End-of-Life Planning, Advance-Care Planning, Palliative Care

 

• The Conversation Project :Tools to help people talk about their wishes for care through the end of life.
   

• CaringInfo (by NHPCO): Free advance directives, planning guides, and hospice/palliative care information

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• End Well Project: Resources cover everything from guidance on navigating the dying process, support for grief and mental health, talking to aging parents about death, supporting a grieving child, starting end-of-life planning, or providing care to a dying loved one​

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• Five Wishes: A simple legal document that helps people express how they want to be treated if seriously ill. Accepted in 44 states. *please note this does not replace an Advance Directive or Last Will & Testament* 

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• Being Mortal (by Atul Gawande): While not a website, this book (and companion PBS documentary) is often referenced for those beginning to consider mortality and medical decision-making. Companion site includes discussion guides. 

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• POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment): For people with serious illness or frailty, POLST helps document medical orders reflecting a patient’s treatment preferences

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• Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC): Offers provider-focused tools and training, but also public resources on how to advocate for quality palliative care. 

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• National Institute on Aging – End of Life: Trusted government resource offering basic, practical info on hospice, palliative care, advance directives, and caregiver support.

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• MyDirectives: A digital advance care planning platform that lets users create and share advance directives and emergency medical information. 

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• Get Palliative Care: While focused on palliative care, this site helps families understand when to transition to hospice, what to expect, and how to find local support

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Hospice & Caregiving Support

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• Hearth Hospice (serving TN & GA): A locally focused hospice providing compassionate end-of-life care to patients and families in Chattanooga and surrounding areas. Known for personalized care and strong community ties. *highly recommended* Phone: (423) 482-1234

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• Family Caregiver Alliance: Offers tailored advice for caregivers of those with terminal and chronic illnesses, including legal, financial, and emotional support tools.

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• Hilarity for Charity: a National non-profit on a mission to care for families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease, activate the next generation of Alzheimer’s advocates, and be a leader in brain health research and education.

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• Dementia Darling: A dedicated educator and advocate in the dementia community, committed to sharing knowledge, resources, and encouragement. Her aim is to empower caregivers and raise awareness to improve the quality of life for individuals affected by dementia.

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• Hospice Nurse Julie: A well known and reputable a RN/BSN nurse with a passion for education. She educates people on the death and dying process and help them through it. Julie believes that people should know about the dying process BEFORE they're actually going through it with a loved one or themselves.

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• AARP Caregiving: Practical checklists, guides on communicating with doctors, medication management, and finding local resources.

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• The Caregiver Action Network: Offers peer support, how-to guides, and help navigating complex healthcare systems, including end-of-life scenarios.

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• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO): The leading U.S. nonprofit for hospice and palliative care. Offers detailed guides for families, advance care planning tools, and a hospice provider directory.

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• Hospice Foundation of America (HFA): Provides online grief support, caregiver webinars, hospice education, and training programs. Excellent for families and professionals.

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• Medicare Hospice Benefit (CMS): Explains what hospice care includes, who qualifies, and how services are covered under Medicare. Offers essential information for families navigating insurance and hospice enrollment.

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• National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC): Includes policy resources, hospice care definitions, and a provider search tool. Advocates for quality in home and end-of-life care.​​​

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​​​​Movies & Film 

Moon Manor

A man with Alzheimer's stages a vibrant farewell party on the day of his planned death with medical aid in dying. Supported by a death doula and surrounded by friends, he embarks on a final celebration of life. Available on Apple TV, Amazon.

From Scratch (Netflix Limited Series)

Based on a true story, this series follows a woman’s love story and caregiving journey as her husband faces a terminal illness. Themes include hospice, palliative care, and the emotional complexity of anticipatory grief. Streaming on Netflix.

You're Not You

A classical pianist diagnosed with ALS forms an unlikely bond with her caregiver. A story of autonomy, acceptance, and the dignity of being seen in illness. Available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV.

Take Me Out Feet First

This Amazon documentary profiles 25 people with terminal illness who explore their end-of-life choices, including medical aid in dying, hospice, and dying at home. Streaming on Amazon Prime.

The Last Ecstatic Days

A young man with terminal brain cancer documents his final weeks with the support of a palliative care team and a death doula. A raw, intimate look at what it means to die consciously. Available via film festivals and select screenings (2024).

Suncoast

A coming-of-age film about a teen navigating her brother’s terminal illness and her own grief, set against the backdrop of a historic right-to-die court case. Streaming on Hulu.

Our Friend

Based on a true story, this film shows how deep friendship becomes a lifeline for a family as a mother battles terminal cancer. A realistic look at caregiving, emotional labor, and the enduring power of presence. Available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV.

End Game (Netflix Documentary Short)

A powerful short film that follows patients and doctors at UCSF Medical Center as they face end-of-life choices, blending palliative care, ethics, and humanity. Streaming on Netflix.

Extremis (Netflix Documentary Short)

An unfiltered look inside the ICU, where doctors and families face agonizing decisions around life-sustaining treatments and comfort care. Streaming on Netflix.

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey

A man with Alzheimer’s experiences one last window of mental clarity and uses it to resolve unfinished business. Touches on memory, legacy, and end-of-life autonomy. Streaming on Apple TV+

Dying for Sex

After receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis, a woman leaves her husband and embarks on a journey of sexual self-discovery. Supported by her best friend, she explores intimacy and desires in her remaining time. Streaming on Hulu.

 

​Still Alice

A linguistics professor is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. A deeply personal exploration of identity, family, and agency as memory fades. Available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV.

The Father

Told from the perspective of a man with dementia, this film offers a powerful and disorienting look at cognitive decline and the strain it places on caregivers. Available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV.

Away From Her

A poignant portrayal of a long-term couple navigating the painful distance caused by Alzheimer’s, told with emotional grace and subtlety. Available on Amazon Prime.

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