Hospice of the Piedmont

In this episode, Hospice of the Piedmont CEO Trent Cockerham welcomes Bruce McReynolds, a compassionate leader in the field of elder care and the director of Griswold Home Care. Together, Trent and Bruce explore the complex dynamics that take place as adult children step into the role of caregiving for their parent, also known as role reversal or parentification. Guest Bio: Bruce McReynolds has ca...

For this episode, previous E-Series guest Kelly Olmeda, Hospice of the Piedmont's Director of Quality, Compliance and Education, is joined by Annette Caughron, Physical Therapy Assistant, for an insightful conversation focused on the needs of individuals with Parkinson's disease and those caring for them. *SHOW NOTES* Guest Bios: - Kelly Olmeda received a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the Un...

In this episode, we highlight the service of two of our hospice volunteers whose ages span nearly 60 years. First, we’ll glean from the 30+ years of service provided by Darlene, a long-time volunteer who has worn many hats and shared her calming presence with numerous families. Then, we’ll shift gears and spend time with one of our younger volunteers, a college student named Zach. We hope these st...

In this special episode of the E-Series, Ryan Biagini and Jessica Crisp explore and discuss the most streamed episodes of 2023. Top episodes of 2023: #4 - Engaging the Millennial Caregiver (https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/eseries/the-e-series-engaging-the-millennial-caregiver/) #3 - Caregiver Excuses: Stopping the Cycle of Self Neglect (https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/eseries/the-e-serie...

In this episode, special guest facilitator Kat Gibson, Vice President of Clinical Services for Hospice of the Piedmont, is joined by Tammy Franklin, Respite Coordinator for the Salisbury VA Medical Center. Together, Kat and Tammy will have a thoughtful discussion about the needs of those caregiving for Veterans. They will explore the unique challenges Veteran caregivers face due to the cognitive,...

In this episode, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, welcomes back Mark Hensley, Executive Director for Randolph Senior Adults Association (RSAA). Mark joined RSAA with more than 35 years of experience in the banking industry, leading to a personal passion for equipping seniors and caregivers with important financial skills. Together, Trent and Mark will expose some of the financial s...

Have you ever wondered what it's like to volunteer with a hospice organization? Are you curious about what hospice volunteers do? Check out this special episode of The E-Series as host Ryan Biagini is joined by Hospice of the Piedmont's Volunteer Coordinators for a conversation unpacking volunteer services and the important work members of our community do for Hospice of the Piedmont patients, fam...

In this episode, our CEO, Trent Cockerham, is joined by Hospice of the Piedmont’s Vice President of Clinical Services, Kat Gibson, for a caregiving conversation that explores what can happen when caregivers develop a habit of regularly putting their own needs aside due to pressing caregiving responsibilities. This lack of self-care can evolve over time into an unhealthy or even detrimental pattern...

In this episode, host Ryan Biagini has a candid conversation with one of our E-Series fan favorites, hospice volunteer and CarePoint facilitator Cher Bergt. As someone with years of caregiving experience, Cher is a voice for the importance of caregiver self-care and the value of fostering connections with fellow caregivers in an effort to reduce isolation and build meaningful community. Show notes...

In this episode, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, is joined by Ellen Whitlock, CEO for Senior Resources of Guilford. Together, Trent and Ellen will take a look at the unique and diverse needs of residents within Guilford County and the efforts Senior Resources of Guilford is making to support the senior population and help the community age well by living active lifestyles, embraci...

In this episode, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, is joined by Mark Hensley, Executive Director for Randolph Senior Adults Association. Mark leads this organization as it engages with and supports the senior population that resides in Randolph County’s expansive 800-square mile landscape. Together, Trent and Mark will take a look at rural considerations the organization faces as we...

In this episode of the E-Series, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, is joined by April Franklin, MBA, MSG. April is the founder of Fresh Wave Care, LLC, and the creator of The Millennial’s Guide To Caregiving®️ brand. Together, Trent and April explore generational trends, including changes in family structure and financial stability, that impact the caregiving experience for millenni...

