Episodes

  • Death Doula Kacie Brings a New Perspective to Death Conversations

    Death Doula Kacie Brings a New Perspective to Death Conversations
    Dec 27 2024

    As a nurse and End of Life Doula, Kacie Gikonyo cares for the dying while working to make a lasting impact on end-of-life support. Kacie realized during the pandemic that she was called to work with the dying. She trained with INELDA (the International End of Life Doula Association) to become an End of Life Doula. Her special area of doula practice is with younger persons with a terminal illness, focusing on end of life conversations and legacy projects.


    Kacie believes in fostering collaboration over competition, nurturing a community-driven model through the Death Doula Collective. The Collective is a community of Death Doulas from across the country who want to support, empower and guide each other. Kacie is also the founder of the Death Doula School, whose mission is to cultivate successful Death Doulas who are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve.


    Connect with Death Doula Kacie Gikonyo:

    Website: www.deathdoulakacie.com

    Social media: YouTube Facebook Instagram Tik Tok LinkedIn Pinterest

    Email: Kacie@deathdoulakacie


    Interested in purchasing a GrandPad to stay connected with a senior loved one?

    Get more information at https://www.grandpad.net/thoh.

    GrandPad website: https://www.grandpad.net/


    Social Media for GrandPad

    https://facebook.com/grandpad

    https://instagram.com/grandpad_social/

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/grandpad

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuFAJCb7_tTneM_ikABq08Q


    Hospice Navigation Services is here for you. If you have questions about hospice care or need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

    Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer

    Website: theheartofhospice.com

    Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com
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    56 mins
  • Making End of Life Care Better With Dr. Ira Byock - Encore Episode

    Making End of Life Care Better With Dr. Ira Byock - Encore Episode
    Dec 20 2024
    Dr. Ira Byock believes hospice can heal its own dysfunction by holding providers and clinicians responsible for the care we provide and how we provide it. Physician Dr. Ira Byock is a voice for change in the hospice industry, and an advocate for quality end of life care. His many years of experience in hospice medicine, coupled with the compassion he has for people dealing with serious illness, have made him an industry leader in the U.S. According to his website (irabyock.org), he is “Founder of the Institute for Human Caring at Providence St. Joseph Health. Dr. Byock is Active Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Community & Family Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He served as Director of Palliative Medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire from 2003 through July 2013. Dr. Byock has been involved in hospice and palliative care since 1978. His research has contributed to conceptual frameworks for the lived experience of illness that encompasses a continuum from suffering to wellbeing; related measures for subjective quality of life during illness; and effective life-completion counseling methods. From 1996 to 2006 he directed Promoting Excellence in End-of-Life Care, a national Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program that developed prototypes for concurrent palliative care of people with life-threatening conditions. He is a past president of the Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.” What Dr. Byock’s bio doesn’t describe is his caring heart. It drives his dedication to identifying the issues we face in the hospice industry and offering evidence-based, practical solutions. He wants the hospice silo of healthcare to correct its own path. Dr. Byock believes hospice can heal its own dysfunction by holding providers and clinicians responsible for the care we provide and how we provide it. His articles in STAT magazine and the Journal of Palliative Medicine describe actionable, practical solutions. Hospice practitioners of every discipline can learn from Dr. Byock. Connect with Dr. Byock at irabyock.org. Find and purchase Dr. Byock’s books, including The Four Things That Matter Most, by clicking here. Read Dr. Byock’s STAT article Hospice Care Needs Saving here. Read Dr. Byock’s article Core Roles and Responsibilities of Physicians in Hospice Care: A Statement by and for U.S. Hospice and Palliative Care Physicians by clicking here. 28 Apr 2023https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2023.0194 Interested in purchasing a GrandPad to stay connected with a senior loved one? Get more information at https://www.grandpad.net/thoh. GrandPad website: https://www.grandpad.net/ Social Media for GrandPad https://facebook.com/grandpad https://instagram.com/grandpad_social/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/grandpad https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuFAJCb7_tTneM_ikABq08Q Hospice Navigation Services is here for you. If you have questions about hospice care or need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com. Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast
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    48 mins
  • How to Have Fewer Regrets at End of Life

    How to Have Fewer Regrets at End of Life
    Dec 13 2024

    As Editor-in-Chief of The Bucket, David Abend takes on the ultimate marketing challenge: rebranding death by showing how embracing mortality can lead to a more fulfilling life. The Bucket is an online magazine that helps people make choices to reduce deathbed regrets (DBRs). With a background in creative direction and copywriting, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief David Abend has spent decades helping people see things differently. The Bucket offers a mix of podcasts, interviews, and articles that go beyond inspiration, providing actionable “how-to’s” for making meaningful life changes. As an extension of The Bucket, David is also a Certified Life Coach where he helps guide clients to make intentional, purpose-driven decisions that won’t leave them wondering, “What If?”.

