The Heart of Hospice: Recent Episodes
Helen Bauer, RN, CHPN & Jerry Fenter, Spiritual Counselor
The Heart of Hospice is dedicated to helping personal and professional caregivers who are serving people who need hospice. The mission is to provide information and education so people can make informed choices in regard to hospice.
Joanne Eason, President of Five Wishes, knows it’s important to document our end-of-life wishes so our voices are heard when we can’t speak for ourselves.
Five Wishes was established over 25 years ago through a series of listening tours, asking people what was important to them. From those results, the Five Wishes document was formed with guidance from the American Bar Association and other palliative care providers across the U.S. It's designed for individuals to use when sitting down with their families, a tool for talking about what’s important to the person.
Five Wishes has incorporated three questions into their Five Wishes document: How comfortable do you want to be? How do you want to be treated? What do you want those around you to know about you? Those answers are the voice of the patient. Where health systems use certain forms to document decision-makers and specific medical directives, Five Wishes is about not just the wishes of the person, but who they are.
It can be used like a workbook and comes in both digital and paper forms. The workbook is a living document and should be revisited as healthcare status changes or your spokesperson changes.
Five Wishes can also be utilized by hospice agencies, healthcare organizations, and businesses. It’s legal in almost every state in the U.S. so it’s a very flexible document. If you live in one of only four states (New Hampshire, Kansas, Ohio, or Texas) you can still use the Five Wishes Paper but may need to take an extra step. Five Wishes is available in 30 languages, as well as Braille.
Find out more about Five Wishes at fivewishes.org.
Follow Five Wishes on Facebook, YouTube, IG, and Twitter.
Check out Five Wishes for your personal use here.
Get information about utilizing Five Wishes for your patients or employees by clicking here.
Visit the Five Wishes store here.
Check out the free webinars from Five Wishes here.
Looking for a copy of the Odonata Care Plan? Click here to purchase it for yourself or your care agency.
NEW** - the Odonata Care Plan is now available in SPANISH - purchase it here!!
Check out the free Care Video tutorials from Odonata founders and hospice nurses Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.
Partner with National HME to provide medical equipment for your patients at nationalhme.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.
Home funeral director Glenda Villegas guides families in creating meaning with home funerals. After learning valuable lessons about what it’s like to plan a funeral for the unexpected loss of a loved one, Glenda started a career working in the funeral industry. She first worked in pre-need cemetery sales, then moved on to family services where she learned how to serve families at death. During these years, Glenda learned the funeral industry inside and out. She realized her path led to providing home funerals for families after a death. Her desire to serve families through education about laws related to death care, combined with the option of a home funeral experience, led her to become a licensed funeral director. Today Glenda teaches families how to care for their dead, helping to facilitate the grief process by creating meaning with home funerals.
Connect with Glenda Villegas and Thresholds Home and Family Directed Funerals at thresholdsfamilydirectedfunerals.com.
Contact Glenda:
Ph. (619) 719-1156
Email: vglenda79@gmail.com
Looking for a copy of the Odonata Care Plan? Click here to purchase it for yourself or your care agency.
NEW** - the Odonata Care Plan is now available in SPANISH - purchase it here!!
Check out the free Care Video tutorials from Odonata founders and hospice nurses Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.
Partner with National HME to provide medical equipment for your patients at nationalhme.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network and other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.
The name Sociavi comes from the Latin word “share” and “unite”, demonstrating their mission of keeping seniors and their families closer together despite cognitive decline. Founder Paula Muller realized the need to keep her mother connected with all the activities of her family living internationally. That need planted the seed for the Sociavi device. Certified in Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care, Paula used her knowledge of cognitive decline to design the features of the Sociavi device. She refers to it as a “picture frame”, avoiding a technology label that might be intimidating to users.
The Sociavi device fosters a feeling of accomplishment as well as keeping the user connected with family and friends. Through simple games and activities, the user has choices that are customized to someone who needs simplicity. It’s super easy to start using the device, no password or login required. Paula ensured the Sociavi device responds easily to touch and accommodates for hearing loss. The screens are clear, with only one activity displayed at one time. Photos and video calls are a wonderful additional feature. To place a video call, the user simply has to touch the photograph of whomever they want to call. The network is private and encrypted, so spam and robo calls are eliminated. Paula’s in-laws consider a video call a “visit” from a family member.
Users with cognitive decline can utilize many of the functions and games of the device. If the user is nonverbal, Sociavi features a communication board with icons that can be utilized to communicate needs and thoughts. There are also alarms that serve as reminders for medications or tasks, keeping the administrator of the device notified of whether their loved one has turned the alarm off. The only things needed in the home for the Sociavi device are power and internet connectivity. Simple set up, simple to use, Sociavi is a great device for any adult with cognitive decline, helping them to stay active mentally and connected with loved ones.
Find out more details about the Sociavi device at sociavi.com.
Read more about the Brain Fitness functions of Sociavi here.
Purchase a Sociavi device for someone you love by clicking here.
Looking for a copy of the Odonata Care Plan? Click here to purchase it for yourself or your care agency.
NEW** - the Odonata Care Plan is now available in SPANISH - purchase it here!!
Check out the free Care Video tutorials from Odonata founders and hospice nurses Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.
Today’s guest is Sarah Turner, CEO and founder of My Modern Tribute. They’re writing life tributes that provide opportunities to celebrate and honor a life while we’re still alive.
Over the years, Sarah learned that we all have stories to share. We’re all interconnected by a shared human story. Sarah believes that everyone deserves a space to express their feelings, and understands the importance of empathy and warmth.
My Modern Tribute offers writing services for anyone looking to have a written tribute, featuring any information about their lives that clients want to share. Achievements, impact, adventures, and experiences - a Tribute captures all the history of a life.
Partnering with My Modern Tribute is an easy process. Each My Modern Tribute client completes the Tribute Questionnaire. This consists of 10 questions to gather the nuts and bolts of your life. My Modern Tribute will then assign you to a writer that best matches your personality and coordinate a date and time for your client interview. The assigned writer connects with you over Zoom or by phone for an interview. The first draft of your Tribute is emailed to you within 10 business days. Up to two edits are offered before the final draft is sent. The final draft is the client’s sole property to do with as you wish.
Clients can share a Tribute, keep it for themselves, or use it as a personalized eulogy during a funeral or memorial service. It’s entirely up to the client to decide how to use it.
Through My Modern Tribute, Sarah harnessed her life experiences and her passion for people to create an invaluable service to clients while providing fulfilling work to professional writers. My Modern Tribute is helping others explore their mortality.
Partner with My Modern Tribute to have your tribute writing at mymoderntribute.com.
Looking for a copy of the Odonata Care Plan? Click here to purchase it for yourself or your care agency.
Check out the free Care Video tutorials from Odonata founders and hospice nurses Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.
Melanie McMillion has found meaning in her decades working as a hospice counselor and community educator. Melanie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and has worn a lot of hats as a hospice worker. She worked as the Director of Psychosocial Services, leading a 45-person interdisciplinary team of social workers, counselors, and spiritual care counselors to coordinate psychosocial, spiritual, and bereavement services. As a hospice worker, she was an advocate for her team. Educating her community became Melanie’s focus later in her career. Her work in hospice gave Melanie an understanding of how compassion fatigue affects each member of the team. The unique structure of a hospice team enables each member to support the others to combat the effects of compassion fatigue. Melanie has found meaning in the decades she has spent working in hospice care.
Find all the services and products Odonata Care offers at thecareplan.net.
Order your copies of The Care Plan here.
Check out the free video tutorials from Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.
The Legacy Letters Journal is a passion project that created meaning for Kera Sanchez after losing her mom.
Here’s how Kera describes the mission of the Journal. “This guided journal is designed to help individuals create a personal legacy for their loved ones to cherish after their time is up. The journal prompts users to reflect on their life experiences, values, and beliefs, and to record these thoughts and memories in writing.”
The Legacy Letters Journal contains thoughtful prompts to help the writer record messages to loved ones to be read at life milestones, like weddings and graduations. It doesn’t have to be completed at one sitting - it might be overwhelming, and our perspectives change as we experience life. Some of the prompts might not be appropriate for every writer, either. It’s ok to write only in the topics that speak to you. It’s a great way to leave a legacy and tell your stories.
As Kera says - write that love down.
Read more about Kera Sanchez and how she created the Legacy Letters Journal at legacylettersjournal.com.
Find Legacy Letters Journal on Instagram and Facebook.
Buy your copy of the Legacy Letters Journal on Amazon.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
The Legacy Letters Journal is a passion project that created meaning for Kera Sanchez after losing her mom. Here’s how Kera describes the mission of the Journal. “This guided journal is designed to help individuals create a personal legacy for their loved ones to cherish after their time is up. The journal prompts users to reflect on their life experiences, values, and beliefs, and to record these thoughts and memories in writing.”
The Legacy Letters Journal contains thoughtful prompts to help the writer record messages to loved ones to be read at life milestones, like weddings and graduations. It doesn’t have to be completed at one sitting - it might be overwhelming, and our perspectives change as we experience life. Some of the prompts might not be appropriate for every writer, either. It’s ok to write only in the topics that speak to you. It’s a great way to leave a legacy and tell your stories.
As Kera says - write that love down.
Read more about Kera Sanchez and how she created the Legacy Letters Journal at legacylettersjournal.com.
Find Legacy Letters Journal on Instagram and Facebook.
Buy your copy of the Legacy Letters Journal on Amazon.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.
Hospice nurse and EOL doula Gabrielle “Gabby” Jimenez of The Hospice Heart talks about navigating a complicated death, managing grief, and finding your way through the most difficult losses. As an end of life doula, nurse, educator, and author, Gabby has guided many families. She says "Meet them where they are, not where we want them to be". End of life workers strive to support the patient and caregivers in the ways they need during what can be a confusing time. Fear, family dynamics, and grief complicate the situation. Gabby teaches that every griever goes through grief in a different way. It’s important that we allow each other to grieve in their own way. When we can only see our own grief, we need to stop for a minute and remember we’re all going through the same thing.
Concerns about medications are often a big issue for caregivers during end of life care. Pain and symptom management is an important part of hospice. Gabby teaches that disease is what the patient is dying from, and the meds are brought in to manage symptoms - not to end the life. Hospice workers are there to validate the concerns of the caregiver, to educate them, and to understand the caregiver’s perspective.
You can connect with Gabby Jimenez on The Hospice Heart Facebook Page and her website, thehospiceheart.net.
Register for Gabby’s Hospice Master Class here. Find her other classes at thehospiceheart.net.
Gabby Jimenez has wonderful books to guide anyone needing information about death and dying - purchase your copies here.
Soft Landing
What Would Gabby Say?
The Hospice Heart
At The Bedside
And her newest book - End of Life Tips
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Chris Magliocca of National HME knows providing medical equipment for hospice patients is all about service, empathy and quality of life. Part of the service provided by hospice care is what’s called DME, Durable Medical Equipment. DME includes items like wheelchairs, walkers, canes, oxygen, hospital beds, Hoyer lifts, bath equipment, and other pieces of equipment. While DME is 10% of the internal cost of a hospice patient for the agency, it means so much more to the patient and caregiver. Patients at end of life have access to any or all of the equipment the agency covers, depending on what’s needed. Medical equipment companies furnish that equipment so patients and caregivers have enhanced quality of life, stay safe, and are as mobile as possible. Chris had his first experience with hospice when his grandfather was terminally ill. He was fascinated by the service and equipment. After serving in the military, he started working with an HME company. Chris has worked his way up through National HME, starting as a delivery technician. He now serves as Senior Vice President of Business Development. Chris knows empathy training is critical to maintaining high quality care when providing equipment for seriously ill and dying patients.
If your hospice agency is interested in partnering with National HME, connect with them at nationalhme.com.
Connect with National HME on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
GrandPad founders Scott and Isaac Lien recognize how important it is to make older senior adults feel confident and stay connected. Scott’s 80-year old mom was easily frustrated by technology, sharing with him that she felt stupid trying to use online video chat and social media sites. The father and son team founded a company and created a device that provides a myriad of ways to support older adults. While the tech might be designed by 20-somethings, the designs of GrandPad are tested and approved by GrandPad’s group of senior advisors.
It’s more than a product. Scott and Isaac foster a culture of empathy at Grandpad. Each staff member at GrandPad is required to have a GrandPad user in their lives, and to stay connected with them. The importance of relationships between different age groups is at the heart of their work.
New features on the GrandPad include multiplayer games, health monitoring, and telehealth partnering with medical providers. One great new feature is the Moods app, which provides calming scenes and music to promote sleep and relaxation.
A GrandPad subscription comes with its own 4G LTE, so the device doesn’t need wifi. Additional features include 24/7, one-on-one support from a live person and a secure network of connections that shields the user from scammers. GrandPad was born from the idea that older adults need to stay safely connected with loved ones. The device has security and privacy features that don't come with other devices.
Get a GrandPad for someone you love at grandpad.net.
Talk with the team about partnering your healthcare organization or facility with GrandPad at grandpad.biz.
Participate in a free webinar and get 10% off your subscription by clicking here.
Read about GrandPad’s team of GrandAdvisors here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network and other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com).
The death of Leilani Maxera’s grandmother changed her, propelling her into a career path she hadn’t predicted. Now she’s a social worker, a home funeral advocate, and a grief worker supporting families who have experienced Medical Aid in Dying.
Hospice was never offered to her grandmother, and this made Leilani an outspoken advocate for advance care planning and end of life care. She’s also a spokesperson for home funerals, and sits on the board of the National Home Funeral Alliance. Leilani provides capacity evaluations for people who are considering Medical Aid in Dying. Those evaluations are required by the state of Hawaii as part of the MAID process. She’s working to correct the misinformation out there about MAID and to reduce the stigma attached to a MAID death.
As the owner of Kaipuokaualoku in Hawaii, Leilani provides individual counseling, grief counseling, and grief support for individuals who have experienced Medical Aid in Dying with a loved one. A safe, nonjudgmental space to talk is important for someone who’s had a MAID loss.
Read more about Leilani and the services that she offers at Kaipuokaualoku at leilanimaxera.com.
Find information about Leilani’s Medical Aid in Dying Bereavement group here.
Connect with the National Home Funeral Alliance at homefuneralalliance.org.
Get your copy of the NHFA Home Funeral Guidebook (available on a pay-what-you-can basis) by clicking here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Hospice physician and podcaster Jordan Grumet is sharing how his work with hospice patients creates deep conversations about end of life planning, money, and life. Dr. Grumet is currently an associate medical director at Journeycare Hospice. After years of blogging about financial independence and wellness, Jordan launched the Earn & Invest podcast in 2018. In 2019 he received the Plutus Award for Best New Personal Finance Podcast and was nominated in 2020 for Best Personal Finance Podcast of the year.
Jordan believes in having end of life conversations early and often. He’s seen the positive influence of those conversations in the lives and deaths of his patients. After losing his dad at an early age, Jordan noticed people didn’t know how to be with him and his family, or what to say to them. Jordan wanted the medical care he provided to align with the end of life wishes of his patients, so he joined a hospice interdisciplinary team. He considers his real job to be supporting his fellow team members as they provide the moment-to-moment, bedside care.
Jordan endorses including financial discussions when we’re having conversations about healthcare needs in later life and when we’re approaching death. Caregivers are often dealing with money issues as well as the typical challenges of being a caregiver. Jordan’s podcast Earn and Invest deals with topics like focusing on retirement and determining the things that matter most.
You can win a copy of Jordan Grumet’s book Taking Stock: A Hospice Doctor’s Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a Regret-Free Life! Here’s how: 1. Leave a review for The Heart of Hospice podcast on Apple podcasts. 2. Just scroll down to the bottom of our show page, select a star rating, and tap "Leave a Review". 3. Send an email to host@theheartofhospice to let us know you left a review. 4. If you’re one of the first 5 people to leave a review, you’ll receive a copy of Jordan’s book. 5. You’ll be notified by email that you’ve won, and we’ll ask for a mailing address. 6. We’ll mail the book to you - enjoy!!
Purchase a copy of Dr. Grumet’s book Taking Stock: A Hospice Doctor’s Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a Regret-Free Life.
Amazon Barnes and Noble Bookshop BAM
Listen to Jordan Grumet’s podcast Earn and Invest here.
Visit Jordan’s website at jordangrumet.com.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Sue Ryan has been walking a caregiver’s journey for 40 years. Now she’s teaching others how to thrive while caring for a loved one. Sue is the founder/owner of Sue Ryan Solutions, a company that offers guidance for non-professional caregivers, helping them to be confident. Caring for various loved ones through the years and now caring for her husband has taught Sue deeply valuable lessons about thriving while providing care. She knows what it’s like to be isolated, scared, and acting blindly. Since those early experiences, Sue has learned caregiver coping and hacks that she now shares with others through Sue Ryan Solutions. Her TEDx Wilmington talk “Ultimate Freedom - Unlocking the Power of Choice” is about massive acceptance and radical presence and what they allow you to do in your life. Sue believes it’s about not judging, so we’re open to potential and possibilities.
Visit Sue Ryan solutions at sueryan.solutions.
Book a Complimentary session with Sue here.
Join the Caregiver’s Journey Online Course here.
Access Sue Ryan’s caregiver resources by clicking here.
Watch Sue’s TEDx Talk here.
Connect with Sue on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Mi Alma is helping grievers by bringing together friends, family, and coworkers to provide the help they need most. Co-founders Jordan and Scott Arogeti realized we’re not very good at supporting grievers. They’ve created a place that provides opportunities to record legacies through photos, videos, and memory sharing. It was important to Jordan and Scott that Mi Alma’s services provide a sense of intergenerational connection.
Mi Alma was also created with the purpose of making loss feel less lonely. Mi Alma’s Support Registry includes:
- Funds: Crowdsource support for medical bills, funeral costs, and more.
- Food: Direct supporters toward Mealtrain, meals, and grocery needs.
- Volunteer: Organize lists of volunteers for tasks, to-dos, and in-person help.
- Memories: Collect pictures and stories in one place
Mi Alma’s site provides one-stop shopping, allowing users to offer whatever support they’re able to give according to the specific needs of those who are grieving. In a time when we’re distanced and unsure of what to do when there’s a loss, Mi Alma offers grievers a place to communicate their customized needs. That includes meals, volunteer needs, financial assistance, and the sharing of memories. They’re supporting grievers by leading with empathy. Jordan’s Big Pop would be so proud.
Connect with Mi Alma’s services at mialma.com.
Start a Support Registry at Mi Alma by clicking here.
Find more grief resources at Mi Alma.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network and other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Physician Dr. Ira Byock is a voice for change in the hospice industry, and an advocate for quality end of life care. His many years of experience in hospice medicine, coupled with the compassion he has for people dealing with serious illness, have made him an industry leader in the U.S. According to his website (irabyock.org), he is “Founder of the Institute for Human Caring at Providence St. Joseph Health. Dr. Byock is Active Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Community & Family Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He served as Director of Palliative Medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire from 2003 through July 2013. Dr. Byock has been involved in hospice and palliative care since 1978. His research has contributed to conceptual frameworks for the lived experience of illness that encompasses a continuum from suffering to wellbeing; related measures for subjective quality of life during illness; and effective life-completion counseling methods. From 1996 to 2006 he directed Promoting Excellence in End-of-Life Care, a national Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program that developed prototypes for concurrent palliative care of people with life-threatening conditions. He is a past president of the Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.”
What Dr. Byock’s bio doesn’t describe is his caring heart. It drives his dedication to identifying the issues we face in the hospice industry and offering evidence-based, practical solutions. He wants the hospice silo of healthcare to correct its own path. Dr. Byock believes hospice can heal its own dysfunction by holding providers and clinicians responsible for the care we provide and how we provide it. His articles in STAT magazine and the Journal of Palliative Medicine describe actionable, practical solutions. Hospice practitioners of every discipline can learn from Dr. Byock.
Connect with Dr. Byock at irabyock.org.
Find and purchase Dr. Byock’s books, including The Four Things That Matter Most, by clicking here.
Read Dr. Byock’s STAT article Hospice Care Needs Saving here.
Read Dr. Byock’s article Core Roles and Responsibilities of Physicians in Hospice Care: A Statement by and for U.S. Hospice and Palliative Care Physicians by clickinghere. 28 Apr 2023https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2023.0194
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network and other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Caitlin Crommett is the founder of DreamCatchers Foundation, an organization creating connections for older and younger generations to fulfill the end of life dreams of hospice patients. Caitlin got her start volunteering in hospice at only 12 years old. After realizing the benefits of matching younger volunteers with older adults, Caitlin founded DreamCatchers Foundation in 2009 as a non-profit organization. According to the Dream Catchers website, “DreamCatchers empowers students and their local communities to fulfill end-of-life Dreams of hospice patients, and creates powerful connections for younger and older generations.” Caitlin would tell you that intergenerational relationships bring wonderful benefits and gifts to both generations.
Read about some end of life wishes the DreamCatchers volunteers have made come true here.
Support DreamCatchers with your donation or time by clicking here.
Is your organization interested in being a Corporate Partner? Click here to start the process.
Want to be a Hospice Partner with DreamCatchers? Click here.
Start a Young Leadership Chapter of DreamCatchers by clicking here.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak for your podcast, event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Join thousands of people around the globe opening their hearts to allow pain and peace to sit side-by-side together without fear on National Anchor Your Heart Day, at 3:00 pm ET on Thursday, Feb. 2. Sponsored by Opus Peace, National Anchor Your Heart Day includes a free webinar on self-compassioning with a post-webinar discussion guide. The webinar includes a free CE for nurses and mental health professionals.
