The Center for Healthcare Decisions (CHCD) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has worked for more than 15 years to improve care at the end of life. We have developed materials that help people think and talk about their end-of-life care wishes, made hundreds of presentations to community groups and conducted many seminars for health professionals and faith leaders.

CHCD is part of the leadership team for the Sacramento Area POLST Coalition and oversees its speakers bureau. To schedule a free speaker for your community or healthcare organization, contact CHCD or call (916) 851-2828.

Resources for Making End-of-Life Care Decisions:

Advance Health Care Directive – a document that makes your health care wishes known and allows you to appoint a person to speak for you if you become unable to communicate.

Advance Directive form
Advance Directive form (Spanish)
Advance Directive form (Chinese)
Fact sheet on Advance Directives
Choosing your Spokesperson
Help for Healthcare Agents
Advance Directive forms for each of the 50 states

Talking with your family and your doctor – help make sure your wishes for care are known by talking with loved ones and your doctor.

Finding Your Way booklet
Finding Your Way booklet (Spanish)
Mrs. Lee’s Story booklet (English/Chinese-bilingual)

POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment)
Sacramento Area POLST Coalition

• Learn about a new medical order to give seriously ill patients more control over their end-of-life care.
• For additional information and helpful materials, visit the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California.

Other helpful websites:

Hospice and palliative care
California Hospice and Palliative Care Association

• Learn about hospice and palliative care services.
• Find a hospice near you: lists hospices in California and Nevada.

Organ and tissue donation
Golden State Donor Services

• Learn about organ and tissue donation.
• Register to become a donor through Donate Life California
  (for Spanish-speaking donors) 

Family caregiver support
Non-profit organizations that provide support services for caregivers, e.g., assessment, referral and consultation; educational workshops; legal and financial advice; family counseling; respite care.

• Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center
• The Senior Connection