Resources

• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) to help people make decisions about end-of-life care and services before a crisis: https://www.nhpco.org/patients-and-caregivers/
• California Hospice and Palliative Care Association (CHAPCA): https://calhospice.org/hospice/
• Article on Medicare’s Hospice Benefit: https://www.elderlawanswers.com/medicares-hospice-benefit-little-known-little-used-3258

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s Disease

• https://www.als.org/
• https://www.als.org/navigating-als/resources/fyi-hospice
• http://webgsd.alsa.org/site/PageNavigator/GSD_8c_Resources.html

Alzheimer's Disease

• https://www.alz.org/
• https://www.newmouth.com/blog/alzheimers-gum-disease/

Cancer

• Pleural Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma

• Free resources: https://www.mesotheliomahope.com/mesothelioma/prognosis/
• End stage support: https://www.mesotheliomaguide.com/mesothelioma/
• Grief support: https://mesothelioma.net/mesothelioma-and-mourning/

California Advance Directives form allows you to make your wishes known about how you want to be treated if you get very sick – including choosing an agent to make healthcare decisions for you when you cannot make them yourself. 

This form should be used by anyone in California, not just seniors or those with terminal illnesses.

California Advance Directives form link

An important consideration for seniors and those with life-limiting illnesses is whether to opt for CPR if they stop breathing.

• Reality of CPR for elder patients: https://dailycaring.com/the-reality-of-cpr-for-seniors-get-the-facts/
• Survival rates and outcomes for elderly patients who receive CPR: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cpr-survival-elderly/for-elderly-hospital-patients-cpr-often-has-poor-outcome-study-idUSKBN0DP1IH20140509

• Practical care strategies, stress relief, community resources, how to handle family issues, and hands-on care: https://www.caregiver.org/caregiving-issues-and-strategies
• Why is music critical for caregivers: https://www.senioradvisor.com/blog/2014/11/why-music-is-critical-for-caregivers-plus-five-playlists-to-get-you-started/
• Stress reducing music: https://dailycaring.com/customized-stress-reducing-music-for-caregivers/
• Caregiver statistics: https://www.caregiver.org/caregiver-statistics-health-technology-and-caregiving-resources
• Sensory stimulation for Alzheimer’s patients: https://www.alzheimers.net/2014-01-23/sensory-stimulation-alzheimers-patients/
• Information on the importance of sleep for persons with dementia and tips/strategies for good “sleep hygiene”: https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/pdfs/Dementia-and-Sleep.pdf
• Community guide that helps navigate financial options for senior care: https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/paying-for-assisted-living
• Caregivers guide to hospice: https://www.opencaregiving.com/hospice
• Caregiving glossary: https://www.opencaregiving.com/glossary
• Caregiving stories: https://www.opencaregiving.com/stories

• COVID-19 Vaccines: A Guide for Individuals: https://www.aha.org/covid-19-vaccines-guide-individuals
• Staying Fit While Staying Home: Exercise for Seniors in Quarantine: https://sonataseniorliving.com/news/staying-fit-while-staying-home-exercise-for-seniors-in-quarantine/
• Mental Health and Coping during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/mental-health-and-coping/index.html
• Tips for Older People to Stay Connected and Safe: https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/socializing-in-place-tips-for-older-people-to-stay-connected-and-safe/

• Tips on how to choose a residential care facility: https://www.aplaceformom.com/planning-and-advice/articles/how-to-choose-residential-care-facility
• Advice for family caregivers: https://www.caring.com/
• Fact sheets about nursing homes and residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFE) from the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform: http://www.canhr.org/factsheets/
• Guide to senior communities and care providers: https://www.newlifestyles.com/
• 50,000+ searchable senior living facilities across every city, town, and county in the United States. Resources and articles on senior living, aging, dementia, senior care, caregiving, and more: https://www.seniorguidance.org/

• Offering eco-friendly deathcare options for all of Southern California such as Water Cremation and Green Burial: http://www.whiteroseaquacremation.com
• Information on organ and body donation: https://www.mainlinehealth.org/blog/whole-body-donation

Whole body donation for research and medical education:

• https://www.researchforlife.org/
• https://www.sciencecare.com/body-donation-overview
• https://medcure.org/

• In Home Support Services (IHSS) State Of California: http://www.canhr.org/factsheets/misc_fs/html/fs_ihss.htm
• Information about IHSS in San Diego County: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/ais/inhome_supportive_services.html
• Medi-Cal program: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/programs/ssp/medi-cal_program/index.html
• Medicare hospice coverage: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospice-care
• Financial help for older adults: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/older-adults/
• Reverse Mortgage Calculator: https://www.mortgagecalculator.org/calcs/reverse-mortgage.php
• Guide to protecting elderly individuals from scammers: https://www.ireviews.com/online-scams/

• Home and community-based care for veterans: https://www.sandiego.va.gov/services/Home_and_Community_Based_Care.asp
• Support services provided to current and former service members and their family members: https://www.courage2call.org
• How to Start a Small Business - A Veteran’s SMB Guide with Tools and Financial Resources: https://digital.com/veterans-business/
• Free Grants for Veterans: http://freegrantsforveterans.org/

• Grief Support Groups in San Diego County: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups/grief/ca/san-diego
• Grief recovery support groups in the city of San Diego, CA: https://www.griefshare.org/countries/us/states/ca/cities/san_diego
• Information about Camp Erin, a weekend-long camp for grieving children and teens: https://www.ourhouse-grief.org/camp-erin-la-oc/

• Natural disasters such as wildfires are common, and you should be prepared before they happen: https://www.readysandiego.org/content/dam/oesready/en/Resources/OES%20My%20Disaster%20Plan_ENGLISH.pdf
• Register your cell phone and email address with the County so that you can receive reverse-911 calls: https://www.readysandiego.org/content/oesready/en-us/alertsandiego.html
• Recovery resources for after a disaster: http://www.theredguidetorecovery.com/the-red-guide-to-recovery-condensed-version/