Consumer Education

Speakers available

The Alliance provides a free presentation, Medical Decisions When They Count Most, to help adults of all ages prepare for decisions about care if they become unable to communicate their wishes. Available for businesses and civic organizations, congregations and senior groups, the program includes information on advance directives and talking with families and doctors about preferences for care. To schedule a speaker, contact SHD.

Educational Booklets

SHD's Finding Your Way booklet encourages early family discussions and helps those who are considering whether to initiate or withdraw life-sustaining treatment when the end of life is near (also available in Spanish). Mrs. Lee's Story, in English and Chinese, introduces end-of-life issues that concern Chinese elders and their families. Preview and order on Publications page.

Advance Directives

California's Advance Health Care Directive is a way to make your health care wishes known if you become unable to communicate or prefer someone else to speak for you. An advance directive can serve one or both of these functions: Power of Attorney for Health Care (to appoint an agent) and Instructions for Health Care (to indicate your wishes).

To assist in making your wishes known, the Alliance provides the following free forms and other materials:

Free Advance Directive form
Free Advance Directive form (Spanish)
Free Advance Directive form (Chinese)
Fact sheet on Advance Directives
Choosing your Spokesperson

Organ donor registry

The Donate Life California Organ & Tissue Donor Registry is a secure and confidential way to document your wishes for donation. Sign up at www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org or www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org (Spanish). For more information, call (916) 567-1600.

Seminars for Healthcare Professionals & Faith Leaders

Respecting Choices course

Next course: September 11 & 12, 2008
For information, call (916) 733-6330.

This two-day nationally recognized advance care planning facilitator training is designed for nurses and social workers from community and healthcare settings. Respecting Choices is sponsored twice yearly by the Alliance and CHW Strategic Learning Dept. Continuing education credits are available for RNs, MFTs and LCSWs.

Course participants learn:

• medical choices facing seriously ill and dying patients
• information on advance directives
• tools for assisting with advance care planning
• ACP facilitation skills and competencies
• specific strategies for working with individuals at different stages of illness

Partners in Caring seminar for faith leaders

2008 seminar date: May 15

For a registration flyer, click here.

This one-day seminar is designed to help faith leaders support seriously ill and dying individuals and their families. Developed to bridge medical and ethical concepts with the spiritual aspects of end-of-life care, the program includes:

• concepts in setting goals for care near the end of life
• legal issues around life-sustaining treatment and advance directives
• information about pain management, including myths and misconceptions
• how to partner with the medical team to address suffering
• ways to address spiritual needs of patients and families
• how to facilitate communication and be present with the dying

Health Care Decisions Week

California's Health Care Decisions Week is a time for people to think about the kind of care they would want if they become seriously ill or incapacitated, talk with their loved ones or doctors, and write down their wishes in an advance directive. Held annually the last week in October, Health Care Decisions Week featured the following activities in 2007:

• Sacramento premiere at Sacramento State University of Two Weeks movie starring Sally Field.
• Educational presentations on medical decision-making and advance directives at community and senior centers throughout the Sacramento region.
• With Love & Dignity documentary on KVIE featuring Sacramento families facing end-of-life issues and decisions.
• Advance directive classes at area hospitals.