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End of Life Information Guide

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The purpose of this information guide is to direct patients and health care professionals to sources of information on cancer and related topics, it does not constitute an endorsement of the information contained in the resources. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, but rather to provide starting points for Information seeking. All listed materials can be found at the Patient Education Resource Center of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center in room B1-361.

updated 04/10

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Brochures

Aging With Dignity. "Five Wishes and Next Step Guide". Available free at the Patient Education Resource Center. May be ordered for a fee at:http://www.agingwithdignity.org/5wishes.html

Hospice Foundation of America. "Caring for Someone Who is Dying".

Michigan Department of Community Health. "An Information Resource Guide to End of Life Care".

Michigan Hospice And Palliative Care Organization. "Caring Choices: A Guide to End of Life Decisions and Care". Available in English, Arabic and Spanish

National Cancer Institute.

State of Michigan. "Planning for Your Peace of Mind: A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Medical and Legal Decisions".

University of Michigan Health Systems. "Living Wills and Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care".

Books

American Cancer Society. When the Focus is on Care: Palliative Care and Cancer. Atlanta: American Cancer Society, 2005.

Baines, Barry K. Ethical Wills: Putting Your Values on Paper. 2nd Ed. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Pub, 2006.

Berkley, Benjamine. My Wishes: Your Plan for Communicating and Organizing the Essential Information Your Family Needs. Naperville, Ill.: Sphinx Pub., 2006.

Brody, Jane E. Jane Brody's Guide to the Great Beyond: Prepare Now for a Smooth Ride to the End of Life. New York: Random House, 2009.

Emmert, S. D. The Consumer's Practical Guide to Funerals, Burials & Cremation (Five star special ed.). Baltimore, Md: American Literary Press, 2005.

Keeley, Maureen, P.; Yingling, Julie. Final Conversations: Helping the Living and the Dying Talk to Each Other. Acton, MA: VanderWyk & Burnham, 2007.

Kessler, David. The Needs of the Dying: A Guide for Bringing Hope, Comfort, and Love to Life's Final Chapter. 10th Anniversary Ed. New York, NY: Harper, 2007.

Lee, Elizabeth. In Your Own Time: a Guide for Patients and Their Caretakers Facing a Lasting Illness at Home. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

Sankar, Andrea. Dying at Home: a Family Guide for Caregiving. 2nd ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999.

Web Resources

Caring Connections
This site provides a variety of free resources on topics such as: advance care planning, caregiving, pain, financial issues, hospice and palliative care and grief and loss. Printable versions of state-specific advanced directives documents and instructions are available free on the site.

Hospice Foundation of America

This site offers extensive information for people and caregivers facing death including signs of approaching death, pain and patient comfort and paperwork and logistics after a death in the family. Users may providers and support organizations on the site.

Cancer.net. End-of-Life Care

On the left sidebar select "Coping" and click on "End-of-Life Care".
This section provides detailed information on: Palliative Care, preparing for the end-of-life, advanced directives, understanding CPR and DNR, and care during the final days, and caring for the terminally ill child.

Grief and Loss Program at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center

This site has information about events and resources for families dealing with loss. The online booklet "Coping with Transitions" has valuable information for people who have just lost a loved one.

Hospice Net

This site provides information about hospice care and other end-of-life issues including locating local services, communication at the end of life, pain control, and caregiving for the dying person. The site also includes information on grief and bereavement.

Michigan Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (MHPCO)

This site offers extensive information relevant to people with a life limiting illness and their families. An interactive map helps users to locate hospice providers in their area. Each listing includes the name, address, phone number and a description of the services provided by each hospice program.

This document is not intended to take the place of the care and attention of your personal physician or other professional medical services. Our aim is to promote active participation in your care and treatment by providing information and education. Questions about individual health concerns or specific treatment.

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