Friends,

Consumer Reports Health has launched many new online "hubs" recently with focuses on a variety of Choosing Wisely related topics, including antibiotic overuse, medical tests before surgery, safe pregnancy, and screening tests. Today they launched a new hub on a topic that has been very present in the news recently -- that of caregiving, end-of-life decisions, and medical tests, and treatments for older adults.

Highlights of this hub include:

·  A short and emotional documentary that we created, called A Beautiful Death, which follows a courageous man through his final weeks of life -- including his funeral -- as he, his family, and his caregivers make end-of-life decisions together. 

·  A Consumer Reports magazine article, released to newsstands today, also called A Beautiful Death. A synopsis of the article is as follows: Paul Scheier lived a full and loving life. So when his cancer returned at age 86, he said no more hospitals, no chemo. He faced the end on his own terms—something that’s not easy to do in America today. But he showed that it can be done. 

·  A two-page report that we wrote, in conjunction with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), called Palliative and Hospice Care: Comfort during a serious illness or the final months of life. You will also find a link toNHPCO's Moments of Life site on our hub.

·  Over 13 Choosing Wisely brochures on various topics for seniors, caregivers and those making end of life decisions. This includes a new six page "round-up" that we created on a variety of Choosing Wisely topics, called Advice for Caregivers: Treatments and tests for seniors. 

·  Links at the bottom of the hub to Consumer Reports magazines articles called Caring for the Caregiver, Regional Variation in Care, and Too Much Treatment. And, of course, we have a link to the Wikipedia article called "Caregiver."

As the national dialogue around caregiving and aging continues, I hope you find these materials useful and ask that you share them widely with your friends and family. 

CR will be Tweeting about these materials and today's launch, and invite you to join the conversation by following @ConsumerDavid. Below are some sample Tweets which you're welcome to use as you share this information on your own social media platforms:

For the Caregiving hub:

·  As the end approaches, what's the best care, and how do you get it? bit.ly/1tWC3eK #ChoosingWisely

·  #ChoosingWisely applies also to medical care toward the end of life. bit.ly/1tWC3eK

·  #ChoosingWisely when you're in charge of someone's care toward the end of their life. bit.ly/1tWC3eK

For the NHPCO guide:

·  This clear, new guide clarifies palliative care and hospice care.  bit.ly/1DxLjFl @NHPCO_news

·  A guide to providing comfort during serious illness or the final months. bit.ly/1DxLjFl @NHPCO_news

CRO End of Life package: 

·  A Beautiful Death: Consumer Reports' special feature on the end of life. bit.ly/1DQ488J

·  A life well-lived and thoughtfully ended: See Consumer Reports' feature on the end of life. bit.ly/1DQ488J

Anyone interested in reviewing Consumer Reports’ previously-released hubs, you can find them all here.