Expert Hospice

In this deeply personal episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, Dr. Krishnan steps away from clinical concepts and shares three unforgettable stories from his years caring for patients and families across the Phoenix Valley. You'll meet Robert, a retired man with advanced heart failure who finally found peace at home with his wife by his side. Maria, a beloved matriarch who fought to be present...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast , host Connor explores how comfort in hospice care extends far beyond medications. While pain management is essential, holistic approaches such as mindfulness, music, gardening, and pet therapy can add powerful layers of relief. These natural practices can ease discomfort, reduce anxiety, improve mood, and nurture emotional well-being for both patients...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, host Mark explores the spiritual and emotional dimension of hospice care — the part that doesn't show up on a medical chart but matters just as deeply. From chaplains who hold space for life's hardest questions to social workers who help families navigate grief and conflict, Mark explains how Expert Hospice's interdisciplinary team support...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, Dr. Krishnan walks families through the physical changes that commonly occur in the final days and hours of life. From increased sleep and changes in breathing to terminal lucidity, he explains what to expect, what each sign means, and why understanding these natural transitions can replace fear with calm. This is one of the most important conversatio...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, Dr. Krishnan shines a light on an often-overlooked side of serious illness — the toll it takes on the people providing care. He discusses the physical, emotional, and mental weight of family caregiving, why so many caregivers push through in silence, and how hospice care is designed to support not just patients but entire families. From respite care b...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, Dr. Krishnan explores what hospice care truly means and why choosing it is one of the most compassionate decisions a family can make. From managing pain and symptoms to providing emotional and spiritual support, Dr. Krishnan walks through how Expert Hospice's interdisciplinary team delivers personalized, physician-led care wherever patients call h...

In this heartfelt episode of The Expert Hospice Podcast , host Rebecca shines a light on the extraordinary compassion of hospice nurses — the quiet heroes whose small acts of care create moments of peace and connection for patients and families. Through touching stories and real examples, Rebecca shares how Expert Hospice’s dedicated team, led by Director of Nursing Melissa Naef and Administrative...

In this episode of The Expert Hospice Podcast, host Mark tackles one of the most common and emotional questions families face — When is the right time to call hospice? Through clear explanations and heartfelt insight, Mark helps listeners understand that hospice isn’t about giving up, but about gaining comfort, clarity, and meaningful time together. He shares stories from real families, highlights...

In this episode of The Expert Hospice Podcast, host Mark explores what hospice care truly looks like when it takes place where it matters most — at home. Far from being clinical or impersonal, hospice at home offers a deeply personal approach to end-of-life care, centered on comfort, dignity, and connection. Mark explains how Expert Hospice’s interdisciplinary team — nurses, CNAs, social workers,...

In this tender episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast , hosts Aiden and Aimee explore one of the most difficult conversations a family will ever have: the passing of a parent. While it’s painful to even think about, preparing for this moment can bring a sense of peace, clarity, and connection when it matters most. Aiden and Aimee gently walk listeners through the emotional and practical aspects of...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast , Rebecca continues our series on hospice myths and facts , exploring the misconceptions that often prevent families from seeking help sooner. She addresses the belief that hospice is only for the patient, the idea that aggressive treatments are always better than hospice, concerns about costs, and the myth that hospice care teams aren’t available arou...

In this two-part series of the Expert Hospice Podcast , Connor and Rebecca tackle some of the most common myths and misconceptions about hospice care. From the belief that hospice is a place, to the fear that choosing hospice means giving up, to the misconception that it’s only for cancer patients or the very last days of life, our hosts share the facts families need to know. Through personal stor...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast , Connor explores the importance of end-of-life conversations and how they can bring comfort, healing, and peace. From giving loved ones permission to let go, to finding the right words to say goodbye, to coping with anticipatory grief, Connor shares insights that help families navigate this tender time with compassion. You’ll learn gentle ways to cope...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast , host Jude answers one of the most common questions families ask: Does Medicare cover hospice care? He explains who qualifies for the Medicare Hospice Benefit, what services are included, and how long coverage lasts. From medications and medical equipment to counseling and respite care, listeners will learn how comprehensive the benefit really is. Jud...

Living with advanced lung disease such as COPD, emphysema, or lung cancer often means facing unpredictable ups and downs — sudden hospitalizations, brief recoveries, and then another decline. In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, Aiden explains why these conditions make it so difficult for families to know when hospice care is appropriate and how waiting too long can mean missing out on w...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, host Aiden explores the profound idea that life moves through four stages in our relationships with our parents and children: first as the child of a parent, then the parent of a child, later becoming the “parent of a parent,” and finally, in old age, the child of a child. The third phase — stepping into the role of caregiver for aging parents — can b...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, Rebecca takes a compassionate look at late-stage dementia and the unique challenges it brings to both patients and families. From severe memory loss and communication struggles to difficulty swallowing, infections, and profound physical decline, dementia’s final stages can feel overwhelming. Rebecca explains the signs that it may be time for hospice,...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast , host Dr. Krishnan - one of the medical directors and co-founder of Expert Hospice - takes a closer look at Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or C.O.P.D., and what it means when the condition reaches its final stage. He explains the medical signs that point to hospice eligibility, from frequent hospitalizations and severe shortness of breath to u...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, host Dr. Sendhil Krishnan — a cardiologist and co-founder of Expert Hospice — explores what current research tells us about lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent Alzheimer’s, studies suggest that lifestyle changes like eating a heart-healthy diet, getting enough sleep, staying mentally engaged, exercisin...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, Conner introduces Caregiver’s Corner , a new series designed to support families walking through the challenges of end-of-life care. He reminds listeners that while there’s no manual for saying goodbye, caregivers don’t have to go through it alone. Hospice care brings a full team to help manage the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of both pati...

In this very tender episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, Rebecca explores how families can meaningfully say goodbye when a loved one in hospice becomes unresponsive. Drawing on research that shows hearing is often the last sense to remain at the end of life, Rebecca shares both guidance and a moving family story that illustrates the power of words, touch, and presence in a patient’s final days....

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, host Jude explores the vital role chaplains and spiritual care coordinators play in hospice care. While doctors and nurses focus on physical comfort, chaplains provide emotional and spiritual support for patients and families navigating the end of life. Jude discusses the many ways chaplains bring peace — from listening without judgment to offering pr...

In this heartfelt episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, host Jude Kai-son shares a deeply personal story about his grandfather’s journey with dementia and the peace that hospice care brought to their family. After years of decline and mounting challenges, Jude describes the moment hospice stepped in, surrounding his grandfather with comfort and dignity while also lifting the burden from his famil...

In this episode of the Expert Hospice Podcast, hosts Aiden and Aimee explore the important differences between home health care and hospice care . Although both bring professional support into the home, their goals are very different. Home health care is designed to help patients recover and regain independence, while hospice focuses on comfort, dignity, and holistic support when curative treatmen...

In this episode of Diagnosis to Dignity , Dr. Sendhil Krishnan explores when hospice becomes an important part of care for patients who have suffered a severe stroke. He explains the medical signs that may indicate it’s time to shift from rehabilitation to comfort-focused care, including difficulty swallowing, significant neurological impairment, frequent hospitalizations, weight loss, and increas...