The Compassionate Care Alliance of Monterey County began in the summer of 2000 as a forum for discussing issues about the access to and quality of end-of-life care in this Central Coast region of California.

Some 45 organizations are represented, bringing together professionals and volunteers from senior and social service agencies, hospice, home health and long-term care providers, educators, spiritual leaders, physician groups and hospitals, all sharing a common interest in raising awareness about end-of-life care.

Alliance members are engaged in activities that will help expand dialogue within their constituencies about the access to quality care choices, and the importance of planning and recording one's wishes in an Advance Directive. It is a "bottom-up," grass-roots effort to enhance discussions within families about the issues and choices surrounding death and dying. Hopefully, a greater level of awareness in the community will help raise expectations for a more quality experience at the end of life and will drive improvements in the access to and delivery of quality, compassionate care for all.

The catalyst for the formation of this group was the landmark series premiere by Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist Bill Moyers called "ON OUR OWN TERMS: Moyers on Dying." The series aired nationwide Sept. 10-13, 2000 on PBS stations, attracting an audience of more than 19 million viewers. For more information about this series, click here.