In music, a coda comes at the end of a piece of music, summing up the preceding themes and bringing the piece to a satisfactory close.

In life, Coda Alliance is a community-based, not-for-profit organization with a similar purpose, helping individuals and their families plan and prepare for the concluding passages of life.

• Coda Alliance promotes advance discussion of end-of-life care with families and healthcare providers.
• Coda is working to help community members learn about end-of-life care options and discuss their values and goals with their family and healthcare providers prior to the onset of serious illness.
• Coda fosters collaboration among community groups, healthcare providers and healthcare institutions to overcome barriers to superb end-of-life care for community members.

	Decide what's important together. Coda Alliance presents the "Go Wish Cards" for advance care planning. It gives you an easy, entertaining way to think and talk about what's important to you if you become seriously ill.
Compassionate Care Conference	Register for the Compassionate Care Conference in San Jose, California, coming up on October 15, 2009.