Shows
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow to Create Your Advance Care Plan Series with The Conversation Project, Special EpisodeNeed 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 Co...
2022-11-0106 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastA Death Perspective with Rabbi Steve Leder, Episode 116In 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 Wi...
2022-08-121h 01
The Heart of Hospice PodcastWhat You Need to Know about Advance Care Planning with Dr. Jim deMaine, Episode 115Dr. 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 l...
2022-08-0554 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastWhat You Need To Know About Medical Aid In Dying: A Discussion with Author Anita Hannig, Episode 114Anthropologist 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 se...
2022-08-0156 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastWhat You Need to Know About Comfort Feedings, Heartbeat Episode 296We’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...
2022-07-2914 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow to Do Death Better with Dr. BJ Miller, Episode 113We’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: Prac...
2022-07-1558 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastKnow Your Patient Rights Series 5, Heartbeat Episode 294In 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...
2022-07-0822 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow to Care for Your Team Beyond the Ordinary with Dr. Michelle Owens & RN Keisha Jones, Episode 112Meet 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 discu...
2022-07-0156 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastKnow Your Patient Rights Series #3, Heartbeat Episode 292In 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 c...
2022-06-1708 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow to Be the Best Caregiver for Your Loved One with Alzheimer's or Dementia, Episode 111Caregiving 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 suffere...
2022-06-1551 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastKnow Your Patient Rights Series #1 - Heartbeat Episode 290A 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...
2022-06-0308 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHospice Nurse Julie is the New TikTok PhenomenonWho 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...
2022-06-0143 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastWhat You Need to Know About Bereavement Services, Heartbeat Episode 289Bereavement 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 situ...
2022-05-2716 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastGetting Back to the Basics of Quality Self Care, Heartbeat Episode 288How'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 somethi...
2022-05-2016 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow to Create Meaningful Care with CareStory, Episode 109Certified 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-fac...
2022-05-1541 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow to get the Best Hospice Care with Therapies, Heartbeat Episode 287We’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 a...
2022-05-1315 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastAre You Ready for National Healthcare Decisions Day?, Heartbeat Special Episode April 16, 2022In 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 le...
2022-04-1611 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow to Avoid Labels and the Damage They Cause, Heartbeat Episode 283Using 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 beha...
2022-04-0816 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastFrom Grief to Growth with Paula Stephens, Epi. 106Today’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. Afte...
2022-04-011h 04
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow to Manage the Financial Aspects of Caregiving, Heartbeat Episode 282Financial 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 a...
2022-03-2514 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHelp for Your Grieving Heart Series Wrap Up with Gabby Jimenez, Heartbeat Episode 281We’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 y...
2022-03-1812 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastDiscussing Memorial Tattoos with Deborah Davidson of The Tattoo Project, Episode 105Memorial 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 s...
2022-03-1546 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHelp for Your Grieving Heart with Lisa Pahl and Gabby Jimenez, Part 5, Heartbeat Episode 280In 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 pati...
2022-03-1118 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHelp for Your Grieving Heart with Isabel Stenzel and Gabby Jimenez of The Hospice Heart, Part 4, Heartbeat Episode 279Part 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 g...
2022-03-0429 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastFinding Refuge in Grief with Reid Peterson, Episode 104Reid 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...
2022-03-0146 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHelp for Your Grieving Heart with Isabel Stenzel and Gabby Jimenez, Part 2, Heartbeat Episode 277In 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 relie...
2022-02-1822 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastLife After Child Loss with Peggy Green, Episode 103Grief 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 fu...
2022-02-1545 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHelp for Your Grieving Heart Series, Part 1, Heartbeat Episode 276Welcome 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 per...
2022-02-1110 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastSelf Care Series for Caregivers, Wrap Up, Heartbeat Episode 275With 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...
2022-02-0411 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastA Self Care Series for Caregivers, Part 4, Heartbeat Episode 274In 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 f...
2022-01-2813 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastA Self Care Series for Caregivers, Part 3, Heartbeat Episode 273Providing 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 men...
2022-01-2113 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastA Self Care Series for Caregivers - Part 2, Heartbeat Episode 272Caregiving 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...
2022-01-1412 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastA Self Care Series for Caregivers, Part 1 - Intro, Heartbeat Episode 271Welcome 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 care...
2022-01-0707 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastEnd of Life Insights from Hospice RN Beth Cavenaugh, Episode 100Hospice 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 hospi...