    Connect with The Bucket and The Bucket Life Coaching with David Abend:

    Bucket url is: www.Thebucket.com

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

    Instagram: #Thebucketonline

    The Bucket Life Coaching: www.thebucketlifecoaching.com

    Interested in purchasing a GrandPad to stay connected with a senior loved one?

    Get more information at https://www.grandpad.net/thoh.

    GrandPad website: https://www.grandpad.net/

    Social Media for GrandPad

    https://facebook.com/grandpad

    https://instagram.com/grandpad_social/

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/grandpad

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuFAJCb7_tTneM_ikABq08Q

    Hospice Navigation Services is here for you. If you have questions about hospice care or need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

    Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer

    Website: theheartofhospice.com

    Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

    More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast
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    42 mins
  • The Information You Need to Know About Funerals From an Expert

    The Information You Need to Know About Funerals From an Expert
    Dec 6 2024

    Licensed funeral director and End of Life Doula Christa Ovenell is busting myths about funerals, and sharing practical tips on how to plan a funeral service that reflects your values and needs. As a community-based Death Educator, Christa is the founder of Death’s Apprentice Education & Planning Inc., a company that specializes in holistic advance care planning for individuals and forward-thinking companies.

    Christa leads with her heart when it comes to guiding clients through death and funeral planning. She’s also a great resource for funeral planning, making arrangements after a death to create a meaningful service, and having bold conversations about death and dying to help all of us get more comfortable with our mortality.

    Connect with EOL Doula and Funeral Director Christa Ovenell

    Website: deathsapprentice.ca

    Email: hello@deathsapprentice.ca

    Instagram: deathsapprentice.ca

    Interested in purchasing a GrandPad to stay connected with a senior loved one?

    Get more information at https://www.grandpad.net/thoh.

    GrandPad website: https://www.grandpad.net/

    Social Media for GrandPad

    https://facebook.com/grandpad

    https://instagram.com/grandpad_social/

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/grandpad

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuFAJCb7_tTneM_ikABq08Q

    Hospice Navigation Services is here for you. If you have questions about hospice care or need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

    Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer

    Website: theheartofhospice.com

    Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

    More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast
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    55 mins
  • The Remarkable Caregiving Story of Stanley and Allison Applebaum

    The Remarkable Caregiving Story of Stanley and Allison Applebaum
    Nov 29 2024
    Allison Applebaum stood by her dad Stanley as his caregiving partner, respecting his wishes and maintaining his quality of life through the very end of his life. Allison was previously the Founding Director of the Caregivers Clinic at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the first program of its kind in the United States to provide comprehensive psychosocial care to family members and friends of patients who are in the caregiving role. Her father Stanley, a talented and prolific composer and musician, worked with many great artists for the 50’s and 60’s, including Neil Sedaka, Ben E. King, and Connie Francis. Allison took a lead role as her dad’s caregiver after the death of her mother, helping him deal with Lewy Body Disease (Lewy Body Dementia). After her mother died, Allison and Stan went forward, dealing with intense and traumatic grief. Allison’s caregiving story is a beautiful tribute to her dad, and there are many caregivers across the U.S. doing the same job for someone they care about. LBD carries an unusual set of caregiving challenges. Stan defined quality of life as the ability to be creative, grow, and continue to compose his music. As a caregiver, Allison respected his wishes and ensured he lived fully until his death at 96. Some highlights from Allison’s unique caregiving story include: Her dad retained his creativity and this contributed greatly to his quality of lifeStan never had a DNR (Do Not Rescucitate) document, and Allison respected that wish through his deathIntermittent hallucinations were part of his disease, a great source of pain for both Stan and his daughter. Allison considered them partners in caregiving, and worked to build a caregiving village customized to her dad’s needs. Connect with Dr. Allison Applebaum: Website: allisonapplebaum.com Book: Stand By Me: A Guide to Navigating Modern, Meaningful Caregiving Socials: Twitter Instagram Interested in purchasing a GrandPad to stay connected with a senior loved one? Get more information at https://www.grandpad.net/thoh. GrandPad website: https://www.grandpad.net/ Social Media for GrandPad https://facebook.com/grandpad https://instagram.com/grandpad_social/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/grandpad https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuFAJCb7_tTneM_ikABq08Q Hospice Navigation Services is here for you. If you have questions about hospice care or need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com. Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast
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    56 mins
  • When Professional Grief Becomes Personal: A Conversation with Barbara Karnes

