The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Hospice agencies are having to get creative with their care during the pandemic.  Rev. Nancy Faery of Niagara Hospice describes the process she and her team used to create a virtual remembrance service to honor the patients the agency has served.  Nancy also shares the challenges and pitfalls of providing psychosocial and spiritual care remotely.  That means using technology for telemedicine, incl...

In these days of social distancing, it might be a challenge to connect with the partners who hold us accountable for our healthy self care habits. Jerry and Helen have some tips to help you be successful.  Use the technology that’s out there - a lot of it is free.  Try phone calls, video chats, or Facetime.  If you have the space to maintain the right healthy distance, you and your partner can do...

Hospice professionals don’t always have time to take good care of themselves when seeing patients.  Today we’re talking about healthy Self Care for mind, body, and spirit that you can do in between visits.  From healthy snacks and foot pumps to audiobooks and podcasts, there are lots of healthy ways you can optimize your travel time.  Planning meals and snacks in advance will help provide healthy...

Certified death doula Misty Tyme uses her many gifts to guide people in the practice of forgiveness.  Her interview with The Heart of Hospice is open and warm and wise. According to her website https://www.mistytyme.com/ , Misty’s mission is “to bring a forgiveness tool to a cynical world that is craving a way to let go of pain and anger…...she believes when we practice forgiveness, we make room i...

Misinformation about hospice is everywhere! Today we’re busting some old hospice myths with good information about end of life care.  We want you to have accurate information that you can use for your end of life experience.  As end of life expert Barbara Karnes says - knowledge reduces fear!  Make sure you have current reliable information to guide your end of life decisions.  Even if you’re a ho...

Parents whose child dies have special grief needs.  Bereaved Parents of the USA is dedicated to meeting those needs.  According to their website ( bereaved parents usa.org ), the organization exists to “ provide a safe space where grieving families can connect, share our stories, and learn to rebuild our lives. We attend meetings whenever we can and for as long as we find helpful. We share our fea...

Our 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 suppo...

Today 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...

Our topic today is going to inspire you. We’re talking about the Angola Prison Hospice, an amazing project that involves inmates in the care of other terminally ill inmates.  The work that is done within this tough Louisiana prison is transformational not only for the dying, but also for the inmates who become part of the interdisciplinary care team.  You can find the documentary on the Angola Pri...

We’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...

July 16, 2020 is National Healthcare Decisions Day 2.0!  NHDD may have been delayed this year because of the pandemic but it’s never too late (or too early) to have advance care plan discussions.  Sponsored by The Conversation Project (the conversation project.org ),National Healthcare Decisions Day “exists to inspire, educate, and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance c...

Another 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...

Dr. Karen Wyatt puts her heart into the work she does as a hospice physician. According to her website , Dr. Wyatt is a “family physician who has spent her 25 year medical career working with patients in challenging settings, such as hospices, nursing homes and indigent clinics. She has founded a free medical clinic in a homeless shelter, accompanied three medical mission teams to Honduras, and le...

Today Jerry and Helen thank all of the amazing hospice professionals who took time to partner with us for the Connection Moments campaign.  If we had to summarize all the Connection Moments in just a few words, we’d use gratitude, hope, courage, and love.  The pandemic won’t stop provision of quality care, given with compassion and respect.  End of life teams will continue to serve patients and fa...

Our friend Denise Reed shares her support and hope in today’s Connection Moment. As an end of life doula and hospice volunteer, Denise knows the special skills of hospice professionals were made for the stressful times.  This season of unknowns is calling out every gift we have, requiring us to draw on our resiliency reserves. Denise reminds us that the courage and tenderness you share with your p...

Judi Lund-Person hears the stories of hospice agencies from all over the country in her work with NHPCO.  She wants those end of life professionals to feel supported by their leaders in the industry.  As an advocate for the hospice industry working closely with CMS, Judi helps to ensure that agencies can bring compassion and quality to the work they do.  In today’s Connection Moment, Judi voices h...

Today’s Connection Moment features our wonderful friend, hospice nurse Helen Haddick.  She shares a reminder for us to be compassionate not only with patients and families, but also with ourselves.  It’s good to remember that everybody is facing his own challenges during this pandemic season.  We all need to feel we’re safe.  Treating each other with empathy will help us get through the added stre...

We’re feelin’ the feels with end of life doula Deanna Cochran.  Her gratitude overflows in thankful tears in today’s Connection Moment.  In her work as a trainer for end of life doulas and as the founder of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance, Deanna is a leader in the hospice industry.  As a hospice nurse, Deanna knows the responsibilities and pressures of being an end of life care provider. ...

Hospice agencies frequently offer memorial, or remembrance, services to the families of their patients. It can be a meaningful part of a hospice bereavement program.  A memorial service is conducted by the agency, providing a ceremony that honors persons who have died while in the agency’s care.  Music, special readings and rituals, and connection with the hospice staff create a special atmosphere...

Edo Banach of NHPCO spends his days supporting hospice agencies in the U.S. Today he reminds us this season of uncertainty and isolation will pass, with better times ahead for the end of life industry. Edo believes hospice teams shine in times like this.  We’re built for care of patients and families when grief and hurt seem overwhelming.  He also acknowledges the post traumatic stress issues that...

Lots of people across the United States ( 22% of adults age 65 and up ) are aging alone.  That means that planning for caregiving needs for this demographic group is very important.  When an older adult doesn’t have a family member who is able to provide caregiving, who will care for them as they move forward the end of life?  This situation calls for some creativity - being involved in groups tha...

Working as the Director of Quality and Compliance at NHPCO gives Missy Ring a unique perspective on hospice care.  Recalling her own field experience with patients, she reminds us to simply breathe during this stressful time.  Missy also tells us not to forget about the care of ourselves while we’re caring for seriously ill patients and their families.  Every discipline included in end of life tea...

Hospice 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.  Advis...

In a time where grief is a shared emotion around the world, grief specialist Melissa Lunardini shares a message of hope in today’s Connection Moment.  The first step is remembering to give yourself and others grace to grieve as individuals.  She offers a great tip to increase mindfulness using the Stop Technique, simply pausing to observe what’s going on around and inside you, while taking some de...

We’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, especi...