2022-01-0150 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastA New Year Brings New Possibilities, Heartbeat Episode 270We’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 reconne...
2021-12-3109 min
The Heart of Hospice Podcast2021 - The Year in Review, Heartbeat Episode 269We’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 feature...
2021-12-2412 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow Professional Boundaries Keep Everybody Safe, Heartbeat Episode 268The 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 c...
2021-12-1726 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastChasing Life Author Robert Pardi Shares His Story of Life, Love, and Caregiving Lessons, Episode 099Life 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...
2021-12-1559 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastSelf Care Lessons We Learned From the Pandemic, Heartbeat Episode 267The 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 spi...
2021-12-1020 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastJerry and Helen Recommend the Fading Memories Podcast, Heartbeat Episode 266The 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...
2021-12-0312 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastThe A to Z Healing Toolbox for Those Who Grieve with Susan Hannifin-MacNab, Epi. 097Episode 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 ne...
2021-11-1544 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastGet the Insider Information on Managing Narcotics in Hospice, Heartbeat Episode 260Patients 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 f...
2021-10-2221 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHome is Where the Hospice Patient Says It Is, Heartbeat Episode 258Hospice 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 communicatio...
2021-09-2414 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow to Say You Care with a Care Package from ‘Beyond Words Co.’, Heartbeat Episode 254When 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 me...
2021-08-2723 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow Long Do I Have? - Answering the Time Question - Heartbeat Episode 253How 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...
2021-08-2022 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastGriefTalking with Rebellious Widow Author Jill Johnson-Young, Episode 091Author 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 gu...
2021-08-152h 09
The Heart of Hospice PodcastA Tale of Two End of Life Experiences with Tina Ketchie Stearns, Episode 089You’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.
2021-07-151h 48
The Heart of Hospice PodcastUnderstanding the Role of the Hospice Chaplain - Series Introduction, Heartbeat Episode 246Chaplains, 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 d...
2021-07-0238 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastSharing a Hospice Love Story: Interview with Author Larry Indiviglia, Episode 088Author 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 Min...
2021-07-011h 26
The Heart of Hospice PodcastWhat You Need to Know to Care for a Seriously Ill Person at Home, Heartbeat Episode 245It 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 i...
2021-06-2533 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow to Have Successful Care Transitions, Heartbeat Episode 244Most 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...
2021-06-1838 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow You Can Have a Home Funeral with National Home Funeral Alliance, Episode 087A 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...
2021-06-152h 04
The Heart of Hospice PodcastFact or Fiction: The Real Work of the Hospice Aide, Heartbeat Episode 242Hospice 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 importan...
2021-06-0423 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastSeniors Stay Connected with GrandPad, Episode 086GrandPad 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 reme...
2021-06-011h 50
The Heart of Hospice PodcastFact or Fiction: The Real Work of a Hospice Physician and Nurse Practitioner, Heartbeat Episode 239The 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...
2021-05-1419 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastBeing Authentic With Hospice Chaplain Rabbi David Gold, Episode 082There’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...
2021-04-011h 48
The Heart of Hospice PodcastSteve Litwer Shares The Music Between Us, Episode 080Volunteers 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...
2021-03-011h 44
The Heart of Hospice PodcastInspirationista Sherrie Dunlevy Helps You Live Your Best Life-Episode 079When 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...
2021-02-151h 35
The Heart of Hospice PodcastA New Year's Message from The Heart of Hospice, Heartbeat Episode 220We’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...
2021-01-0831 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastGet to Know the Dougy Center for Grieving Children, Heartbeat Episode 215The Dougy Center for Grieving Children helps to meet the unique grief needs of children and teenagers. Today we’re talking about all the resources the Center has to support parents, educators and communities as they care for grieving kids. According to the Dougy Center website, the organization “provides support in a safe place where children, teens, young adults, and their families grieving a death can share their experiences. We provide support and training locally, nationally, and internationally to individuals and organizations seeking to assist children in grief. Through our Pathways program, we provide a safe place for families living...
