Patient and Family Resources

This page brings together resources to support patients and families at every stage of care. Whether you’re preparing for a medical appointment, looking for guidance on a specific condition, or seeking emotional support, you’ll find information here to help you navigate your healthcare with confidence.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, confidential, free, 24/7/365 help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Your Patient Checklist

Before your appointment

Write down your questions ahead of time

Note any symptoms, changes in your health, or concerns you want to discuss

Make a list of all medications, supplements, and cultural or traditional remedies you’re taking

Note all healthcare providers you’re currently seeing, including chiropractors, acupuncturists, or other practitioners

Arrange to bring a trusted friend or family member if you’d like support or help communicating

Request a qualified interpreter in advance if you need one

During your appointment

Share your full health picture — your medical history, symptoms, and what you think might be contributing to your condition

Express your concerns openly, both medical and personal, including how your illness is affecting your quality of life, work, and family

Let your care team know what matters most to you

Ask your caregiver to explain any terms or recommendations you don’t fully understand

Ask about potential side effects of any medications or treatments prescribed

Ask when you might expect to start feeling better

Take notes — and feel free to ask your caregiver to write down key recommendations

Ask your caregiver how they’re doing

After your appointment

Review any written materials or notes from your visit

Follow up if you have questions or if something wasn’t clear

Express appreciation for compassionate care when you receive it — and speak up if something falls short of your needsa

Communication and Patient Preparedness

SpeakSooner — A nonprofit using community education and clinician partnerships to help patients and families speak up, ask questions, and become more active participants in their own care.

Cochrane — An independent global network that produces rigorous systematic reviews of medical research to help patients, clinicians, and policymakers make well-informed decisions about healthcare interventions.

Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care — A nonprofit that advances the practice of patient- and family-centered care through consulting, training, and resources for healthcare organizations, with a focus on genuine partnership between patients, families, and care teams.

Journal of Participatory Medicine — A peer-reviewed open-access journal publishing research on patient engagement, shared decision-making, and the evolving partnership between patients and healthcare professionals.

MedlinePlus — A trusted, free health information resource from the National Library of Medicine and NIH, offering plain-language explanations of conditions, treatments, medications, and wellness topics for patients and families.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) — A federal agency that produces research and evidence to make healthcare safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, with resources for both patients and clinicians on a wide range of quality and safety topics.

Support for Family Caregivers

AARP — AARP’s caregiving hub, offering practical guidance, tools, and resources for family caregivers navigating elder care, chronic illness, grief, and end-of-life planning.

Caregiver Action Network — A national nonprofit providing free education, peer support, and practical resources to family caregivers caring for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, or age-related health needs.

Share the Care — A project of the National Center for Civic Innovation that helps individuals organize group caregiving models so that the responsibility of supporting a seriously ill person is shared across a network of friends, family, and community members rather than falling to one or two people.

Family Caregiver Alliance — A nonprofit offering free fact sheets, online support groups, resource guides, and policy updates for families and friends caring for adults with chronic or disabling conditions, with materials available in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

Cancer Resources

American Cancer Society — The American Cancer Society works to eliminate cancer through research, education, advocacy, and community-based support services.

American Cancer Society Cancer Survivors Network — The ACS Cancer Survivors Network is a secure online community where cancer survivors can connect, share experiences, and access peer support resources.

CancerCare — CancerCare provides free counseling, education, and financial assistance to anyone affected by cancer, available in person, by phone, and online.

Candlelighters for Children with Cancer — Candlelighters supports families of children and young adults diagnosed with cancer through direct services, education, and advocacy.

The LIVESTRONG Foundation — The LIVESTRONG Foundation empowers people affected by cancer with practical tools and resources, while working to improve access to care and advance research.

Resources for the Families of Health Workers

Mental Health and Well-being Resources — The Schwartz Center’s curated resources to help healthcare workers navigate the challenges of their work, find emotional support, and cope with unexpected challenges.

Helping Children Cope With Emergencies — CDC guidance on the unique physical, emotional, and developmental risks children face during emergencies, with age-specific advice for caregivers on supporting children’s wellbeing before, during, and after a crisis.

Palliative Care and End-of-Life

American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine — The professional home for clinicians specializing in hospice and palliative medicine, offering education, research, and advocacy resources focused on improving care for patients with serious illness.

Engage with Grace — A nonprofit encouraging families to talk openly about end-of-life wishes using a simple set of downloadable conversation prompts, making it easier to start what can be a difficult but important discussion.

Hospice Foundation of America — A nonprofit supporting individuals and families facing life-limiting illness through education, grief resources, research, and programs designed to improve end-of-life care and help people make informed decisions.

GetPalliativeCare.org — A patient-facing resource sponsored by the Center to Advance Palliative Care that explains what palliative care is, who it’s for, and how to find it, including a national directory of hospitals offering palliative care services.

The Conversation Project — A public engagement initiative that helps people of all ages talk with loved ones about their end-of-life care wishes, offering free downloadable Conversation Starter Kits and guidance on documenting preferences through legal and medical resources.