Community Engagement

We’re in communities like yours advocating and empowering each other about end-of-life care, planning and options.

What We Do

We lead efforts to improve end-of-life care from the ground up: we teach workshops, give presentations, hold virtual and in-person events, create culturally competent materials and more.

Community Spotlight

This Hispanic Heritage Month, Compassion & Choices is partnering with multiple national organizations to share end-of-life planning resources and information in English and Spanish.

Communities We Serve

Our Resources

The Dementia Values and Priorities Tool is designed to help you communicate your wishes regarding future care if you are living with dementia. After answering a series of questions related to the changes commonly seen in the progression of dementia, the tool will provide you with a document that can be added to your existing advance directive and shared with others. The interactive online tool is available in English and Spanish, printable version are available in multiple language

The guide will help you think through your priorities for end-of-life care, complete an advance directive and other forms you may need, choose a representative to speak for you if you cannot, and consider common end-of-life medical interventions so you can specify what you want or don’t want — right up to the end. 

lgbtq community outreach group

Videos

We have an extensive video library of our storytellers and supporters.

2024 REACH Las Vegas
Thomas Reed Jackson - Part 1 - Legacy
What Is Advance Care Planning? Tools, Resources and Conversation Needed

Webinars

We hold virtual events and webinars to encourage end-of-life care and planning conversations. 

National Summer Arts & Culture Series: Finale (ft. Suzanna Tiapula)
End-of-Life Advocacy Changemakers: Why We Volunteer with Compassion & Choices
How to Effectively Engage Faith Communities

Leadership Councils

Compassion & Choices is proud to have multiple leadership councils composed of volunteer leaders from medicine, community advocacy, law and other areas of interest.

Compassion & Choices is proud to offer a host of tools and resources to help you and your loved ones “finish strong” by planning for an end-of-life experience that matches the life you’ve enjoyed – defined by love, purpose and agency.

Stories are an essential part of our work to educate and empower all people to understand their options, plan ahead and take action early to chart their end-of-life journey. 

Motivated by the impact of racism, inequity and disparities in end-of-life care, we are connecting with people nationwide to spread the word about the importance of end-of-life care planning and accessing quality end-of-life care.

Stories

victor silva

Victor Silva

Thanks to many dinner table conversations, Victor knew his parents’ wishes for their end-of-life care and was able to honor them.
“I knew Mom wanted to be comfortable at the end of her life, and I had promised her that I would make sure that she was as happy as she could be until the very last second.”

Vickie George

Co-founder and president of Yes U Can USA, Vickie George advocates for autonomy in healthcare decisions for people with disabilities.
“I want to maintain autonomy over my personal healthcare decisions at the end of my life, just as I have throughout my life.”
Vickie George with a fishing pole and a recently caught Fish
Don José Alejandro Lemuz resting on a pillow

José Alejandro Lemuz

José Alejandro Lemuz [1963-2024] was the first Latino to publicly announce his plan to use medical aid in dying.
“Only I know what I’m going through. I want my doctors to understand and respect the decision I have made.”

Ben de Guzman

Ben de Guzman sees a natural connection between advocating for your community and advocating for yourself at the end of life.
"I'm so grateful that my work with Compassion & Choices provides me with the resources to improve my personal life and to allow me to think about the resources that are out there for families like my own who want to prepare for the end of life."
Ben de Guzman, Director of the Washington, D.C., Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
Nilsa Centeno standing in her back yard wearing an orange shirt

Nilsa Centeno

Nilsa Centeno’s son died from an aggressive form of brain cancer in 2016, without access to medical aid in dying, an option he fiercely advocated for.
“When Miguel first let me know he was considering medical aid in dying, I involuntarily shook my head saying no. But as I watched my son suffer, I realized that our Lord had no desire for my child to suffer needlessly.”

Norma Vazquez de Houdek

Norma Vazquez de Houdek is a retired program coordinator at the New Mexico Department of Health.
"Talking about death is really talking about living, because you can’t really live well if you’re afraid of dying. When you plan ahead, it gives you and your loved ones peace and freedom from worry. By preparing for the end of life, you can live for today."
Norma Vazquez de Houdek standing outdoors
Lillie Tyson Head smiling

Lillie Tyson Head

Lillie Tyson Head is the founding president of the Voices for Our Fathers Legacy Foundation and a lifelong public health and education advocate.
“End-of-life planning is a necessary and very important conversation for everyone to have, to make things better for those who are being left behind.”

Kelly Rice (they/them)

Kelly Rice is a public health professional based in Illinois who works with older populations navigating the healthcare system.
"My work is about how we ensure that people living with dementia are still able to embrace the pieces of life that bring them joy through end-of-life planning."
Kelly Rice standing in front of a fence and flowers
Thomas Reed Jackson seated in front of a parked train in the background.

Thomas Reed Jackson

Thomas Reed Jackson left a legacy of compassion and tenacity to the end-of-life care and options movement.
“We have to change the paradigm. We have to change our way of thinking, and we have to adopt the idea of a legacy.”

Latest News

Racial Inequalities Persist in End-of-Life Care for Dementia Patients
September 5, 2022

The findings of a new study reveal that Black and Hispanic patients with dementia are far less likely to utilize end-of-life services than their white counterparts. The full report underscores the importance of understanding how end-of-life care decisions are informed by previous lived experiences with racism and how utilization, treatment preferences and outcomes can differ across racial…

Read More
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8156 S Wadsworth Blvd #E-162
Littleton, CO 80128

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