2020-11-1319 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastLisa Newburger Brings Humor to Difficult Topics at Discuss Directives , Episode 071You’re going to laugh and learn in our interview with Licensed Independent Social Worker Supervisor Lisa Newburger, and her alter ego Diana Directive! Lisa shares the wisdom she’s acquired while working with seriously ill patients and their families. She’s the owner of Discuss Directives, LLC, a company launched in 2010 to “provide continuing education programs and humorous wellness programs on topics such as life/work balance, end-of-life decision making, workplace bullying, and suicide prevention.” This led to the development of the Heart2Hearts® cards and workbook, great tools for having difficult conversations about end of life wishes. You can purch...
2020-10-151h 22
The Heart of Hospice PodcastEnergize Your Passion for EOL Care at a Virtual Conference, Heartbeat Episode 209Virtual conferences are the current trend while we cope with the pandemic. Today Helen and Jerry are talking about the benefits of attending a hospice conference virtually. If you’re a hospice professional, ongoing education is essential to maintain current working knowledge of clinical care, regulations, and industry trends. Virtual attendance saves you money and time on travel, plus you can attend on your own schedule from the comfort of your own computer! No matter what your discipline may be, there’s a conference for you. Chaplains can look into “Caring for the Human Spirit” sponsored by the Healthcare Chaplaincy N...
2020-10-0220 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastA Conversation with Death by Design Host Kimberly Paul, Episode 066Our conversation with Kimberly Paul is going to make you think. She challenges us to think about death and advance care plan conversations in a radically different way. According to her website https://www.deathbydesign.com/about-the-author/, Kimberly "chose to leave her dream job in television and film to discover the authentic stories at the bedside of the dying. Working for hospice was supposed to only be a temporary job until she could build relationships in the film industry in Wilmington, NC. But this temporary job spread over 17 years as Vice President of Communications and Outreach for a local ho...
2020-08-011h 29
The Heart of Hospice PodcastCelebrating Two Milestones for The Heart of Hospice, Heartbeat Episode 200Today we're celebrating our 200th Heartbeat and the 4 year anniversary of The Heart of Hospice! We’re super excited to have been given information to share with you, and industry experts to connect you to. Our dedication to our mission hasn’t changed - we’re moving forward to provide you with podcasts that inform you. We’re going to be encouraging you as well - caregivers (both professional and unpaid) need all the encouragement they can get! Let us know how we can support you. Send your idea to us at host@theheartofhospice.com. You’re going to get a personal...
2020-07-3113 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastExpert Guidance for Funeral Planning from Funeralocity, Heartbeat Episode 198We’re playing The Death Deck again! What would your epitaph say? What words would you use to describe yourself on your tombstone? Helen and Jerry have some unexpected answers. We’re also connecting you with a new resource - Funeralocity. The Funeralocity website has information on numerous aspects of funerals, including cremation, grief, how to celebrate a legacy, and funeral planning and costs. Hospice professionals can also find help in the Hospice Portal with guidance on advance care conversations and funeral planning. Funeralocity also connects you with high quality funeral homes and cemeteries to help you choose the funeral...
2020-07-1721 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHeart2Hearts Can Help Guide Advance Care Planning Conversations, Heartbeat Episode 196Another great game to start those difficult (horrible, awkward) conversations about advance care planning! A set of Heart2Hearts cards comes with 52 conversation starters to ease discussions about wishes at end-of-life. Developed by licensed social worker Lisa Newburger, the cards are easy to use and versatile. There are three different ways to utilize the cards. Cost is only $14.99 per deck so it’s super affordable. Your agency or company can order quantities of 500 or more with your logo on the back. Find more information about the Heart2Hearts cards on the Discuss Directives website. Looking for more information and resources...
2020-07-0323 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastConnection Moment with Isabel Stenzel, Episode 16Hospice bereavement counselor and social worker Isabel Stenzel shares her gratitude for her coworkers and colleagues in today’s Connection Moment. She reminds us to remember our gifts and the value we bring to the care of our patients. Isabel has a personal story of critical illness and hospice care, so she has first hand experience of the special support end of life professionals provide. Advising us to learn and adapt to the processes we need to feel safe in this difficult time, Isabel also urges us not to lose sight of the beauty around us. Hospice professionals are in th...
2020-06-0819 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHelen and Jerry Recommend The Upside to Aging Website, Heartbeat Episode 192We’re at it again - playing The Death Deck to get our recording session started! What do Jerry and Helen believe about dying people seeing loved ones? Then we move on to sharing a great resource with you. The Upside to Aging is a site designed to support caregivers. Founder Molly Wisniewski has spent her career in aging and geriatric services. She’s an advocate for dignity in caregiving, especially for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Check out their resources at theupsidetoaging.com. You can find articles, resources, and read about Molly’s story. Find more support at t...
