Resources for the Aging Population & End of Life Planning
Regardless of abilities, individuals may face issues around aging and will need to plan for the end of their life. It is the intent that individuals and their support network find this resource guide valuable. We hope that this guide will help individuals and their support network plan with dignity and respect in regards to supports around aging and end of life decisions.
End-of-Life Planning Websites
Compassion and Choices is an End-of -Life Tools which includes resources. These tools are designed to help someone consider all their options and share their decisions with others. The website includes Advance Healthcare Directive and tools to help one communicate with medical professionals.
Thinking Ahead is an End-of-Life resource including workbook that provides a way to advocate for what an individual wants in life support treatment and other end-of life choices.
POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) for California includes information and form to complete:
Living well utilizes PCT tools with people who have a life limiting illness:
Go Wish Cards Go Wish gives you an easy, even entertaining way to talk about what is most important to you. The cards help you find words to talk about what is important if you were to be living a life that may be shortened by serious illness. Playing the game with your relatives or best friends can help you learn how you can best comfort your loved ones when they need you most.
The Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC) promotes high-quality, compassionate care for all Californians who are seriously ill or approaching the end of life. CCCC is a statewide collaborative of organizations and individuals representing healthcare providers, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospices, consumers, state agencies and others.
Kaiser Permanente Care at the End of Life allows an individual to select the medical care they want and create their own guide
https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia
Health Care Planning Websites
Thinking About Your Life includes practical thinking tools to help people take a step back and think clearly about their life whether they have an illness or are healthy:
Five Wishes is a living will resource that is written in plain language and helps people express their wishes in areas that matter most to them. It also helps someone describe what good care means to them, whether someone has a life limiting illness or not.:
Person and Family-Centered Care puts the individual and their support at the heart of every decision and empowering the individual to be genuine partners in their care. It includes a conversation starter kit.
Santa Barbara County
ALLIANCE for living and dying well includes End- of- Life resources for Santa Barbara county that will help people have conversations about living and dying and enhance quality and coordination of end-of-life care in SB county. Website includes Advanced Care Directive, 5 Wishes and POLST:
Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC) coordinates local coalitions across the state, working to ensure access to high-quality, compassionate care for all Californians. Our local coalitions have established POLST in their communities and continue to provide POLST education to healthcare professionals across the continuum of care, including how to use POLST properly and how to facilitate meaningful POLST conversations with patients and families. These coalitions also educate consumers about POLST and advance care planning, and serve as contacts in their community when any issues related to POLST arise.
Jeanne M. West
Doctors Assisting Seniors at Home
1187 Harbor Hills Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
(805) 845-3747
(805) 886-4234 mobile
jw@jeannewest.com
jwest@dashsb.com
Rebecca Simonitsch, MS, MAEd, CT, CCLS
Advance Care Planning Coordinator
Cottage Health
P.O. Box 689
400 W. Pueblo Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93102
(805) 448-0399
RSimonit@sbch.org
San Luis Obispo County
Central Coast Coalition for Compassionate Care
Kris Kington-Barker, Executive Director
Hospice of San Luis Obispo County
1304 Pacific St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 544-2266
(805) 471-1233 mobile
kriskington@hospiceslo.org
San Luis Obispo County Compassionate Care and POLST Coalition
Kris Kington-Barker
Hospice of San Luis Obispo County
(805) 544-2266
kriskington@hospiceslo.org
San Luis Obispo County
Ventura County Coalition for Compassionate Care
Teri Helton, RN, PHN, MSN, FCN / Primary Contact
Community Outreach Liaison, Livingston Memorial VNA
1996 Eastman Avenue, Suite 101, Ventura, CA 93003
(805) 612-7741
thelton@lmvna.org
Fr. Calin Tamiian M.A., B.C.C. / Secondary Contact
Manager Spiritual Care, St. John’s Hospitals, A Dignity Health Member
Regional Medical Center, 1600 North Rose Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93030
Pleasant Valley Hospital, 2309 Antonia Avenue, Camarillo, CA 93010
(805) 988-2892
Calin.Tamiian@dignityhealth.org