10,000 dying veterans taught NP Deborah Grassman of Opus Peace the value of dying peacefully and dealing with soul injury. After working with terminally ill veterans for 30 years, Deborah and a team of hospice nurses identified the unique needs of veterans at end of life. According to Deborah’s bio, “the nurses discovered a phenomenon that has become identified as “Soul Injury®.” Led by Deborah Grassman, the five nurses left the VA to start Opus Peace, a non-profit organization with a mission of taking the Soul Injury® message to people who are not veterans and to people who are not dying. These pioneering nurses now provide educational materials and self-help tools to help people learn how to self-compassionately connect with the part of self-holding their pain and shame, allowing people to reconnect with their soul – with who they really are. A Nurse Practitioner, Deborah Grassman is the author of two books, Peace at Last and The Hero Within. She is a contributing author for four textbooks, has 25 published articles, and there are five documentary films featuring her work. Deborah directs the Opus Peace Institute where leaders are trained in how to provide programs that respond to Soul Injuries because, she contends, that 10,000 dying veterans have lessons the rest of us need to learn!”
Click on the link below to register for National Anchor Your Heart Day on February 2nd:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_i6YDmbPSQ--tEQ4wsAQGOg
Register for the webinar by clicking here.
Here’s the link to the Opus Peace website: https://opuspeace.org/
Learn more about Soul Injury here.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak for your podcast, event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
End-of-life educator Barbara Karnes is back to talk about death in the home, what it looks like, and how caregivers can manage a dying loved one at home. The reality of a death at home is that it's a challenge for caregivers, and can put a heavy burden on the caregiver. Before death became a medical event, it was a psychosocial event that was managed at home, and caregivers were supported by the community. These days people frequently die in the hospital or in a nursing facility. Family often is not present when a death happens. A good death can happen at home; however, with family present. Hospice support can be an important part of that care. End-of-life workers can provide education, support, and encouragement that help caregivers manage the death experience. Barbara describes the dying process as labor, very similar to labor for the birth of a baby. Advance care planning (ACP) can help define how a person wants to die at home, identifying a medical decision-maker (MPOA or healthcare proxy). Seriously ill adults who are living alone need a caregiving system. Hospice social workers and chaplains can help solo agers identify an MPOA and build a support system for their caregiving.
Visit the BK Books website at bkbooks.com.
Purchase your copy of Gone From My Sight by Barbara Karnes here.
Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak for your podcast, event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Grief activist and founder of Reimagining Grief Lisa Keefauver is talking about her work to transform and expand our understanding of grief and change the lives of individuals, communities, and organizations along the way.
According to lisakeefauver.com, Lisa is “using my personal and professional experiences with grief and loss over the past 20 years to create a grief-smart culture.” She’s the founder of Reimagining Grief, Host of the top-rated podcast, Grief is a Sneaky Bitch, and Adjunct Professor of Loss and Grief at Steve Hicks School of Social Work at University of Texas at Austin. She brings her “whole self to the work, which includes warmth, vulnerability, humor and therapeutic skills”. Lisa experienced the loss of her husband, leaving her a 40-year-old widow with a seven-year-old daughter. She’s spent almost 2 decades as a clinical social worker and narrative therapist and realized grieving individuals weren’t receiving the support they needed from family, community, and cultures.
Connect with Lisa Keefauver at lisakeefauver.com.
Listen to the Grief is a Sneaky Bitch podcast here.
Learn more about supporting grieving employees here.
Find support with Reimagining Grief here.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak for your podcast, event, or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Medical Aid in Dying is a controversial topic. Hospice Social Worker Lisa Pahl shares what it’s like to support someone who’s utilizing Medical Aid in Dying. Hospice team members are often present when a patient chooses Medical Aid in Dying, or MAID. Lisa’s experience has shown her how intense and intimate it can be to companion a patient and family during a MAID event. Often the conversations about the death, and the details of how the patient wants it to happen, are enriched and deep. Lisa shares that as a social worker, she finds her energy for supporting patients to be refilled rather than depleted. Medical Aid in Dying is not legal in every state in the U.S. It’s important that hospice and end of life workers are aware of what the laws are in the state where they work. Whether or not hospice professionals support a MAID law, they should be able to accurately inform patients and families, and provide education.
Connect with hospice social worker and Death Deck co-creator Lisa Pahl at thedeathdeck.com.
Get your set of Death Deck cards here!
Find more information on Medical Aid in Dying at Compassion and Choices.
Find out if Medical Aid in Dying is legal in your state here.
Listen to the interview with Anita Hannig, author of How I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America Epi. 114 by clicking here.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak for your podcast, event, or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Hospice social worker and grief counselor Jill Johnson-Young is sharing wisdom and her perspective on end of life care for the LGBTQ+ community. Just like every other patient and caregiver, members of the LGBTQ+ community and their caregivers want to feel safe and be treated with respect during their end of life experience. Although it’s difficult to do, end of life workers need to be aware of their own biases. Members of the LGBTQ+ community might be hesitant to choose hospice care, withhold necessary information from their end of life team, or even go back in the closet during hospice care. While each of us have opinions, hospice interdisciplinary team members should never voice those opinions about patients’ and caregivers’ lives. Quality of care suffers when healthcare professionals show prejudice and judgmental attitudes. The care of people in the LGBTQ+ community should be no different than the care that’s provided to any other patients. Everyone deserves respect, compassion, tolerance, and empathy.
You can connect with Jill Johnson-Young at jilljohnsonyoung.com.
Read Jill’s blog here.
Buy your copy of The Rebellious Widow and Your Own Path Through Grief here.
Want to encourage a caregiver or say thank you to a friend? Order a customized care package from BeyondWordsCo.com.
Find care packages and workplace gift programs for corporate gifting, employees, co-workers and clients here.
Read more about how Catherine Hinz founded BeyondWords here.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak for your podcast, event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Communication is crucial to creating the best end of life experience possible. We’re talking about what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. Knowing how to communicate with their end of life workers helps patients and their caregivers to get better care. Patients and caregivers should feel comfortable talking about symptoms to their hospice team and asking questions. The professionals providing care can’t fix problems they don’t know about. It’s also important to know what concerns need to be reported immediately and what information can wait. The same holds true for the team members providing the care. Patients and caregivers can be confused by medical jargon or terms. Education should be provided in ways that are easy to understand. Providing information quickly can also be very important. Any instructions should be clear and concise. It can be really helpful to leave a set of written instructions in the house for caregivers to reference when they’re providing care on their own. And don’t forget compliments - saying something positive about the care someone is providing can make their day. Good communication will influence the quality of care you provide - and the patient’s quality of life.
Want to encourage a caregiver or say thank you to a friend? Order a customized care package from BeyondWordsCo.com.
Find care packages and workplace gift programs for corporate gifting, employees, co-workers and clients here.
Read more about how Catherine Hinz founded BeyondWords here.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak for your podcast, event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Love Your Life to Death founder Yvonne Heath is teaching us how to just show up for someone who’s grieving. Yvonne has been a Registered Nurse since 1988, working in emergency and ICU settings as well as hospice and palliative care. According to her website LoveYourLifetoDeath, Yvonne “witnessed our grief-phobic society and how our reluctance to talk about, plan and prepare for grief, death, and dying causes excessive suffering in life and at the end of life.” She channeled her experience, both professional and personal, into an award-winning book and a celebrated TEDx talk. Empowering people to live life to the fullest and show up for each other to diffuse the fear around death, dying, and grief is at the center of Love Your Life to Death. As Yvonne would say, the most important thing to do is just show up.
Connect with Love Your Life to Death at loveyourlifetodeath.com.
Read more about founder Yvonne Heath here.
Join the #ijustshowedup movement here.
Watch Yvonne’s weekly vlog here.
Order a care package for someone you love at BeyondWordsCo.com.
Find care packages and workplace gift programs for corporate gifting, employees, co-workers, and clients here.
Read more about how Catherine Hinz founded BeyondWords here.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Certified Grief Coach Jenny Dilts is helping people to find the calm inside the grief storm. Jenny finds incredible meaning in supporting people going through a loss. Jenny defines grief as a loss, change, or absence of connection. Whether it’s from a death, a relationship, or a life role, she guides clients to find both the sadness and joy inside the grief experience. Loss of identity, trauma, independence, finances, unmet expectations and dreams are all sources of grief. Hospice patients and their caregivers deal with grief long before a death occurs. Anticipatory grief includes so many different types of loss. Jenny believes in finding the joy that exists along with the sadness of grief.
Listen to Jenny Dilts’ podcast Sharing Your Story: Exploring Humanity One Heart at a Time on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or Anchor FM.
Connect with Jenny’s resources at Grievingcoach.com.
Follow Grieving Coach on Facebook here.
Sign up for Jenny’s newsletter here.
Check out Reimagine here.
Order a care package for someone you love at BeyondWordsCo.com.
Find care packages and workplace gift programs for corporate gifting, employees, co-workers and clients here.
Read more about how Catherine Hinz founded BeyondWords here.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
We're talking with Hospice Nurse Penny about how her TikTok videos about end of life care have become a social media phenomenon. After finding her way to hospice nursing, Penny Smith realized there was a big gap in accurate information about end of life care. She decided to educate people in a unique way, utilizing social media. With videos, reels, and dancing, Penny helps expand understanding of hospice care. She normalizes the dying process and helps people to be more comfortable with someone who’s dying. Penny says she gets the biggest response from videos about end of life visioning (seeing dead people or pets) and the dancing videos. Her video about eating at the end of life has over a million views. Using a fun medium, Penny Smith is making a difference in end of life care.
Penny Smith's bio -
Penny Smith is a nationally certified hospice and palliative care registered nurse. She has been a hospice nurse for 17 years and worked in a variety of care settings and roles within hospice including inpatient, home case management, education, quality and regulatory. She currently works as a hospice quality manager. Penny is a passionate advocate for hospice education with a mission to normalize the end-of-life process to remove the stigma and fear around hospice care, death and dying. During the pandemic Penny found her way to social media and discovered a unique way to utilize her death care expertise to provide education to a worldwide audience at a grassroots level. Using a variety of teaching styles including Tiktok trends, dark humor, dancing and storytelling, she has gathered over 450,000 followers on Tiktok and 100,000 on Instagram as @hospicenursepenny.
Connect with Hospice Nurse Penny’s on social media.
Facebook IG
Order a care package for someone you love at BeyondWordsCo.com.
Find care packages and workplace gift programs for corporate gifting, employees, co-workers and clients here.
Read more about how Catherine Hinz founded BeyondWords here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak for your podcast, event, or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Empathy co-founder and CEO Ron Gura created the company with one mission in mind: to help families deal with loss. It’s the friend we all need when we’re navigating the death of a loved one. According to the Empathy website, Empathy was “designed to help bereaved families find balance during one of life's most challenging moments.” Combining technology and human support, the Empathy app helps families through all the financial, legal, emotional, and logistical challenges after losing a loved one. Grief and loss cost businesses millions of dollars a year, yet most companies are ill-equipped to support employees after a loss. Ron and the team at Empathy partner with individuals, employers, and hospice agencies to help them navigate the many challenges and unknowns after a death. Through the website and an award-winning app, Empathy provides both administrative and emotional support.
Connect with Empathy’s resources for individuals here.
Find Empathy’s resource for supporting an employee through a loss here.
If you’re a hospice agency wanting to partner with Empathy’s services, click here.
Read more articles on Empathy’s Knowledge Base.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Hospice social worker Nathan Yemane is meeting the needs of his community by opening the first black-owned hospice agency in Washington State and carrying on his father’s legacy of service. Nathan grew up in Washington, has his masters in Social Work, and in 2013 obtained his clinical license in social work. He has worked in healthcare since 2010, primarily in the hospice field. Nathan and his business partner David Turner were awarded a Certificate of Need approval from the DOH to establish the first Black-owned hospice in Washington State. Nathan recognized the end of life needs of people of color in King County. Studies show African Americans have the highest mortality rate from 3 of the most common 4 hospice diagnoses, and yet utilization of hospice is reduced. As an agency owner, Nathan is serving his community in a unique way. Opening a hospice agency in Washington State takes numerous steps, resulting in the awarding of a Certificate of Need by the state. It’s a grueling process, but Nathan and his team were patient and persistent. He’s passionate about educating and serving the people of King County and correcting the racial disparity among hospice patients.
Read more about Nathan Yemane’s agency here.
Connect with Nathan’s agency Heart ‘n Soul Hospice at heartnsoulhospice.com.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here.
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Caregiver Warrior founder Susanne White is sharing the many lessons she learned as a caregiver for her dad and mom. According to the Caregiver Warrior website, Susanne offers “advice, helpful tips, and strategies based on the experience, strength, and hope I found while surviving my own caregiving journey. It has become my mission to share my stories and the things I learned about being an empowered caregiver.” Susanne is an advocate for surrounding yourself with your caregiving village, to find support in friends and family to help you do the caregiver job. She realizes the lessons she learned about herself, her mom, and how they communicated. Through her caregiving experiences and a lot of hard work, Susanne came to a place of self-awareness in her interactions with her mom. She’s sharing all she’s learned with others who are walking someone else home. Caregiving changed her life, and changed who she was.
Read more about Susanne’s story here.
Order your copy of Self-Care for Caregivers here.
Find Susanne on social media: Facebook Twitter Instagram
Connect with Susanne at caregiverwarrior.com.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here.
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
We’re wrapping up our Advance Care Plan Series in collaboration with the amazing team from The Conversation Project from IHI, sharing the lessons we learned during our advance care planning process. Creating an advance care plan is not an easy task, even if you’re not in the middle of a serious illness. Family dynamics have a big influence on how conversations about end of life happen. We learned it’s important to set aside a quiet time and place to talk with the ones you want to make your wishes known when you can’t speak for yourself. There were emotional impacts to the advance care planning conversations as well. Maybe it was awareness of our own mortality, or the recognition that we might not get the time we want with kids and grandkids. There was even some concern that no one in the family feels like a good fit to be a healthcare proxy. As healthcare providers, we gained a new perspective on patients’ and caregivers’ experience with end of life planning. Maybe everyone who works in end of life care should gain this valuable insight into what our patients go through to make their wishes known.
Check out The Conversation Project website here.
Get resources to get your conversation started here.
Follow TCP on Facebook here.
Connect with TCP on Twitter here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
We’re having an open, honest discussion with hospice social worker and author Jill Johnson-Young about intimacy during a serious illness. Jill’s been widowed twice, and knows the importance of physical intimacy even at the end of life. As a hospice social worker, Jill has seen what it’s like for terminally ill patients and their partners to struggle with physical intimacy. Losing physical intimacy is just another loss of identity and who couples are together. It can be a source of anticipatory grief at a time when intimacy is so important. There are many layers to physical intimacy, not just the sexual component. After the death has occurred, it can be important for the partner to be involved in providing postmortem care, to bathe their loved one’s body. Hospice professionals can support and encourage the desire of patients and their partners to be physically intimate. Humans need connection to thrive, and that doesn’t stop in the presence of a serious illness.
Connect with Jill Johnson-Young and her work at jilljohnsonyoung.com.
If you’re interested in booking Jill to speak at your event, connect with her here.
Buy Jill’s book The Rebellious Widow by clicking here.
Purchase your copy of Jill’s workbook Your Own Path Through Grief here.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here.
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Kate Debartolo of The Conversation Project is talking with us about advance care planning, and how to talk about what matters most to you. According to The Conversation Project website (theconversationproject.org), Kate “has worked at The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) since 2007. She currently leads The Conversation Project team and operations. Additionally, Kate manages and cultivates relationships with national and state-level organizations that help engage the general public in advance care planning.” Individuals can find the Conversation Starter Guide and use it to have discussions with their families. The Conversation Project also has resources for choosing a healthcare proxy, being a healthcare proxy, and what to consider if you’re dealing with a serious illness. The TCP resources come in multiple languages and forms, easily accessed and edited. All the resources and workbooks are available at no charge. Take advantage of all the free guides The Conversation Project has to offer!
Check out The Conversation Project website here.
Get resources to get your conversation started here.
Follow TCP on Facebook here.
Connect with TCP on Twitter here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Dr. Aditi Sethi-Brown, founder of the Center for Conscious Living and Dying, has devoted her career to promoting positive death experiences. She’s a rare hybrid in healthcare, both a hospice physician and an end of life doula. According to the Center for Conscious Living and Dying (CCLD) website, “CCLD has a vision for death, dying, and grief that involves greater community involvement and connection to the mystery of this season of life. Death is a mirror in which our own lives are reflected”. Aditi feels deeply the importance of supporting dying patients with not only medical skills, but with compassion and empathy. She started volunteering in hospice at age 17, realizing early in her career that she wanted to work in end of life care. Aditi has a beautiful dedication and philosophy that guides the work she does with seriously ill patients and their families.
You can connect with Dr. Aditi Sethi-Brown on her website.
Find the Center for Conscious Living and Dying on Facebook.
Watch The Last Ecstatic Days move here.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here.
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
In the 3rd episode of our Advance Care Plan series, Rosemary Lloyd talks about how faith communities can support Advance Care Plan discussions using resources from The Conversation Project. Rev. Rosemary Lloyd was formerly the Advisor to Faith Communities for The Conversation Project. She’s also a registered nurse, hospice volunteer, and an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister. Rosemary is an outspoken advocate for including our spiritual beliefs in advance care planning. Using resources from The Conversation Project website, faith communities can promote end of life discussions among their members. Resources on TCP’s website include sermon examples for faith leaders, posters that can be printed, handouts, and a Starter Guide - all available for free.
Find all the resources The Conversation Project has to offer for faith communities:
- Coaching the Conversation Guide
-
A guide from The Conversation Project on how to facilitate the conversation in groups.
-
Guide to Organizing Faith Based Events
-
An introduction to hosting events and tips for getting started.
-
How Faith Communities Facilitate Conversations Around End-of-Life Concerns
-
Interviews show the benefits of training and engagement on advance care planning.
-
Post-Event Surveys template.
- Example Programs
-
New! Thoughtful Endings, a five-part, nondenominational series of events held by The Conversation Project in Boulder County.
-
Conversation Sabbath
- An invitation to clergy to teach and preach about the importance of having The Conversation. Rather than specify certain dates, we encourage you to pick a time frame that works for your community to host a Conversation Sabbath.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Dr. Than Neville is talking with us about the benefits of granting end of life wishes through the 3 Wishes Program at UCLA Health. Dr. Neville joined the faculty in the UCLA Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care in 2012 and is both a clinician and a researcher. In 2017, she co-founded the 3 Wishes Program and is currently its Medical Director. According to the UCLA Health website, clinical staff works with the patient and family, finding favorite memories or special qualities about the patient to celebrate the unique life of the patient. These memories and qualities are turned into special legacy keepsakes or events. While creating these special memories for families and patients, the 3 Wishes Program team at UCLA health finds comfort and meaning for themselves. The staff is reminded why they work with seriously ill patients and feel their work is elevated by granting these end of life wishes.
If you’re interested in learning more about the UCLA Health 3 Wishes Program, click here.
Communicate with Dr. Than Neville, director of the UCLA health 3 Wishes Program by clicking here.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here.
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Welcome to the second episode of our Advance Care Plan Series in partnership with The Conversation Project, featuring TCP’s Improvement Advisor for Community Engagement and Learning Patty Webster! Whether you want to have ACP conversations in a group of 5 of 500, The Conversation Project has the resources to get those discussions started. Through shared stories on TCP’s website, users can find examples of how other community groups are utilizing TCP’s resources. There’s a Starter Guide to take to your group, and other tools and resources to help you all available for free. You’ll find guidance on hosting an ACP event, tips for promoting your message and engaging your community, and ways to network with others. Bring those all-important end of life conversations with your group!
Connect with The Conversation Project at theconversationproject.org
Find TCP’s community resources here.
Follow The Conversation Project on social media:
Facebook - TheConversationProject
Instagram - Convo Project
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
GrandPad founder Scott Lien is talking with us about GrandPad's best features and how it keeps older adults connected. Older adults often feel isolated, and the pandemic separated them even more from family and friends. The GrandPad device is simple for seniors to set up. Customers can access white glove customer support with questions 24/7/365. The best thing about GrandPad’s convenience is the inclusion of 4G LTE, so it doesn’t require the household to have wifi. Offering things like games, video chats, simplified Zoom capability, email, and mood-enhancing apps, the GrandPad has something for every senior. “Connecting families and creating rich communication has always been at the heart of what we wanted to do at GrandPad”, reports GrandPad co-founder Scott Lien. With guidance from their advisory group of super-seniors, GrandPad has created an easy to use, safe tablet that reduces isolation and loneliness.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here.
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Need some help with those difficult Advance Care Plan discussions? Welcome to our special Advance Care Plan Series featuring Kate Debartolo and the team from The Conversation Project! Conversations about end of life wishes can happen in different places - in family groups, community groups, or inside communities of faith. No matter where you want to have those ACP discussions, The Conversation Project has a resource you can use. This special series features experts from The Conversation Project team, including TCP Director Kate Debartolo, Improvement Advisor for Community Engagement and Learning Patty Webster, and Rosemary Lloyd, Advisor to Faith Communities. During the wrap-up episode of the Series, Jerry and Helen will be sharing some of the lessons they’ve learned while creating their own personal advance care plans. Stay tuned for some great discussions and tons of advance care plan resources!
Find all the resources you need for starting advance care plan conversations in your faith community here.
Need resources for ACP discussions in your community group? Click here.
Get those ACP conversations started for yourself by clicking here.
If you need to talk with your healthcare team about your Advance Care Plan, use this resource.
Connect with all the resources from The Conversation Project here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Our guest Dr. Arian Nachat is an advocate for palliative care services, informed advance care planning, and optimizing quality of life. As founder of Pallity, Arian guides the organization to focus on “you, the patient, helping you to manage your disease symptoms and treatment side effects while focusing on your quality of life”. According to their website, Pallity can “help you to better understand the options available to manage the symptoms of your disease and the side effects of treatment so that you can live your life to its fullest”. Dr. Nachat has years of experience guiding patients and their caregivers through difficult conversations for advance care planning. She advocates for comprehensive end of life planning, with frequent review so the ACP reflects who we are in space and time.
Get more information about services from Pallity by clicking here.
Find out more about the Pallity team here.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here.