2020-06-0520 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastConnection Moment with Katie Orlip and Jahnna Beecham, Episode 12Our dear friends Jahnna Beecham and Katie Ortlip join us for today’s Connection Moment. They’re the co-authors of Living with Dying: A Complete Guide for Caregivers. It’s our all-time favorite caregiving guidebook! Katie, a hospice social worker, validates the emotions hospice professionals might be feeling. It’s ok to be fearful and to grieve - we’re all going through this together. It’s important to remember that we’re useful and important; we just have to find different ways to take care of our patients. Katie suggests checking out the resources the Upaya Zen Center has to offer, and th...
2020-05-3024 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastGet Your Hospice News at HospiceNews.com, Heartbeat Episode 191There’s a lot of information coming at us about healthcare these days. It’s important to be able to connect fast and easily with a reliable source of news about hospice care. Check out hospicenews.com for the latest updates in finance, technology, regulation, and operations. All of these areas are vital to the functioning of a hospice agency, especially during this time of waivers from CMS. Hospice News is part of the Aging Media Network. Subscribe to their email newsletter either daily or weekly to stay informed about changes and trends in the hospice industry. Stay in touch wi...
2020-05-2911 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastConnection Moment with Jerry Fenter, Episode 07Jerry encourages you with good words to lift your spirits with his message in today’s Connection Moment. Reminding you as always to stay connected in your relationships, Jerry urges you to remember that you have value. You’re important. As a hospice professional, you provide crucial services to your patients and families. As an individual, you are a vital part of your family. Your journey matters. You are not forgotten. Check out the The Heart of Hospice 24/7 to find support and resources, and listen to the podcast on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple podcasts to get more...
2020-05-1806 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastLoren Gelberg-Goff Shares How Caregivers Can Find Their Joy, Episode 061LCSW Loren Gelberg-Goff wants to help caregivers. Her mission is to help “caregivers just like you enjoy a more fulfilled life while they do the demanding but important work of caring for their loved ones.” In her book “Take Back Your Life: A Caregiver’s Guide to Finding Freedom in the Midst of Overwhelm”, Loren gives guidance on how caregivers can live a full and healthy life while still providing the best care to their loved ones. Loren is also the facilitator of the virtual group program “Take Back Your Life: The Art of Self Care”, a popular program...
2020-05-151h 21
The Heart of Hospice PodcastCoping With a Terminal Illness, Heartbeat Episode 185In these days of social distancing and self isolation, Helen and Jerry start out this episode playing The Death Deck, because we know that humor can reduce fear and boost our moods. Then we get down to business introducing you to Susan Ducharme Hoben. Through her website, articles, and book, Susan offers some great advice for coping with a loved one’s terminal illness based on her personal experience with her husband Bruce. Susan encourages us to confront our fears about death, educate ourselves about the dying process, and to talk openly about your loved one’s wishes...
2020-04-0316 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastGrief Yoga Creator Paul Denniston Shares How to Get Unstuck, Episode 058It was our great privilege to partner with Paul Denniston, the creator of Grief Yoga. Paul has taught the practice of Grief Yoga to “therapists, counselors and health care professionals around the world and teaches workshops around the US.” Using combined techniques from Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Kundalini Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Laughter Yoga, and Let Your Yoga Dance, Paul guides his students into a place of transformation and healing. According to his website griefyoga.com, Paul combines “many different branches of yoga in order to channel and release anger, and allow unresolved grief a compassionate space to breat...
2020-04-011h 40
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHelen and Jerry Recommend Helen Haddick's Blog, Heartbeat Episode 182Our hospice colleague Helen Haddick has a unique blog. Helen shares incredibly transparent and sometimes heart-wrenching stories about her experiences as a hospice nurse. Coming from a background of critical care, Helen has connected with end of life care in a deep way. Her honesty is moving, and her dedication to both patients and families is palpable in her writing. It’s easy to conjure up vivid images of the work of a hospice nurse as you share hospice work through Helen’s eyes. You can find her blog at fromsavingtosending.com. Connect with her on F...
