Connie A. Will-Black, RN, BSN, PHN, is a graduate of California State University at Long Beach and has been active in long-term care as a nursing consultant, educator, and owner for the past 25 years. Mrs. Black's teaching experience includes nursing education in both acute and long-term care settings as well as in community colleges. As CEO of Community Hospice Care, Mrs. Black created a large Medicare Certified Hospice program in Southern California. This program served thousands of terminally ill patients, both those who lived in their own homes, and those in retirement facilities and in long-term care facilities. Her commitment to education created a large group of professional staff with expertise in end-of-life care who continues to serve dying patients throughout Southern California. Although Connie did not participate in this 5th edition, her knowledge and philosophy of care are reflected throughout the book.

Judith B. Eighrny, RN, BSN, CHPN, is a graduate of Texas Woman's University and has completed course work for her master's degree in nursing from California State University at Los Angeles. She is certified in hospice and palliative care nursing. Ms. Eighmy has been a nursing consultant and educator in long-term care and hospice for more than 25 years. In addition to teaching numerous continuing education courses for health care professionals in long-term care and hospice, she has taught in the acute care setting and in the university as well as in a school of nursing. She has developed quality assessment and improvement programs for long-term care facilities and hospice programs. Ms. Eighmy is active in her professional organization and widely recognized for her expertise in training and in care of the elderly and end-of-life care. She serves as an advisory board member and consultant to Medcom, Inc., of Cypress, California, in the development of education programs for long-term care. She is currently president of her consulting firm, Pacific Healthcare Consultants, Inc., where she and her partner Elayne Nahman, LCSW, serve hospice programs in California.