Best Life Best Death
By Diane Hullet
Best Life Best DeathSep 08, 2022
#139 Seeing Death as Part of Life: Changing Culture Through Film – Johanna Lunn, Director
Several years ago, film Director Johanna Lunn set out to make a movie about death. What she quickly discovered was that there were enormous amounts of material and innumerable possibilities for directions this could take. So she co-founded a website, whenyoudie.org, and ultimately created three films, each one a compilation of interviews with experts, musings by the narrator, and gorgeous views of nature. What can we learn from listening to experts who've spent their careers with folks who are near death? What can we learn about living from exploring dying? Here is one thing I’ve learned: changing the culture means learning a lot more about what we have kept at arm’s length.
#138 Hospice Information Is a Phone Call Away – Helen Bauer, Founder of Hospice Navigation Services
Helen Bauer is one of those people who makes connections and disseminates information in every way she can think of! With 500+ podcast episodes of The Heart of Hospice, and 15+ years as a hospice nurse, Helen is dedicated to helping people answer the questions they have about the end of life – especially when it comes to hospice care. What kind of choices do I have at this stage? What are my options? How can I get the ‘big picture’ to help me orient myself to this new landscape? How can I talk to someone impartial? Who has fast answers to my questions for myself or my loved one?
https://www.theheartofhospice.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theheartofhospice/
https://www.instagram.com/theheartofhospice/
#137 Thoughts in Passing - Portraits and Stories at the End of Life – Claudia Bicen, Artist
I reached out to artist Claudia Biçen when I learned about an installation she had created some years ago that combined the portraits and words of hospice patients in a striking, intimate way. Our conversation ended up being about that, yes, but we also explore the richness of creativity, impermanence, adaptation, and the making of meaning. As Claudia said, “Life throws you this experience and you pivot and you pivot and you pivot and you keep trying to make meaning from it.” How might these “portraits and stories at the end of life” inform our living?
#136 What Is the Arc of a Meaningful Memorial Service? – Shari Stern, Celebrant
We have probably all attended funerals that we found meaningful – and services that fell flat. What are the parts that make up a meaningful memorial service? What’s the difference between a funeral and a celebration of life? How does music make a difference? How can an officiate – whether secular or religious – help to hold the experience of the day for all who participate? In these modern times, with families and friends far flung, why are such rituals still relevant?
#135 Thoughts on Planning for the Inevitable – Sue Mackey, Founder of Out of the Box End of Life Planning
Nothing like talking to an expert in the field to clarify what truly matters! Sue Mackey has been working for more than 15 years to help people prepare for the end of life. We talk about critical pieces of the puzzle, such as: What is a healthcare proxy? Is that the same thing as a durable medical power of attorney? And why are there so many terms that mean the same thing anyway? (Spoiler: There is no way to actually answer this, at least not in 30 minutes.) Sue and I talk about what gets in the way of getting the paperwork we know we need to do completed, but ultimately, as Sue says, “Paperwork is the surface work – first you’ve got to take a look at your own mortality!” Only then will you find yourself signing what needs to be signed.
https://www.outoftheboxendoflifeplanning.com
#134 In Their Honor: Veterans and the End of Life – Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar
Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar brings her experience as a veteran and spouse of a combat veteran straight into her work as a death doula and educator. She sees the value of a multi-layered approach, believing that:
1) we can best companion veterans who are dying by understanding their unique end-of-life needs;
2) we can better support the caregivers of veterans through education and practical resources; and
3) we can offer insights to the medical team that is supporting an individual, to help them understand the unique facets of a veteran's life experience and how those may play out at the end.
Qwynn and I dive into these questions and more, but at the heart of this conversation is the question: What would it look like to truly honor veterans as they come to the end of their lives?
#133 Eldercare Is Episodic – Rick Northrup
This week I have a conversation with none other than an old family friend. And while I love talking to the experts out there, there’s something just kinda basic about about chatting with a friend who’s “been through it” with his parents and in-laws. What are the lessons he gleaned? What went well in their family situation? What are the pitfalls he has seen, personally and through his work? We talk about both the personal and the big picture of eldercare — how do we approach this stage, why is it so complicated, what do families need to know, and how can they prepare themselves for the later stages of people’s lives?
#132 Scams and Fraud: What You Need to Know! – Amy Nofziger, AARP expert
Amy Nofziger is the Director of Victim Support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network and has nearly two decades of experience in fraud prevention and victim support. Listen to this BLBD episode to get the scoop on scams and fraud. What is it? How does it happen? Could I be a victim? What do I do if I am? As Amy says, “Know the red flags: asking for money or your personal information. End of story.” What does this have to do with my "Best Death," you are asking? File this in the "Best Life" department!
#131 Visiting When Someone Is Dying - “Always go to Ohio” – Jennifer Graham
What would it mean to you to “Always go to Ohio”? In this episode, author Jennifer Graham and I ponder the question: why show up? Whether for a next door neighbor, or for a family member or friend across the country, how do we show up for one another? Jennifer says, “That’s one of the lessons that I’ve taken from all of this: That there’s absolutely nothing you can do that has more value than physically showing up for people.” Maybe this is what humans need — to show up for each other. But how, and when, and in what way? Together we tackle some of the obvious questions and also mull over some of the nuances.
https://jennifergrahamtoday.com/
#130 The Wind Phone Phenomenon – Grief, Connection, Art, & Service – Amy Dawson of My Wind Phone
In this episode, learn about “wind phones” — what are they, where are they, who is making them, and why? Created to share a continuing relationship with someone who has died, wind phones are in our communities in some surprising places. As Amy Dawson, curator of the website mywindphone.com, says, “The concept of sending messages on the wind isn’t new… It goes back to Greek mythology, and beyond. Gods sent messages on the wind.” Find out how you can send messages on the wind through this creative and widespread phenomenon.