2020-03-1311 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHelen and Jerry Recommend Funeralwise as a Funeral Resource, Heartbeat Episode 180We’re excited to connect you with Funeralwise. It’s a great place to find information about cremation, how different faiths view cremation. You can find their colorful and informative infographics at funeralwise.com. Their mission is expressed beautifully on the funeralwise home page - “Prepare. Celebrate. Remember...We are here to help you prepare wisely and celebrate uniquely. Because every life deserves to be remembered.” The “Wise Guys”, as they call themselves, discuss everything from grief and funeral customs, to funeral 101 and religious and military customs for funerals. There are several free downloadable funeral planning guides an...
2020-02-2810 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastAn Encore Presentation with Ellen Goodman of The Conversation Project, Episode 055Some experiences are worth repeating. Our interview with Pulitzer prize-winning author Ellen Goodman was one of our brightest moments, and we’re excited to share it with you in an encore presentation. Ellen is a co-founder and director of The Conversation Project, an organization whose mission centers around helping people to voice their wishes for care at the end of life. They know that having discussions about death and dying can help to ensure respectful, appropriate care when serious illness becomes a reality. It’s about having those conversations in the living room, not in the hospital waiting...
2020-02-151h 32
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHelen and Jerry Recommend the Meditative Story Podcast, Heartbeat Episode 178It’s easy to find a calming moment inside the day when you listen to the Meditative Story podcast. It’s a weekly podcast that “blends intimate first-person stories with mindfulness prompts, enveloped in beautiful music composition”. As the narrators of the stories share their moments of insight, the incredible music flows around you like a silky warm wind. You can create an interval in your day that refreshes and refocuses your mind. Meditative Story is much more than just an audio experience; it’s a feeling, a renewal of spirit, a deep cleansing breath that connects the listener...
2020-02-1418 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastA Personal Story of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, Special EpisodeIn a story that inspired the nation, New York City police detective Lou Alvarez advocated in support of the first responders who served at Ground Zero following the 911 attack. Helen and Jerry were honored to sit down with his brother Phil Alvarez, and talk about the Alvarez’s family’s journey. As a veteran detective with the Suffolk County Police Department, Phil knows the meaning of duty and sacrifice. His brother made the ultimate sacrifice, walking through treatment for stage 4 cancer, and finally, time in hospice care. Phil shows his dedication to carrying on Lou’s legacy by reach...
2019-12-221h 25
The Heart of Hospice PodcastA Review of the Being Mortal Documentary, Heartbeat, Episode 168Healthcare professionals often have to have some of the hardest conversations with their patients. We deliver news that nobody wants to hear, and we don’t want to say. Doctors are no exception. Often physicians have to deliver test results that are devastating. In the Frontline documentary “Being Mortal”, Dr. Atul Gawande shines a bright light on doctors and their ability to manage discussions on end of life. Lacking training and needing to maintain a professional demeanor often leave physicians feeling ill-prepared to say the hard things that sometimes need to be said. Everyone working in healthcare should w...
2019-12-0627 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastA Hospice Journey with Jennifer Kennedy of NHPCO, Episode 049Meet Dr. Jennifer Kennedy, Senior Director of Regulatory and Quality for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization! Jennifer sat down with Helen and Jerry to share her hospice journey, and talk about what we’re doing right in end of life care. According to her bio on the NHPCO website, Jennifer has “more than 30 years of diverse healthcare experience with consistently increasing responsibilities in management, education program development, program operation, staff development, continuous quality improvement, regulatory compliance, utilization management, outcomes analysis, public speaking, and program development and implementation. Jennifer has earned a BSN, a duel Master in Ca...
2019-11-151h 25
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow to Celebrate and Promote National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, Heartbeat, Episode 162November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and we’re celebrating the care that hospice and palliative care programs all over the country provide. This year’s theme is “My Hospice: A Program that Works. A Benefit that Matters.” Helen and Jerry take some time on this week’s Heartbeat to share some gratitude for the work that hospice teams do. Taking a team approach to the care of our patients is one of the things that makes end of life and palliative care programs work so well. Your life and your care matters to us. Happy Hospic...
2019-10-2511 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHow to Have Fun and Meaningful Conversations with The Death Deck Game, Heartbeat, Episode 161Don’t let the name fool you. The Death Deck game is really fun! Irreverent, thought provoking, and funny - the discussion prompts and questions of the Death Deck card game help make those awkward conversations about death and dying so much easier. The hosts of The Heart of Hospice talk about using the game with a partner or with a group, employing humor and imagination to discuss a topic that makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Listen as Helen and Jerry talk about their own personal views about death. Buy your own Death Deck at th...