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
End of Life Coach and home funeral guide Rhonda Lopresti is talking with us about spiritual care directives, and their importance as part of an advance care plan. Rhonda Lopresti is a certified End of Life and Life Coach and has been a Holistic Health Practitioner for 30 years. According to her website (peacefully-prepared.com), Rhonda is “passionate in holding and creating sacred space, personal ritual, spiritual practice, and creative choices through dying and deathcare”. She believes advance care planning should be a comprehensive, robust plan for someone’s end of life care, including care of the spirit. Through Rhonda’s organization Peacefully Prepared, you can create a directive for your spiritual care, no matter your faith or spiritual beliefs. Directives for Buddhists, non-theists or those who have mainstream religious beliefs can be a vital component of an advance care plan.
If you’d like to talk with Rhonda about the services she provides, book a Discovery Call by clicking here.
Connect with Rhonda Lopresti via email at rhonda@peacefullyprepared.com.
Find out more about Rhonda’s services at peacefullyprepared.com.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here.
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Board Certified Clinical Chaplain Jonathan Prescott is back with us to discuss end of life practices in the Zen Buddhist tradition. Jon is a student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Jonathan’s practice as a Clinical Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor is to “support people experiencing illness and end of life, foster effective caregiving and reconnect people with their innate wisdom and compassion”. As co-founder of the non-profit organization Radiant Light Zen, Jon works with a team to “offer contemplative training for people interested in beginning or deepening their meditation practice. [We] host several geographically dispersed online communities, mentor students, and train caregivers in the arts of compassionate care.” In this discussion, Jon describes the beliefs of the Zen Buddhist about death and dying, and ways in which hospice professionals can support Zen Buddhist patients and families during bereavement care.
Connect with Radiant Light Zen by clicking here.
You can support the work of Jon and Radiant Light Zen by donating here.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here.
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
End Well’s Executive Director Tracy Wheeler is talking with us about end of life discussions, transforming how we think about death, and the launch of End Well’s new podcast! End Well’s goal as a non-profit organization is to “bring together a community that unites design, technology, health, policy, and activist initiatives to transform how the world thinks about caregiving, grief, illness and the end of life experience with the ultimate goal of creating a future where ending well becomes a measure of living well”. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, an entrepreneur, or working in healthcare, End Well has information for you. The End Well website has videos and blogs that provide support and comfort, discuss new trends, and answer questions about end of life issues.
Listen to the new End Well podcast trailer here.
Connect with End Well’s mission and work here.
Check out the End Well Project’s video resources here.
Find End Well’s blog article resources here.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here.
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
End of life educator Carol Schoneberg is sharing wisdom about disenfranchised grief, the grief that society says isn’t real, but we all experience. There are a lot of reasons someone’s grief might be disenfranchised. Dysfunctional relationships where there was abuse, or former relationships like ex-spouses can be sources of grief that’s not recognized by the people around us. That disenfranchisement makes us feel isolated, even invisible. Carol teaches us how important it is to have supportive friends or family. Creating rituals to acknowledge a loss can be a great coping mechanism. Validating the loss and recognizing its impact are beneficial in dealing with disenfranchised grief. Grief is grief. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve. Each person has their own style of grieving.
Connect with Carol Schoneberg and her grief counseling services at carolschoneberg.com.
Listen to our first conversation with Carol Schoneberg here.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here.
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Warning: This episode contains a description of the loss of a terminally ill infant. It may not be for all listeners.
Boy mom and advocate Kasey Carmona shares the story of her family’s hospice journey with her son CJ. Using her voice to advocate for her baby’s healthcare, Kasey and her family created quality of life for CJ. What they found were moments of joy and pockets of goodness in a difficult journey. Our gratitude goes out to Kasey for her generosity of heart in sharing their story. We’ll forever remember CJ with her.
Connect with Kasey on Instagram (@kaseycarmona)
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here.
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Our guest Dean Lambert of The Love Always Project knows firsthand how difficult it is to make funeral arrangements, even after 30 years working with funeral professionals. According to The Love Always Project website, “Dean Lambert has worked with funeral professionals for nearly 30 years to help them connect and serve the families facing one of the most challenging moments of their lives: the loss of a loved one. As a father who has himself experienced the loss of a child, he knows first hand the grief that clouds the vision needed to honor a life well-lived. Dean is leading the Love Always Project with a team of experienced subject matter experts and people committed to its purpose: encouraging people to think more positively and proactively about end-of-life issues and funeral prearrangement.” We can all learn from Dean’s experience and wisdom. Check out The Love Always Project and start talking about funeral pre-arrangement for yourself and someone you love.
Connect with The Love Always Project at lovealwaysproject.org.
Get your free downloadable Guide to Funeral Planning from The Love Always Project here.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here!
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Widowhood, caregiving, and the messiness of grief are just some of the topics we’re talking about with guest John Polo. According to his website, johnpolocoaching.com, “John is a coach, author, and speaker. In January of 2016, John became a widower after his amazing wife, Michelle, died of cancer. From the rubble of everything that he once knew, consumed by desperation and despair, John held on long enough until he found his hope. And he slowly rebuilt. Today John helps others through his social media, books, coaching, workshops, speeches, and podcasts. From grief to dating, self-growth, and everything in between, John offers a style of coaching that is not only effective but also very personal and unique. John is the author of three books, host of two podcasts, and has worked with clients on over 4,000 coaching sessions.” John’s experience has given him wisdom, insight, and empathy into the grief experience.
Learn more about John Polo's coaching services by clicking here.
Listen to John’s podcast “gonna love me 2” here.
Check out John’s other podcast “my person died too” here.
Find information about John’s groups and courses here.
Interested in purchasing a GrandPad for a loved one? Click here!
Get information about GrandPad purchases for your facility or agency here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
We’re honored to talk with Dr. Lorraine Dickey about The Narrative Initiative and the benefits of its Write-Read-Reflect method for both patients and staff. Dr. Dickey is an innovator and activist for a better experience of care within the healthcare system. She is a healthcare entrepreneur and a motivational speaker as well as a board-certified Neonatologist, board-certified Pediatric Hospice and Palliative medicine physician, and certified in Pediatric Bioethics. Lorraine is also the CEO and co-founder of The Narrative Initiative, which focuses on helping healthcare professionals decompress and remain resilient, and makes communication between patients and providers efficient and effective. TNI research shows that the Write-Read-Reflect narrative method positively transforms the experience of healthcare for those who give care and those who must receive it.
Learn more about The Narrative Initiative at thenarrativeinitiative.com.
Read Dr. Lorraine Dickey’s bio here.
Find out how your organization can work with The Narrative Initiative here.
The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast would be honored to speak at your event or conference. Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
We’re honored to talk with Dr. Lorraine Dickey about The Narrative Initiative and the benefits of its Write-Read-Reflect method for both patients and staff. Dr. Dickey is an innovator and activist for a better experience of care within the healthcare system. She is a healthcare entrepreneur and a motivational speaker as well as a board-certified Neonatologist, board-certified Pediatric Hospice and Palliative medicine physician, and certified in Pediatric Bioethics. Lorraine is also the CEO and co-founder of The Narrative Initiative, which focuses on helping healthcare professionals decompress and remain resilient, and makes communication between patients and providers efficient and effective. TNI research shows that the Write-Read-Reflect narrative method positively transforms the experience of healthcare for those who give care and those who must receive it.
Learn more about The Narrative Initiative at thenarrativeinitiative.com.
Read Dr. Lorraine Dickey’s bio here.
Find out how your organization can work with The Narrative Initiative here.
The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast would be honored to speak at your event or conference. Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Our guest Judy Cornish is the founder of the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Wellbeing Network and the creator of the DAWN Method, a method for working with people who have dementia that helps them develop and retain a sense of security and wellbeing. As an elder law attorney, Judy had no experience with people with dementia until she met a new neighbor and began to help her lead a full life. Judy identified that the medical model doesn’t work well when it comes to managing life with dementia. She created the DAWN Method, a system that’s simple enough to be used by caregivers in the home and works in care facilities as well. Founded on the belief that dementia doesn’t take away all our skills, the DAWN Method fosters the skills and strengths of the individual. Ms. Cornish’s organization provides online training programs for families and professional caregivers, as well as staff training for agencies and facilities. Her goal is to see dignified dementia care become available for all.
You can get more information about the DAWN Method here.
Find Judy Cornish’s blog here.
Access Judy's free resources for Dementia Training here.
If your facility would like to train your staff to work with dementia patients using the DAWN Method, click here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Our guest Zaundra Ellis believes in servant leadership, and practiced it for over 20 years serving in hospice care. Zaundra has held many positions in hospice agencies, from executive direct ro her current role as Vice President of Hospice Solutions for Axxess Solutions. Through the years, she’s learned lessons about leadership and the importance of caring for the hospice team while they care for patients and families. She is a nationally recognized hospice thought leader and member of the NHPCO Regulatory Committee. In her interview with The Heart of Hospice, she shares wisdom acquired through years of dedicated service to the end of life industry.
Connect with Zaundra Ellis on LinkedIn.
Find out more about Axxess here and check out the Axxess Facebook page. Connect with Axxess on YouTube.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
In this episode, our guest Rabbi Steve Leder shares his perspective on dying and how the death of his father forever changed him. Steve Leder is the senior rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles. After receiving his degree in writing and graduating cum laude from Northwestern University, and spending time studying at Trinity College, Oxford University, Leder received a master’s degree in Hebrew letters in 1986 and rabbinical ordination in 1987 from Hebrew Union College.
He is the author of five books: The Extraordinary Nature of Ordinary Things, More Money Than God: Living a Rich Life Without Losing Your Soul, the bestsellers More Beautiful Than Before: How Suffering Transforms Us, and The Beauty of What Remains, and the upcoming For You When I Am Gone: Twelve Essential Questions to Tell a Life Story.
After spending many years at the bedside of those who were dying, Steve experienced the death of his father following a ten-year struggle with Alzheimer’s. That journey and the grief that followed forever changed what he thought about dying and death. His book, The Beauty of What Remains, describes the humanity and insight he gained.
You can connect with Rabbi Steve Leder by clicking here.
Experience Steve’s story through his book The Beauty of What Remains by clicking here.
Find out the 12 questions to tell your life story and live a life full of meaning and purpose in Steve’s book For You When I Am Gone: Twelve Essential Questions to Tell a Life Story by clicking here.
Connect with Rabbi Leder on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast would be honored to speak at your event or conference. Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or to jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Dr. Jim deMaine is with us to talk with us about advocacy in serious illness and his book Facing Death: Finding Dignity Hope and Healing at the End. Dr. deMaine is a retired Pulmonary and Critical Care physician, an accomplished public speaker, and an outspoken advocate for end-of-life decisions. In his book Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope and Healing at the End, Jim shares numerous stories that serve as cautionary tales about completing advance care planning discussions prior to a serious illness or health crisis. The book illuminates the weakness of the healthcare system, managing to also highlight the lessons Jim learned about end-of-life planning during his career. With honesty, compassion, and respect for the legacies of his patients, Dr. deMaine shares why advocacy for our health needs is so crucial to ensuring meaning in our own deaths and the deaths of our loved ones.
Purchase your copy of Dr. deMaine’s book by clicking here or here.
Connect with Jim deMaine’s blog at endoflifeblog.com.
To purchase your copy of The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America on Amazon, click here.
To read more about Ms. Hannig’s book, visit anitahannig.com.
To purchase the book through IndiaBound Books, click here.
Connect with The Love Always Project by clicking here and access their Resource page for more support.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Anthropologist Anita Hannig is talking with us about Medical Aid in Dying, misconceptions about assisted dying laws, and her new book The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America. Every end of life professional should be informed about what medical aid in dying really is. MAID laws, otherwise known as Death with Dignity laws, have been passed in ten states across the U.S. as well as Washington, D.C. Regardless of whether their state has a law permitting MAID, it’s important that healthcare providers are able to answer questions that might arise from seriously ill patients and their caregivers. Medical aid in dying is a controversial topic. Information given to patients should never be based on the personal opinions, judgments, or beliefs of the end of life providers. Ms. Hannig’s book The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America, is based on 5 years of immersive research. The book provides unbiased reporting on the challenges of utilizing MAID, how assisted dying is viewed by the medical community, and the multitude of ways an assisted death is experienced by a patient and loved ones.
To learn more about Medical Aid in Dying, visit the Compassion and Choices website (compassionandchoices.org).
To read more about Ms. Hannig’s book, visit anitahannig.com.
To purchase your copy of The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America on Amazon, click here.
To purchase the book through IndieBound Books, click here.
Connect with The Love Always Project by clicking here and accessing their Resource page for more support.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
We’re talking about comfort feedings today, how they work and the benefits they hold for hospice patients and their caregivers. Comfort feeding, (also pleasure feeding, is the practice of feeding the patient only what the patient likes and wants. It might not be considered particularly healthy. It’s more about enhancing quality of life for the patient. The focus of food intake is on comfort rather than good nutrition. The choices about food and drink are driven by the patient’s ability to swallow, of course. If a patient’s ability to swallow is impaired, he might just take the food or liquid into his mouth and then spit them out. The best guidance about comfort feedings is this: don’t eat or drink anything that’s going to make symptoms worse. Shortness of breath, blood sugar fluctuation and fluid retention (edema) can all be made worse by certain foods. Quality of life depends on managing those symptoms to the patient’s comfort level. Because managing those symptoms is often the job of the caregiver, how comfort feedings are handled affects the caregiver, too. So finding a good balance in comfort feedings is important. The patient, caregiver, and the hospice team can help make that happen.
Connect with The Love Always Project by clicking here and accessing their Resource page for more support.
Interested in anthropologist Anita Hannig’s book The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America? Purchase your copy here or here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Navigating the maze of responsibilities following a death can be overwhelming. Empathy.com can help. The Empathy founders know that loss-related tasks are many, ranging from writing an obituary to closing out business accounts and subscriptions. On the Empathy website, you’ll find resources to help with choosing a funeral home and celebrant, writing a eulogy, and dealing with issues related to the will. Empathy Care Specialists are available to offer guidance and services to walk through the items that need to be completed after a death. They can even help with writing an obituary. On the Empathy app, there’s grief and bereavement support to ease the hard emotions that come with a loss, including a grief journal. On the days when grief feels overwhelming, listen to Empathy’s brief mindfulness-based guided meditations that support grievers through those hard emotions. Empathy offers services for individuals, insurers, and employers.
Interested in anthropologist Anita Hannig’s book The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America? Purchase your copy here or here.
Connect with The Love Always Project by clicking here and access their Resource page for more support.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
We’re honored to feature hospice physician and innovator BJ Miller in an amazing discussion about strengths, trends, and the future of end-of-life care. Dr. Miller is an advocate, thought-leader, and leader on the front lines of end-of-life care. He has been a physician for 19 years and has counseled over 1,000 patients and family members. This vast experience has led him to understand what people really need when dealing with difficult health situations. His TED Talk, What Really Matters at the End of Life has had over 11 million views. He’s the co-author of A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death, which was published in 2019. BJ also served as medical director for Zen Hospice in San Francisco. As a co-founder of Mettle Health, he and his team are on a mission to help people reframe the way we think about the road ahead, for ourselves, or someone we’re caring for by dealing with issues “ranging from the practical to the emotional, to the existential.” What an incredible discussion on the future of hospice care, attitudes towards death, and how end-of-life care is changing for the better!
Connect with The Love Always Project by clicking here.
Watch Dr. Miller’s TEDtalk here.
Find out more about Mettle Health at mettleheatlh.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
In the final episode of our Patient Right series, we’re talking about the right to choose medications, equipment, and who makes visits to the home. The care that’s provided for a hospice patient is collected into something called a Plan of Care. That Plan of Care includes every intervention the hospice team provides, including medications, any medical equipment that’s needed, and which disciplines on the hospice team will make visits with the patient. There’s a lot of information in a Plan of Care and should be individualized to the patient’s and caregiver’s needs. Medications are a big part of the Plan of Care. The doctor orders what is needed and decides what’s contraindicated (not a good idea to take), but the patient or responsible caregiver gets to determine which meds will be taken. Medications that are related to the patient’s terminal prognosis or diagnosis should be paid for by the hospice agency. Medical equipment that is used to help seriously ill patients is also part of the Plan of Care. The cost of that equipment is covered by the hospice agency, but the agency decides which equipment they’ll cover. Not every patient needs every piece of equipment that’s offered. Sometimes the patient or caregiver doesn’t want bulky equipment in their home. It’s the patient’s right to choose what equipment gets brought in. When it comes to which members of the hospice team make visits with the patient, the patient is the decision-maker here as well. Except for the nurse, visits from the other team members can be refused by the patient. The nurse visits are mandatory to meet regulatory requirements. It’s always best to allow a visit from every discipline on the team (nurse, social worker, chaplain, aide, volunteer) to make the most of the care opportunities. Listen to the other episodes in the Know Your Rights series to get a complete picture of the rights of hospice patients!
Find the full listing of Patient Rights here:
Patient Rights Document from the National Association of Home Care and Hospice
The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast would be honored to speak at your event or conference. Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Meet RN Keisha Jones and Dr. Michelle Owens of Hospice Austin and hear how they take extraordinary care of their hospice team with a debriefing program. . After seeing signs of accelerated compassion and moral fatigue in their hospice clinical team in 2021, Keisha and Michelle realized there was more needed beyond pizza parties. They put their heads together to create a debriefing program. As director of the clinical team, Keisha saw that nurses and other clinicians were deeply involved with patients, and the grief of not having families with dying patients was severely affecting the team. A safe space to discuss what was happening was first priority. Using a debriefing facilitator trainer manual from CAPC (Center to Advance Palliative Care) website, they started the program. Using Zoom video conferencing and including all disciplines, the women make the debriefings accessible to all disciplines and all shifts. The team felt heard and safe. The responses were positive and encouraging.
If you’re interested in creating a debriefing program in your agency, you can access the debriefing facilitator trainer manual from CAPC here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast would be honored to speak at your event or conference. Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or to jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Hospice patients have the right to start and stop hospice care. Your hospice, your choices. After a physician determines that a patient has a “terminal prognosis” - a six-month life expectancy, a patient can be admitted to hospice if the patient chooses to start, or “elect”, hospice. The patient might still refuse to start hospice. There are numerous reasons why that might happen. Feeling like hospice is giving up hope, waiting for test results, or wanting to pass a milestone anniversary or holiday are all reasons people delay starting hospice care. Sometimes people have had a bad experience with hospice for a family member, and they’re concerned about receiving poor care. It’s a legitimate fear; mistakes happen. Sometimes hospice just isn’t a good fit. After hospice care is started, it’s the patient’s right (or his decision-maker) to stop hospice. It’s called a revocation. Only the patient or decision-maker can revocate a patient. That right lies with the patient and could happen for several reasons. The patient might decide to resume treatment or wants to enroll in a study. The right to choose when to stop and start hospice belongs to the patient.
Find the full listing of Patient Rights here:
Patient Rights Document from the National Association of Home Care and Hospice
The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast would be honored to speak at your event or conference. Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
In episode 3 of our Patient Rights series, we’re talking about the right to choose a physician to manage a patient’s care while on hospice. When receiving hospice care, the patient or decision-maker has the right to choose which physician will manage care. The hospice agency is required to let the patient know he can choose an “attending physician”, a doctor who works alongside the hospice medical director and the hospice interdisciplinary team. Patients often ask a doctor who’s been their primary care provider, someone who knows them well. Hospice teams are required to include that attending physician in coordinating care. Some physicians may choose not to be an attending physician when they’re asked. There are several possible reasons a doctor might not want to be an attending physician. Maybe symptom management is not their skill set, or they’re not familiar with the kind of care that’s needed at the end of life. Nurse practitioners can also serve as attending physicians for a hospice patient. If there isn’t an attending physician the patient would like to continue providing care, the patient can simply choose the hospice medical director as his/her attending physician. It’s your right!
Find more Patient Rights here:
Patient Rights Document from the National Association of Home Care and Hospice
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast would be honored to speak at your event or conference. Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Caregiving for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia holds its special challenges. Jennifer Fink of the Fading Memories Podcast is with us to share her caregiving experience. Jennifer became the caregiver for her mom after the death of her dad. Experiencing all the frustration and challenges, Jennifer looked for podcasts that could help. After not finding what she needed, Jennifer launched the Fading Memories podcast. The podcast content is designed to help anyone who is providing care for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. According to the Fading Memories Podcast website, “Jennifer is the daughter, granddaughter & great-granddaughter of women who suffered from Alzheimer’s or other cognitive impairment. Looking for answers on how not to become the fourth generation with this problem while also seeking ways to connect better with her Mom has led her on this interesting journey with her new passion, podcasting”. The website provides support through the podcast, articles, recipes, and resources. You can connect with Jennifer at fadingmemoriespodcast.com and on her Facebook page. Find the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss this great resource for Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast would be honored to speak at your event or conference. Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or to jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
A common myth about hospice is that patients and families don’t have any choices once hospice care starts, so we’re talking about all the rights patients really do have. Don't miss this 5 part series! It’s vital that both consumers and providers of hospice care know what rights the patient (or the responsible decision-maker) has. Those rights are real and every agency serving seriously ill patients should provide a list to their patients and caregivers. We’re highlighting some of the most important rights - the right to make a complaint, the right to choose a physician, the right to start and stop hospice care, and the right to choose what’s included in your own plan of care. Hospice patients and their caregivers should feel empowered to manage the care they receive. Listen to all the Patient Rights Series episodes to learn about these all-important rights!
Patient Rights Document from the National Association of Home Care and Hospice
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Who knew that TikTok videos about death and dying would gain 800,000 followers? Hospice Nurse Julie is our guest, talking about why her hospice videos have gone viral, and what she finds meaningful about working in end-of-life care. RN Julie McFadden started making the videos, never dreaming that four days later so many people would connect with her content. As a hospice nurse, Julie has heard all the questions from patients and families dealing with serious illness. Topics of her videos include the dying process, end of life medications, visioning, and what a natural death looks like. The average age of a TikTok user is 16-24 years old, not the group you’d think would be interested in conversations about death. Julie believes that taking the mystery out of death and dying takes a lot of the fear out of the experience.
