Hospice and Palliative Care Resources

Children’s Hospice International

901 North Pitt Street, Suite 230
Alexandria, VA 22314
Telephone: (800) 2-4-CHILD (800-242-4453) or (703) 684-0330
Fax: (703) 684-0226
Home page: http://www.chionline.org

Children’s Hospice International is a nonprofit organization that provides a network of support and care for children who have life-threatening conditions and for their families. It serves as a clearinghouse for research programs and support groups and offers educational materials and training programs on pain management and the care of seriously ill children.

Growth House, Inc.

San Francisco, CA
Telephone: (415) 863-3045 (health care providers only)
Home page: www.growthhouse.org

Growth House offers an extensive database covering end-of-life issues, including death with dignity, hospice care, palliative care, pain management, grief, and bereavement. An on-line bookstore offers books on these and other pertinent issues. To achieve its primary mission—to improve the quality of compassionate care for terminally ill people through public education and global professional collaboration—this organization’s Web site offers access to a comprehensive collection of reviewed resources for life-threatening illness and end-of-life care. Growth House offers a free monthly e-mail newsletter covering new and noteworthy Internet resources for terminal care, life-threatening illness, and bereavement. Growth House also provides the Inter-Institutional Collaborative Network on End-of-Life Care, which links major professional organizations internationally.

Hospice Education Institute

3 Unity Square
P.O. Box 98
Machiasport, ME 04655-0098
Telephone: (800) 331-1620 or (207) 255-8800
Home page: www.hospiceworld.org

The Hospice Education Institute helps patients and their families find support services in their communities. HOSPICELINK, a free service of the institute, maintains a computerized database and up-to-date directory of all hospice and palliative care programs in the United States. Through this service, patients, caregivers, and family members can obtain information about hospice and palliative care, as well as referrals to local hospice and palliative care programs. Those who need someone to talk to will find a sympathetic ear on the HOSPICELINK toll-free line. A small gift program makes immediate gifts to hospice patients and families for nonmedical needs, as identified by local hospice staff members. Books and pamphlets on hospice-related subjects are available.

Hospice Foundation of America

2001 South Street, N.W. #300
Washington, DC 20009
Telephone: (800) 854-3402
Fax: (202) 638-5312
Home page: www.hospicefoundation.org

The Hospice Foundation of America is a nonprofit organization that promotes hospice care and works to educate professionals and the families they serve about issues relating to caregiving, terminal illness, loss, and bereavement. The foundation achieves its mission through research, professional development programs, and public information and education campaigns that assist those who must cope, personally or professionally, with serious illness, death, and the grieving process.

Hospice Net

401 Bowling Avenue, Suite 51
Nashville, TN 37205
Home page: www.hospicenet.org

Hospice Net is a nonprofit organization that is accessible exclusively through the Internet. It provides information and support to patients and families facing life-threatening illnesses.

Hospice Patients Alliance, Inc.

P.O. Box 744
Rockford, MI 49341-0744
Telephone: (616) 866-9127
Home page: www.hospicepatients.org

The Hospice Patients Alliance (HPA) is a nonprofit charitable organization that promotes quality hospice services for patients residing at home or in a facility (whether the facility is licensed or not). HPA protects the rights of patients, their families and caregivers, the bereaved, and staff by providing information about the standards of care governing the health care provided, the services required by law, standard industry practices, and how to obtain the very best hospice care available. In addition to providing information about hospice services, HPA directly assists patients, families, and caregivers in resolving difficulties they may have with their current hospice services.

International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care

University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Box 08
Houston, TX 77030
Fax: (713) 339-9041
Home page: www.hospicecare.com

Recognizing that millions of people die with unnecessary pain and suffering that could be helped or even prevented by palliative care, the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care works to increase the availability of high-quality hospice and palliative care and public access to it. The association works with agencies as well as individuals, improving communications and access to resources and fostering opportunities in education and training in the field of palliative care. It publishes a calendar of palliative care meetings and events, an on-line bibliography of pertinent articles from palliative care journals, and a free on-line newsletter that includes news and information on palliative care.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)

1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314
Telephone: (800) 658-8898 (helpline) or (703) 837-1500 (direct line)
Home page: www.nhpco.org

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) represents most of the hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States and is committed to improving end-of-life care and expanding access to hospice care. This organization offers discussion groups, publications, information about how to find a hospice, and information about the financial aspects of hospice care. Some Spanish-language publications are available, and staff are able to answer calls in Spanish.

National Hospice Foundation

1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314
Telephone: (703) 516-4928 or (800) 338-8619 (to order publications)
Fax: (703) 525-5762
Home page: www.hospiceinfo.org

The National Hospice Foundation uses research and education to expand America’s vision of end-of-life care. An on-line guide helps users find and select a hospice program.

Partnership for Caring

1620 Eye Street, Suite 202
Washington, DC 20006
Telephone: (202) 296-8071 or (800) 989-9455, option 3 (hotline)
Fax: (202) 296-8352
Home page: www.partnershipforcaring.org
or
475 Riverside Drive, Room 1852
New York, NY 10115
Telephone: (212) 870-2003 or (800) 989-9455, option 1 (hotline)
Fax: (212) 870-8352
Home page: www.partnershipforcaring.org

Partnership for Caring is a national nonprofit organization that partners individuals and organizations in a powerful collaboration to improve how people die in American society. Among other services, Partnership for Caring operates the only national crisis and information hotline dealing with end-of-life issues and provides state-specific living wills and medical powers of attorney. For specific assistance with an end-of-life situation, or to speak with legal program staff, contact the New York office. For information about a living will and medical power of attorney, contact the Washington, D.C., office.