2019-10-1826 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastThe Sixth Stage of Grief: A Conversation with Grief Expert David Kessler, Episode 47The Heart of Hospice was honored to sit down and chat with David Kessler about his work in grief and healing, his personal grief experiences, and his new book Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. According to his website grief.com, David “is one of the world’s foremost experts on healing and loss. His experience with people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life - even after life’s tragedies. He is the author of five bestselling books on grief. His first book, The Need...
2019-10-151h 28
The Heart of Hospice PodcastAn Overview of Death With Dignity Laws, Heartbeat, Episode 155There are currently 9 states in the U.S. that have Death with Dignity laws in place. Designed to allow self determination in death and prevent suffering, these laws can be controversial. In this week’s Heartbeat from The Heart of Hospice, Helen and Jerry discuss the purpose of these laws and where to find out about the laws in your state. It’s important that end of life professionals are aware of whether the state in which they practice has a Death with Dignity law, and should be prepared to discuss the topic with patients and families who ask...
2019-09-0619 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastWhat You Need to Know About DME, Heartbeat, Episode 124Many people on hospice will need medical equipment (DME) to help improve their quality of life. In most cases, medical equipment is supplied by the hospice agency through a third-party vendor at no cost to the patient. In this episode Helen and Jerry share what you need to know about DME. DME, or durable medical equipment, is used to help improve the patient's quality of life. Wheelchairs and walkers can improve mobility. Hospital beds with special mattresses can increase comfort levels and improve sleep. Other special equipment are used for symptom management, such as oxygen concentrators, nebulizers, and su...
2019-01-1822 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastFinding Help For Your Grief, Heartbeat, Episode 123Bereavement care is one of the primary services provided by hospice. In this episode we discuss when bereavement care begins, and the methods that hospice caregivers often use to help those who are grieving. Grief counseling often uses the 5 stages of grief taught by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance Helen and Jerry discuss the pros and cons of this theory, and offer several resources to consider. Here are links to the resources mentioned in this episode: www.ekrfoundation.org www.grief.com Learn more about gri...
2019-01-1117 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastWhat You Need to Know When a Hospice Patient is in Crisis, Heartbeat, Episode 120When a hospice patient's symptoms are becoming difficult to manage, hospice can assist by providing higher levels of care during a crisis. Helen and Jerry discuss the two levels of care that can be provided on a short term basis to help when a patient needs more assistance. General inpatient (GIP) is provided at a medical facility such as a hospital or hospice inpatient unit. Continuous care, or crisis care, can be provided at the patient's residence by hospice staff. Listen to this episode to learn more about when a higher level of care can be...
2018-12-2116 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastHeartbeart, Episode 106, National Caregiving Conference 2018The National Caregiving Conference is created by caregivers for caregivers. NCC18 will be in Chicago on November 8-11, and hundreds of caregivers will attend in person, and hundreds more will attend virtually. Learn more about it in this episode. If you're a personal or professional caregiver, we highly recommend that you consider attending NCC18. This conference will be filled with useful and valuable content that will encourage you, inspire you, and give you practical resources to improve your caregiving experience. For more information visit the NCC18 website at www.caregiving.com/NCC18. Helen and...
2018-09-1408 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastGratitude Moment of the Day #5This week we're celebrating our 2nd anniversary. As part of the celebration Helen and Jerry are sharing some of their gratitude moments each day this week. Today, Jerry offers his gratitude to the current leaders in the hospice industry. People like Edo Banach of the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, and Tracey Bleakley of HospiceUK, and hospice educator and author, Barbara Karnes. Please take a moment to follow us on Facebook and Twitter so that you will see all of the new features coming to The Heart of Hospice.
2018-08-0402 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastGratitude Moment of the Day #4This week we're celebrating our 2nd anniversary. As part of the celebration Helen and Jerry are sharing some of their gratitude moments each day this week. Today, Helen gives thanks for all of the millions of caregivers who deliver care to their loved ones. We hope that if you're a caregiver for someone you love, that you receive some encouragement from The Heart of Hospice.