Connect with Hospice Nurse Julie at Hospice Nurse Julie's TikTok.
Read the Newsweek article about Hospice Nurse Julie here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast would be honored to speak at your event or conference. Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or to jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Bereavement care is part of hospice, but what exactly is it, who does it, and what should it look like? Hospice agencies in the U.S. are required to offer bereavement services to families and loved ones of patients who die on hospice service. For up to 13 months after the death, families receive support for their grief. It can come in many different forms, depending on the individual needs of the family. The Bereavement Plan of Care is written according to how the family is coping with the death. Hospice team members do a Bereavement Risk Assessment, factoring in situations and stressors that might elevate the level of grief. Sometimes grief is complicated by poor coping skills, dysfunctional relationships, mental illness, or limited education. Grief is also influenced by the age of the person because children and teens have different ways of dealing with grief. There’s a wide variety of items that can be included in bereavement services, including phone calls, letters, resources or handouts, agency memorial services, grief support groups, and individual in-person bereavement visits. Agencies have to provide bereavement care, but families or caregivers do not have to participate in it - it’s their choice. Check out the bereavement services your agency offers! Don’t forget to register for the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association conference coming up June 6-10 by visiting calhospice.org! Be sure to tell them you heard about it on The Heart of Hospice podcast.
The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast would be honored to speak at your event or conference. Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
How's your self-care these days? We're getting back to the basics of care of body, mind, and spirit. Maybe your self care got off track during the pandemic, but it’s always a good time to do a care inventory. It’s important to ask yourself 5 things about your self care: 1) Is it affordable? 2) Is it sustainable? 3) Is it enjoyable? 4) Is it flexible? 5) Is it actionable? Here’s what we know about self care. You have to like what you choose to do (enjoyable). You might need to change it at a moment’s notice (flexible). It needs to be something you can do for the long term (sustainable). Your activities must be within your budget (affordable). Self-care activities have to be realistic for you, something you can actually do (actionable).
Start your self-care - get an accountability partner and get started taking care of your whole self. Mind, body, and spirit, all of your Self matters!
Don’t forget to register for the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association conference coming up June 6-10 by visiting calhospice.org! Be sure to tell them you heard about it on The Heart of Hospice podcast.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast would be honored to speak at your event or conference. Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or to jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Certified Dementia Practitioner Nicole Shute is talking with us about CareStory and its mission to make caring a collaborative effort between caregivers and families. According to the CareStory website, CareStory is “a non-medical digital solution approach to bridge the gap between aging populations, their families, and caregivers. It provides individualized holistic person-centered care for senior residents and just-in-time support to caregivers by engaging families through the use of smart devices. Each resident’s profile has a quick fact page, personalized music, life stories, and video messages that can greatly facilitate caregivers’ daily jobs.” Nicole and the CareStory team provide a multi-faceted platform featuring messaging, photo and video sharing, and more in a way that makes coordination between caregivers, family members, and friends easier. If you’re a family member interested in creating a CareStory profile for your loved one, click here. If you’re a staff member or administrator of a facility and you’d like to request a CareStory demo, click here. Don’t forget to register for the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association conference coming up June 6-10 by visiting calhospice.org! Be sure to tell them you heard about it on The Heart of Hospice podcast.
The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast would be honored to speak at your event or conference. Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and self-care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
We’re clearing up the confusion about using therapies (physical, speech, and occupational) for hospice patients. It’s one of the confusing issues in hospice - whether therapy modalities can be used in end of life care. The truth is that PT, ST, and OT can be utilized in hospice. The goal of these therapies is not rehabilitation or long-term strengthening. The real goal for each of these therapies is enhancing quality of life, focusing on education of the patient and caregivers, and teaching safe practices for patient care. Physical therapists can teach safe transfer techniques, good body mechanics, turning and repositioning, and use of mobility assist devices. Occupational therapists can help with fine motor issues, including education on techniques for managing Activities of Daily Living. Speech therapists assist with education about communication systems, minimizing choking hazards, and preventing aspiration of foods and liquids. All of these interventions are about keeping the patient safe and enhancing quality of life. In hospice, ST, OT, and PT are used very sparingly and only when the patient will benefit from visits from these disciplines. If you’re a hospice professional, it’s important to know that your agency might need to provide a few therapy visits. If you’re a caregiver for a hospice patient or a hospice patient, be sure to ask your interdisciplinary team if you think some therapy visits might be beneficial. Register for your place at the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association conference coming up June 6-10 by visiting calhospice.org! Be sure to tell them you heard about it on The Heart of Hospice podcast.
The Heart of Hospice cares about your hospice caregiving journey. If you have a question about hospice philosophy and care, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’re here to help!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Solo caregiving is a complicated job. Creating a caregiving village can make it easier. Over 54 million people across the U.S. are unpaid caregivers. They might provide care for a spouse or partner, child, friend, or parent. They might also be providing that care by themselves - a solo caregiver. One person caring for another is often a full time job, especially if there’s a serious illness or terminal diagnosis. So many factors come into play: health issues of the caregiver, physical demands of the seriously ill person, financial demands, additional responsibilities or a full time paying job, around the clock duties, isolation, or safety concerns. Sometimes caregivers need to manage the care of more than one person. Solo caregiving has both pros and cons. As a solo caregiver, you become an expert in the patient, knowing routines, needs, history, and the details of care. Information is easier to manage, too, because it only flows to one person. Being a solo caregiver can also provide great meaning and purpose. While there are some positive qualities to solo caregiving, there are also drawbacks. Caregiver burnout, information overload, and isolation can stress the caregiving situation. There are ways to make it easier. Creating a caregiving village can be a huge help. Enlisting the assistance of friends, faith community members, and relatives and friends who are out of town and in-person can dilate the caregiving responsibilities. Providing support if someone lives out of town - remote caregiving - can be helpful with tasks like ordering groceries or keeping the family group informed about current events or changes in the patient’s condition. Dividing the duties reduces the burden on the primary caregiver. You can check out devices or app that available for help with managing a caregiving village - Caregiven, the GrandPad, Caring Bridge, physician patient portals, and CareStory. Looking for a speaker for your event or conference? Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or to jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Don’t miss the amazing Thresholds Conference sponsored by Hospice of Southern Maine on Tues., May 10 1:00pm - 3:30pm EST featuring Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. All virtual over Zoom, and only $35! Get your tickets by clicking here.
Connect with Hospice of Southern Maine at https://www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/.
Register for your place at the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association conference coming up June 6-10 by visiting calhospice.org! Be sure to tell them you heard about it on The Heart of Hospice podcast.
Humor and compassion overflow in our guest Benjamin Kintisch, hospice chaplain and director of Life Review: The Hospice Musical! Working with hospice patients as a spiritual counselor inspired Benjamin to tell his patients’ stories in songs that captivate the audience. Benjamin holds a Masters in Sacred Music and Cantorial degree, and has completed his fourth year of chaplaincy training, having served in both hospice and eldercare facilities. He serves in his community as a middle school chorus teacher. According to the Life Review: The Musical website, the show celebrates “life, love and loss through three seasons at a residential hospice”. The stories evoke emotions and tears, relatable to any audience. Find out about how you can see the musical virtually at lifereviewmusical.com/. If you’re interested in partnering with Benjamin and the Life Review team to provide a virtually showing of the musical, contact them here.
Learn about Life Review: The Hospice Musical at lifereviewmusical.com/.
Contact creator Benjamin Kintisch by sending an email to benjaminkintisch@yahoo.com.
Don’t miss the amazing Thresholds Conference sponsored by Hospice of Southern Maine on Tues., May 10 1:00pm - 3:30pm EST featuring Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. All virtual over Zoom, and only $35! Get your tickets by clicking here.
Connect with Hospice of Southern Maine at https://www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/.
Register for your place at the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association conference coming up June 6-10 by visiting calhospice.org! Be sure to tell them you heard about it on The Heart of Hospice podcast.
Looking for a speaker for your event or conference? Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or to jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Choosing hospice care can be a very difficult decision, whether it’s for yourself or someone you are about. It’s important to respect those choices. Most people who decide to utilize hospice care have experienced a serious illness. Sometimes there’s been a catastrophic health event that limits someone’s life expectancy. It’s easy to judge someone else’s choices from an outsider perspective. Even hospice and end of life professionals criticize the choice not to accept hospice care when the referral is made by the healthcare community. It’s important to remember that we might not have all the information about a person’s illness or disease trajectory. People usually do a lot of living before they arrive in a situation where hospice is appropriate. Oftentimes there’s a desire to continue treatment to sustain hope, an unwillingness to let go of even the smallest chance of improvement. The need to respect a person’s end of life wishes has to be stronger than guilt or grief. So be supportive of someone’s decision to embrace hospice, or to delay it. The decision is what the patient says it is. Don’t miss the amazing Thresholds Conference sponsored by Hospice of Southern Maine on Tues., May 10 1:00pm - 3:30pm EST featuring Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. All virtual over Zoom, and only $35! Get your tickets by clicking here.
Connect with Hospice of Southern Maine at https://www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/.
Register for your place at the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association conference coming up June 6-10 by visiting calhospice.org! Be sure to tell them you heard about it on The Heart of Hospice podcast.
Looking for a speaker for your event or conference? Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or to jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Words, terms, and acronyms - it’s important to know how to speak the language to get the best quality hospice you can. When you’re in an unfamiliar situation, understanding the terms that are being used will help you to manage things better. There’s a lot of stress when someone is experiencing a serious illness, starting hospice, or communicating with a hospice interdisciplinary team. Professionals should use words that patients and caregivers understand, not leave them with more questions and increased anxiety. Listen to the whole episode for examples of the common terms you might hear in end of life care! Patients and their caregivers should ask questions, and repeat those questions as needed. It’s ok to ask for clarification. Hospice providers should provide answers in a way that’s understandable, verbal and/or written. Interdisciplinary team members should never become impatient or irritated when asked for additional information. It’s important for those persons receiving care to know exactly what’s being discussed. Knowing the meaning of hospice terms will help enhance the care experience.
Don’t miss the amazing Thresholds Conference sponsored by Hospice of Southern Maine on Tues., May 10 1:00pm - 3:30pm EST featuring Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. All virtual over Zoom, and only $35! Get your tickets by clicking here.
Connect with Hospice of Southern Maine at https://www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/.
Register for your place at the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association conference coming up June 6-10 by visiting calhospice.org! Be sure to tell them you heard about it on The Heart of Hospice podcast.
Looking for a speaker for your event or conference? Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or to jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
In recognition of National Healthcare Decisions Day 2022, we’re talking about advance care planning. What’s your plan for your healthcare and who have you told it to? National Healthcare Decisions Day was started in 2008 by attorney Nathan Kottkamp to encourage people to complete their advance care planning. Every year on April 16 (the day after Tax Day), National Healthcare Decisions Day is observed. It’s the perfect day to make your end of life plans. Develop your plan - think about your beliefs, wishes, and wants for healthcare during a serious illness. Document your plan - put your plan into the legal forms that are accepted in your state or province. Discuss your plan - tell your healthcare provider team and your family or those who would help with your care. Eliminate the chance that you’ll receive care you don’t want, care that won’t work, or care you can’t afford by making your wishes known. Happy National Healthcare Decisions Day 2022! Find more information about NHDD 2022 at The Conversation Project website.
Use some of our favorite advance planning tools and games:
The Conversation Project
The Death Deck
Go Wish cards from Code Alliance
Hello game from Common Practice
Heart2Hearts: The Workbook from Discuss Directives with Lisa Newburger
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Looking for a speaker for your event or conference? Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or to jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Hospice nurse and author Pepper Cappuccio is talking with us about his book “Warm Water: The Last Act of Compassion”, and how he creates meaning for patients and their families in their last moments. Carl “Pepper” Cappuccio has been a nurse for over 15 years, and a hospice nurse for 10 years. According to his website peppercappuccio.com, “he became a registered nurse more than 15 years ago, however, it was not until he experienced the death of his own mother that he realized his true calling. Hospice nursing is what brings him joy and satisfaction.” Due to his personal experience with his mom, Pepper is acutely aware of the challenges faced by the caregivers as they face the loss of a loved one. The author is instantly able to connect the similarities of each patient and family as it relates to his own life‘s experiences. Creating a meaningful ritual of bathing patient’s bodies with warm water during post mortem care has enabled Pepper to honor the humanity of the people for whom he provides nursing care. Just the simple act of a warm bath demonstrates compassion and a respect for the physical body. Pepper’s book is a collection of his stories and experiences with the patients in his case, and the rituals he created at the time of their deaths. “Warm Water” is a selection of stories to which all caregivers and hospice professionals can relate. Read more about Pepper’s story at peppercappuccio.com.
Buy “Warm Water: The Last Act of Compassion” by clicking here or here.
Looking for a speaker for your event or conference? Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or to jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Using labels for people can be evidence of our implicit bias. Hospice providers can enhance the quality of care by avoiding labels. If you have a brain, you have a bias. It’s who we are as humans. The key to treating our patients and their families with respect and compassion is to avoid labels that make them less than human. Healthcare providers might not even realize the labels we give our patients are disrespectful or derogatory. It’s possible to describe a patient’s condition or status without using a term that is demeaning. It’s also possible to report behaviors using descriptive language. Seriously ill patients and families deserve our respect. Using labels removes that respect, and desensitizes our ability to have compassion. Labels give us permission to treat people as less than who they are. We don’t take care of patients - we take care of people. So look at your own biases and see their influence on the care you provide. Give your patients - your people - the best you have to give! Don’t miss the amazing Thresholds Conference sponsored by Hospice of Southern Maine on Tues., May 10 1:00pm - 3:30pm EST featuring Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. All virtual over Zoom, and only $35! Get your tickets by clicking here. Connect with Hospice of Southern Maine at https://www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/.
Register for your place at the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association conference coming up June 6-10 by visiting calhospice.org! Be sure to tell them you heard about it on The Heart of Hospice podcast.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Looking for a speaker for your event or conference? Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or to jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to partner with you!
Daryl Cady, CEO of Hospice of Southern Maine is sharing details about the 2022 Thresholds Conference. What an amazing opportunity to unite for conversations about end of life! The conference features keynote speaker Elizabeth Gilbert, #1 New York Times best selling author of Eat, Pray, Love. Additionally, the conference includes singer/songwriter Michelle Zauner, author of Crying in H Mart. The theme for the 2022 Thresholds conference is “Grief is Individual and Universal”. Both speakers have experienced their own losses, and will share the stories of their unique grief journeys. Anyone who has experienced a loss can relate to the message of Thresholds. The conference is virtual over Zoom, and tickets are only $35. The conference is on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 1:00pm - 3:30pm EST. Buy your tickets thresholdshsm.org. Don’t miss this chance to hear these great speakers! Get your tickets for the virtual May 10 Thresholds conference featuring Elizabeth Gilbert and Michelle Zauner by clicking here.
Connect with Hospice of Southern Maine at https://www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/.
Interested in having one of the hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast speak at your event? Send an email to helen@theheartofhospice or jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Today’s guest is a chaplain in the Buddhist tradition and author of “From Grief to Growth: 5 Essential Elements of Action to Give Grief A Purpose and Grow From Your Experience”. You’re going to love our conversation with Paula Stephens!! Paula has a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology and studied Buddhist Chaplaincy at Upaya Institute and Zen Center. She’s a Certified Wellness Coach, Mindfulness Teacher, Clinical Hypnotherapist, a Yoga Instructor and a hospital chaplain in the Buddhist traditions. She brings professionalism and compassion to her work by recognizing the importance of healing the whole person, mind/body/spirit. After the loss of her son, Paula began searching for healthy ways to manage her grief. She learned over time to utilize the wellness tools she had used for years, including running and yoga. The lessons she learned were translated into her book “From Grief to Growth: 5 Essential Elements of Actions”. She believes that grief never fully leaves us, so it’s important to build habits that will support a lifetime of grieving. Paula has worked with 100’s of caregivers (just like you) and helped them go from struggling to find joy and purpose in their work and life to feeling a renewed sense of purpose for their work and looking forward to each day in as little as one month. Her story is amazing and you’ll be blessed when you hear it. Get your copy of Paula’s book “From Grief to Growth: 5 Essential Elements of Action to Give Grief A Purpose and Grow From Your Experience” by clicking here.
Connect with Paula Stephens and her work at paulastephens.net
Looking to hire Paula to speak at your event? Click here.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Financial burden is a real problem for over 55 million caregivers across the U.S. What money issues do people need to consider before they take on the caregiving role? Often a caregiver has many roles, including being a full time wage earner and other family caregiving responsibilities like kids. Caregivers spent an average of $7000 of their own money in 2017 for things like medical expenses, legal fees, and paid caregiving help. It’s important to stay informed, and to think about the financial needs in advance if you can. Keep in mind the financial health of both the one needing care and the caregiver. Think about sustainability - how long can you afford to maintain a caregiving system? Is a caregiving system home feasible? Caregivers have health care needs, too. Not all partners or family members are physically able to care for a loved one. What if you live separately from the one needing care, possibly at a long distance? The costs of travel can mount. With the expectation that care needs will expand as a patient’s condition declines toward end of life, a village of caregivers becomes essential. Be proactive with these discussions, if you have the luxury of time. There are resources available - take time to check them out. One great option is AARP (American Association of Retired Persons). Find more caregiver support at theheartofhospice.com.
Don’t forget to register for the California Hospice and Palliative Care Organization conference coming up in June 2022! The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast are beyond thrilled to be partnering with end of life educator Barbara Karnes of *BK Books, author of Gone from My Sight (also known as the Little Blue Book), to feature a talk on getting back to the basics at the bedside. When you register, be sure to tell them you heard about it on The Heart of Hospice podcast! Grab your spot at the conference by clicking here.*
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
We’re wrapping up our Grief Series in collaboration with Gabby Jimenez of The Hospice Heart, featuring social workers Isabel Stenzel and Lisa Pahl of The Death Deck. After discussing prolonged grief, helping children manage grief, and dealing with grief for someone while still providing care for someone else, we’ve grown in our understanding of how grief affects our lives. Gabby says that being stuck in grief really hit home with her. The situation of being unable to move through grief is very real. For Helen, Isabel’s guidance about how children grief was so helpful. As Isabel said, “If you’re old enough to love, you’re old enough to grieve”. Sometimes it’s hard to look beyond our own personal grief to consider the emotions and needs of someone else. Jerry talked about how grief can last for years, and those emotions can wash over us when we least expect it. The Heart of Hospice was honored to collaborate with The Hospice Heart, and to share the wisdom that Isabel and Lisa have to share.
You can connect with Lisa Pahl of The Death Deck at thedeathdeck.com.
Find out more about Isabel Stenzel’s story by buying her book The Power of Two: A Twin Triumph Over Cystic Fibrosis by clicking here.
Click here to watch Isabel’s TED Talk on the art of saying goodbye.
Read The Hospice Heart blog by Gabby Jimenez here.
Connect with Gabby’s Facebook group for The Hospice Heart here.
Find information about The Death Deck and Lisa Pahl at thedeathdeck.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Memorial tattoos have become a popular way of remembering loved ones. Our guest today is Deborah Davidson, creator of The Tattoo Project. Deborah has done some amazing research and work into how we express our grief through tattoo body art. Tattoos have become more mainstream than ever. As a sociologist, Deborah has researched deeply into death and dying, bereavement and grief. She had her own personal grief experiences as well. Working as a volunteer for a bereavement families organization, she began seeing more and more tattoos in memory of loved ones who had died. Historically, tattoos have been used for sacred ceremonies and marking rites of passage; they have great meaning for those who bear them. These days, people get memorial tattoos for pets as well as people. Many times having a meaningful symbol enshrined on their skin is an outward sign of remembering for the person with the tattoo. When someone asks about the tattoo design, it provides an opportunity to talk about the loved one memorialized in the design. Some people use their memorial tattoos to recall the memory of a beloved pet.
Interested in the California Hospice and Palliative Care Conference coming up June 6-10, 2022? Click here to register for this great educational opportunity!
Read more about Deborah Davidson and her work on the Tattoo Project at thetattooproject.info.
Connect with Professor Davidson by sending an email to: debd@yorku.ca.
