Alzheimer’s Association – National Website | Find information about Alzheimer’s Disease and caregiving tips. |
| Muscular Dystrophy Association | MDA combats neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive medical and community services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. |
| Palliative Care | |
| Georgetown University – A Deeper Understanding of Palliative Care | Georgetown University publication that addresses what palliative patient care is and how it differs from curative and end-of-life care. Also discussed are common challenges in palliative care and how to overcome them with quality care. |