Being Mortal (Full Documentary)
How do you talk about death with a dying loved one? In this moving documentary (54min), Dr. Atul Gawande explores death, dying and why even doctors struggle to discuss being mortal with patients, in this Emmy-nominated documentary. “Aging and dying — you can’t fix those," says Dr. Gawande. This film examines the relationships between doctors and patients nearing the end of life, and how the medical profession can better help people navigate mortality. The ultimate goal, after all, is not a good death but a good life — to the very end.
Doctors and End-of-Life Discussions
Doctors and End-of-Life Discussions is a video (8:33min) produced by PBS. The resource is an overview of the importance of providing patient-centered care around end-of-life care communication.
Death without God: Nonreligious Perspectives on End-of-Life Care
Abstract: Nonreligious people are underrepresented in the literature guiding end-of-life care. Moreover, much of what is written about nonreligious patients is written from a religious perspective. To address this deficit, the author conducted descriptive research by surveying online social media group participants using a quantitative questionnaire and qualitative feedback (N=263).
Trauma and Grief: The Child Mind Institute
An event does not need to be big, immediately distressing, or violent to be experienced as traumatic. While an accident or the death of a loved one certainly impacts a child, the cause of trauma is not always obvious — it can also arise from a series of emotional wounds sustained over time. Trauma is defined by how one experiences an event or series of events, not the events themselves. Any difficult situation can leave a mark. And signs of trauma can be hard to spot, overlooked, or mistaken for depression or even defiance.
The Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care 2023 Feline Hospice & Palliative Care Guidelines
The 2023 Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (AAFP/IAAHPC) Feline Hospice and Palliative Care Guidelines’ are authored by a Task Force of experts in feline hospice and palliative care convened by the AAFP and IAAHPC.
What Matters To Me: A Workbook for People with Serious Illness
What Matters To Me: A Workbook for Peope with Serious Illness is a workbook that helps people with serious illness be equipped to talk to their healthcare providers about what is most important to them. It is not a guide specific to assisting with medical decisions, but rather a self-reflective exercise in developing health goals and preferences. This guide is also designed for caregivers to help someone with a serious illness through useful conversations with healthcare teams.
Serious Illness Care Program: The Role of Social Workers Guide
The Serious Illness Care Progam Guide allows social workers to walk clients through several topics regarding serious illness care including their goals, values, and communication strategies. The guide also assists social workers in assessing clients' understanding of their own illness and what their health information preferences might be. It also assists social workers in ways to share prognosis, explore key topics and close/document the sessions with clients. To download the free guide, users mist fill out a form and user agreement.
Patient Priorities Care: Implementation Toolkit
Patient Priorities Care helps patients and clinicians focus all decision-making and healthcare on what matters most: patients’ own health priorities. It was developed by clinicians, patients, caregivers, health system leaders, and payers. Healthcare students and professionals are also able to gain Continued Medical Education and Maintainance of Certification credits by utilizing these toolkits. Disclaimer: Users of this resource require a login.
Pathways Center for Grief & Loss Resource List
Pathways Center for Grief & Loss provides resources of vidoes, reading lists and handouts on a wide variety of grief & loss topics.
Online Video Library
A rapid review of end-of-life needs in the LGBTQ+ community and recommendations for clinicians
Abstract: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer plus (LGBTQ+) adults face challenges accessing end-of-life care. Understanding the experiences of LGBTQ+ persons within the end-of-life context is crucial in addressing their needs and supporting equity at end of life. The aim is to review recent literature documenting the experiences of LGBTQ+ adults nearing end-of-life, identifying needs, barriers to care, and translating this into clinical recommendations.