To purchase your copy of The Tattoo Project book, click here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
In episode 5 in our Grief Series in partnership with Gabby Jimenez of The Hospice Heart, hospice social worker Lisa Pahl of the Death Deck is back to talk with us about managing grief for a loved one while still providing care for someone else. Multiple losses can be overwhelming, and Lisa reminds there’s no magic answer. It’s important to assess whether you can step back from current caregiving responsibilities and let someone else take on some of the work, even if it’s only temporary. Hospice professionals have to ask themselves the same question as they move from patient to patient. Being specific about what’s needed when we’re grieving is helpful as well. It can be overwhelming for a griever to have to make another decision about asking for help from other people. When you offer to help a griever, it can help to offer a specific service, task, or support. Sitting at a bedside, running errands, cooking a meal, babysitting for children are all good ways to ease the caregiving burden. This can take some responsibility off the griever, and make their burden a little lighter. Connect with Gabby Jinenez and The Hospice Heart at thehospiceheart.net. Find information about The Death Deck and Lisa Pahl at thedeathdeck.com. Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here. Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Part 4 of our Grief Series with Gabby Jimenez of The Hospice Heart features bereavement social worker Isabel Stenzel, with a focus on grief in children and young adults. Younger people navigate grief differently. As hospice and bereavement professionals, it’s important to remember to respect the instinct and wishes of the parents. There are numerous ways children can be connected to someone who’s dying - writing letters and cards or drawing pictures. If we’re old enough to love, we’re old enough to grieve. A time of loss is an opportunity to teach a child how to navigate a grief journey. It’s important to prepare the child for what the child might see, like changes in body appearance or abilities to communicate. Explanations about death should be provided according to the developmental level of the child. Adults instinctively try to shield kids from experiences with death and dying, but kids can develop healthy coping mechanisms if appropriately involved in the death of a loved one. How adults cope with grief greatly influence how a child grieves, so it’s vital for adults to care for themselves and get the grief support they need. Using creative activities to create meaning and providing support that’s age appropriate can enable a child to navigate a loss in a healthy way. Resources for grieving children include:
National Alliance for Children’s Grief - childrengrieve.org
The Dougy Center - dougy.org
Sesame Street YouTube videos
Connect with Gabby Jimenez and The Hospice Heart at thehospiceheart.net.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Reid Peterson of Grief Refuge brings a serene energy to our conversation about grief support, self care, and finding your normal inside a grief journey. Thanks for connecting with The Heart of Hospice! Reid is the founder and creator of the Grief Refuge app. He holds a masters degree in transpersonal psychology, and is certified in death and grief studies by the Center for Loss and Life Transition. Reid lost his biological father to suicide, and his stepfather to cancer. His personal experience helped him identify the need for grief support after a loss. He created the Grief Refuge app with the goal of providing support to grievers, including one-on-one services, retreats, and support groups. The Grief Refuge app is comforting in its content and graphics. The blog offers support for grief goals, widowhood, and dealing with guilt. Reid says he wanted to provide support in a way that people could find solace and comfort every single day, accessible whenever they need it. If you're grieving a loss in your life, check out the Grief Refuge website, the blog, along with Helen and Jerry's interview with Reid on the Grief Refuge podcast.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Social worker and Death Deck co-creator Lisa Pahl is with us for part 3 of our Grief Series in collaboration with Gabby Jimenez of The Hospice Heart. Lisa is sharing tips for grief that lasts for years. We can’t take away the grief of someone else, but we can provide support and comfort through presence and touch. Something as simple as holding a hand and being quiet with someone can be helpful. Lisa also encourages participation in grief support groups. It’s important to engage in groups, resources, or even apps that work for the griever’s needs and ability to use technology. Hospice bereavement teams follow with families for up to a year following the patient’s death but sometimes that’s not long enough. How do we care for people who seem to be stuck in their grief for years following the death? Lisa recommends talking with a grief specialist or counselor. There are so many feelings to process in grief, and having a safe, trusted person to talk to is a huge help. Remember you’re not alone and there’s help out there for your grief.
Read more about Lisa Pahl at https://thedeathdeck.com/pages/about-us.
Get a set of Death Deck card for yourself at thedeathdeck.com.
Connect with hospice nurse Gabby Jimenez at thehospiceheart.net.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
In collaboration with Gabby Jimenez of The Hospice Heart, we’re featuring social worker Isabel Stenzel in Part 2 of our Grief Series. Isabel specializes in grief and bereavement, and she shares guidance about how to cope with grief in healthy ways. Identifying when extra support is needed during a grief journey is really important. Talking with a close friend who listens well, or a professional grief counselor is a good way to get help. Isabel offers that it can be helpful to focus on the grief during a talking session, and then set it aside for a while to relieve the tension of grief burden temporarily. Anticipatory grief is real and needs attention as well to deal with the uncertainty ahead. Healthcare providers, especially those who provide care for seriously ill and dying patients, need to seek help for the secondary grief they experience, too. After someone experiences the death of a loved one, Isabel advises each of us to trust our own instincts about when we need help. Oftentimes the busy time just after a death when there are so many tasks to complete might not be the best time to seek counseling. Getting help for grief might be more productive about two to three months after a death. Prolonged grief needs attention as well. Sometimes we’re so busy focusing on survival that we don’t deal with grief until later. If you feel stuck in your grief, find a trusted friend or grief counseling professional to work with. Your grief journey matters. Reach out to your local hospice agency for further grief and bereavement support.
Find grief support at psychologytoday.com
Connect with Gabby Jiminez and The Hospice Heart at thehospiceheart.net.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Grief coach Peggy Green is with us talking about her journey through child loss, the lessons she’s learned, and her book “Life After Child Loss: A Mother’s Guide to Survival”. Peggy became a grief coach after experiencing the loss of two children, a nine month old daughter and her 24 year old son. Her wisdom is invaluable for anyone who has experienced the death of a child. Her mission according to her website theegriefspecialist.com is to “bring hope to mothers who are grieving the loss of a child and support to those who feel they can't find hope for the future”. Peggy’s book “Life After Child Loss: A Mother’s Guide to Survival” is a great resource to those who are grieving, especially grieving the loss of a child. She also offers personal coach and speaking services. Connect with Peggy at theegriefspecialist.com. Order your book here. Find more grief resources and connect with Peggy Green at theegriefspecialist.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice on hospice philosophy, hospice basics, self care, and advance care planning here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Welcome to our series on grief in collaboration with Gabby Jimenez of The Hospice Heart, featuring grief experts Isabel Stenzel and Lisa Pahl of The Death Deck. Gabby, a hospice nurse, began noticing an increase in questions about grief on her Facebook group for The Hospice Heart. She’s partnered with us at The Heart of Hospice to bring you this six part series on grief. We’re going to be talking about numerous topics related to grief, including grief that seems to last for longer than it should, when to seek professional help for your grief, grieving for one person while caregiving for another person, and how to support grieving children. Subject experts Isabel and Lisa will join in the discussions to provide guidance on resources and solutions to honor your grief, as well as the grief of your friends and family. Subscribe to the podcast to hear this great series on navigating grief and loss. You can subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, or listen on The Heart of Hospice website. Don’t miss this great series on grief!
Connect with Gabby Jiminez and The Hospice Heart at thehospiceheart.net.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
With over 50 million caregivers caring for loved ones across the U.S., self care has become an urgent need. We’re wrapping up our Self Care Series, helping you take care of body, mind, and spirit. Caregivers use their whole “selves” - body, mind, and spirit - to provide care for loved ones, family, and friends. If you’re a hospice professional caring for those who provide unpaid care for those with serious illness, it’s important to provide education on self care. Personal caregivers have reduced quality of life due to the demands of caregiving responsibilities. Isolation, sleep deprivation, deterioration of physical health, forgetfulness, hopelessness, and depression are some of the effects of the caregiving burden. A patient’s quality of life is dependent on the caregiver’s quality of life. So be intentional about Self Care. Make your Self Care attainable, sustainable, creative, comfortable, affordable - and fun! The Heart of Hospice cares about your hospice caregiving journey. If you have a question about hospice philosophy and care, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com or jerry@theheartofhospice.com. We’re here to help! Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Author William Peters is a licensed psychotherapist and author of At Heaven’s Door. In our discussion he describes his own personal experience with a Shared Death Experience (SDE) as a volunteer at the Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco. That experience, along with previous life events, motivated William to spend the next 20 years researching and gathering stories of other people’s “shared crossing” experiences. He’s the co-founder of The Shared Crossing Project (sharedcrossing.com), an organization “dedicated to raising awareness and educating people about shared crossings, which are transformative and healing experiences reported by dying persons as well as their loved ones and caregivers.” According to the Shared Crossing Project website “As the Director of the Shared Crossing Research Initiative (SCRI), William and his research team collect and study extraordinary end-of-life experiences (shared crossings). He is recognized by many as the world’s leading authority on the shared death experience (SDE) having developed research-based typologies that classify the full range of SDEs. He also created the Spectrum of End-of-Life Experiences, a user-friendly guide to assist the dying, caregivers and health care professionals in navigating and understanding phenomena that can manifest at end of life.” If you’re interested in learning more about SDEs, or you have an SDE story to share with the Shared Crossing Project, connect with William and his team at sharedcrossing.com/contact. You can purchase William’s book at Amazon, Indie Bound, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop. Connect with the Shared Crossing Project at sharedcrossing.com.
Share your SDE as a
Get answers to your questions about Shared Crossings/Shared Death Experiences here.
Connect with William Peters via email at william@sharedcrossing.com.
If you’re an individual who wants to share your story of a Shared Death Experience, click here.
If you’re a healthcare provider and want to share your SDE story, click here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
In episode 4 of our Self Care Series, we’re talking about nurturing your spirit, supporting hope, and sustaining your spirit while providing care for someone with a serious illness. Just as you care for body and mind, it’s important to provide care for our spirits as well. While caregiving might create isolation for the caregiver, it’s possible to maintain practices that will support spiritual health. Music, nature, connecting to a faith community, and continuing personal faith rituals at home can provide positive influence on the human spirit. Be sure to connect with your faith leader or hospice chaplain for more spiritual care support, and stay connected to those who share your faith system. Whether your beliefs are centered around Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, wikken, or you subscribe to an agnostic or antheist belief system, your spiritual still needs care. Check out more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice for information about self care of body, mind, and spirit. We’re here to support your caregiving and hospice journeys - you are The Heart of Hospice!
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Providing care for a loved one can have long-term effects on mental health. In part 3 of our Self Care Series for Caregivers, we’ve got tips for self care of the mind. When it comes to self care, we have to care for body, mind, and spirit. Caring for one of the parts of our Self means we’re also caring for the other two. If you’re an unpaid caregiver, you put in a lot of work to meet the needs for your loved one. It’s important to remember to care for yourself. When the overwhelm starts to affect mental health, it might cause an inability to focus or concentrate. Sometimes impatience, guilt, and frustration becomes part of the caregiver’s mental health. How can you offset the mental fatigue that can set in? First, find someone to talk to. A friend or family member on the phone or by video chat can be a source of support. A professional can be helpful as well - a licensed counselor, or the hospice social worker or chaplain can support your mental health. You’re important and essential to the care of your loved one. The Heart of Hospice cares about your hospice journey. Connect with us at theheartofhospice.com and find more podcast episodes at theheartofhospice.com/listen. We’re here to help you - you are The Heart of Hospice!
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice on hospice philosophy, hospice basics, self care, and advance care planning here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
RN and author Kimberly Best is the author of “How to Live Forever: A Guide to Writing the Final Chapter of Your Life Story”. Kim talked with us about her career spent in nursing and conflict management, and the value of mediation for end of life decisions. Kim has a master’s degree in Conflict Management, and is trained in Transformative Mediation and Healthcare Mediation. Her passion for resolving conflicts without litigation is evident in her work and her wisdom. According to her website BestConflictSolutions.com, Kim’s book “provides you with tools that can help you have the difficult conversations regarding legal decisions, health care plans, relationships, and death. Recognizing the finite nature of our days, we can live purposefully, plan ahead for the end of our life story, and die without regret, living fully to the end and finishing well. Connect with Best Conflict Solutions and the mediation services they provide, including elder mediation, family and relationship mediation, conflict coaching, and speaking services.
Buy Kim Best’s book “How to Live Forever: A Guide to Writing the Final Chapter of your Life Story” here or here.
Download the study guide to go with the book by clicking here.
Connect with mediation services from Best Conflict Solutions by clicking here.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Caregiving can take a toll on the physical health of a caregiver. We’ve got some tips in episode 2 of our Self Care Series for Caregivers! Of course, it’s important to get clearance from your doctor before you start any physical regimen. Then start out low and low. Listen to what your body is telling you. Make your exercise regimen affordable, reasonable, sustainable, and mostly importantly - fun! Do an activity that’s enjoyable for you. Make it a social activity and invite a friend. Having someone to exercise with, having company in the form of an accountability partner is a great way to keep the exercise going. One of the most important things a caregiver can do for the person he cares for is take care of himself. The quality of life of a person with chronic, serious, or terminal illness is affected by the quality of life of the caregiver. Stay in touch with The Heart of Hospice for more episodes in our Self Care Series for Caregivers! You are The Heart of Hospice.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice on hospice philosophy, hospice basics, self care, and advance care planning here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Welcome to part 1 of our series on Self Care for Caregivers! 53 million people across the U.S. are unpaid caregivers for a loved one, and they need intentional self care every single day. Caregiving responsibilities affect the caregiver in almost every aspect of life, taking a big toll on body, mind, and spirit. It’s a hard job, sometimes very solitary, and affects quality of life for the caregiver. Because the caregiving system of a terminally ill or seriously ill person is so fragile, it’s important that the caregiver practice self care on a daily basis. Self care that cares for the physical body, the mental state, and the spirit is paramount. Whole person self care is what’s needed. This series will offer self care tips and suggestions to choose from to make your self care easier. Subscribe to the podcast to receive notice of all the episodes in the series!
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Hospice nurse Beth Cavenaugh is talking with us today about her passion for end of life care and her book, Some Light at the End. As a Hospice and Palliative Care Certified RN, Beth has 15 years experience in hospice nursing. In her book Some Light at the End, Beth shares the wisdom she’s acquired through the years working with seriously ill and dying patients. Her personal story includes end of life care as well through the care of her mother as she journeyed through a lung cancer diagnosis. Beth was inspired by that personal journey to go into hospice nursing. Beth recognized the intensity of the experience, calling it a special and holy time for her. She describes herself as lucky to be involved in hospice care. Some Light at the End: Your Peaceful Guide for Peaceful Palliative and Hospice care offers readers a gentle and transparent guidebook to caring for dying loved ones. Watch for her new book The Power and Pain of Nursing coming out in late January 2022!
Connect with Beth here:
https://www.bethcavenaugh.com/
Buy her book Some Light at the End by clicking here:
https://www.amazon.com/Some-Light-End-Peaceful-Palliative/dp/1733690972
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
We’re on the brink of the near year and the possibilities are endless. What do we hope 2022 will bring for the hospice industry? Looking at the year ahead, we hope for good things to come. Above all, we hope for a resolution to the pandemic that has brought so much suffering around the world. Jerry and Helen will be connecting with some awesome guests in the new year- experts in the hospice industry who’ll share their professional experiences along with their personal journeys in end of life care. We’ll be introducing you to new industry trends and reconnecting you with the roots of hospice. There are so many good things in end of life care - kindness, generosity, compassion, gratitude, consideration, tolerance, empathy, and inclusion. We encourage you to practice self compassion. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or hospice professional, you matter to us. We wish you joy and love for 2022. Thank you for being part of our hospice journey!
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
We’re looking back on 2021 and all the changes it brought for the hospice industry. Some of the changes were good, and some of the changes were challenging. Staffing shortages, waiting lists for patients to be admitted to hospice, regulatory changes, and shortages of PPE were a few of the obstacles hospice teams all over the country face. 2021 also brought some changes that improved the care we provide. Learning to use technology to keep our team members updated and keep patients connected with their loved ones became a strength for end of life professionals. The Heart of Hospice podcast featured some fantastic guests this year - be sure to check out all our archived podcasts on The Heart of Hospice website on the Listen page. Stay connected with us! We’ve got great plans for 2022 and we’d love for you to share our hospice journey. You are The Heart of Hospice.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
The professional boundaries that hospice teams should maintain help to keep everyone safe - patients and caregivers, as well as the end of life professionals providing the care. It’s important that the boundaries between care providers and care consumers are established from the start of care and continue until the last day care is provided. Unhealthy or blurred boundaries can cause patients or their caregivers to have unrealistic expectations about the kind of care an interdisciplinary team will provide. Connection through social media, engaging deeply within the family life of the patient, or disclosing personal issues to patients and caregivers causes dual-role relationships that put additional stress and grief on patients and their caregivers. Boundaries help to create healthy emotional and mental relationships between end of life professionals and those for whom they provide care. Those boundaries help us to avoid becoming fully engaged grievers. It helps the hospice team to give the best care they can!
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com.
Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.
Life coach and author Robert Pardi joins us in this episode to share his extraordinary caregiving story. Robert cared for his wife Desiree for 11 years after she was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer. He became her caregiver, coach, advocate, and eventually her hospice. His book Chasing Life is about the resiliency and meaning they built throughout her illness, and how Robert created meaning in his life after Desiree’s death. As a caregiver, Robert felt honored to be trusted with Desiree’s care. He became a unique advocate for her, receiving all the medical information and test results on his wife’s behalf, all at her choice. Chasing Life describes a couple who lived life fully despite grief and embraced joy despite loss. Robert’s caregiving wisdom is woven all throughout his story which he so generously shares.
Find more about Robert Pardi’s life coaching services by clicking here: https://www.robertpardi.com/
Buy Robert’s memoir Chasing Life here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1988925789/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tpbk_p1_i0?fbclid=IwAR3AW2ULp6bXsRDagDtC0trvYRnSW02Fay5j9M7KtqzSKA_FGIb7cDCXLCE
Connect with Robert on LinkedIn here.
Receive The Heart of Hospice podcast in your email here:
https://www.theheartofhospice.com/connection/
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact us:
host@theheartofhospice.com
Find more episodes from The Heart of Hospice here:
https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with Helen Bauer:
helen@theheartofhospice.com
Connect with Jerry Fenter:
jerry@theheartofhospice.com
The pandemic has taught us some lessons in self care. In this episode, we’re talking about what worked, the mistakes we made, and what we should have done differently. Having to change our self care for body, mind, and spirit made us realize how important it is to maintain healthy habits. The stress and restrictions caused by the public health emergency forced changes in our workouts. It was difficult to be consistent in healthy activities. We created a small workout group to increase our accountability and keep each other safe in the summer heat. Self care of mind and spirit has had to change this year as well. Finding ways to worship that fed our spirits made us get creative, utilizing music and time outdoors. We made lots of mistakes and the healthy habits got set aside, making way for poor food choices, isolation, and sedentary activities. We’re working hard to re-establish healthy habits, getting back to self care that’s positive, sustainable, and individualized.
Find more self care resources for personal caregivers on The Heart of Hospice website: https://www.theheartofhospice.com/care/self-care-resources/self-care-for-personal-caregivers/
And check out self care resources for professional caregivers here: https://www.theheartofhospice.com/care/self-care-resources/self-care-for-the-professional-caregiver/
Connect with Helen Bauer:
helen@theheartofhospice.com
Connect with Jerry Fenter:
jerry@theheartofhospice.com
Receive The Heart of Hospice podcast in your email here:
https://www.theheartofhospice.com/connection/
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact us:
host@theheartofhospice.com
Find more episodes from The Heart of Hospice here:
https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
The Fading Memories podcast is a great resource for Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers. Host Jennifer Fink provides information, inspiration, and even some giggles. According to the Fading Memories podcast website, Jennifer interviews people who have some of the answers and families currently on this journey. The website features links to the podcast, a blog, even recipes for people caring for loved ones with memory loss. You can listen to the podcast at https://fadingmemoriespodcast.com/category/episodes/ or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, remember you’re not alone. The Fading Memories podcast is here to help.
Connect with the Fading Memories resources by clicking here. https://fadingmemoriespodcast.com/
Find Fading Memories on Facebook by clicking here.
https://www.facebook.com/AlzheimersPodcast
Connect with host Jennifer Fink here.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-fink-338957/
Receive The Heart of Hospice podcast in your email here:
https://www.theheartofhospice.com/connection/
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact us:
host@theheartofhospice.com
Find more episodes from The Heart of Hospice here:
https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Connect with Helen Bauer:
helen@theheartofhospice.com
Connect with Jerry Fenter:
jerry@theheartofhospice.com
Our guest today is Dave Kerpen - serial entrepreneur, NY Times best-selling author, and founder of Remembering.Live. When Dave lost his mom during the pandemic lockdown of 2020, Dave and his team created a virtual memorial service and memorial website to honor her memory. Through the Remembering.Live website, families can honor their loved ones with virtual memorial services, create a tribute website, so families can focus on being with friends and family. An edited recording of the service can be uploaded as a last memorial. Remembering.Live serves people all over the world, providing a virtual platform and outlet for grief. The concierge team at Remembering.Live can help families with planning and design and even offer a rehearsal of the service to ensure good quality.
If you’re interested in creating a virtual service with Remembering.Live, click here. https://www.remembering.live/
To connect with Dave Kerpen, founder of Remembering.Live and best-selling author, click here.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davekerpen/
Receive The Heart of Hospice podcast in your email here:
https://www.theheartofhospice.com/connection/
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact us:
host@theheartofhospice.com
Find more episodes from The Heart of Hospice here:
https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Remembering a loved one with a memorial tattoo is a unique way of creating meaning out of loss. Memorial tattoos, also known remembrance tattoos, can be a meaningful part of a grief journey. Many people who’ve experienced the loss of a loved one get tattoos in memory of someone special, a friend or loved one, or even a pet. Sometimes it’s a name, sometimes it's a symbol or custom design. These types of tattoos benefit our grief journey, and honor the experience of loss. It’s a unique and last way of making meaning during a grief journey. Grief expert David Kessler’s book Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief describes the benefit of creating meaning after experiencing a grief event. You can find David’s work at grief.com and buy the book on here. The Heart of Hospice is here to support you as you navigate serious illness and end of life care. Your journey matters - you are The Heart of Hospice.
Get grief support with David Kessler here:
https://grief.com/
Find more grief services and resources at Radical Grief with grief coach Melissa Lunardini, MA, MBA, FT
https://radicalgrief.org/
Read about more about memorial tattoos here:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/grief-loss-tattoo-mental-health_l_5ff391e5c5b65a922910bf1c
Receive The Heart of Hospice podcast in your email here:
https://www.theheartofhospice.com/connection/
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact us:
host@theheartofhospice.com
Find more episodes from The Heart of Hospice here:
https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
In episode 3 of our series in honor of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we’re sharing what we think hospice will look like in the future, along with our wishes for end of life care. The large Baby Boomer population is going to require skilled clinicians, and a lot of them! The use of telehealth has become a valuable tool for hospice teams and will probably be used even more in the future. Hospice professionals, regardless of what discipline, will need to be skilled communicators to provide education to seriously ill patients and their caregivers. When we think about changes we’d like to see happen in the hospice industry, changes to the 6 month terminal prognosis requirement are at the top of the list, to better fit what hospice care looks like now. Mandatory formal education related to end of life care for physicians and nurses would be an important and valuable addition to the hospice profession, too. Standardized education for spiritual counselors would be a great add-on, too, to ensure that spiritual care for terminally ill patients is provided by trained spiritual clinicians. And at the top of our list - equitable care for all of races and populations across the United States. Send us your wish list for hospice via email to host@theheartofhospice.com.