    When Professional Grief Becomes Personal: A Conversation with Barbara Karnes
    Nov 25 2024
    In this final episode of our special 4 part series, Hospice Educator Barbara Karnes shares the personal story of her husband’s end of life journey and death. She opens up about all the emotions she experienced as she and her family supported Jack Karnes after his diagnosis with a terminal illness. Jack died four months after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Barbara and Jack had been married for 61 years at the time of his death. After working over 40 years in end of life care, Barbara experienced all the aspects of interdisciplinary hospice care, death, and grief in her personal life. We’re grateful for Barbara’s generosity and vulnerability in telling her story. After all the years she has spent educating hospice workers and end of life caregivers, she’s still teaching us. We’d like to thank Lisa Pahl, founder of The Death Death and End of Life, for sponsoring this special series in honor of National Family Caregivers Month and National Hospice and Palliative Care Month (National Home Care Month). Here’s are some details of what Barbara shares in this touching interview: What the process of a hospice admission is truly likeThe impact of staffing changes on the trust bond with a caregiverLearning to live as a “me” after living as a “we” after 60 years of marriageThe many emotions she experienced when Jack was terminally illThe music she wants to be part of her advance care plan Connect with Barbara Karnes: Website: bkbooks.com Blog: bkbooks.com Shop her products: bkbooks.com Socials: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Pinterest YouTube Email: barbara@bkbooks.com Thank you to our series sponsor The Death Deck! Connect with the End of Life Deck and the Death Deck: Website: thedeathdeck.comhttps://thedeathdeck.com/ Shop: End of Life Deck Death Deck Socials for the Death Deck: Facebook IG Twitter (X) Hospice Navigation Services is here for you. If you have questions about hospice care or need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com. Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast
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    45 mins
  • Caregiver Creates Legacy of Love After Loss

    Caregiver Creates Legacy of Love After Loss
    Nov 22 2024

    Susan Combs will tell you she had a great dad. Her caregiving experience at the end of his life inspired her to give back to the veteran community. Susan’s dad Major General Roger E. Combs was a huge influence on her life. Roger battled with throat cancer related to Agent Orange for ten years, eventually dealing with a feeding tube toward the end of his life. A simple act - his request to eat pancakes - launched a non-profit organization that supports military veterans.

    Susan is the president of Combs and Company, based in New York City. Her movement Pancakes for Roger occurs every February. For every pancake-loving picture posted on social media post using the hashtag #PancakesForRoger, Combs & Company will make a donation to the University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Clinic which helps veterans and their families navigate the VA claims process and secure disability benefits when they are faced with obstacles along the way.

    Here’s some advice Susan gives to other end of life caregivers:

    • Do one thing every day for yourself
    • Bring in your “crew”, those friends who can support you
    • Have the advance care plan conversations, even though it’s difficult

    Connect with Susan Combs and Pancakes for Roger:

    Website: pancakesforroger.org

    Book: Pancakes for Roger

    Social media: Instagram Facebook Twitter (X) YouTube

    Honor your veteran on their Wall of Honor:

    Interested in purchasing a GrandPad to stay connected with a senior loved one?

    Get more information at https://www.grandpad.net/thoh.

    GrandPad website: https://www.grandpad.net/

    Social Media for GrandPad

    https://facebook.com/grandpad

    https://instagram.com/grandpad_social/

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/grandpad

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuFAJCb7_tTneM_ikABq08Q

    Hospice Navigation Services is here for you. If you have questions about hospice care or need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

    Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer

    Website: theheartofhospice.com

    Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

    More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast
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    52 mins
  • Learning How to Say the Last Goodbye with Barbara Karnes

    Learning How to Say the Last Goodbye with Barbara Karnes
    Nov 18 2024

    After a 40 year hospice career, Barbara Karnes knows a thing or two about end of life care. Today’s special episode is part 3 of our 4 part series in honor of National Family Caregivers Month and National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Barbara calls her introduction to working with the dying “divine intervention” that occurred because of a random connection with a hospice worker. She spent five years working at the bedside, eventually moving into administrative positions and management. As a hospice educator, she supports family caregivers and end of life workers alike.

    Highlights from Barbara’s interview include:

    • A snapshot of Barbara’s advance care plan and why she thinks goodbyes are important
    • Her recognition of how hard it was to balance work life and family life as a young mother
    • How Barbara sees hospice work as a privilege

    Connect with Barbara Karnes:

    Website: bkbooks.com

    Blog: bkbooks.com

    Shop her products: bkbooks.com

    Socials: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Pinterest YouTube

    Email: barbara@bkbooks.com

    Thank you to our series sponsor The Death Deck!

    Connect with the End of Life Deck and the Death Deck:

    Website: thedeathdeck.comhttps://thedeathdeck.com/

    Shop: End of Life Deck Death Deck

    Socials for the Death Deck: Facebook IG Twitter (X)

    Hospice Navigation Services is here for you. If you have questions about hospice care or need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

    Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer

    Website: theheartofhospice.com

    Email: helen@theheartofhospice.com

    More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast
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    41 mins