The Heart of Hospice Podcast Hosted by Helen Bauer, BSN RN CHPN
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- Health & Fitness
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The Heart of Hospice podcast is dedicated to helping personal and professional caregivers who are caring for someone with serious illness. We're here to provide information and education so people can make informed choices about end of life care.
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Help Texts Offers Expert Grief Support With Text Messages
Supporting people who are grieving is fulfilling, joyful work. Just ask Help Texts founder Emma Payne. After having a personal loss, Emma realized how much we could improve how we support grievers. She’d spent years working in the tech space. That knowledge helped launch Help Texts. Their service provides grief support for events like pregnancy loss, pet loss, and death of a loved one.
The needs of grievers came into sharp focus for Emma when she was asked to deliver a eulogy for a close friend, ten years after the loss of her husband by suicide. The funeral weekend brought her into contact with people who had failed to support Emma after the death of her husband. She realized how deep and complex the needs of grievers are and wanted to change how we support them.
Help Texts gives subscribers the words and encouragement they need in those moments when grief hits the hardest. Services for individuals, employees, clients, and patients are easily available through texts. Organizations and businesses can provide Help Texts to give their members and clients grief support that’s accessible through text messages.
HelpTexts also gives professionals and caregivers guidance about how to support clients and loved ones dealing with grief. Grief literacy doesn’t come easily to everyone. Help Texts can help.
If you need grief support, check out Help Texts to see how they can support you.
Get 10% off Help Texts by using the code theheartofhospice when you sign up.
Find out more about Help Texts for your organization here.
Connect with Help Texts on social media: IG Facebook Twitter (X) LinkedIn Vimeo TikTok
Order your copies of The Care Plan here. It’s available in English and Spanish!
Check out the free video tutorials from Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.
Register for the Tree of Life Conference from the International Doula Life Movement here.
Want to know more about doulas, or connect with others who are doing death doula work? Visit internationaldoulalifemovement.com.
If you’re interested in becoming a certified death doula through IDLM, click here.
Access all the courses that IDLM provides here.
See all the events that IDLM is offering by clicking here.
Connect with IDLM on social media. Facebook IG YouTube
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.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Follow The Heart of Hospice: Facebook, IG Twitter (X) LinkedIn.
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How to Improve Patient Care With Pastoral Thanatologist Joelle Johns
Joelle Johns believes telling people they’re dying gives them an opportunity to say the goodbyes, do the final things they want to do, apologize, and forgive. Joelle is a death midwife and grief counselor, as well as a pastoral thanatologist and clinical chaplain, having just completed her designation as a Board Certified Clinical Chaplain (BCC). She also holds a certificate in Death Midwifery.
As a pastoral thanatologist, Joelle supports those dying and those grieving, coaching them in healthy psychospiritual habits. Advance care plan conversations are also part of her work. Joelle’s seen the impact of avoiding those discussions about end of life wishes. Her experiences as a Hospice Chaplain have shown her the deep meaning and commonality death carries for all of us.
Connect with Rev. Joelle Johns via email: revjoellejohns@gmail.com.
Find Joelle on social media: FB LinkedIn
Order your copies of The Care Plan here. It’s available in English and Spanish!
Check out the free video tutorials from Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.
Register for the Tree of Life Conference from the International Doula Life Movement here.
Want to know more about doulas, or connect with others who are doing death doula work? Visit internationaldoulalifemovement.com.
If you’re interested in becoming a certified death doula through IDLM, click here.
Access all the courses that IDLM provides here.
See all the events that IDLM is offering by clicking here.
Connect with IDLM on social media. Facebook IG YouTube
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.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Follow The Heart of Hospice: Facebook, IG Twitter (X) LinkedIn. -
Life Experiences Offer Opportunities for Death Doula Jo-Anne Haun
Death Doula Jo-Anne Haun has found growth and meaning in working with the dying. As co-founder of Death Doula Network International, Jo-Anne works to support and educate about the work of death doulas. Jo-Anne uses her personal gift of gentle humor in her volunteer work as a therapy clown (Code Name: Buttons). Jo-Anne’s habit of incorporating a little fun into a discussion about end of life wishes is a gentle lead-in to deeper conversations about dying and death.
You can connect with Jo-Anne Haun at eola.ca.
Find Death Doula Network International at ddnint.com.
Order your copies of The Care Plan here. It’s available in English and Spanish!
Check out the free video tutorials from Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.
Register for the Tree of Life Conference from the International Doula Life Movement here.
Want to know more about doulas, or connect with others who are doing death doula work? Visit internationaldoulalifemovement.com.
If you’re interested in becoming a certified death doula through IDLM, click here.
Access all the courses that IDLM provides here.
See all the events that IDLM is offering by clicking here.
Connect with IDLM on social media. Facebook IG YouTube
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.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Follow The Heart of Hospice: Facebook, IG Twitter (X) LinkedIn.
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Francesca Arnoldy Is A Guide For End Of Life Planning
Death literacy advocate and Community Doula Francesca Arnoldy is sharing the role of a death doula and how to support someone through a time of intensity. She’s the author of The Death Doula's Guide to Living Fully and Dying Prepared, a workbook that offers the opportunity to explore mortality and end-of-life care planning. In her work as an end of life doula, Francesca focuses on end of life planning conversations. She’s seen the benefits of exploring those EOL wishes, freeing us to live more fully and recognize the opportunities in the time that’s left.
Francesca recognizes the value of conversation abouts mortality. She’s designed a Death Journal in which she’s writing, and creating her own end of life plan. It includes messages to her loved ones and lists of things that mean happiness and comfort for her. While it’s a creative outlet, it also tells her family how to best care for her as she’s dying. Francesca’s journal includes song lyrics, poems, and memories - so many reflections that tell the story of who she is.