2018-08-0202 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastGratitude Moment of the Day #3This week we're celebrating the 2nd anniversary of The Heart of Hospice. As part of the celebration Helen and Jerry are sharing some of their gratitude moments each day this week. Today, Helen & Jerry shares their gratitude for everyone who listens to the podcast and reads our blog. Be sure and listen each day this week for our gratitude moments with you. Take a moment and follow us on Facebook and Twitter so that you don't miss any of the new features that are coming to The Heart of Hospice.
2018-07-3102 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastGratitude Moment of the Day #2This week we're celebrating the 2nd anniversary of The Heart of Hospice. As part of the celebration Helen and Jerry are sharing some of their gratitude moments each day this week. Today, Jerry shares his thankfulness for the pioneers of hospice, the ones who created the legacy that we now hold in our hands. Listen each day this week as we share our gratitude moments with you. Please take a moment and follow us on Facebook and Twitter so you don't miss any of the new features that are arriving this week.
2018-07-3002 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastGratitude Moment of the Day #1This week we're celebrating the 2nd anniversary of The Heart of Hospice. As part of the celebration Helen and Jerry are sharing some of their gratitude moments each day this week. Today, Helen shares her gratefulness for all of the hospice colleagues she's had the privilege to work with. Listen each day this week for a new gratitude moment.
2018-07-2902 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastFive for Friday, Episode 083, Self Care Check InDid you make any New Year's Resolutions about self care? The first quarter of the year is almost over, so it's time for a self care check in. In this episode, Helen and Jerry share their own personal self care stories for 2018--the best and the worst. The purpose for the self care check in is to remind all of us how important self care is to our health--body, mind and spirit. So how are you doing on your self care journey so far in 2018? It's never too late to make a new start. Send us an em...
2018-03-3018 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastFive for Friday, Episode 064, Delaying HospiceEveryone who works in hospice has heard the comment, "I wish we hadn't waiting so long to call hospice." Or "I wish we had known about hospice sooner." There are many variations of those comments, but they basically communicate how much better it might have been for the patient and family if hospice had been involved sooner in the disease process. In this week's Five for Friday, Helen and Jerry share the reasons why hospice is delayed by doctors, patients, and family members, and also the reasons why not delaying hospice could improve the outcome for p...
2017-11-1711 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastFive for Friday, Episode 055, NHPCO podcastThe National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is a non-profit advocacy group based in Alexandria, Virginia. Their mission is to be advocates for terminally ill patients and their families, as well as providing education and training for those who serve terminally ill patients. In this episode, Helen and Jerry discuss the NHPCO's newest educational venue, the NHPCO podcast. NHPCO began publishing a podcast in October, 2016 to provide information about pertinent issues that hospices are facing today. Jon Radulovic is the host, and along with Judi Lund Person, and Jennifer Kennedy, they share information about regulatory, compliance and...
2017-09-1512 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastSpecial Episode 2 - Hurricane Harvey EditionThis is our Hurricane Harvey Special Edition Episode. Due to the impacts of Hurricane Harvey, Helen and Jerry were unable to record this episode in the usual place and manner. Instead, Helen was at her mother's home in Houston providing caregiver assistance to her mom, and Jerry was at his home near Beaumont. The episode was recorded using Skype and a microphone, since they weren't in the same location. Harvey has wrought terrible destruction and devastation all along the Gulf Coast from Rockport, Texas to Louisiana. Thousands have been displaced from their homes, including those in nursing facil...
2017-09-0158 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastFive for Friday episode 004Happy Friday everyone! Helen & Jerry discuss the power of numbers in this Five for Friday episode. Numbers tell a story. From a clinical perspective, numbers reveal the status of the body: blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, blood sugars, etc. It's not all about the numbers, though. Numbers matter, but we have to see the patient beyond just their numbers.
A quote by Dame Cicely Saunders reminds us of the humanity of our patients. She said, "You matter because you are you, and you matter until the end of your life."
Here's a few other quotes...
2016-09-1611 min
The Heart of Hospice PodcastEpisode 003 - Jerry's Personal Hospice StoryIn this episode Jerry shares a very personal hospice story. in 2013, after a basic knee replacement surgery, Jerry's mother began experiencing respiratory failure, that eventually led to her being placed in hospice care at home.
The experience opened his eyes to hospice care from the family's perspective. That alone was revealing and changed the focus of his hospice work in the future. But it also revealed how valuable hospice is for the patient and the family.
As Jerry says in this episode, "I was a hospice chaplain before, and I was a hospice chaplain afterwards, but...
2016-09-0146 min