Serious Illness & End of Life

Palliative care preserves patient dignity

With increasing age comes greater risk for serious illness and the natural progression towards the end of life. Too often, care at this time fails to meet the goals and preferences of older adults and results in harm and burden. Palliative care and other effective approaches must be more widely available.

The John A. Hartford Foundation will continue to promote care that preserves dignity and honors the wishes of older adults and their families.

Our grantmaking in this area will:

  • Increase access to high-quality palliative care services and other evidence-based models and practices;
  • Develop approaches for better educating and preparing the health care workforce; and
  • Foster communication and community-based solutions while informing public policy supportive of the needs of the seriously ill and their families.

View Serious Illness and End of Life Grants

Improving Advance Care Planning

Results from the “Conversation Starters” Focus Groups and “Conversation Stopper” Physician Survey

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