Respecting Choices COVID-19 tools and resources available at the bottom of this page are currently free and open to all, and include:
Resources to have Planning Conversations in COVID-19
Tools to support specific treatment decisions
Resources for individuals
The stress and uncertainty related to the persistence of COVID-19 is real, and it is understandable. We are all feeling it, both personally and professionally. Healthcare organizations are being challenged in unprecedented ways. We are all being called upon to support each other in new and different ways, in all domains of life.
Respecting Choices is proud to be among the many organizations that worked rapidly to meet the needs of clinicians and communities facing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognize that individuals and their families at highest risk for complications and death from this infection feel especially vulnerable, and that proactively asking about the type of care they would want if they became severely ill is a way to limit the uncertainty.
In March we created a tool kit, free for widespread use, that was grounded in our 20-year history of experience and research but was specific to the unique circumstances that COVID-19 created for patients and families. The tools were designed to be used as stand-alone materials without additional educational ‘training’ requirements.
Unfortunately, the need for these tools is lasting longer than we had hoped, due to ongoing persistence of the disease. For that reason, these COVID-19-specific materials will remain available and free to use through the end of 2020.
These complementary materials include the COVID-19 Proactive Care Planning Conversation Guides, the Scheduling Guides, and the patient/family facing materials describing the importance of knowing treatment preferences before a medical crisis, especially in the context of COVID-19.
After June 30, 2020, the Respecting Choices Nationally Certified Decision Aids, which are more broadly applicable for individuals with any serious illness, will remain available for purchase through the Respecting Choices Online Store. Click here for further information.
If you want more educational content, please click here or contact Respecting Choices at info@respectingchoices.org
Thank you for all that you do. Stay safe and healthy!
The Respecting Choices® COVID-19 tools and resources below will support these important conversations. They are currently free and open to all based on the Creative Common License. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Resources for having Proactive Planning Conversations in the context of COVID-19.
| Name | Description | For Use By | End-recipient |
| Proactive Care Planning for COVID-19 | Conversation guide to print and use when having an ACP conversation with a patient. | Any clinician having ACP Conversations | Patient |
| Proactive Care Planning with HC Agents for COVID-19 | Conversation guide to print and use when having an ACP conversation with the healthcare agent of a non-decisional patient. | Any clinician having ACP Conversations | Healthcare Agent |
| Medical Priorities and Treatment Options | 1-page document patient/agent to read along during the conversation. For Use in Conversation Only | Any clinician having ACP Conversations | Patient or Healthcare Agent |
| Scheduling Proactive Care Planning for COVID-19 | Abbreviated 2-page document for use by any team members to call and schedule time a for clinician to have conversation with an individual. | Any staff proactively contacting individuals to schedule conversations | Patient |
| Scheduling HC Agents to Proactive Care Planning for COVID-19 | Abbreviated 2-page document for use by any team member to call and schedule time for clinician to have conversation with the Healthcare Agent of individual | Any member of teams who are proactively contacting Healthcare Agent of high-risk individuals to have ACP conversations | Healthcare Agent |
| Recorded Webinar: How to have a proactive care planning conversation. | 26-minute video walks through the use of the Proactive Care Planning for COVID-19 conversation guide and tools in this section. | Clinicians who will facilitate ACP conversations | Clinicians |
Tools to support specific treatment decisions for individuals with serious illness.
| Name | Description | For Use By | End-recipient |
| Decision Aid: CPR | Tool to help patients with serious illness clarify their preferences for CPR. Only for patient use in conversation with clinician | Clinicians having ACP conversations | Patient or Healthcare Agent |
| Decision Aid: Help with Breathing | Tool to help patients with serious illness clarify their preferences for Ventilators and/or BiPap and/or comfort focused breathing support. Only for patient use in conversation with clinician | Clinicians having ACP conversations | Patient or Healthcare Agent |
| User Guide for Decision Aids | 1-page document describes how to use the decision aids in conversation with patients/healthcare agents | Clinicians who will use decision aids during ACP conversations | Clinicians |
| Recorded webinar: How to use Decision Aids | 18-minute video describes and demonstrates use of the CPR decision aid in conversation with patient | Clinicians who will use decision aids during ACP conversations | Clinicians |
ACP Materials to Share with Patients and Healthcare Agents
| Name | Description | For Use By | End-recipient |
| Proactive Care Planning for COVID-19 for Individuals | The importance of knowing treatment preferences before a medical crisis | Individuals and their agents/loved ones | Individuals and their families |
| Proactive Care Planning for COVID-19 for Healthcare Agents | The importance of knowing treatment preferences before a medical crisis | Healthcare Agent of individuals | Healthcare Agent of individuals |
Additional COVID-19 Resources From Our Collaborators:
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM)
Cambia Health Foundation
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC)
Home Centered Care Institute (HCCI)
Indiana University Center for Aging Research
National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
National POLST
PREPARE For Your Care
Social Work Hospice & Palliative Care Network
The John A. Hartford Foundation
VitalTalk
WiserCare Quick Start Support