Death, Grief and Mourning Resources

Complicated grief is a true mental disorder. A July 2005 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a specialized "complicated grief therapy" is particularly effective in treating this severe form of grief.

Patients with advanced AIDS who suffer from problems like memory loss or failing coordination are significantly more likely to wish for an early death than patients without these problems, according to new research.

A study of older adults (average age 62) found that loss of a loved one results in increased use of health services.

From Tom Golden, a site specializing in healing from loss.  Includes excerpts from his book Swallowed by a Snake.

A site focusing on Ontario, Canada resources. Includes helpful hints on what to do when a loved one has died.

An easily navigated site that includes original writings and support resources, as well as links to grief resources throughout the world.

Site offers a variety of information regarding affordable funerals and what people can do to plan. Also, available is an end-of-life planning kit.

Provides end of life information and referral, public education, and professional networking.

A site with an extensive library of original material on grief and loss.

stands for Grief Recovery Online founded by Widows and Widowers. It is a heavily interactive site with bulletin boards for different aspects of grief.

A collection of things not to say to someone in grief - from Widownet.

An attractive site which includes an "Emergency Pick-me-up Page".

A very personal site written by a parent who has lost three children.

A place of support after the death of a child.

a loss and grief peer support program for young people.  It aims to help young people understand their feelings after a death, separation or divorce.

Offering grief support and support for those suffering loss issues resulting from aging, divorce, rape, substance abuse, and other social problems not commonly associated with grief and loss.

A personal guide to planning your own funeral.

Publishers of the book Good Grief. Their site includes a list of resources and a comprehensive bookstore.

A multi-disciplinary professional organization.

Statistics examining where Americans with chronic illness died in 1989 and 1997. Where do Americans die? At home, in nursing homes or in the hospital? It may depend on where you live.

An interdisciplinary team of individuals engaged in research, public advocacy, and education activities.

A national not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people participate in decisions about end-of-life care.

Finding Our Way is a short course on death and dying in America today. These topics can't be avoided by any of us. The practical advice, resources, and personal stories in Finding Our Way can teach how to approach these most significant life events with the same kind of planning and emotional preparedness we strive for in the rest of our lives.

Articles, columns, forums and information on spirituality and end-of-life care.

Advice from a physician who is dying from cancer.

Presented annually to recognize outstanding initiatives to improve end-of-life care.

A multidisciplinary educational and scientific organization dedicated to serving people in pain.

Dedicated to social, professional and policy reform aimed at improving the care system for patients with serious illness and for their families.

A private center providing education and resources for the grieving and those who work with them.

CAPC provides technical assistance needed to establish palliative care programs as well as opportunities to network with colleagues in the palliative care community; features CAPC publications, education calendar and information about advocacy activities.

Provides grants to support statewide coalitions composed of citizens, health care professionals, educators and policymakers that identify problems, make recommendations and build public support for practical policies, regulations and guidelines to improve care of the dying. Publishes State Initiatives in End-of-Life Care.

From HCFA, comes an informative guide on-line.  This includes financing and coverage information.

A continuing education program for hospitals and nursing facilities to improve care of the critically ill.

Dr. Ira Byock's site listing resources for people with a life-limiting illness. Contains resources and referrals to organizations, web sites and books to empower persons with life-threatening illnesses and their families to live as fully as possible during the dying process. Provides link to the Missoula Demonstration Project, which demonstrates a community-based approach to end-of-life care.

Educates physicians, through its core curriculum, on essential clinical competencies required to provide quality end-of-life care.

Assists physician educators and others in locating high-quality, peer-reviewed training materials. Visitors to this site can search for educational materials indexed by end-of-life care topic areas and educational formats.

NPR's program website.  An excellent site including a Real Audio format discussion.

A brochure for individuals who are terminally ill.

An awareness campaign designed to bring end-of-life issues out into the open.

A community ethics center dedicated to integrating ethical considerations into health care decision-making.

From the Natural Death Centre, a comprehensive online guidebook.

A guidebook developed by the multidisciplinary Task Force to Improve the Care of Terminally-Ill Oregonians.

The Partnership for Caring: America's Voices for the Dying is a national non-profit organization devoted to raising consumer expectations and demand for excellent end-of-life care. Offers resources for talking about end-of-life choices, the process of health care agency and state-specific advance directives.

Manages 22 grant-funded projects designed to demonstrate excellence in end-of-life care in diverse institutional settings. The project is a National Program Office of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, headquartered in Missoula, Montana.

A consortium of Catholic health systems come together to create research, publications and resource information on care of the dying.

From the Center to Improve Care of the Dying, comes a wonderful bibliography and listing of measurement tools and assessment checklists both for individual client assessment and for program evaluation.