You can purchase a Death Journal to create your own story and end of life wishes. Click here to get started.
Order your copy of The Death Doula's Guide to Living Fully and Dying Prepared here or here.
Enjoy this excerpt from The Death Doula's Guide: https://contemplativedoula.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/excerpt_deathdoulasguide.pdf.
Read what Francesca has to say on how we sustain ourselves in death work: https://francescalynnarnoldy.com/2024/02/09/vital-deathcaring-maintaining-connection-to-our-humanity/
Visit francescalynnarnoldy.com to connect with Francesca.
Find Francesca on Facebook, IG, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Order your copies of The Care Plan here. It’s available in English and Spanish!
Check out the free video tutorials from Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.
Register for the Tree of Life Conference from the International Doula Life Movement here.
Want to know more about doulas, or connect with others who are doing death doula work? Visit internationaldoulalifemovement.com.
If you’re interested in becoming a certified death doula through IDLM, click here.
Access all the courses that IDLM provides here.
See all the events that IDLM is offering by clicking here.
Connect with IDLM on social media. Facebook IG YouTube
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.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Follow The Heart of Hospice: Facebook, IG Twitter (X) LinkedIn. -
Barbara Karnes on How to Care for a Person With Dementia
Award-winning End of Life Educator Barbara Karnes takes a deep dive into the unique challenges of caring for someone with dementia at end of life. Caregivers often find their responsibilities accumulating over time as the disease trajectory continues. They’re forced to live in the present, to see their loved one as who they are today. The goal is to bring joy and quality of life to a beloved today, in this moment.
Hospice care for a person with end stage dementia can be tricky. The timing of the admission is often difficult to determine, and patients are often discharged from hospice if their health decline is not evident, which means the patient no longer meets hospice criteria. When a patient needs to be discharged, it’s vital that the hospice team support the caregiver with robust discharge planning. That caregiver needs all the resources and support the team can provide before the hospice care ends. Discharge from hospice can feel like abandonment to a caregiver. Where will the medical equipment, medications, and personal care assistance come from? The hospice team is responsible for helping caregivers set up a system of support that can be there when hospice workers are gone.
Isolation is also a big concern for caregivers providing care for someone with dementia. It’s important to have a support system of friends and community who will fill in when the caregiver needs time away. It truly takes a village. Caregivers deserve to have quality of life, too.
You can find Barbara’s dementia guide “How Do I Know You?” at bkbooks.com.
Purchase “By Your Side” from Barbara Karnes here.
Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com.
Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook IG LinkedIn Twitter (X) YouTube
Odonata Care offers help for caregivers at thecareplan.net.
Order your copies of The Care Plan here. It’s available in English and Spanish!
Check out the free video tutorials from Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.
Register for the Tree of Life Conference from the International Doula Life Movement here.
Want to know more about doulas, or connect with others who are doing death doula work? Visit internationaldoulalifemovement.com.
If you’re interested in becoming a certified death doula through IDLM, click here.
Access all the courses that IDLM provides here.
See all the events that IDLM is offering by clicking here.
Connect with IDLM on social media. Facebook IG YouTube
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.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Follow The Heart of Hospice: Facebook, IG Twitter (X) LinkedIn. -
Valuable Lessons Learned From a Mom Who Lost a Child
*Trigger warning - this episode contains a description of an intense death event and the death of a child. Please make space for your self care if you find the topic overwhelming.
Juli Henderson has turned the loss of her son into meaningful advocacy, sharing her wisdom with other caregivers. Juli and her husband Chris were the parents of a son, Robert. Robert had a rare mitochondrial disorder. Genetic testing revealed that he had a gene alteration that predisposed him to seizures and developmental disorders. Robert’s disease was progressive, and he was eventually diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autism, and intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Caring for him and managing his symptoms meant spending days in the hospital. Being a caregiver for a child with a rare life-limiting illness changed Juli forever. She describes the experience as fearful, devastating, lonely, life-altering, and angry.
Managing Robert’s medical needs was a big part of their lives, but Robert was so much more. Juli’s stories of Robert include laughter, joy, music, and family. She’ll tell you Robert was known for his big, toothy smile, and his all-embracing hugs, along with his capacity to give and receive love.
After Robert’s death at the age of 18, Juli came to a place of recognition of the joy of caring for Robert. These days, she calls it a gift to have had Robert just as he was. Her website In Our Arms shares insights about her experience through her blog, and includes resources on self care, grief, and epilepsy.
If you have a medically fragile or seriously ill child, connect with In Our Arms at inourarms.blog.
Read about Juli’s story here.
Read Robert’s story here.
Social media for Juli Henderson and In Our Arms: Instagram Facebook
Odonata Care offers help for caregivers at thecareplan.net.
Order your copies of The Care Plan here. It’s available in English and Spanish!
Check out the free video tutorials from Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.
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.
Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com.
Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)
Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Customer Reviews
Meaningful and Impactful
The Heart of Hospice podcast provides excellent depth of content, really engaging guests and Helen is a great host. Definitely recommend this podcast!
A must listen, and a must recommend!
I cannot say enough about this podcast! Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, volunteer, or hospice professional, this podcast is for you. Helen and Jerry do a remarkable job at compassionately and knowledgeably delivering insightful perspectives and education on end-of-life care.
Kimberly Curless
Hospice of Southern Maine
The Heart in Hospice
Wow! What a wonderful podcast. There is so much information and encouragement for people struggling with possibly one of the most difficult times in life - death. Helen and Jerry are brave and kind and bold and most importantly, their hearts are so in their hospice work. We all need support. We all need someone who can understand, encourage, and provide new ideas. This podcast is for everyone.