Receive The Heart of Hospice podcast in your email here:
https://www.theheartofhospice.com/connection/
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact us:
host@theheartofhospice.com
Find more episodes from The Heart of Hospice here:
https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
Episode 097 - The A2Z HealingToolbox for Those Who Grieve (Mon. 11-15-2021)
Susan Hannifin-MacNab is the creator of the A to Z Healing Toolbox, a great resource for navigating grief and trauma with practical tools and resources. Susan became a widow when her husband was killed in a car accident, leaving her with a young son. Using the wisdom she gained through her experience, Susan wrote the A to Z Healing Toolbox to help others who have similar experiences begin to restore, renew, and rebuild their lives. As an educator and social worker, Susan recognized the need for a grief resource that was organized and offered a wide variety of tools. The A to Z Toolbox provides actionable suggestions for daily use. For those who aren’t ready for the book, there’s a simplified A2Z Online Toolbox that’s even easier to access and use. You can find the A To Z Toolbox book at Itasca books and Amazon.
Order the A to Z Toolbox book by Susan Hannifin-McNabb here:https://itascabooks.com/a-to-z-healing-toolbox/ or here: https://www.a2zhealingtoolbox.com/the-book-new/
Subscribe to Susan’s online newsletter here: https://www.a2zhealingtoolbox.com/
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: podcast page
Connect with Helen and Jerry by sending an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you to answer your questions and hear your comments.
In part 2 of our series in celebration of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we’re discussing current trends in hospice in the U.S. Hospice has changed through the years. While we still take care of cancer patients, we also see patients at end of life with other diagnoses - cardiac, dementia, respiratory, stroke, and kidney (renal) conditions. According to NHPCO Facts and Figures report from 2020, Over half of hospice patients in the US are on service for 30 days or less , and a quarter of hospice patients receive care for 7 days or less. Staffing is a challenge for hospice agencies, and for the first time, agencies might be asking new patients to go on waiting lists. The pandemic created challenges (access to PPE, restrictions on visits) and changes (waivers, telemedicine). Hospice teams are still dedicated, making changes, finding new ways to provide quality care. We’re grateful for the diligence of hospice agencies all across the U.S. and for the trust our patients place in us. Hang in there, everybody! No matter where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice.
Find the most current NHPCO FActs and Figures Report here:
https://www.nhpco.org/hospice-facts-figures/
Receive The Heart of Hospice podcast in your email here:
https://www.theheartofhospice.com/connection/
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact us:
host@theheartofhospice.com
Find more episodes from The Heart of Hospice here:
https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month! We’re talking about the history of hospice, including medieval hospice houses, Dame Cicely Saunders, Florence Wald, and the modern hospice movement. The rich history of hospice began in medieval times as monks and nuns of the religious orders of the time created hospice houses where travelers along the road who were ill or injured were cared for until they died. Through the founding of St. Christopher’s Hospice in London, Dame Cicely Saunders launched the modern hospice movement. Florence Wald helped to get hospice started in the U.S along with clergy, healthcare leaders, and other community leaders. Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross was instrumental in changing end of life care with her ground-breaking work in the stages of death and dying. The Medicare hospice benefit was created in the mid-1960’s in the U.S., allowing hospice care coverage for those who were terminally ill. Hospice has a rich history around the world!
Hear more about St. Christopher’s Hospice in our interview with Joint Chief Executive Sean O’Leary: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/rediscovering-the-roots-of-modern-day-hospice-with-shaun-oleary-episode-085
Find information about the Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation: https://www.ekrfoundation.org/
Receive The Heart of Hospice podcast in your email here:
https://www.theheartofhospice.com/connection/
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact us:
host@theheartofhospice.com
Find more episodes from The Heart of Hospice here:
https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jessica Zitter back to the podcast to talk about her new documentary “Caregiver: A Love Story”. As a critical care and palliative care physician, Dr. Zitter has seen the true struggles of caregivers of loved ones with serious illness. Dr. Zitter is also the author of Extreme Measures: Finding A Better Path to the End of Life, a book that offers an insider’s view of intensive care in America and its impact on how we die. Her work is featured in the 2017 Oscar- and Emmy-nominated short-documentary “Extremis”. Her new documentary, “Caregiver: A Love Story” examines the rising public health crisis of family caregiver burden. Dr. Zitter uses her voice for change and advocacy in healthcare to not only increase awareness, but to create positive changes for caregivers across the U.S.
Receive The Heart of Hospice podcast in your email here:
https://www.theheartofhospice.com/connection/
Order a copy of Dr. Zitter’s book Extreme Measures: Finding A Better Path to the End of Life:
https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Measures-Finding-Better-Path/dp/1101982551/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1472579530&sr=1-6&keywords=extreme+measures
Watch the trailer for “Extremis”:
https://jessicazitter.com/extremis/
Watch the trailer for “Caregiver: A Love Story”:
https://jessicazitter.com/caregiver/
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact us:
host@theheartofhospice.com
Find more episodes from The Heart of Hospice here:
https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/
We’re sharing our top 10 tips for the over 53 million unpaid caregivers in the U.S.! Caregiving is a hard job. It takes patience, energy, self-awareness, and endurance. We’ve been personal caregivers for family members and friends on hospice, in addition to our work as end of life professionals. To help our caregiving colleagues, we’ve put together a list of tips we think are the most crucial things a caregiver should do. It’s important to remember to take breaks, both short (like a cup of coffee or some deep breathing) and long (like the 5 day respite from your hospice team). Keep a list of tasks you need help with and let your “village” choose what they can help with. Keep up with your own health needs; you’re in this for the long haul. Learn ways to make caregiving easier (using technology and caregiving apps like Caregiven). Don’t neglect your mental health, and connect with others outside of your caregiving circle - don’t let yourself become isolated. Remember to laugh, stay organized, and keep healthy habits for mind, body, and spirit. And our #1 tip - be an advocate for your loved one’s needs and for your own needs. We hope our top 10 list is helpful to you. There’s more information to help with your caregiving journey at theheartofhospice.com. Self care, advance directives, and hospice philosophy, it’s all there for you on our podcasts. Check out the Caregiven blog and download the free Caregiven app! You’re not alone in your journey. The Heart of Hospice is here for you 24/7. You are The Heart of Hospice!
Patients with serious illness frequently need pain management. How do hospice teams manage opioids and the challenges that come with them? There’s often a lack of understanding about how pain medications are used in end of life care. When a patient’s pain is managed, his quality of life is better. Hospice physicians and nurses are responsible for ensuring the pain is adequately and safely controlled. Pain affects many aspects of the patient’s life - sleep, mindset, activity tolerance, social interactions, participation in personal care, and appetite. That’s why everyone on the hospice interdisciplinary team is responsible for assessing whether the patient has pain. If a patient reports pain, that report goes back to the nurse. The nurse collaborates with the physician who will order a pain medication appropriate for the patient. Often those pain meds are opioids. Those medications can be challenging. It’s important to know that addiction for a person at the end of life is not a concern, and hospice teams NEVER use medications to accelerate death. Of course it’s always the patient’s (or caregiver’s) choice to use opioids or even have them in the house. Hospice professionals should respect those choices and look for other ways to manage the patient’s pain. When medications are stolen to be sold or for use by someone else besides the patient, that’s called “diversion”. It’s always important to tell your hospice team if there’s a risk of diversion in a home, including family members with a history of substance use disorder. You can find more information about managing pain and other symptoms at end of life at theheartofhospice.com. Check out The Heart of Hospice podcast page for all our episodes with great interviews and personal stories about end of life care with hospice. Connect with Helen and Jerry by sending an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you to answer your questions and hear your comments. You are The Heart of Hospice!
Funeralocity is a great resource for both consumers and hospice professionals when it comes to funeral planning. Funeralocity provides information to help users compare up-to-date pricing and services from funeral homes and cremation providers in their area, get pricing and services for funeral homes enrolled in the Excellence Provider Program, and select a funeral home that feels like a good fit. According to the Funeralocity website, their Excellence Provider Program is “part of our mission to help families make the best choices for their funeral services.
Cremation providers and funeral homes across the country apply for this certification. Our team vets all applicants according to strict criteria. When accepted as Excellence Providers, they pledge to uphold our highest standards of transparency and best business practices. They exemplify the highest commitment to service and quality in the profession and appear at the top of the search results”. Through the Funeralocity Hospice Portal, hospice teams can find support for having compassionate conversations about funerals and cremation services. Enrollment to use the Portal is free for hospice professionals, and there are multiple resources available on the site. The Funeralocity team is happy to train hospice teams on how to use the Funeralocity services to assist their patients and families. When you’re planning your next event, keep in mind that the hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast are available to speak at conferences and meetings. Whether you’re meeting in-person or virtually, we can provide education to your team on topics such as how to have compassionate conversations, how to recognize personal bias, building listening skills, and managing personal grief as a hospice professional. We’d love to encourage your team and remind them why the work they do is so important. To find out more, contact us at host@theheartofhospice.com. The Heart of Hospice is honored to be a part of your hospice journey.
It’s a hospice patient’s right to choose how medications are managed. Deprescribing (simplifying or reducing) meds can be a huge benefit to both patient and caregiver. There’s a myth that all the medications will be stopped when a seriously ill patient is admitted to hospice services. Not true!! Medications for hospice patients are reviewed by the doctor and the team when hospice services start. The patient and/or caregiver is part of that discussion. Often the patient reports the number of medications is a burden. In hospice we call it “pill burden”. Too many medications, along with their side effects, can eventually contribute to caregiving burden and to the suffering of a terminally ill patient. The hospice IDT and doctor will also look at stopping medications that no longer benefit the patient, or are contraindicated. As a patient’s symptoms and needs change, meds will be adjusted. Those adjustments can be frequent and fast paced to get a patient comfortable. Depending on the symptoms, meds can be given in different forms - pills, drops, liquids, gels, suppositories, inhaled solutions. In certain circumstances injectable medications are used, but the goal is always the comfort of a patient. It’s important to remember that deprescribing is never done without the consent of the patient, and is always done with the best interest of both patient and caregiver. If you need more information about hospice philosophy and practices, check out theheartofhospice.com. We’ve got podcasts to support your end of life experience with episodes on the hospice team, levels of care, caregiving, grief, and bereavement. Send any questions host@theheartofhospice.com. You are The Heart of Hospice.
Founder Kevin Long and the team at Give A Mile help to connect loved ones when they need it most. After experiencing the loss of his close friend Ryan, Kevin launched Give A Mile. According to the Give A Mile website, “Give A Mile is a group of dedicated volunteers who believe strongly in the power of visits from loved ones for people in palliative or critical condition.” The organization uses donated flight miles to purchase flights that allow family members to travel to be with critically ill loved ones. 100% of donations go to “flights of compassion” and associated travel fees (taxes, transfers). The operating costs for Give A Mile are fundraised for separately. Give A Mile believes in total transparency - their financial records are posted on the website. You can hear Kevin’s story on the Give A Mile website, and read Ryan’s blog. If you feel inspired to help the Give A Mile team connect families at such a crucial moment in life, click here. Remember you can donate your unused flight miles or make a monetary donation. Hospice and palliative care teams can help connect their patients with Give A Mile by clicking here. To contact the Give A Mile team, send an email to info@giveamile.org. If you need more information about getting the best hospice care you can, go to theheartofhospice.com. Have a question? Send it to host@theheartofhospice.com. If your company provides services or products to hospice agencies, consider sponsorship with The Heart of Hospice to get the word out about what you do. No matter who you are, or where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice.
Hospice interdisciplinary teams provide the best care possible for seriously ill people, no matter where they call home. Whether it’s a long term care facility (nursing home), assisted living facility, private residence or apartment, halfway house, a homeless shelter, or on the streets, end of life care professionals try to meet the needs of the patient in the patient’s own space. Coordinating with other care providers is key. Talking with facility staff or care coordinators should happen with every visit, and every time there’s a change in the patient’s condition. The other key action is communication with the family, whoever the patient has identified as those who are important to him or involved in the care. Part of caring for the patient is caring for the caregivers or family. Hospice team members should contact family members every time a visit is made, or if the needs of a patient change. Facility staff needs the support of the team when it comes to bereavement after the death of the patient as well. The Heart of Hospice is here to support you with more information about hospice care, so check out theheartofhospice.com to find resources on hospice philosophy and basics, advance care planning, and all of our archived podcasts from The Heart of Hospice. Send any questions or inquiries about speaking engagements for Jerry Fenter or Helen Bauer to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’re here to support your end of life journey - you are The Heart of Hospice.
Utilizing every discipline on the hospice interdisciplinary team helps to ensure the best outcomes and quality of care. Here 's why. Each member of a hospice team brings unique skills along with specialized training to the care of a seriously ill patient, and their caregivers, too. Nurses (RNs, LVNs/LPNs), doctors, and nurse practitioners manage the clinical parts of patient care. Spiritual counselors (or chaplains) care for the spiritual health of the patient, for all possible faith systems or beliefs. Psychosocial needs (mental and emotional health needs) are managed by the social worker. An aide provides personal care such as assistance with showering, bed baths, catheter care (cleaning only), linen changes, and other light household tasks specifically for the patient. Volunteers provide not only companionship, but a myriad of other services. The special connection between hospice volunteers and their patients and caregivers is one of the best things about hospice care! By allowing all the different members of the hospice team to provide care, patients have enriched care. Caregivers receive additional support, resources, and education.
If your business supports hospice agencies, The Heart of Hospice would like to partner with you as a sponsor on The Heart of Hospice podcast. Just send an email to host@theheartofhospice.com to plan a customized sponsorship plan for you. The Heart of Hospice is here 24/7 to support your hospice journey. Hospice professionals, patients, caregivers, volunteers - we’re here for you. You are The Heart of Hospice.
Barbara Karnes, author of the iconic hospice guide “the little blue book” Gone from My Sight, talks with Jerry and Helen about ritual, self care wisdom, and thriving as end of life workers. We’re honored to feature our third discussion with Barbara about what she’s seen during the last year. As a hospice RN, Barbara understands how important it is to stay connected to our patients and their families, and to care for our whole selves as we care for seriously ill patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way hospice professionals provide care for their patients. To continue to provide quality care and keep us devoted to end of life work, we need to be intentional about self care. Barbara reminds us to make the technology our best friend, utilizing the phone to connect with and support families who have become isolated in the home. She also tells us to create rituals to add meaning to the work. Washing off the stress of the day with a cleaning shower and journaling work memories are great ways to care for ourselves after the day’s work. Barbara also urges us to utilize hospice volunteers in unique ways, expanding their roles to stay connected with patients and families. To purchase Barbara’s pamphlets, videos, and teaching materials, go to bkbooks.com. You can also read Barbara’s blog to benefit from her wisdom and hospice experience. Find her on Facebook, too. When you’re planning your next event, keep in mind that the hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast are available to speak at conferences and meetings. Whether you’re meeting in-person or virtually, we can provide education to your team on topics such as how to have compassionate conversations, how to recognize personal bias, building listening skills, and managing personal grief as a hospice professional. We’d love to encourage your team and remind them why the work they do is so important. Because we both have a personal hospice journey in addition to our years working in end of life care, we can also share a message of resilience and hope at your agency’s next memorial service. To find out more, contact us at host@theheartofhospice.com. The Heart of Hospice is honored to be a part of your hospice journey.
There’s a lot to process when a hospice patient dies. Grief emotions along with business decisions can make it complicated. Today we’re talking about what a hospice death events looks. Death is common in hospice care, and interdisciplinary teams are highly skilled in caring for patients and families when it occurs. Nurses, social workers, chaplains, and aides can all be involved. Each team member present will provide care according to his skill set. Nurses and aides often provide post mortem care, washing and cleaning the body before it’s taken from the home. Social workers and spiritual counselors (chaplains) provide bereavement care and support for the family. All of the care should be provided according to the patient’s wishes, including faith rituals like dressing the patient in religious garments, anointing, or cleansing of the body by certain family members. Chaplains will coordinate with community clergy to provide specific faith rituals as requested by the family or patient. Volunteers who have been working with the family as 11th hour volunteers or end of life doulas might also be at death events to support a family. Find more information about hospice care and philosophy at theheartofhospice.com. The Heart of Hospice is here to support you. Send questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’ll send you a personal reply. Whether you’re a hospice professional or an unpaid caregiver for someone who’s seriously ill, your end of life journey matters. You are The Heart of Hospice.
One of the major milestones in serious illness occurs when a patient stops eating and drinking. We're talking about why it happens, how to cope with it, and what it means. When someone with a serious illness moves toward death, he might begin to have difficulty taking in food or fluids. It's a hard thing for those who love them to watch. Patient might refuse food, or have difficulty chewing or remembering to swallow. It's a sign of hope and thriving to be able consume food, so when that ability stops it's a major milestone in the disease process. Family members and caregivers might offer snacks or favorite foods to encourage a patient's appetite. That doesn't change what's happening, or how the disease will progress. Because the human body naturally knows how to die, forcing food either by mouth or using a feeding tube can cause problems like choking, aspiration, or pneumonia. Intravenous fluids given to hydrate the patient can overload the patient's circulatory system and cause respiratory distress. Dehydration is a natural part of the dying process and can even give the patient a feeling of wellbeing. Hospice teams should recognize and respect how difficult this milestone is for caregivers. Gentle education and honest discussion will help them to navigate this step in the trajectory of a serious illness. To find more podcasts from The Heart of Hospice, visit theheartofhospice.com. We’re here to support your hospice journey, with support and encouragement. There’s information on advance care planning, self care, caregiving, and the basics of hospice philosophy. No matter where you are in your hospice journey, The Heart of Hospice is here to help.
Linda Bryce has worn many hats in her career: attorney, advocate for the elderly, ordained minister, bedside singer, author, and end of life doula. The culmination of all her experiences has been collected into her book, The Courage to Care: Being Fully Present With the Dying. She has been a hospice vigil volunteer and has sat at the bedside of hundreds, who might have otherwise died alone. Linda's book is a call to compassion and courage, the courage to be present with those who are dying. To learn more about Linda and the work of an end of life doula, visit her website at www.thecouragetocare.com.
Thanks for listening to The Heart of Hospice podcast. You can support our efforts by leaving a review or a rating on Apple Podcasts. We welcome you to join our Facebook page here.
When you want to support someone who’s going through grief, loss, or a difficult life transition, a carefully curated care package from Beyond Words Co. is the perfect way to say you care. Founder Catherine Hinz realized through her own grief experience how much we need thoughtful care. Through the specially chosen products of a care package from Beyond Words Co.,the sender can show support and encourage a griever through many of life’s challenges. Each product is responsibly sourced and thoughtfully chosen. Simple labels, healthy ingredients, and soothing colors to influence mood help to make each item meaningful and useful. Catherine shares tips on Beyond Words Co.com about how to put a box together and even write a personal message for a recipient when you’re not sure what to say. Beyond Words Co. can even help you support coworkers and team members at your business with care packages. To get an extra 10% discount on your next Beyond Words Co. purchase, use the code “theheartofhospice” when ordering. It’s a great way to support and encourage someone you care about. If you need more information about hospice care, its philosophy, and how hospice teams work to care for seriously ill patients and their families, check out theheartofhospice.com. We’re here for you 24/7. On the podcast page, you’ll find topics about end of life care ranging from advance care planning and how to shop for a hospice agency, to hospice philosophy and health self care for caregivers both personal and professional. Connect with Helen and Jerry by sending an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. You are The Heart of Hospice!
How long does the patient have? It’s probably the hardest question for the hospice team to answer. Patients and families have different motives for asking. Sometimes it’s as simple as needing to know how much time to ask off from work, or when to schedule FMLA. The motive for asking the “time question” might be more complicated, related to caregiver fatigue, expenses, or family dynamics. Hospice professionals should provide the best answer they can, but every death is a little different. Regardless of what reason someone has for asking how long a patient has, end of life professionals should respond without judgment. While the hospice nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician will provide a clinical answer, the hospice social worker and spiritual counselor (also known as a chaplain) can help support the patient and family. The social worker and chaplain can help to facilitate family conferences and discussions about managing the time the patient has left. One of the most valuable things a caregiver can do is to listen to what their loved one’s body is saying. Changes in sleep patterns, food and fluid intake, and social interaction are big indicators for disease trajectory. When a person begins to actively die, there are milestone changes that can often be seen - changes in breathing, skin color and temperature, and level of responsiveness. We know your hospice journey is 24/7. You can always connect with us at theheartofhospice.com. Send an email to Helen and Jerry at host@theheartofhospice.com. We’re glad to connect with you to support your end of life journey. You are The Heart of Hospice.
Author Jill Johnson-Young knows a thing or two about grief. She shares her deep, funny, irreverent wisdom in an interview with The Heart of Hospice. Jill is a social worker based in California, owner of Central Counseling Services and is the author of The Rebellious Widow, an insightful look into managing grief on your own terms. After losing two spouses, Jill experienced the full spectrum of other people’s expectations and rules. She shares the lessons she learned about not following the grief rules that society wants to impose on grievers in her book. Included in The Rebellious Widow is guidance for a new grief paradigm. Jill teaches that our grief shouldn’t be confined by the boundaries that others define for us. We can define our own grief, taking parts of those we lose with us into the future we create for ourselves. Find Jill’s blog, books, and connect with her at JillJohnsonYoung.com. She’s got a lot of resources about grieving, pet loss, hospice, dementia. Connect with Jill to teach your team or speak at your event by clicking here. Her website has things to help as well as her books for both adults and kids. Find her classes and blog. Connect with Jerry Fenter and Helen Bauer from The Heart of Hospice, book them to speak at your event (remote or in-person), or ask a question by sending an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. We honor your end of life journey. We’re walking it with you. You are The Heart of Hospice.
There’s a great virtual learning opportunity from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization at the IDC 2021! The Interdisciplinary Conference 2021 brought together by NHPCO will offer some highly valuable education to hospice and palliative care professionals on September 20-22, 2021. It’s all virtual this year, eliminating the cost of lodging and travel. The IDC is a great way to get your required CE/CMEs for license and certification renewal. Because it’s being offered virtually, attendees will be able to access the content through December 31, 2021.
