Caring Community - Advocacy

AGS Measuring Quality of Care at the End of Life: A Statement of Principles

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:01:11 -0800

The quality of care provided to persons near the end of life would be captured reasonably well by measuring the nine domains listed in this statement. The tools to do so need development, and funders and researchers should attend to this work. As adequate measurement tools are developed, they should be incorporated into the continuous quality improvement for care systems. With all possible haste, benchmarks of quality in good systems need to be made available. Eventually, information about the performance of insurance plans and care delivery systems should be available to the public for use in selecting insurers and providers; and payors and certifiers should set minimal performance standards for contracting and certification.

American Pain Foundation

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:14:02 -0800

Founded in 1997, the American Pain Foundation is an independent nonprofit 501(c)3 organization serving people with pain through information, advocacy, and support. Their mission is to improve the quality of life of people with pain by raising public awareness, providing practical information, promoting research, and advocating to remove barriers and increase access to effective pain management.

American Public Health Association

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:02:03 -0800

Founded in 1872, the American Public Health Association (APHA) is the oldest, largest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world. The association works to protect all Americans and their communities from preventable, serious health threats. APHA represents a broad array of health officials, educators, environmentalists, policy-makers and health providers at all levels working both within and outside governmental organizations and educational institutions. Information about disparities in health literacy including a health disparities data base may be found at this site along with advocacy tips and resources, educational opportunities and publications related to public health.

Americans for Better Care of the Dying

Tue, 5 Apr 2011 21:35:46 -0700

Americans for Better Care of the Dying goals are to: build momentum for reform; explore new methods and systems for delivering care; and shape public policy through evidence-based understanding.

Every dying person needs to be able to count on excellent care. Americans for Better Care of the Dying (ABCD) aims to improve end-of-life care by learning which social and political changes will lead to enduring, efficient, and effective programs. ABCD works with the public, clinicians, policymakers, and other end-of-life organizations to make change happen.

ABCD President Joanne Lynn, MD is one of the foremost national leaders in this movement and the author of Handbook for Mortals: Guidance for People Facing Serious Illness; and Improving Care for the End of Life.

Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC)

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:48:03 -0800

The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) is a national initiative supported by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, with direction and technical assistance provided by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (NY). CAPC provides health care professionals with the tools and training necessary to start and sustain successful palliative care programs.

CAPC publishes The Case for Hospital-Based Palliative Care-Why leading hospitals are starting palliative care programs to provide high-quality, effective management of advanced illness. Other publications include The Guide to Building A Hospital-Based Palliative Care Program, a how-to handbook with step-by-step guidance.

Children's Hospice & Palliative Care Coalition

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:06:25 -0800

Children's Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition of California is a group of organizations, institutions and individuals from throughout the State of California working together to promote compassionate medical care which includes spiritual, emotional and financial support for children with life-threatening illnesses. ...because when a child has a serious illness, medicine is not enough...

Coalition for Compassionate Care of California

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:07:32 -0700

The Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC) is a statewide partnership of more than 95 regional and statewide organizations promoting high quality compassionate end of life care for all Californians. The California POLST Program is led by the CCCC with statewide POLST efforts guided by a 75 -member POLST Task Force. Local efforts to promote POLST and provide education were led statewide by 18 funded POLST coalitions including the Sonoma County Coalition for Compassionate Care, a program of the Community Network. Visit the CCCC website for excellent resources and training opportu

Community Network for Appropriate Technologies

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:43:07 -0800

Overview

The Community Network for Appropriate Technologies was incorporated in 1978 as a federally recognized nonprofit, tax-exempt educational and charitable organization. Susan Keller, Executive Director and Principal Planner, founded the Community Network based on principles which she developed and employed in the Midwest while facilitating creation of a nationally prominent library council.

The general focus of our work is the development of cooperative working relationships within individual organizations, and across organizational and political boundaries. Our overall goal is the development of programs, services, and organizations that are socially, economically, and ecologically sound.

Compassion and Choices

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:44:15 -0800

Compassion & Choices is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving care and expanding choice at the end of life. They provide free client services to the terminally ill and do legal advocacy through the courts and legislatures. They inform and educate the public through the media and other outreach programs.

Cross Cultural Health Care Project

Mon, 31 Oct 2005 10:17:23 -0800

Since 1992, the Cross Cultural Health Care Program (CCHCP) has been addressing broad cultural issues that impact the health of individuals and families in ethnic minority communities in Seattle and nationwide.

Through a combination of cultural competency trainings, interpreter trainings, research projects, community coalition building, and other services, the CCHCP serves as a bridge between communities and health care institutions to ensure full access to quality health care that is culturally and linguistically appropriate. For more information contact CCHCP

Journey Project

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:50:35 -0800

Quality of life is the gold standard in palliative care. Francis Mueller, MD, Calistoga, California

Overview

Through the Journey Project, the Community Network builds upon nearly two decades of work advocating for quality, affordable neighborhood-based long-term care. Educational programming, strategic planning services, and publications offered draw upon a variety of perspectives representing the personal and professional experiences of those involved.

The basic premise of Journey Project is that wellness through the ending of life requires:

good planning

Last Acts

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:05:39 -0800

Last Acts was a national coalition of organizations engaged in an unprecedented education campaign to improve care for people who are dying and their families from late 1990s through 2004. Last Acts served as a clearinghouse for sharing information and ideas at the national, state and local levels. Last Acts provided a forum for discussion, collaboration and broad dissemination of new information. Much of this info is still available via this site and related links.

Leading Age formerly American Association of Homes and Care for the Aging

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:37:19 -0800

The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) is committed to advancing the vision of healthy, affordable, ethical aging services for America. Find out more about our issues and contact congress at their website. It should be noted that the AAHSA is now called LeadingAge. See website for complte info.

National Alliance for Caregivers

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:59:10 -0700

The National Alliance for Caregiving was created to conduct research, do policy analysis, develop national programs and increase public awareness of family caregiving issues. The Alliance’s mission is to be the objective national resource on family caregiving with the goal of improving the quality of life for families and care recipients. Established in 1996, NCA is a non-profit coalition of national organizations focusing on issues of family caregiving. Alliance members include grassroots organizations, professional associations, service organizations, disease-specific organizations, a government agency, and corporations.

National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA)

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:15:20 -0800

The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) supports, empowers, educates, and speaks up for the more than 50 million Americans who care for a chronically ill, aged, or disabled loved one. NFCA reaches across the boundaries of different diagnoses, different relationships and different life stages to address the common needs and concerns of all family caregivers. Publishes dementia caregiver tip sheets among other things.