Resources

The Conversation Project: Free tools and conversation starter guides to help you talk with loved ones about your wishes — before a crisis forces the conversation. Founded in Boston.

Five Wishes: A widely used, accessible advance care planning document that goes beyond medical decisions to address comfort, spiritual needs, and how you want to be treated.

Everlane’s Checklist: A short list of essential documents, accounts, and types of information to organize and put in one place for trusted proxy and caregiver access. 

For fellow Massachusetts residents: MA is one of the few states that doesn't legally recognize living wills — only the Health Care Proxy is binding here. Access state-specific resources here:

• MA Health Care Proxy Form: The legally valid Massachusetts advance directive. Free to download, with plain-language instructions on naming a health care agent and signing it. Pair it with a values document below to record your specific wishes.

• Honoring Choices Massachusetts: A Massachusetts-based nonprofit offering a values/wishes worksheet to use alongside your legal Health Care Proxy, plus general advance care planning guidance

Hospice in Massachusetts: State information on hospice eligibility and how to find a licensed hospice provider near you. Many families wait longer than they need to before enrolling — it's worth understanding your options early.

Compassion & Choices: National nonprofit providing clear information on end-of-life care options.

“Palliative Care: What You Should Know”: A simple, one-page handout in English and Spanish on what palliative care is.

Green Burial Council: Information on environmentally sustainable burial options and a directory of certified green burial providers.

National Home Funeral Alliance: Resources for families who want to care for their own dead at home, including guidance on legal requirements by state.

Funeral Consumers Alliance: Independent, nonprofit consumer guidance on simple, meaningful, and affordable after-death arrangements — helpful if you want an unbiased second opinion before meeting with a funeral home.

Death Cafés: Free, informal community gatherings held worldwide (including in the Boston area) where people can talk openly about death and dying over tea and cake — no agenda, just honest conversation.

Death Over Dinner: A simple framework for hosting your own dinner-table conversation about mortality with people you love.

HopeHealth Grief Support Groups: These support groups are open to anyone in the Rhode Island and Massachusetts community who has endured a loss within the last two years, or who has had a loved one on their service, regardless of where you live.

For grief support specific to your situation, I'm also happy to help connect you with local counselors, support groups, or grief-specific resources as part of our work together.

A few books that come up again and again in this field, for hospice teams, doulas, and families alike.

• Gone From My Sight and The Eleventh Hour, Barbara Karnes, RN — the classic "little blue book" pairing, distributed by hospice teams nationwide. Short, clear, and reassuring on what to expect in the final weeks, days, and hours.

• The Needs of the Dying, David Kessler-- a gentle, practical guide to bringing hope, comfort, and love to life's final chapter, with concrete guidance for caregivers. 

• Final Gifts, Maggie Callanan & Patricia Kelley — a hospice-nurse classic on the special awareness and communications of the dying. Widely considered essential reading for families.

• With the End in Mind, Kathryn Mannix-- a beautifully written, deeply human look at what dying actually looks like, by a palliative care physician.

• Final Journeys, Maggie Callanan-- a practical companion guide for bringing care and comfort at the end of life.

• We All Know How This Ends, Anna Lyons & Louise Winter--  honest, humane reflections on working closely with death and dying.

Most of these are easy to find as an e-book or in print at your local library.