According to the NHPCO website, the Conference “is designed for professionals in the hospice and palliative care field and related stakeholders in the following disciplines and roles: nurses and advanced nurse practitioners, bereavement, palliative care, pediatrics, physician, quality, regulatory and compliance, social work, spiritual care.” Take advantage of this great opportunity to hear keynote speaker Dr. Jessica Zitter and to screen her new documentary “Caregiver: A Love Story”. Register by clicking here! You’ll find more support for your end of life journey by visiting theheartofhospice.com. We’re here to support you 24/7, offering podcasts on all things hospice-related. If you’d like to book Jerry or Helen as a speaker for your next conference, agency memorial service, or company event, send an email to host@theheartofhospice. No matter where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice!
Document, document, document! Documentation is vital to how hospice works, but how can we keep it from disrupting patient care? Even though it seems to be a nuisance and takes a lot of time, it’s crucial to the care of seriously ill patients to document everything we do for our patients. Medical records are created from our documentation. It’s how we get paid, how we stay compliant with regulations. One of the most important aspects of documentation of the care of hospice patients is how it keeps everyone on the interdisciplinary team informed about the patient and caregiving system. Keeping a current record of a patient’s care is the responsibility of every single discipline on the hospice team. The documentation is never more important than the patient’s care, but it’s still important. It’s also smart to do the documentation at the point of care, which means to record everything at the visit, or immediately afterwards. If you’re a patient or family caregiver for a hospice patient, please answer questions fully and honestly. It will help your team to provide better care. Don’t forget to provide your team with important documents like DNRs, living wills, guardianship documents, and other advance directives. If you need more information about how hospice teams work, check out theheartofhospice.com. On The Heart of Hospice podcast page, you’ll find podcasts you can listen to any time that works for you, on every topic related to end of life and hospice care. Looking for a speaker for your hospice conference or agency event? Email us at host@theheartofhospice.com to discuss featuring one of the hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast at your next meeting. You are The Heart of Hospice!
It always seems too early until it’s too late. We’re talking advance care planning, grief, and life lessons with Jon and Michelle Braddock of My LIfe and Wishes. With us for his second interview, Jon shares how My Life and Wishes got started after their experience with the death of Michelle’s dad. My Life and Wishes provides an online platform for advance care plan storage, guiding users in the use of secure storage of healthcare and legal documents, financial information and estate planning. When they later experienced the death of Michelle’s mom, Jon and Michelle were much better prepared to manage her estate. Jon is also the author of Click Here When I Die, a great guide to digital estate planning. You can create your own secure account and designate users at mylifeandwishes.com. Get your copy of Click Here When I Die to create your own estate plan to make things easier for your loved ones. Check out theheartofhospice.com to find more information about advance care planning and resources to help you make decisions, document, and share your end of life wishes. The Heart of Hospice is here to walk your hospice journey with you. Send any questions or comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We love connecting with you - you are The Heart of Hospice.
Bereavement care is part of the care a hospice team provides to the patient’s family. Chaplains are often the ones who provide those bereavement interventions. Regulations require hospice agencies to follow families (whoever the patient identified as family) for at least 12 months after their loved one dies. To prepare for bereavement needs, the hospice team will perform both pre-death and post-death bereavement risk assessments. A Bereavement Plan of Care is created from those risk assessments. Bereavement care takes many forms - phone calls, visits, referrals to community grief resources, letters, cards, printed resources, and the agency memorial services. A plan of care for a high scoring risk assessment will include additional interventions customized for the grievers, especially if there are signs of complicated grief. If you need more information about bereavement care or hospice care and how it works, visit theheartofhospice.com. We’re happy to answer questions and connect with you. Just send an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. You’ll get a personal reply from Jerry or Helen. You don’t have to do this hospice journey by yourself. The Heart of Hospice is here to walk alongside you. You are The Heart of Hospice.
A hospice interdisciplinary team provides enhanced support at the time of a patient’s death - and that includes care from the hospice chaplain. The chaplain, or spiritual counselor, is there to encourage those who are grieving, to provide comfort and guidance during what hospice professionals call a “death event”. Along with other team members (nurse, social worker, aide), the chaplain comes alongside the caregivers to provide support as coordination for the final disposition of the body is made. The spiritual counselor educates the family about what to expect, and assess the bereavement needs of those who are present. Using the information obtained during this bereavement assessment, the chaplain will collaborate with the bereavement coordinate to create the bereavement plan of care for the thirteen months following the patient’s death. The presence of the chaplain at a patient’s death is crucial to the support of the family as well as support of the other disciplines. The best way to have an optimal death event is to include the chaplain. There’s more information to help you with your end of life journey at theheartofhospice.com. Whether you’re a hospice professional or someone caring for a hospice patient, you’ll find support and encouragement. Check out more podcast episodes by clicking here. We know your journey matters - you are The Heart of Hospice.
Once the Initial Spiritual Assessment is completed, a hospice chaplain will make routine visits that are used for life review, legacy projects, encouragement, faith discussions, or whatever the patient says is important. Typically the chaplain (also known as the spiritual counselor) will see a stable patient once or twice a month, and when there’s a special need like a change in condition. The different interventions that the chaplain might offer are unlimited. Whatever has meaning for the patient or caregivers will shape the activities of the routine visits. And it’s ok if the patient and the caregivers have different needs or want different interventions. The chaplain can provide interfaith care for both. It’s all about affirming the patient’s or caregiver’s faith system and providing support that is meaningful for them. Interventions are customized and individualized. Find more information about hospice care and philosophy at theheartofhospice.com. The Heart of Hospice is here to support you. Send questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’ll send you a personal reply. Whether you’re a hospice professional or an unpaid caregiver for someone who’s seriously ill, your end of life journey matters. You are The Heart of Hospice.
You’ll find more information about hospice and how to get the best out of your end of life experience at theheartofhospice.com. Need a speaker for your next company event or conference? Send an email to host@theheartofhospice.com to book Jerry Fenter or Helen Bauer to encourage and inspire your audience. You’re not alone in your hospice journey - we never forget. You are The Heart of Hospice.
In the second episode of our hospice chaplain series, we’re talking about the Initial Spiritual Assessment, why it’s necessary, and what it includes. Mandated by Medicare, the Initial Spiritual Assessment is completed within 5 days of a patient’s admission to hospice. There’s a lot of information to collect, including details about belief systems, faith, and whether the patient wants to include any clergy person from the community. If the patient doesn’t subscribe to an organized religion, there’s still a lot for the chaplain, or spiritual counselor, to talk about. Because the chaplain is also there to support the caregiver, there should be discussion of any spiritual needs the caregiver might have, especially if those needs are different from the needs of the patient. It takes to complete the Initial Spiritual Assessment but it’s only done on admission. The follow up visits from the chaplain require much less time. Every piece of information the patient and caregiver shares enables the spiritual counselor to offer better individualized care. If you need more information about end of life care, you can find support at theheartofhospice.com. You’ll find more podcasts where we discuss advance care planning, hospice philosophy, and how an end of life care team works on The Heart of Hospice “Listen” page. We never forget - your journey matters. No matter who you are, or where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice.
Chaplains, or spiritual counselors, are one of the core members of a hospice interdisciplinary team. What's their role in the care of seriously ill patients and their families? In this series, we'll talk about how a spiritual counselor comes alongside patients and caregivers to provide supportive spiritual care. Due to outdated beliefs and myths, many people misunderstand what a spiritual counselor does. No matter what belief system the patient may hold, a chaplain can provide support and care within those beliefs. No need to refuse the chaplain visits, even if your personal clergy person is also providing care. There's a big difference between pastoral ministry and chaplaincy. Keep listening to the Heartbeat series to hear more detailed information about the role of the spiritual counselor and what they have to offer. Need more information about hospice philosophy and end of life care? Visit The Heart of Hospice website to find the resources you need. Reach out to Helen or Jerry with questions or comments with an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. Check out our pages on self care and advance care planning. We're here to support both personal and professional caregivers - you are The Heart of Hospice!
Author Larry Indiviglia shares the incredible story of "126 Days 11 Minutes: Our Love Story" in his interview with The Heart of Hospice. Revealing his heart and vulnerability, Larry tells the story of his brief but deep connection to his partner Gayle as she deals with stage IV breast cancer. Gayle's passion for life and the Argentine tango along with her dedication to living life to the fullest is an inspiring story. Helen and Jerry talk with Larry about the wisdom he gained and how being Gayle's caregiver enriched his life. You can find "126 Days 11 Minutes: Our Love Story" on "126 Days 11 Minutes: Our Love Story" in both paperback and Kindle audiobook forms. Connect with Larry by sending an email to lindiviglia@gmail.com. You’ll find more information about hospice philosophy and how to make the most of your end of life journey at theheartofhospice.com. To connect with podcast hosts Jerry Fenter or Helen Bauer, send an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. Either one would make a great speaker for your next event, conference, or agency memorial service. You are The Heart of Hospice!
It can be a challenge to care for someone you love at home during a serious illness. We’ve got some tips to help you to do it successfully. There are a lot of things to consider - finances, wellness of the caregiver, acuity of the patient, and safety of the home are just some of the items that need to be discussed before someone takes on the caregiving responsibility. A lone caregiver will need help, so it’s crucial to gather a group of people to manage caregiving tasks. Caregiving should never be a one person job. (Hint - this is where your hospice team can help!) There’s also an emotional burden attached to caring for a loved one at home and experiencing a death in that space. The benefits to having care at home include control of the physical environment, who comes to visit, management of noise, and the familiarity of a home environment. Not every patient can be cared for safely at home. Talk with your hospice care team about whether home will be the best place for you or your loved one. Connect with Helen or Jerry from The Heart of Hospice podcast with questions by sending an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’re here to support your end of life journey. No matter where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice.
Most medical mistakes happen during care transitions. Helen and Jerry have some tips on improving those crucial moves between care providers and settings. Care transitions are changes in a patient’s care setting or care provider. Patients may move from living at home to residing in a facility, or make a transition from home health to hospice care. Maybe the care transition is from one hospice team to another, or from the outpatient hospice staff to the inpatient hospice unit for crisis management. Communication is key! If you’re a patient or a caregiver, make sure to ask your questions and repeat them if you need to. Write down the answers and keep those written instructions close by for easy access. Don’t be afraid to make a follow up phone call after a care transition has happened. If you’re a healthcare provider, it’s your responsibility to make those transitions successful by providing full support and education to patients and their caregivers. Repeat instructions patiently, and provide written medication lists and instructions that are easy to read and understand. You can find more support and education about end of life care at theheartofhospice.com. We’re here 24/7 to help you with information about hospice philosophy, self care, and advance care planning. Your organization can have Jerry or Helen to speak at your next event or conference by sending an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. Stay connected with us - you are The Heart of Hospice!
A home funeral can be a rich and meaningful experience. The National Home Funeral Alliance offers guidance to help make it happen. Our special guest today is Dani Lavoire, former president of the National Home Funeral Alliance. Dani is a birth midwife who made a connection between the experiences of birth and death. The team at the National Home Funeral Alliance provides support for families across the U.S. who would like to have a more personal after-death event. According to the NHFA website, “it is your right [in all 50 states] to care for your own loved one after death. The NHFA is working to make sure communities and families know their rights.” Personal rituals can be conducted without feeling rushed, or on someone else’s timeline. If you’re interested in a home funeral, visit homefuneralalliance.org to get more information. Check out their podcast - A Path Home, hosted by Sarah Crews, former president of NHFA. You’ll find more support for your end of life experience at theheartofhospice.com, including information about self care, hospice philosophy, and advance care planning. You’ll also find info about Helen Bauer and Jerry Fenter, hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast. We’re happy to connect with you - you are The Heart of Hospice.
Hospice patients and families love their volunteers! This week’s Heartbeat shares the truth about the role of the hospice volunteer. Hospice agencies are required by regulation to recruit volunteers to supplement the patient care hours provided by the agency staff. There are many different jobs volunteers can do, everything from administrative tasks in the office to visits to patients’ homes. Volunteers do things like reading to a patient, providing companionship, walking dogs, and fixing a light meal. There are some restrictions on what volunteers can do. They're not allowed to give medications or change a bandage on a wound. The volunteer is responsible for reporting back to the interdisciplinary team, letting them know if the patient is having symptom issues or has had a change in status. There’s no payment for working as a volunteer but the reward is priceless! If you’re interested in being a hospice volunteer, check out the Serve page on theheartofhospice.com for more information. We’ve got podcasts to help you with all your hospice questions. Check out our Podcast page to learn more. Got a hospice question? Send it to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’re happy to help - you are The Heart of Hospice.
Hospice aides are truly an essential part of the interdisciplinary team, providing some of the most intimate care to seriously ill patients. Today’s Heartbeat shares the truth about the role of the aide in end of life care. Providing personal care such as bed baths, showers, catheter or incontinent care, and skin care is just part of what an aide can do. The aide also monitors a patient for skin breakdown and ensures safe ambulation during the aide’s visit. Cleaning nails and providing oral care is also included in the aide care plan. One of the most important aspects of the aide’s job is communication with the nurse. An aide can be the first to see skin breakdown or a change in the patient’s status. Aide often provides bathing of the body after a patient dies, known as post mortem care. Aides are not allowed to give medications or provide medical advice. The Heart of Hospice wants to support you during your end of life journey. Find information about hospice philosophy at theheartofhospice.com. The hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast have 20+ years of hospice experience. Contact Helen or Jerry with questions by sending an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. No matter where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice.
GrandPad founders Scott and Isaac Lien believe no senior adult should ever be isolated. GrandPad keeps older adults and their loved ones connected with easy-to-use technology. The GrandPad device is customized to the communication needs of the aging adult. Using a private family network that allows for safe photo and video sharing, GrandPad keeps the older user safe while offering a wide variety of applications. Games, video chat, music, and email are all features of the GrandPad. There’s no wifi needed - GrandPad comes with its own built-in LTE connection so there are no passwords or logins to remember. The team at GrandPad considers the special needs of older adults when considering the features of the GrandPad device, including speaker placement and tactile features. The GrandPad team includes a group of senior adults to test, provide feedback, and guide the development of GrandPad functions. You can order a GrandPad for your loved one - or multiple devices for your facility - by clicking here. The Heart of Hospice is here for you to provide support and education for your end of life journey. If you need to consider hospice care for yourself or a loved one, click here to learn about hospice basics and philosophy. If you’d like to book Helen or Jerry as a speaker for your in-person or virtual conference, hospice memorial service, or company meeting, contact us at host@theheartofhospice.com. We’re here for your end of life journey - you are The Heart of Hospice.
No one on the hospice team is more misunderstood than the chaplain. Today we’re clearing up myths about hospice spiritual counselors. Lots of people think spiritual counselors (commonly called chaplains) are there to convert or change faith beliefs. That could not be further from the truth. The role of the hospice spiritual counselor is to support seriously ill patients and their families in whatever spiritual beliefs they have. Regardless of what the personal faith system of the chaplain is, the chaplain can provide spiritual care for a wide variety of faiths - Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, wicken, atheist, agnostic, or non-theistic. If you’re receiving hospice services and there is talk of converting or saving you, that is NOT the kind of spiritual care service you’re supposed to be receiving. Your faith beliefs are what matters. Spiritual counselors are not there to judge you or change what you believe. Chaplains facilitate life review and help with legacy projects or funeral planning. Spiritual care should always be respectful, nonjudgmental, and accepting. It’s important to know your rights as a seriously ill patient and family. Listen to more of our Fact and Fiction series to find out more about the roles of every person on the hospice interdisciplinary team. The Heart of Hospice is here to make your end of life journey easier. Check out our info on advance care planning, self care, and hospice philosophy. Your journey matters. The Heart of Hospice is here to help. You are The Heart of Hospice.
In this 3rd episode of the Fact or Fiction series, we’re talking about the problem-solvers of the interdisciplinary team - social workers. Social workers are a vital part of hospice care. There’s a lot of misinformation about the role of a social worker so we’re sharing the facts about what they really do. Social workers act as advocates for patients and families, and help families access resources to make caregiving easier. Offering grief counseling is also a big part of what social workers do. Social workers often facilitate family conferences to help with big decisions or help resolve disagreements among family members about how a patient’s care should be handled. They provide a crucial component of the care of a hospice patient. At theheartofhospice.com you’ll find more information about interdisciplinary teams and their work to care for seriously ill patients. Whether it’s information about hospice philosophy or understand the roles of every person on the team, The Heart of Hospice has content that can help. You’ll find podcasts discussing everything from hospice 101 and philosophy to self care for both personal and professional caregivers. Send any questions you might have to host@theheartofhospice.com. No matter where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice.
We're thrilled to talk with our guest Shaun O’Leary, Joint CEO of St. Christopher’s Hospice in London as he shares how St. Christopher’s is building on its rich history to move hospice care forward into the future. Founded by Dame Cicely Saunders, St. Christopher’s was the first modern hospice center and acted as a model for hospice care in the U.S. Shaun uses the wisdom he’s acquired over 15 years of working in end of life care to steer St. Christopher’s Hospice. He acknowledges there are challenges that hospice agencies in the U.K. face, such as fund raising, misinformation, and the need for community education about hospice philosophy. St. Christopher’s is providing that education through a brand new center - the Centre for Awareness and Response to End of Life (CARE). The CARE Centre opened on January 15 of 2021. According to the St. Christopher’s website, visitors can “enjoy viewing art exhibitions, participate in a book club or simply take some time out in one of the many quiet and intimate spaces included in the building. The high-tech Skills Lab provides a facility for doctors, nurses and carers to demonstrate practical skills such as using a syringe driver or moving someone safely in a bed. With cameras fitted all around this space, learners of all kinds will be able to access a fully immersive experience.” You can find more information about St. Christopher’s history and CARE by visiting their website: stchristophers.org.uk. To find more podcasts from The Heart of Hospice, visit theheartofhospice.com. We’re here to support your hospice journey, with support and encouragement. There’s information on advance care planning, self care, caregiving, and the basics of hospice philosophy. No matter where you are in your hospice journey, The Heart of Hospice is here to help.
The hospice physician and nurse practitioner play key roles in the care of hospice patients. In today's episode we’re sharing facts about what the hospice doc and NP really do. It’s important to remember the patient (or a designated decision maker) is in charge of the care the patient receives. The hospice physician or the attending doctor the patient chooses guides the hospice plan of care. The nurse practitioner sometimes works alongside the hospice doctor to provide an additional layer of care, often performing Face to Face visits that Medicare requires to recertify a patient for continuing hospice services. The hospice physician and NP collaborate closely with the other members of the hospice interdisciplinary team to provide the best possible care for seriously ill patients. Find more information about the members of the hospice team and the care they provide to patients and their caregivers at theheartofhospice.com. We’d love to hear from you - send questions to Helen and Jerry at host@theheartofhospice.com. Your end of life journey matters. We never forget. You are The Heart of Hospice.
Do you know what a hospice nurse really does? In the first episode of our Fact or Fiction series, we’re sharing the facts about hospice nursing - the perfect topic for Nurses Week! The hospice nurse isn’t there to make decisions for patients and caregivers, but to offer support, education, along with clinical care. While the nurse will teach about medications and hospice philosophy, the patient makes all the decisions. Hospice nurses also know there’s more to end of life care than just medications. The nurse should offer different modalities to take care of patients, and to work with the whole hospice interdisciplinary team to provide the best care. Hospice nurses never accelerate a death. They also don’t seek to prolong life. The goal is always to provide care that enhances quality of life for patients. Stay tuned for the next few weeks to hear the facts about the other members of the hospice team in our Fact or Fiction series! Our sponsor for today’s episode is Hospice of Southern Maine. Hospice of Southern Maine is the only Medicare-certified hospice agency serving Cumberland and York counties. Hospice of Southern Maine is proud to bring you the 10th Annual Anne L. Hunter Memorial Thresholds Conference. For only $35, registrants can participate virtually in this year’s conference, “The Art and Science of Dying: Death as a Part of Life” featuring Barbara Karnes, author of “the little blue book” Gone from my Site, and Dr. B.J. Miller, well-known hospice physician. Reserve your place for the 2021 Thresholds conference May 20, 1:00pm - 4:30pm ET by clicking here. You can find more information about hospice care and philosophy at theheartofhospice.com. The Heart of Hospice is here to support you. Send questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’ll send you a personal reply. Whether you’re a hospice professional or an unpaid caregiver for someone who’s seriously ill, your end of life journey matters. You are The Heart of Hospice.
The pandemic has created challenges in the ways hospice agencies provide bereavement care. Hospice of Southern Maine is making the technology work. Today’s guest is Carol Schoneberg is an End of Educator and Bereavement Services Manager for Hospice of Southern Maine. Carol acknowledged that various challenges related to social distancing made the bereavement team think out of the box about how they could provide care when in-person groups had to be cancelled. Using secure video conferencing, the bereavement support groups were revived. Hospice of Southern Maine has been able to use technology to provide healing and connection for grievers in their community. Your agency, regardless of size, can find innovative ways to use technology to provide bereavement care for your families. Click here to see more about bereavement services from Hospice of Southern Maine. You’ll want to check out the opportunity at their 10th annual Thresholds Conference featuring Barbara Karnes and Dr. B.J. Miller on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 1:00 - 4:30pm EST. Affordable (only $35) and virtual, the Thresholds Conference is a great chance to learn from end of life industry icons. Click here to register. Our other sponsor for today’s episode is GrandPad. GrandPad is a great gift for any senior living alone or at a distance from loved ones. With secure email, photo and video sharing, and video calling, GrandPad enables older adults to access technology in a user-friendly format. Family members can help with set up and create a private GrandPad group using the Companion App. Unlimited 4G LTE is included with the subscription and available nationwide so you can connect to loved ones from wherever you are. The GrandPad team is dedicated to creating a world where no seniors are lonely or isolated! Purchase a GrandPad for someone you love by clicking here. The Heart of Hospice team is here to support your end of life journey, whether you’re a patient, a personal caregiver, or a hospice professional. Find us at theheartofhospice.com or send an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’re walking this journey with you - you are The Heart of Hospice.
