Missouri End-of-Life Coalition gives Missouri a grade.

October 6, 2005
By: Tim Walker
State Capital Bureau

One end-of-life organization gives Missouri a grade on end-of-life issues.

Tim Walker has more from Jefferson City.

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Attorney General Jay Nixon teamed up with the Missouri End-of-Life Coalition to promote end-of-life issues.

The Coalition says Missouri's handling of end of life issues is average.

Chair of the Missouri End-of-Life Coalition, Debra Oliver, says that education about living wills and other end-of-life issues is crucial to improving care.

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"What's most important is that your family is in agreement, that you've got someone designated to made those decisions, and that you've expressed your wishes to that person.

Health care providers, lawyers, professors and community members make up the Missouri End-of-Life Coalition.

Reporting from the state Capital, I'm Tim Walker

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Report cards are in, and one organization gives Missouri receives a C for end-of-life care.

Tim Walker has more from Jefferson City.

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Attorney General Jay Nixon teamed up with the Missouri End-of-Life Coalition to promote end-of-life issues. The Coalition says that while most Missourians want to die at home, less than a quarter actually do.

Chair of the Missouri End-Of-Life Coalition, Debra Oliver, says Missouri needs to improve end-of-life care.

Oliver wants more Missourians to have the option of entering Hospice and in-home care.

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"There are people who are afraid to die at home, and they ought to have to right to that alternative. But if that's what you want, then we ought to be able to give you the resources to make that happen."

The Missouri End-Of-Life Coalition's mission is aimed at trying to improve end-of-life care and awareness of living wills.

Reporting from the state Capital, I'm Tim Walker.

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One prominent end-of-life group says Missouri needs to do more when it comes to end-of-life care.

Tim Walker has more from Jefferson City.

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Attorney General Jay Nixon teamed up with the Missouri End-of-Life Coalition to promote end-of-life issues.

According to Debra Oliver, Chair of the Missouri End-of-Life Coalition, more than one third of patients in Missouri nursing homes say they are in persistent pain.

Oliver says the Missouri legislature needs to craft better end-of-life legislation, but must craft it carefully.

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"There are some things we can do that can improve care, there is no question about that. There are also some things we can do that can really mess it up, and we don't want to end up doing that."

Health care providers, lawyers, professors and community members make up Missouri End-of-Life Coalition.

Reporting from the state Capital, I'm Tim Walker.

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