Through stories and actions those facing the end of life help us reflect on the future by grounding us in our history. To our lives they add richness, perspective and depth. The question for us is what can we do to support quality care as the end of life approaches. It’s a topic that few people want to discuss. Fear, guilt and discomfort make it harder. Among diverse communities, the conversation is even more difficult and complex because ideas about end-of-life care and death are shaped by cultural traditions, values and faith. 

While it may be the hardest conversation we’ll ever have, we owe it to our loved ones and ourselves to talk about end-of life care. Comfort, love, respect and dignity should be the markers of end-of-life care, not pain, suffering and loneliness.

We may not know the words, but "palliative care" is what we all want for our loved ones; it means taking care of the whole person – body, mind, spirit, heart and soul. It looks at dying as natural and personal and gives people the best quality of life possible.

The good news is there are ways to provide this kind of care for ourselves and our loved ones – including hospice care, advance directives and pain management. It’s about finding ways to live life to the fullest. 

Continuing the conversation is important. We invite you to share your end-of-life care story with us so that we may share it with others. Please include your name, phone number and address along with your story. Submissions may be sent to:

National Resource Center on Diversity in End-of-Life Care

c/o ALTA Consulting Group

4201 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 402

 Washington, DC  20008

or

info@nrcd.com