Podcasts about Hospice and palliative medicine

CME credits: 1.50 Valid until: 21-11-2024 Claim your CME credit at https://reachmd.com/programs/cme/kol-knockouttm-cancer-pain-management-edition/15994/ This enduring program of the live-virtual symposium will focus on the challenges of managing cancer pain using the Evolve KOL Knockout™ case-based format. The key opinion leaders (KOLs) will be challenged by the host/moderator to diagnose and manage patient scenarios with varying levels of difficulty. Learners will vote on the winner of each case presentation round and the moderator will declare a match winner at the conclusion. There will be learning, laughter, and only one KOL left standing! =

How do you define your leadership values and how do you ensure they guide everything you do, from job hunting, to developing programs, recruiting members, and managing your staff? In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Wendy-Jo Toyama, CEO of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). Wendy-Jo introduces AAHPM, talks about her journey to becoming CEO, then discusses what AAHPM is doing differently to thrive. She discusses:What hospice and palliative care are, the settings they are provided in, and the professionals who provide this care.Wendy-Jo's leadership values of creativity, courage, service, justice and family.What it means to be an interdisciplinary association.How associations are never going back to what life was like before the pandemic.How AAHPM just had their two highest membership months ever.The importance of AAPHM's communities, which are meeting virtually and in person.AAHPM's four innovations: Being Interdisciplinary, Focus on Philanthropy, DE&I, and Data Analytics.How AAHPM gave interdisciplinary members voice and vote, including two new Board members who are interdisciplinary.Wendy's work with ASAE to increase the number of AAPI individuals in the association profession.References:AAHPM HomepageAAHPM Diversity, Equity & InclusionAAHPM Giving CenterReasons To Give – includes donor stories and Impact ReportsMedicare.gov provides some background on finding hospice careMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!); https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/quiet-flight; License code: KJRRI6GHC7WKCLDT

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)

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.    

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.    

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 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.

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.

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/

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.    

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!

Host: John J. Russell, MD Guest: Joseph E. Bavaria, MD Featuring a wide range of disciplines and a new approach to comprehensive care, what do we need to know about the Aorta Center at Penn Medicine? Dr. John Russell is joined by Dr. Joseph E. Bavaria to dive into this aortic program and discuss a new approach to comprehensive care.

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/

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/

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Kathryn Gallagher, MS, RN, BSN Guest: Kate Newcomb-DeSanto, MSN, RN, MSW What does Penn Medicine's newly-opened patient room facility have to offer? Dr. Charles Turck is joined by Penn Medicine Clinical Advisors Kathy Gallagher and Kate Newcomb-DeSanto to discuss the new pavilion and how it's revolutionizing patient care.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Sandy Marks Guest: Kim Horvath, JD Guest: Kyle Thomson, JD With telehealth services expanding during the COVID-19 pandemic, has our access to them changed? To better understand this, Dr. Charles Turck meets with Sandy Marks, Kim Horvath, and Kyle Thomson from the AMA to explore what's been done to provide Medicare coverage during a public health emergency and what's on the horizon for telehealth access.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Emily Carroll, JD, MSW The No Surprises Act aims to protect consumers from surprise medical bills. But how exactly does it go about doing that, and what's the current status of its implementation? Joining Dr. Charles Turck to share progress and challenges associated with the No Surprises Act is Ms. Emily Carroll, a senior legislative attorney for the American Medical Association's Advocacy Resource Center.