Health and Aging

End of Life

Hospice—Not a black and white decision

(Published in LINKS: Minority Research & Training - Spring 2010)

OrganDonor.gov

The Division of Transplantation (DoT) is within the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration's Healthcare Systems Bureau. DoT is the primary federal entity responsible for oversight of the organ and blood stem cell transplant systems in the U.S. and for initiatives to increase the level of organ donation in this country.

Web Site: 
http://www.organdonor.gov

Open to Hope.com

The Open to Hope Foundation provides an online forum with information and support so that people who experience loss can learn to cope with pain and grief. The OpenToHope.com website is an online community where people can find and share inspirational stories of  loss, and share and contribute to the community.

 

Web Site: 
http://www.opentohope.com

Organ donation – You’re never too old to make a difference

The National Institute on Aging and NIH are working with a team of federal agencies to encourage older adults to register as organ donors. Led by the Health Resources and Services Administration and launched during Older Americans Month in May 2012, the new campaign seeks to increase knowledge and interest about organ donation to people 50 and older, who comprise the majority of people receiving organ transplants.

Last year, 60 percent of the people receiving organ transplants were 50 and older. Today, more than 114,000 people of all ages are on the waiting list for an organ.

Advance Care Planning

Advance care planning is not just about old age. At any age, a medical crisis could leave someone too ill to make his or her own healthcare decisions. Even if you are not sick now, making healthcare plans for the future is an important step toward making sure you get the medical care you would want, even when doctors and family members are making the decisions for you.

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Caring for a Person with Alzheimer's Disease

Your Easy-to-Use Guide from the National Institute on Aging

This comprehensive, 104-page handbook offers easy-to-understand information and advice for at-home caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease. It addresses all aspects of care, from bathing and eating to visiting the doctor and getting respite care.

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Legal and Financial Planning for People with Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet

Many people are unprepared to deal with the legal and financial consequences of a serious illness such as Alzheimer's disease. Legal and medical experts encourage people recently diagnosed with a serious illness—particularly one that is expected to cause declining mental and physical health—to examine and update their financial and health care arrangements as soon as possible.

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Introduction

Photo of papers and reading glassesAt the end of life, each story is different. Death comes suddenly, or a person lingers, gradually failing. For some older people, the body weakens while the mind stays alert. Others remain physically strong, and cognitive losses take a huge toll. But for everyone, death is inevitable, and each loss is personally felt by those close to the one who has died.

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So Far Away: Twenty Questions and Answers About Long-Distance Caregiving

Using a question-and-answer format, this beautifully illustrated, 44-page booklet offers information about caregiving from afar. It explores topics such as complex family relationships, legal issues, housing options, and advance directives.

English
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