<HTML> <head> <title>Alliance raises public dialogue around end-of-life issues

ALLIANCE RAISES PUBLIC DIALOGUE ON END-OF-LIFE ISSUES

The Compassionate Care Alliance of the Greater Sacramento Region is a coalition of 25 faith-based, senior, community and healthcare organizations and individuals working to stimulate public dialogue that can improve care at the end of life.

Current projects:

Partners in Caring October 7, 2004
The Alliance is sponsoring its third annual one-day seminar for area faith leaders that focuses on medical, legal, and interpersonal aspects of end-of-life care. Modeled after a national training for physicians, the seminar is taught by area physicians and other professionals. Last year's workshop reached 40 faith leaders from a variety of denominations, who are using what they learned to better support seriously ill and dying members of their congregations.

Seminar content includes presentations and discussion on the elements of palliative care, pain and suffering, presence and communication, legal and ethical issues, and the last hours of life. Cost for the day, including breakfast, lunch and all materials is $50. Download the PIC Registration Flyer or contact SHD.

Health Care Decisions Week events being planned
Communities around the state will be calling attention to the importance of advance care planning during California's second Health Care Decisions Week, November 7-13, 2004.

To Highlight the week, the Alliance is:

Planning a November 7, 2004, community presentation and resource fair to be cosponsored by the Sacramento Public Library at the Downtown Galleria. Featured speaker will be William H. Colby, author of Long Goodbye: The Deaths of Nancy Cruzan. Mr. Colby was the attorney who represented the family of 20-year old Nancy Cruzan in the first "right-to-die" case ever heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. An advocate for advance care planning, Mr. Colby speaks regularly on the topic and has appeared on Good Morning America, the Today show, CBS This Morning and the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.
Partnering with KVIE to produce a half-hour program that introduces viewers to advance care planning, shares the experiences of families facing difficult decisions about end-of-life care and highlights Sacramento area programs that are addressing these issues.
Working with senior groups, faith communities and healthcare organizations to plan activities throughout the region, e.g., educational presentations, advance directive classes, book group discussions.

Speakers bureau available

Healthcare and other professionals from El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties are available to offer a thought-provoking, informational session for community, faith-based and senior groups. This one-hour program on advance care planning introduces audiences of all ages to the importance of preparing for medical decisions about care near the end of life. Information is also provided on advance directive documents - what they are, choosing a spokesperson and talking with your family and doctor about your wishes.

Speakers are available for no charge at mutually agreeable times. To schedule a speaker, contact SHD.

Alliance Participants

Chris Evans, RN, CO-CHAIR	Catholic Healthcare West Strategic Learning
Kathy Glasmire, CO-CHAIR	Sacramento Healthcare Decisions

Barbara Cook Andreotti, RN, CMC	Eskaton/The Senior Connection
Sandra Barak, RN, CHPN	Yolo Hospice
Susan Benson	Sacramento Public Library
Tracy Bryan, APR	Golden State Donor Services
Virginia Carreiro	Vitas Hospice Chaplain
Susan Carson, RN	Catholic Healthcare West
Lisa Choquette	Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center
Rosie Cox, RN	Common Ground Resources
Clare Curran, RN	Holy Family Catholic Church Parish Nurse
Sister Clare Dalton	Catholic Healthcare West
Sheila Enders, MSW	Catholic Healthcare West
Alan Fisher	East Lawn, Inc.
Cheryl Franzi, RN, MSN	California Dept of Veterans Affairs
Michael Gunther-Maher, MD	Kaiser Permanente Sacramento
Paul Janke, D.Min.	Lutheran Social Services of No. California
Gerald Jones	Sutter Roseville Hospice
Candy Kodama, RN	Mercy Hospice
Sue Mooney, RN	Fremont Presbyterian Church
John Mooney	Certified Senior Advisor
Karen Powell	Homestead of Fair Oaks
KD Profitt	Sutter Resource Library
Rev. Paul Scholl	First Call Home Care
Annette Tannascoli	Community member, Sacramento
Laurie Webb	Amador Senior Services

The Alliance is one of more than 20 community coalitions around the state affiliated with the California Coalition for Compassionate Care. Formed to bring about meaningful change in the delivery of end-of-life care in California, the Coalition includes 50+ healthcare and consumer organizations. Visit www.finalchoices.calhealth.org.