Hospice

October 4, 2006

November is national hospice month, but in reading an article in the Washington Post about Art Buchwald leaving hospice and returning to work I came across a sidebar that mentions a couple of resources worth pointing out.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, a nonprofit group based in Alexandria, runs a toll-free help line in English (800-658-8898) and Spanish (877-658-8896). The NHPCO also maintains a Web site ( http://www.caringinfo.org ) that contains voluminous information about finding a hospice, questions to ask a physician, and other end-of-life issues.

Geriatrician Joanne Lynn has written a book, “Sick to Death and Not Going to Take It Anymore!” which is described as an “owner’s manual” for end-of-life care. It is available for free online at http://www.medicaring.org and is sponsored by the Palliative Care Policy Center, which is affiliated with the Rand Corp.