Hospice Uncovered

Tony, a Vietnam combat medic, shares his profound journey from the battlefields of Southeast Asia to founding a military support program that has changed countless veteran lives. In this episode of Hospice Uncovered, Tony opens up about volunteering at BAMC, his transformative relationship with Eden Pearl—the most critically injured soldier in military history—and how that experience shaped his ap...

Hospice Uncovered tackles one of the most critical conversations in healthcare with guests Dr. Ivan Edwards, a physician and flight surgeon, and Dan Blasini, a nurse and veteran who lost three friends to suicide within eight days during Suicide Prevention Month. Together, they explore why discussing suicide remains taboo, the multiple causes of depression including trauma, neuroplasticity, genetic...

Shanna and Rachel explore how the word "hospice" carries heavy emotional baggage and misconceptions that prevent families from embracing compassionate end-of-life care. Through honest conversation, they examine the negative imagery and fear associated with the term—and discuss alternative names like "life comfort care," "quality of life care," and "compassionate...

Rachel and Shanna welcome Kimmy, a healthcare veteran with years of experience in senior care, to break down the confusing world of care options for aging loved ones. When a patient's wife reaches out about moving her husband into assisted living, the conversation shifts to exploring personal care services, assisted living communities, memory care facilities, and the often-overlooked VA benef...

In this episode of Hospice Uncovered, host Shanna is joined by Douglas, director of clinical services and chaplain, and Rachel, community liaison, to explore the profound journey of bereavement and grief that follows a loved one's passing. Douglas shares his expertise on how grief differs dramatically depending on whether a death was anticipated or sudden, drawing on personal experiences incl...

In this episode of Hospice Uncovered, the hosts explore one of hospice care's most profound lessons: how to truly live. Through candid conversations and patient stories, they discuss why intentionality matters more than productivity, why no one on their deathbed wishes they worked harder, and how society's messaging around hustle culture can rob us of meaningful moments with loved ones....

Shanna and Rachel explore one of life's most avoided conversations—the financial costs of death and end-of-life planning. Through a touching patient reunion story that culminated in coordinating cremation services, they discuss the practical realities families face when unprepared: cremation costs ($1,000-$1,500), burial expenses (up to $10,000+), funeral services, and the cascade of decision...

The hosts reflect on hospice teamwork during tense end-of-life moments, including a recent patient death and a patient returning home from the hospital, emphasizing how their interdisciplinary team shows up with compassion and practical support. They discuss why there is “never a perfect death” or “perfect goodbye,” and how families can approach the final conversation with a loved one by expressin...

In this episode of Hospice Uncovered, Shanna and Rachel discuss what it means when a loved one says they’re “ready to go,” aiming to reduce fear and help families respond with love, presence, and open-ended questions like “Tell me more.” They distinguish “giving up” from “letting go,” describing letting go as an empowered, peaceful acceptance of life’s natural end rather than hopelessness or depre...

In this emotionally significant episode, hosts Shanna and Rachel dive deep into one of hospice care's most important conversations—what families can expect during a loved one's final hours. They discuss the physical and consciousness changes that occur during active dying, address common fears and guilt that family members experience, and provide practical guidance on how to create a pea...

In this episode of Hospice Uncovered, hosts Shanna and Rach welcome Douglas Jackson, the new Director of Spiritual Services, to discuss the intersection of faith and grief in hospice care. Douglas unpacks how grief extends far beyond death—it accompanies loss of health, identity, and dreams—and emphasizes that the only way through grief is to go through it. He shares deeply personal stories, inclu...

In this deeply honest episode, the hosts explore do-not-resuscitate orders and why DNR conversations are essential in hospice care. They address the common misconception that signing a DNR means giving up, explaining that it's actually choosing comfort and dignity over aggressive, traumatic interventions. Through personal stories—including a respiratory therapist's experience with CPR-in...

Rachel and Shanna dive deep into recognizing the subtle signs that a loved one may be ready for hospice care. They discuss concrete indicators of disease progression—altered mental status, increased hospitalizations, mobility decline, urinary tract infections, and loss of independence in activities of daily living—that families often miss or ignore. The hosts emphasize that these conversations mus...

The hosts celebrate helping a longtime hospice patient whose wife and caregiver died suddenly, leaving him without ID, benefits access, or support and facing eviction, and discuss how earlier planning could have prevented the crisis. They introduce the theme “Just because we don’t want to face it doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” focusing on avoiding end-of-life and hospice conversations despite f...

In this conversation, Shanna and Rachel myth-bust common fears about hospice, explaining that it isn’t “giving up” or stopping care, but adding support focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for both patients and families. They discuss why hospice scares people—fear of death, guilt, and unresolved relationships—and how honest conversations can reduce stress and improve family dynamics. T...

In episode two, Shanna and Rachel begin with a grounding exercise and gratitude, then discuss why the word “hospice” feels scary and why it shouldn’t. Shawna shares early negative experiences with hospice-related providers targeting vulnerable homeless individuals, later contrasting that with compassionate care she saw in nursing homes and the need for stronger partnerships and advocacy for patien...

Two hospice professionals open with a grounding breath exercise focused on purpose, then discuss why asking for help is difficult, highlighting embarrassment, ego, control, and fear, and emphasizing reciprocity so givers also learn to receive. They share formative mission-trip experiences showing that service and presence can be the gift. The conversation connects these themes to hospice caregivin...