End of life care can be confusing. The Heart of Hospice is here to support anyone experiencing hospice care, including personal and professional caregivers. If you’re a hospice professional, it’s important to understand the perspective of patients and families so you know how best to meet their needs. Between them, Jerry and Helen have over 20 years experience as hospice professionals so they know what it’s like to care for terminally ill patients. And because they’ve both had personal experiences with hospice care, they know what it’s like to be a consumer of end of life care. Managing caregiving responsibilities and tons of new information is often complicated by the grief and mental exhaustion that come with serious illness. The Heart of Hospice is here to inform, encourage and help you make it through your caregiving days. Connect with more episodes of The Heart of Hospice podcast by clicking here. The sponsor for today’s episode is Hospice of Southern Maine, the sponsor for the 10th annual Thresholds Conference coming up on Thursday, May 20, 2021 from 1:00 - 4:30pm EST. Registration is only $35, and the conference features hospice industry icons Barbara Karnes and Dr. B.J. Miller. You won’t want to miss this virtual affordable opportunity! Visit the Hospice of Southern Maine website to learn more and reserve your spot at the Thresholds Conference. Find more support for your hospice journey at theheartofhospice.com. Whether you’re a personal caregiver, a patient, or a hospice professional, or a healthcare profession student, The Heart of Hospice provides information to educate, support, and encourage you. If you’re interested in having Jerry or Helen speak at your conference or event, send an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’re honored to support your hospice journey!
We all need to designate someone to speak for us when we can’t voice our healthcare wishes. Now is the best time to choose your healthcare proxy. A healthcare proxy, or medical power of attorney, acts as an advocate for the needs of a patient in alignment with the patient’s desires. It’s important to have the correct legal documents in place for where you live so be sure to find out what forms are required in your area or state. Your proxy or MPOA should be willing and able to act on your behalf. Having conversations before the proxy has to act is crucial - no one will know what you want if you don’t tell them. Discuss it, document it, and share it with your healthcare team and family. The sponsor for today’s episode is Hospice of Southern Maine, the sponsor for the 10th annual Thresholds Conference coming up on Thursday, May 20, 2021 from 1:00 - 4:30pm EST. Registration is only $35, and the conference features hospice industry icons Barbara Karnes and Dr. B.J. Miller. You won’t want to miss this virtual affordable opportunity! Visit the Hospice of Southern Maine website to learn more and reserve your spot at the Thresholds Conference. Find more support for your hospice journey at theheartofhospice.com. Whether you’re a personal caregiver, a patient, or a hospice professional, or a healthcare profession student, The Heart of Hospice provides information to educate, support, and encourage you. If you’re interested in having Jerry or Helen speak at your conference or event, send an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’re honored to support your hospice journey!
In the final episode of our patient advocacy series, we’re talking about supporting advance directives to honor end of life wishes. Caregivers often advocate for loved ones to prevent unwanted care. As advocates for family members or friends, caregivers are called to respect the wishes expressed in directives to physicians, diagnosis-specific directives, and Do Not Resuscitate documents. Having end of life wishes documented during advance care planning takes some of the decision-making burden off of the caregiver. Relieving some of that caregiver burden can reduce anxiety and guilt, allowing the caregiver to experience their grief journey a little easier. Hospice interdisciplinary team members also have to recognize the importance of acting as advocates to support patient’s end of life wishes. The Heart of Hospice has more information and support for your hospice journey. Find us 24/7 at theheartofhospice.com. You’ll find podcasts discussing everything from hospice 101 and philosophy to self care for both personal and professional caregivers. No matter where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice.
Hospice of Southern Maine has harnessed the power of virtual reality to educate about end of life care. CEO Daryl Cady shares how their innovative VR program “Clay” teaches what the hospice experience is like for patients and families. Through VR technology, the hospice journey of virtual patient “Clay” and his family demonstrates to both laypersons and healthcare professionals how a typical end of life situation evolves. The program includes many of the facets of hospice, including the initial terminal diagnosis, responses of Clay’s family members, and discussion of end of life wishes. Daryl reports that many of the people who view the Clay modules are deeply moved, especially by Clay’s dying process and death. Audience members are supported by a social worker or chaplain to help process the emotions that surface during the viewing. You can read more about the innovations Hospice of Southern Maine is using to care for its patients and the community at hospiceofsouthernmaine.org. Be sure to check out information for the 10th Anniversary Thresholds Conference for a series of presentations about end of life, dying, and death. Featured speakers at this year’s conference are internationally renowned end-of-life educator Barbara Karnes, author of the little blue book Gone from my Sight, and Dr. B.J. Miller, acclaimed speaker and hospice and palliative care specialist. Don’t miss this great opportunity on Thursday, May 20 on 1:00 - 4:30pm ET - register now for only $35! Stay connected with The Heart of Hospice at theheartofhospice.com for more information and support of your hospice journey. Your journey matters - you are The Heart of Hospice.
Sometimes being an advocate for a loved one includes voicing concerns and complaints. Knowing who to talk to and how to do it is important. It’s a good idea to start with the case manager from your hospice team. If that doesn’t work, voice your concern to the director or administrator. Escalate your complaint if there’s not an appropriate response - to the state agency that oversees hospice agencies, or to the accrediting organization for the hospice agency providing your loved one’s care. If you’re a hospice professional, it’s important for you to know how to handle a complaint if it comes to you. Receive any complaint from a patient or caregiver with respect and truly listen to their concerns. Take it to your manager for investigation as needed. You also need to know the reporting requirements for your state when it comes to any allegation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Patients should receive the best care possible, and end of life professionals should provide it. Knowing how to handle a concern or complaint will help. If you need more information about getting the best hospice care you can, go to theheartofhospice.com. Have a question? Send it to host@theheartofhospice.com. If your company provides services or products to hospice agencies, consider sponsorship with The Heart of Hospice to get the word out about what you do. No matter who you are, or where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice.
If you’re a caregiver, you’re an advocate for your loved one. Knowing what records to keep is important. Some things need to be saved, some can be shredded. If you stay organized, you’ll be able to find the documents you need in a crisis. A few of the items you want to make sure you keep are a current medication list, a healthcare history, and all documents related to advance directives or living wills. You’ll want to make sure that copies are easy to put your hands on and they’re kept secure. Another vital document is the Do Not Resuscitate document (or the equivalent in your state). Make sure that document is present, and goes wherever the patient goes. If healthcare documents are kept together and organized, it will make your caregiving journey easier. If you need more information about hospice, check out theheartofhospice.com. We’re here with support and encouragement for your end of life journey. No matter who you are, you are The Heart of Hospice.
There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the role of the hospice chaplain. In this episode we’re talking with hospice chaplain and Jewish Rabbi David Gold. David gives insight into the work of hospice chaplaincy and shares the traditions that affect how Jewish patients and families experience death and dying. There seems to be a lot of confusion about what a hospice chaplain, or spiritual counselor, does. David reminds us that chaplains are there to serve patients, to meet them where they are in their faith beliefs. It’s not part of hospice philosophy to convert or change a patient’s belief system. End of life teams are called to make the patient comfortable so that means providing interventions for total pain of body, mind, and spirit. David’s warmth and sense of humor reminds us all that care should start with a smile! You’ll find more information about hospice philosophy and how to make the most of your end of life journey at theheartofhospice.com. To connect with podcast hosts Jerry Fenter or Helen Bauer, send an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. They’d make a great speaker for your next event, conference, or agency memorial service. You are The Heart of Hospice!
In the 2nd episode of our Patient Advocacy Series, we’re talking about how to get the best results from interactions with healthcare professionals. Before appointments, it’s important to write down any questions you have. Even if the patient can make his own decisions, it’s useful to have another set of ears. The patient should be allowed to respond on his own as he is able. It’s also respectful to allow your loved one to have a private conversation with healthcare providers if that’s what the patient wants. If you’re the person providing the healthcare, put instructions in writing that’s easily understood - and legible! And the most important thing - create an opportunity for the patient to speak with you privately. Sometimes patients need a safe space and person to discuss problems with the caregiving system, abuse, or neglectful situations. Caregivers, whether professional or personal can be advocates for patients! When you’re planning your next event, keep in mind that the hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast are available to speak at conferences and meetings. Whether you’re meeting in-person or virtually, we can provide education to your team on topics such as how to have compassionate conversations, how to recognize personal bias, building listening skills, and managing personal grief as a hospice professional. We’d love to encourage your team and remind them why the work they do is so important. Because we both have a personal hospice journey in addition to our years working in end of life care, we can also share a message of resilience and hope at your agency’s next memorial service. To find out more, contact us at host@theheartofhospice.com. The Heart of Hospice is honored to be a part of your hospice journey.
Being a healthcare advocate for someone you love can be challenging. In the first episode of our Patient Advocacy Series, we’re talking about...talking. Communication is key. Everyone needs an advocate, someone who can keep track of information and coordinate with the healthcare team. The exchange of information during serious illness can be overwhelming! Being able to communicate clearly and directly with anyone providing your care is crucial. Be sure to identify yourself and who the patient is every time you have to talk with a care provider. Explain what the need is. Your hospice team can provide better care based on the information you provide. Write down the instructions you get; when you’re tired or grieving you might forget what you’ve been told. And ask questions fearlessly! If you’re a hospice professional, remember the rules of communication apply to you too. Patients and caregivers need to hear terms they understand at a pace that allows for their comprehension. Leave written instructions and be sure to coordinate with the rest of the team about any changes in the patient’s status. If you need more information about being an advocacy for someone's end of life journey, check out theheartofhospice.com. The website is here to help you 24/7. We’re here to help make your hospice journey the best possible. You are The Heart of Hospice!
The Grief Recovery Institute estimates grief costs U.S. business close to $100 billion annually. Anthony and Guy Casablanca at Grief Leaders have written the book that every leader needs. The Dying Art of Leadership: How Leaders Can Help Grieving Employees Excel At Work is the resource that any manager or leader needs to support struggling team members. Whether it’s related to death, divorce, illness, or substance use, grief impacts not only personal lives but productivity at work. A leader who can demonstrate empathy and compassion for what employees are going through can mitigate the damage that grief causes. The Grief Leaders organization believes “Leaders can and should make a difference in their employees' lives. Grieving employees can excel at work when leaders engage in the process.” Through Purpose Driven, Principled Centered Leadership, the Grief Leaders program becomes an actionable process to support leaders as they support their teams. Contact Grief Leaders for a free consultation at griefleaders.com and get the book here. Find more podcasts from The Heart of Hospice at theheartofhospice.com. Need a speaker for your conference, hospice memorial service or event? Send an email to host@theheartofhospice to hire one of the hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast to speak to your group. No matter who you are, or where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice.
Being the new kid is never fun. It takes adequate training and lots of support to ensure the success of new hospice team members. When someone is orienting to agency processes and policies, coworkers need to be patient and be willing to answer questions. Reducing staff turnover is important not only to agency culture, but to team culture as well. Assigning a coworker as a mentor can make new team members feel confident and secure. If the team member is a rookie hospice professional, the “culture shock” of working with seriously ill and dying patients can take a heavy toll. Without the proper support and integration into the hospice team, new employees experience compassion fatigue, overwhelm, and burnout. Make sure they get the support they need! You’ll find more support for your hospice journey at theheartofhospice.com. We’re here for you 24/7 with information on advance care planning, hospice philosophy and history, and podcast episodes on hundreds of hospice topics. Send any questions about end of life care to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’re here to help make your hospice journey the best possible. You are The Heart of Hospice!
Are you making the most of your hospice team meetings? We’ve got some great tips for keeping your discussions professional and respectful. Using derogatory terms or labels to describe patients and families will eventually find its way into your care so keep your reporting respectful. It’s also important to remember to allow time for every team member in attendance to speak. How you speak about your patients and to each other in team discussions is an important reflection of your team culture. Making time for the right kind of patient care discussion is an important part of hospice care, not just compliance with regulation! To get more information about hospice philosophy and history, advance care planning, and self care, visit theheartofhospice.com. No matter who you are, or where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice.
Volunteers hold a special place in hospice care. Musician Steve Litwer is sharing the stories of his patients, and how he found healing for himself from those who couldn’t be healed. In his book “The Music Between Us: Memoir of a Bedside Musician” Steve tells how we connect with music on a deep level through the years of our lives. After retiring from a busy career, Steve donated his time and talent as a bedside guitarist volunteering at local hospice agencies. He found that as he served those were who seriously ill and their families, he did his own life review. He realized the meaning and connection that music offers. “The Music Between Us” tells the stories of Steve’s client simply and beautifully. The book is a great gift and teaching tool for hospice volunteers as well as team members and agencies. Connect with Steve’s music and his blog at stevelitwer.com. You’ll find more information about hospice and how to get the best out of your end of life experience at theheartofhospice.com. Need a speaker for your next company event or conference? Send an email to host@theheartofhospice.com to book Jerry Fenter or Helen Bauer to encourage and inspire your audience. You’re not alone in your hospice journey - we never forget. You are The Heart of Hospice.
Comfort kit, comfort pack, e-pack. No matter what you call it, the set of medications used by some hospice agencies can be a great tool to manage symptoms in urgent situations. Not every agency uses a comfort kit. Typically a kit is composed of medications for issues like shortness of breath, fever, anxiety, pain, or nausea. There’s no set rule about what meds are included. The hospice doctor collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to decide which medications are the best choice. When a patient needs symptom relief quickly, comfort kit meds are there for immediate use. The hospice nurse should always provide education about each of the medications and make a visit to assist with dosing if that’s what’s needed. It’s important that caregivers feel comfortable and knowledgeable about the meds they’re giving. Keep in mind that it’s always the right of the patient or caregiver to refuse the comfort pack meds. Find more information about hospice care and philosophy at theheartofhospice.com. The Heart of Hospice is here to support you. Send questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’ll send you a personal reply. Whether you’re a hospice professional or an unpaid caregiver for someone who’s seriously ill, your end of life journey matters. You are The Heart of Hospice.
Do you think your advance care plan is complete? It’s way more than a one and done conversation! Along with the big decisions like your health care proxy and resuscitation status, there are lots of details to communicate to your healthcare providers, your proxy, and your family. It’s important to know what’s legally acceptable in the state or province where you live. And what about the smaller decisions? Issues like feeding tubes, dialysis, blood transfusions, artificial ventilation, and nursing placement need to be discussed. It might be hard to talk about those issues. They’re full of emotion. Be brave - have those conversations! It’s worth it. Making those advance care plans is a gift to the people you love. Those plans can also prevent you from receiving care you don’t want that won’t help you. Make a good decision to do your advance care planning before you think you’ll need it! There’s more support about advance care planning at theheartofhospice.com. Send any questions about end of life care to host@theheartofhospice.com. We’re here to help make your hospice journey the best possible. You are The Heart of Hospice!
When Sherrie Dunlevy experienced the death of her infant son, she learned the hardest lessons that grief can teach. As a best selling author, speaker, and coach, she now guides grieving women to live their best lives. Her book “How Can I Help? Your Go-To Guide for Helping Loved Ones Through Life’s Difficulties” offers actionable solutions for being there with someone who’s had a loss, whether it’s a death, divorce, or a tough diagnosis. Sherrie teaches us that what we say doesn’t have to be perfect. Sometimes just saying “I’m sorry that you’re hurting” is the best thing to say. Don’t let the fear of being awkward keep you from sharing concern and compassion for someone you care about! Connect with Sherry on her website (sherrydunlevy.com) and check out her podcast Graduating Grief to discover the wisdom she has to share. Click here to get info on Sherrie’s speaking services and buy the book here to read the lessons that Sherrie shares from her heart. Connect with Jerry Fenter and Helen Bauer, the hosts of The Heart of Hospice podcast by sending an email to jerry@theheartofhospice.com or helen@theheartofhospice.com. We’re always glad to connect with you - you are The Heart of Hospice!
Businesses in the U.S. lose $75 billion annually in productivity related to grieving employees. Anthony and Guy Casablanca of Grief Leaders are equipping leaders to provide the support that staff dealing with grief need. That grief isn’t limited to a death loss, but can also be related to divorce, addiction, financial problems, and chronic or serious illness. On the Grief Leaders website you can find their book “The Dying Art of Leadership: How Leaders Can Help Grieving Employees Excel at Work” and read more about the training opportunities that Grief Leaders can provide for your organization. Stay tuned to The Heart of Hospice podcast to hear our upcoming interview with Guy and Anthony, and hear their story of how “The Dying Art of Leadership” book came to be. You’ll find more information about end of life care at theheartofhospice.com. Connect with podcast hosts Jerry Fenter and Helen Bauer at your next event or conference (whether in-person or virtual) by sending an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. The Heart of Hospice is here to walk alongside you in your end of life journey - you are The Heart of Hospice!
Author Steve Litwer shares stories of his hospice volunteering as a bedside musician in his new book “The Music Between Us: Memoir of a Bedside Musician”. Serving others by playing his guitar helped him find healing and perspective for his own life. His connections with his hospice patients motivated him to share their stories along with his own. Steve’s love for music is woven through each chapter of the book, as he talks about his encounters with patients who never knew how much they inspired Steve. He never expected the immeasurable reward he found as a hospice volunteer. You can connect with Steve at stevelitwer.com and watch the trailer for the book. Check out his blog page to see what Steve’s doing currently. You’ll find the book on Amazon, Indie Bound Barnes and Noble, and Amazon Kindle. The Heart of Hospice website can help you with information about hospice and end of life care, give you tips on how to choose a hospice agency, and encourage you when self care seems challenging. Find all our podcast episodes on the Podcast page. Send your questions about hospice to host@theheartofhospice. We’re always glad to hear from you. You are The Heart of Hospice!
End of life issues are complicated. Mediator and patient advocate Althea Halchuck of Ending Well Patient Advocacy talks with us about the challenges she sees people face. According to her website, Althea has been advocating for the vulnerable and the dying for over 20 years. She has mediated in LA County “helping seniors challenge bill collectors and negotiate fair settlements. As a Long-term Care Ombudsman, [she[ has advocated for and educated seniors. [She] has mediated disputes between the residents and administrators or fellow residents.” In her interview with Jerry and Helen, Althea shares what she’s learned during her time as a hospice volunteer, and the immeasurable value of advance care planning. Ending Well Patient Advocacy provides numerous services, including mediation, advance care plan assistance, legacy creation, and end of life celebrations. Check out the Ending Well Patient Advocacy website for services and costs - the first 45 minute consultation call is free! The Heart of Hospice is also here to support your end of life experience. At theheartofhospice.com, you’ll find information about advance care planning, hospice philosophy and care and more! Subscribe here to keep up with our latest blogs and podcasts! No matter where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice!
Help The Heart of Hospice share the love with healthcare workers to celebrate Valentine’s Day! Send a message of gratitude and encouragement to 3 of your favorite healthcare people during the week of Feb. 8-14. The people who care for us, our families, and communities have worked harder than ever in the last year. Show them how much you appreciate their service by sending a text or an email, giving them a call, or even writing a note. When you send your message, post it on your social media along with #shareyourhealthcareheart. Gratitude is one of the best ways to show you care about someone - and to give yourself some healthy self care at the same time. We’re grateful for healthcare professionals and the loving care they provide every day! To connect with The Heart of Hospice, check out theheartofhospice.com. We never forget that your hospice journey is 24/7 - you are The Heart of Hospice!
The Family Caregiver Alliance is a great resource if you’re one of the 42 million personal caregivers across the U.S. Whether you need information on caring for someone with dementia, resources for advance care planning, or patient advocacy, the FCA website can help you. According to the FCA website, “The mission of Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) is to improve the quality of life for family caregivers and the people who receive their care. For over 40 years, FCA has provided services to family caregivers of adults with physical and cognitive impairments, such as Parkinson’s, stroke, Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Our services include assessment, care planning, direct care skills, wellness programs, respite services, and legal/financial consultation vouchers.” You can find free webinars and videos in the FCA Learning Center. If you’re a hospice professional, the FCA website is a great tool for you to share with your patients and families. Check out https://www.caregiver.org/ to see the full listing of the services FCA provides. You’ll find more caregiving resources at theheartofhospice.com. If you’d like to book Jerry or Helen as a speaker for your hospice agency memorial service or conference, send an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. Your hospice journey matters and The Heart of Hospice is here to help. No matter who you are, or where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice!
Dr. Jeff Spiess knows the ins and outs of end of life care as a hospice medical director. He shares his wisdom in a great discussion about hospice, care transitions, and the obstacles to creating advance care planning. Dr. Spiess’s book “Dying with Ease - A Compassionate Guide to Making End-of-Life Decisions” is a must-read for anyone who is dealing with a serious illness either as a patient or a caregiver. In our discussion, he describes the rewards and the burdens of working with an interdisciplinary team. Dr. Spiess’s insights into the role of a hospice doctor are enlightening and inspiring. You can connect with Dr. Spiess at https://drjeffspiess.com/ and buy his book at Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Subscribe to his mailing list on his website or purchase the book here. Have more questions about hospice or making end of life decisions? Check out The Heart of Hospice website for information that can make your hospice experience better and easier. We’re always happy to hear from you - send an email to host@theheartofhospice.com. You are The Heart of Hospice!
We’re flexing our gratitude today to get 2021 started. There’s no easier way to boost your self care wellness than practicing thankfulness. We all know 2020 was challenging and at times, even heartbreaking. In this New Year’s message, Helen and Jerry remember all the ways the past year helped us to grow. Our Connection Moments campaign allowed us to encourage and support healthcare workers all over the country. There have been opportunities to attend conferences virtually and find new virtual education resources. Hospice and palliative care teams have learned to be creative in their use of telehealth during a time where social distancing kept us apart from our patients and their families. Our resilience as a professional community grew from the challenges we face. We think 2020 has equipped us to take on 2021 with courage, strength, and compassion. If the new year finds you needing information about end of life care, you can find more support at theheartofhospice.com. You’ll find more podcasts where we discuss advance care planning, hospice philosophy, and how an end of life care team works on The Heart of Hospice “Listen” page. We never forget - your journey matters. No matter who you are, or where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice.