The Heart of Hospice Podcast

In today’s episode, we’re focusing on advance care planning - how it supports end of life wishes, and what that means for family caregivers. Advance care plans documents need to be discussed, documented, and updated when life changes happen. Scott Brown, founder of My Directives recommends reviewing and amending your ACP when any of the “D’s” happen in your life - Diagnosis, Divorce, Decade (milestone birthdays), Domicile (moving residence), Death (of someone close to you). It’s a good idea to revisit those AC plans when you change doctors or healthcare teams, too. It can help to look at what your values are, what quality of life means for you. Consider who is important to you, and what’s important to you. It’s not possible to imagine every single diagnosis or clinical situation you might experience, so it’s not helpful to try. You’re the expert in yourself and what you want. That’s where an advance care plan starts. Be sure to keep your ACP documents accessible to everyone who might need them.

You can connect with Scott and the resources that My Directives offers: Website: http://www.mydirectives.care/ (FREE, secure, HIPAA compliant for individuals/consumers) http://www.mydirectives.com/ (for clinicians like physicians, SWs, nurse, chaplains, interfaces with EMR/EHR systems)

Social Media - all @MyDirectives

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/mydirectives

X:https://x.com/mydirectives

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/mydirectives

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

Author Sarah Vosburgh is a daughter who became a caregiver for her mother, learning to navigate advocacy, care coordination, and the intricacies of memory care. Sarah and her mom had a challenging relationship from the time Sarah was a young woman, complicating decision-making when her mom developed Alzheimer’s Disease. Because her mom never discussed any end of life wishes, Sarah was flying blind making decisions for her. Being an only child complicated things even further. Sarah acknowledges that the circumstances of her mom’s decline brought a lot of anticipatory grief. Due to the timing of disease progression, her mom died before Sarah could start hospice care for her. Sarah’s book Who Will Name the Bees? describes the challenges she faced during the later part of her mom’s life, and how Sarah dealt with complicated family dynamics as an only child caregiver. It’s a beautiful telling of their experience as mother and daughter at the end of life. Connect with author Sarah Vosburgh: Website: http://sarahvosburgh.com Social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter (X) Threads TikTok Purchase your copy of Who Will Name the Bees? Here or here

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

In this deeply moving episode, author Oliver Christen tells how he supported his mother and her decision to embrace a death fast, creating a deeply spiritual experience for both mother and son. After living a very full and active life, Oliver’s mother began declining in her abilities and mobility. Quality of life was vitally important to her, and she began conversations with Oliver and his sister about the end of her life. With the support of both her children, Oliver’s mom chose to utilize a death fast to move towards her death. She made a conscious choice to meet death on her own terms. Through conversations, laughter, gratitude, and acceptance, Oliver walked with his mom up to and through her death. His new book As She Chose, Oliver chronicles his experience, writing a guidebook for how to be present when the end of life is near.

Connect with author Oliver Christen: Website: http://www.choosingtogo.com/ Learn more about Oliver here Purchase your copy of As She Chose here Social media for Oliver Christen: Instagram

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Listen to this episode to learn details about the work of a death doula with Kacie Gikonyo, better known as Death Doula Kacie. Kacie has built a large online community as a Registered Nurse death educator. She’s the founder of the Death Doula School and her book Laboring Out of Life: A Death Doula’s Approach to Intentional End of Life Care is a resource for death doulas, healthcare professionals, and family caregivers alike.

Kacie is also the creator of the Labor Out Conference happening Oct. 28, 2026 at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. The conference brings together healthcare providers and deathcare providers to educate on death, dying, and end of life conversations. It’s a great opportunity for anyone wanting to improve their practice and skills. Featured speakers include Kacie, Dr. Bob Uslander from Empowered Endings, and founder of Your Palliative PA Chelsea Ernest. CEUs are offered for some healthcare professionals. You can register for the Labor Out event here.

Here are some highlights from today’s episode:

• Death should never be so scary we can’t talk about it.
• The role of the death doula can be vital in supporting people with life-limiting illness and their caregivers.
• End of Life Doulas, or Death Doulas provide non-clinical support, working side by side with hospice teams.
• Kacie advocates for bringing in hospice care sooner, establishing a solid support system for both patient and caregivers.
• Introducing the topic of hospice with their doctor should be easy for patients and decision-makers to do, creating open, honest conversation.
• A good starting point is discussion about quality of life, focusing on the patient spending their time doing things that matter to them.
• It’s ok for patients to be direct and tell their healthcare team, “That’s not how I want to spend my time.” That’s another way to define quality of life.
• Kacie envisions the role of a death doula becoming commonplace in the next ten years, being integrated into hospitals, rehab units, and long-term care facilities.

Connect with hospice nurse and Death Doula Kacie Gikonyo:

Website: https://deathdoulakacie.com/ Social media: @deathdoulakacie on all platforms Website for The Labor Out Conference: Where Healthcare Meets Deathcare): https://deathdoulakacie.com/laborout Purchase your copy of Kacie’s new book Laboring Out of Life: A Death Doulas Approach to Intentional End of Life Care here

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTubeEmail: helen@theheartofhospice.com

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

In her work as a Spiritual Life Doula and hospice nurse, Marggie Moertl walks with her clients through the challenges of chronic illness and decline, continuing through their final days. The work of a doula is unknown for many people, so this episode offers a glimpse into the care a doula can provide. Marggie explains how a doula provides a complementary service alongside hospice and shares what it means to hold a sacred space when she works with her clients. The roles of doula and hospice nurse are very different - despite being a RN, Marggie never uses her skills and experience as a medical professional while working as a doula. Providing support for deep conversations and life review is an important component of her work. Marggie uses her intuitive skills to help clients maintain and strengthen their connection to soul during difficult illness. In this way, she encourages clients to choose the treatment path they desire, while fostering their own healing from within.

Connect with Marggie Moertl:

Website: http://embraceyourinnerselfllc.com Social Media: Facebook Facebook LinkedIn Substack

Purchase your copy of Sally: A Memoir and Life As A Prayer here

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Keeping her balance as a daughter, mom, and wife made Certified Dementia Practitioner Amanda Bailey feel pulled in multiple directions, feeling the full range of emotions as a sandwich caregiver for her mom. When her mom died of Alzheimer’s Disease, Amanda’s life was changed forever. Now she’s supporting other families and caregivers to get the help they need to find home care that’s a good fit. She has first hand knowledge of how senior living communities operate and shares that knowledge with the families she helps.

Here are some highlights from our conversation:

• Listen closely - small comments can give big insight into your Person’s thought process
• Caregivers need to be observant, following up with reassurance and support
• Progress toward decisions about home care can be slow, in small increments
• Think ahead - crisis mode is a bad place to make decisions
• Don’t make promises that you might not be able to keep about caring for your Person at home

Connect with Amanda Bailey of Help for My Parents Website - http://www.helpformyparents.com/ Social Media - FaceBook LinkedIn Link to Amanda’s workbooks

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

As a hospice nurse and end-of-life caregiver for her husband, Shari Brase-Smith learned the power of good communication and coordination at the end of life. Now she devotes her energy to educating the public and healthcare workers about the qualities of good hospice care. One of her strongest beliefs is the advantage of using word of mouth recommendations when choosing a hospice agency, asking for specific answers about why the agency was a good (or bad) choice. Shari’s writing books to help caregivers talk to their person when they’re dealing with end-of-life concerns. Her most recent book is a guide for people who need to talk with a spouse or partner when they’re dying. What to Say When Your Spouse is Dying: A Compassionate Guide for Love, Grief, and the Final Days provides help with decision making, protecting dignity and closeness in the relationship, and having honest conversations about dying. Shari brings her personal and professional experience to the book, providing honest, true, and gentle words to use.

Connect with Shari Brase-Smith, MS RN:

Website: http://sharibrase-smith.com

Social media: Instagram Substack

Purchase a book: http://sharibrase-smith.com

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Karen Fee took what she learned as an end-of-life caregiver to her mom and shared it with family and friends, creating a ripple effect that impacted how they all talked about death and dying. Her group of friends known as The Mama Surfers became a place for end-of-life discussions and reflections, where they could hold each other accountable for creating their advance care plans . Karen’s caregiving experience shaped her own advance care planning. Because Karen’s mom had a plan, the end of life experience was easier. Her dad was challenged to make decisions by himself and to manage things after her mom’s death. Karen added that support to her caregiving role.

If you’re a caregiver or a person supporting a caregiver, you’ll get a lot out of this conversation. Keep listening; there’s a lot to learn.

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

End of Life Doula Tracy Chalmers is dedicated to helping others find the beauty and healing that so often exists alongside the pain at end of life. In her doula work, she companions the dying with a focus on gentle dying. Tracy is also an end of life educator and a hospice volunteer. Her book The Nature of the Journey is a guidebook for caregivers who are walking with their Person through their final journey with acceptance, empathy, connection, and presence. As a hospice vigil volunteer, Tracy has sat at the bedside for people who would otherwise die alone. She believes dying is a social event and drawing support from others enhances the experience for the dying, family members and caregivers.

Connect with EOL Doula Tracy Chalmers:

Website for End-of-Life Doula Association of Canada Social media: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Purchase your copy of The Nature of the Journey at Amazon or Indigo

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Death Doula Darnell Lamont Walker shows up for difficult conversations and heartbreaking losses. He knows the power of dying moments. His new book Never Can Say Goodbye: The Life of a Death Doula and the Art of a Peaceful End shares the stories he’s gathered in his work with people with life-limiting illness. Darnell acknowledges that we have a healthcare system that’s “one size fits all”, but people are looking for care they can trust, that’s delivered in ways that feel respectful and appropriate. The “cookie cutter” approach doesn’t feel like a good fit for care when someone is dying. Darnell learned from his grandmother to provide care with intention and curiosity, to be present with grief and suffering. Her wisdom lives on in his work.

Darnell works to educate, engage, and speak out about death and end of life care. You can find his work at http://darnellwalker.com. Don’t miss his beautiful book; buy your copy here or at major booksellers.

Connect with Darnell Walker: Website: http://darnellwalker.com Find out more about Darnell’s Death Doula services here Social media: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Grief specialist Dawn Delahoye is supporting people with terminal illness and their caregivers, promoting intentional self care and accepting help when offered. After caring for her dad during his experience with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), Dawn gained valuable personal perspective that made her understand the needs of caregivers. People who support someone with a neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease) often face a unique caregiving situation. Isolation and lack of support are common. Dawn recognizes the anticipatory grief that happens before the death occurs, and describes the small incremental changes in her dad as “losing him long before his actual body was gone”. That experience motivated Dawn to train in grief support, initially working with the ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) community.

Dawn offers the following guidance for caregivers: Care for yourself gently; don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to the person you care for most in the world. Anticipatory grief is real. It might feel like your Person is slipping away a little at a time. Try to connect with someone who really gets what you’re going through. Give yourself grace in your grief, because caring for yourself is just as important as caring for your Person. If you’re supporting someone who is a caregiver, be specific in offering to help. By offering to do a specific task or help to a caregiver, you’re not adding to the decisions they have to make.

Connect with Dawn Delahoye: Website: http://sunrisecoaching.comSocial media: LinkedIn

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

As a hospice aide and certified End of Life Doula, Cassidy Bastien is helping her clients and their families facilitate and provide meaningful after death care. She’s cared for people with serious illness for six years and hosts Death Cafes in her Washington state community. Since 2022 Cassidy has served the non-profit End Of Life Washington as an Ambassador Volunteer assisting in providing their End of Life Ready Presentations online. Cassidy is also a passionate advocate for caregivers, founding the renowned Caregivers Hub Support Group on Facebook. The Caregivers Hub Group welcomes thousands of members throughout the world who seek and share support, knowledge and advocacy with caregiving. Cassidy’s deep dedication to end of life work really shines through in this great conversation.

Connect with EOL Doula Cassidy Bastien:

Website: http://www.myendoflifenw.com/

Social media: Instagram: @myendoflifenwhttp://www.facebook.com/myendoflifenw

Caregiver's Hub Support Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/caregivershubsupportgroup

MyEOLNW Death and Dying Support Group:

http://www.facebook.com/myeolnwdeathanddyingsupportgroup

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Social Worker Bridget Sumser works to provide support to patients and families in palliative and end-of-life care for over a decade, looking to unearth untended-to grief and sadness as a means to be more in touch with our lives. In this meaningful conversation, Bridget discusses how grief shows up in all its many forms. Grief can result from loss that’s not only related to death, but comes from life events like divorce, retirement, or other major life changes. Many people experience disenfranchised grief and often compare losses in what Bridget calls “the Grief Olympics”. In her work as Director of Practice at Mettle Health, Bridget works with a team to help clients navigate grief experiences so grievers know they’re not alone.

Connect with Bridget Sumser LMSW, Director of Practice at Mettle Health: Website: http://mettlehealth.com Socials: LinkedIn

Connect with HaloCare: Website: halocaregroup.com HaloCare services for healthcare professionals: http://halocaregroup.com/healthcare-professionals Get more info about HaloCare for yourself or a loved one hereSocials: FacebookInstagramTwitter LinkedIn Connect with HaloCare by phone at (888) 247-7102

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.com Social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Today’s guest Roy Remer is teaching caregivers how to practice mindful caregiving, creating sustainability and calm during the caregiving experience. Roy is the author of Zen Caregiving: How to Care for Yourself While Caring for Others. An educator and end-of-life caregiver since 1997, he is executive director of Zen Caregiving Project in San Francisco and lead creator of the Mindful Caregiving Education curriculum. A dedicated practitioner in the Soto Zen tradition, Remer is a student at San Francisco Zen Center. He is certified by the Stanford University School of Medicine’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education and by the Compassion Institute as a Compassion Cultivation Training instructor. As a longtime caregiver himself — and the executive director of the Zen Caregiving Project — Roy Remer understands that strain firsthand. He wrote Zen Caregiving: How to Care for Yourself While Caring for Others to provide practical advice, emotional support, and a path to spiritual solace for caregivers who are doing essential work with minimal support.

Zen Caregiving is a much-needed companion for anyone seeking steadiness, spiritual grounding, and emotional support while caring for a loved one. The book is divided into four sections — Mindfulness, Compassion, Loss, and Intimacy — that include short chapters and simple practices that can be woven into daily life.

Connect with Roy Remer: Website: http://www.zencaregiving.org/Socials: LinkedIn

Connect with HaloCare: Website: halocaregroup.com HaloCare services for healthcare professionals: http://halocaregroup.com/healthcare-professionalsGet more info about HaloCare for yourself or a loved one hereSocials: FacebookInstagramTwitter LinkedInConnect with HaloCare by phone at (888) 247-7102

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Walking alongside someone with serious illness takes compassion, skill, and a willingness to learn. Dr. Kevin Dieter is teaching medical students how to be with the dying. When Kevin’s patient “Mary” asked him to help her die, he had no idea how to support her. Mary taught him how to shepherd a patient and family at the end of life, teaching him a lesson that changed his career. Kevin has gone on to work in hospice care and to write curriculum programs for medical students. Here are the three Pillars of Care that Dr. Dieter teaches: 1. The dying are our teachers. We learn from each of them. 2. We are the medicine. Medications provide relief and mitigation of symptoms, but showing up is powerful. 3. Dying is primarily a spiritual process - it impacts how someone dies and how long it takes for them to die.

Connect with Dr. Kevin Dieter: Website: http://walking-home.com Social media - LinkedInWatch Dr. Dieter’s TEDx NeoMed Talk

Connect with HaloCare: Website: halocaregroup.com HaloCare services for healthcare professionals: http://halocaregroup.com/healthcare-professionals Get more info about HaloCare for yourself or a loved one here Socials: FacebookInstagramTwitter LinkedIn Connect with HaloCare by phone at (888) 247-7102

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

End of Life Doula and hospice nurse Jan Booth teaches at the intersection of end of life care and quality of life, promoting open-hearted advance care plan conversations to get to what really matters. Her heart and wisdom shine in this episode as she acknowledges the challenges of navigating the healthcare “superhighway”. Jan reminds us we have more agency to take the lead in decision-making about the care we receive, and that includes what happens at the end of life. Hospice care is person-centered, caring for both patient and family. Having early (upstream) conversations about end of life wishes changes the kind of care they receive.

As an end-of-life nurse, coach, and educator, Jan works to facilitate and deepen ACP conversations - earlier and more often. In her book Dying Matters: 8 Conversations That Can Change Your Life and Bold Spirit Caring for the Dying, Jan and co-author fellow hospice nurse Trish Rux bring the reality of mortality and planning for it to the forefront, reminding the reader that end of life planning is really life planning.

Connect with hospice nurse and EOL doula Jan Booth: The Death Doula Collective at https://deathdoulas.com/ Purchase your copy of Dying Matters: 8 Conversations That Can Change Your Life here

Connect with HaloCare: Website: halocaregroup.com HaloCare services for healthcare professionals: http://halocaregroup.com/healthcare-professionals Get more info about HaloCare for yourself or a loved one here Socials: FacebookInstagramTwitter LinkedIn Connect with HaloCare by phone at (888) 247-7102

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Hospice nurse and end of life doula Trish Rux believes that considering our death helps us to live life more fully. After being at the bedside of hundreds of dying patients, she’s learned lessons that have shaped how she lives. Trish believes most caregivers are reluctant to ask for help, especially the small things that can make a big difference. She recommends building a caregiving group who can be part of the support group from the beginning, before things get intense. Having advance care planning discussions that focus on the specifics of end of life wishes is one of the doula roles that Trish especially loves. Taking time to have those deep conversations, focusing on the personhood, dignity, and spiritual desires of the dying person makes the death easier. It can ease the grief for family caregivers as a result.