In this episode, host Ryan Biagini is joined by Hospice of the Piedmont volunteer, Rick Wetzel. Rick’s personal experience with a friend as well as his own multi-year spiritual journey led to a unique way to support hospice families during some of the most difficult moments in life. We hope you'll be inspired as you listen in! To learn more about becoming a hospice volunteer, visit: www.hospiceoft...

In this episode, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, is joined by Leslie Groves, Palliative Counselor for Novant Health. Together, Trent and Leslie will explore the conversations and emotions that patients and families experience when they receive a difficult medical diagnosis and begin to process how to move forward and what the future may hold. Guest Bio: Leslie Groves, MSW, LCSW, h...

Join us for this special episode of The E-Series as we revisit some of the listener favorites from our 2022 podcasts. Hosted by Ryan Biagini, Director of Community Engagement & Education, and Jessica Crisp, Public Relations Associate, this episode kicks off 2023 with insights gained from some of our most impactful Caregiving Conversations and a look ahead at the future of The E-Series. Article ref...

With the holidays upon us, we wanted to take a few moments to have a caregiving conversation about this special time of year. As you know, the holidays can be a time of joyous celebrations and family traditions. However, for those actively in the caregiving role, the holidays can be a vastly different experience and one of increased stress, when self-care can feel impossible. Join us as we welcome...

In this episode, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, is joined by one of our Hospice of the Piedmont physicians, Dr. Karen Cross. Together, Trent and Dr. Cross explore the complexities of toxic positivity and how it can be damaging to relationships, as well as some practical alternatives including strategies for being present and acknowledging the suffering of others. Guest Bio: Dr. K...

In this episode, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, is joined by Marcia Vanard, Bereavement Counselor at Hospice of the Piedmont. Together, Trent and Marcia discuss the emotions and adjustments that surround caring for a loved one as their disease progresses and care needs increase. In addition, they explore the benefits of being in tune with one’s grief, both before and after the lo...

In this episode, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, is joined by Misty Mize, Medical Social Worker at the Randolph Hospice House, one of Hospice of the Piedmont’s two inpatient hospice facilities. Throughout Misty’s many years as a social worker, she has guided families through difficult conversations and served as an advocate for caregivers in both the hospital and hospice settings....

In this episode of The E-Series, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, is joined by Caroline Oxford, Medical Social Worker at Hospice of the Piedmont. Caroline brings with her a wealth of knowledge related to helping communities better understand and engage with those facing serious illness. Together, Trent and Caroline will discuss universal challenges that caregivers face and how thos...

In this episode of The E-Series, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, welcomes back one of our listener favorites, Dr. Elise Eifert, Assistant Professor and Graduate Coordinator for the Gerontology program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Together, Trent and Dr. Eifert inspire a mental shift by exploring the duality of caregiving and how to balance challenging moments...

In this episode, we’re excited to continue the caregiving dialogue with a candid conversation between Cher Bergt, a volunteer with Hospice of the Piedmont and the facilitator for our hospice Caregiver Support Group, and two previous support group participants, Jeff and Pub. Jeff and Pub began a 3-year caregiving journey with Jeff’s father shortly after the death of Jeff’s mother in 2018. Together...

In this episode, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, is joined by Kat Gibson, Vice President of Family Care Services for Hospice of the Piedmont. Together, Trent and Kat will take a deep dive into the sometimes uncomfortable yet extremely beneficial conversation of making your healthcare preferences known to those you care about, the many benefits of taking a proactive approach to the...

In this episode, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, is joined by Kelly Olmeda, Director of Quality, Compliance and Education for Hospice of the Piedmont and long-time hospice social worker. Together, Trent and Kelly discuss the evolution of caregivers becoming surrogate decision makers as their loved one’s needs increase and the value of this supportive role. Guest Bio: Kelly Olmeda...

In this episode, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, is joined by Dr. Scott Murkin, Associate Medical Director for Hospice of the Piedmont and Attending Physician for the Randolph Hospice House. Dr. Murkin is passionate about providing care that matches patient goals and needs and facilitating the conversations that lead there. Together, Trent and Dr. Murkin discuss common barriers to...