Connect with hospice nurse and EOL doula Trish Rux: The Death Doula Collective at https://deathdoulas.com/ Purchase your copy of Dying Matters: 8 Conversations That Can Change Your Life here

Connect with HaloCare: Website: halocaregroup.com HaloCare services for healthcare professionals: http://halocaregroup.com/healthcare-professionals Get more info about HaloCare for yourself or a loved one here Socials: FacebookInstagramTwitter LinkedIn Connect with HaloCare by phone at (888) 247-7102

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Tracy Heath is taking a holistic approach to serious illness and dying, finding a healthy balance of emotional, physical, and financial well-being. Although her family never discussed end of life issues, Tracy made her way to estate planning work. Tracy lost both her parents while Tracy was still in her 20’s, had small children, and was working a full time job. Her family experienced the impact of four deaths within three years. Tracy learned many of the hard lessons that caregiving teaches, including the value of advance care planning. Using a unique combination of financial acumen and holistic wellness knowledge, Tracy creates a cohesive and strong foundation regardless of the situation people find themselves.

Here are some highlights from this episode:

• Tracy realized her friends (also in their 20’s) didn’t have relatable experience of loss.
• She advises clients to address not only financial wellness, but physical and mental health as well.
• Dealing with executor tasks after a death impacts family members emotionally.
• Tracy advises everyone to choose an Appointment Partner, someone who is reliable and trustworthy to attend medical or financial appointments. Good communication skills are essential in an Appointment Partner.
• Appointment Partners don't have to be family; getting a friend to fil this role can be beneficial.

Connect with Tracy Heath: LinkedIn: Tracy Heath | LinkedIn Website: http://www.tracymheath.com/ Link: Tracy M Heath Instagram: Instagram Purchase your copy of Before Goodbye: Your Emotional, Physical and Financial guide When a Loved One is Diagnosed With a Serious Illness on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Connect with HaloCare: Website: halocaregroup.com HaloCare services for healthcare professionals: http://halocaregroup.com/healthcare-professionals Get more info about HaloCare for yourself or a loved one here Socials: FacebookInstagramTwitter LinkedIn Connect with HaloCare by phone at (888) 247-7102

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

Hospice aides hold a special place on the hospice team, bringing their hearts to the hard work of personal care for seriously ill patients. Kathleen Schrek shares the stories that have inspired her, tested her, and taught her to take care of herself. As a trained Hospice Aide, Death Doula, and Social Worker, Katie has experienced the full span of working with the dying. As an individual who has experienced a very personal loss, she knows the cost of grieving. Katie describes the lessons she’s learned about maintaining healthy boundaries, not only to care for herself, but to protect patients and caregivers as well. Hospice aides are the backbone of a hospice team, providing personal care that can be as simple as stand-by assistance for a shower, or as complicated as a bed bath for a totally dependent person. Patients and families form intimate relationships with aides, sharing confidences they would not share with other members of the hospice team. Aides are often the first witnesses to a change in the patient’s status, injuries, abuse, or caregiver burnout. Coordinating with the nurse is a big part of the aide’s job. Being clean is part of being comfortable.

Connect with HaloCare: Website: halocaregroup.com HaloCare services for healthcare professionals: http://halocaregroup.com/healthcare-professionals Get more info about HaloCare for yourself or a loved one here Socials: FacebookInstagramTwitter LinkedIn Connect with HaloCare by phone at (888) 247-7102

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.

During her caregiving experience, author Alexandra Grabbe came to know her mom on a deeper level and found joy in their last days together. Alexandra juggled caregiving responsibilities and managing her business, trying to give her best to both jobs. Her mom Beatrice was a fierce career woman who knew her mind. Alexandra experienced all the challenges that come with solo caregiving - overwhelm, fatigue - and yet was able to find the beauty as well. Beatrice talked with people that her daughter couldn’t see, a phenomenon known as deathbed visioning. Daughter and mother got comfortable with the visions as Beatrice declined toward death. Alexandra describes the joy she found in caring for her mom in her memoir Seeing Joy: A Story of Life, Death, and What Comes Next.

Connect with author Alexandra Grabbe: Website: https://alexandragrabbe.com/ Facebook: /alexandra.grabbe Purchase your copy of Seeing Joy: A Story of Life, Death, and What Comes Next. from Koehler Books and online bookshops

Connect with HaloCare: Website: halocaregroup.com HaloCare services for healthcare professionals: http://halocaregroup.com/healthcare-professionals

Get more info about HaloCare for yourself or a loved one hereSocials: FacebookInstagramTwitter LinkedIn Connect with HaloCare by phone at (888) 247-7102

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care. If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: http://theheartofhospice.comSocial media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.