#129 Navigating Modern, Meaningful Caregiving - Allison Applebaum, Ph.D.
Allison Applebaum, Ph.D. sees caregiving through both a personal and professional lens, giving her a unique take on the logistics of individual situations as well as the broad view. She talks about the “three buckets of responsibilities” that are common for carepartners; offers ways to create support both internally (think: breathing) and externally (think: build a team of support); and asks two big questions:
1) “How can our healthcare system better prepare caregivers for the tasks they face?” and
2) “What does it mean to find meaning in caregiving?”
https://www.instagram.com/drallisonapplebaum/
https://twitter.com/DocApplebaum
#128 How to Train Your Doctor – Dr. Matthew Tyler
Dr Matthew Tyler is a palliative doctor and champion via social media for having the hard conversations when necessary. He knows that doctors are doing their best, and some excel at breaking difficult news to patients. But communication skills have to be developed over time and with experience, and every patient is unique in their desire for “That Conversation.” So – you have to train your doctor in knowing you! What is a “goals of care conversation”? How do you know what success looks like for you as an individual? How do we begin these conversations with our doctors? I hope that this podcast episode helps you take steps to ensure that you and your doctor are aligned on the important subject of your care.
https://howtotrainyourdoctor.com/
https://www.instagram.com/howtotrainyourdoctor/
#127 Dying in Community: The Last Ecstatic Days of Ethan Sisser - Dr Aditi Sethi
This conversation with Dr Aditi Sethi is a heart-felt discussion of a film, a doctor’s experience of an unusual patient, and the idea that “death has value.” Dr Sethi is the type of palliative care and hospice doctor who brings full presence and full heart to everything she does, and together we reflect on the film, her friendship and doula work with Ethan Sisser, and what it means to die in community. Whether or not you are able to see the movie, our conversation describes the film so you can imagine it, explains Dr Sethi's involvement and views, and asks the question: what would it be like to be surrounded by a loving community when we die?
To learn more...
Visit the film's website: www.thelastecstaticdaysmovie.com
Subscribe to THE LAST ECSTATIC DAYS on YouTube: http://tiny.cc/TheLastEcstaticDaysSub
Follow THE LAST ECSTATIC DAYS on Instagram: https://bit.ly/TheLastEcstaticDays-IG
Like THE LAST ECSTATIC DAYS on Facebook: https://bit.ly/TheLastEcstaticDays-FB
#126 Why Have a Conversation about Mortality? (and how the heck do we even begin??) – Reena Lazar, Willow End of Life Education and Planning
Willow End of Life Education and Planning is all about changing the conversation around death and dying to include living. As Reena Lazar says, “All that matters in the end, matters now.” We talk about how the finiteness of life is profoundly motivating; how thinking about the end and working backwards makes a difference in how we live; the impact of a quick love letter exercise; and how conversations are key. We even dive into five concrete steps that can help guide you in having more successful end-of-life conversations with someone you love.
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#125 How Is Caregiving for Someone Who is Dying Different? – Katie Duncan, Death Care Coach, Part 2
Caring for someone who is dying takes a different approach, and family members may not always remember that or see that it is no longer time to "seek a cure." Katie Duncan and I discuss some of the challenges that family caregivers face when someone is dying: realizing the time to "fix" is at an end; stepping into a role with little or no training; adjusting to this new role, often from a geographic distance; acknowledging and adjusting to the constantly changing needs of the loved one; and figuring out who to turn to for guidance and resources. As educator Barbara Karnes says, “Dying is not a medical event, but a community event.” Listen in to learn more.
Follow her on socials:
https://www.facebook.com/death.care.coach
https://www.instagram.com/death.care.coach
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkE5aFVFxWT46nNar91cLXw
#124 How Do We Cope with Long Term Caregiving? – Katie Duncan, Death Care Coach, Part 1
At some point in your life, caregiving will likely come upon you, if it hasn’t already. As Rosalynn Carter noted, there are only four kinds of people in this world: “Those who have been caregivers; those who are currently caregivers; those who will be caregivers; and those who will need caregivers." What can we put in place to help folks in this role?
Katie helps us think through some key questions, including:
- What's the financial picture, and how does that impact possible options? Who is in our “village”?
- What are the gaps in care?
- How can we organize a schedule and fill in those gaps?
- What’s the right amount of help and how do we find resources?
Follow her on socials:
https://www.facebook.com/death.care.coach
#123 The Experience of Aging and the Myth of Independence – Sonya Barsness, Gerontologist
Sonya Barsness brings theory and practice together in her work and teaching as a "revisionary" Gerontologist. How can we improve the experience of aging in the 2020s in the US? What would it mean to be more positive in our understanding and actual experience of aging? What do seniors need as they age? What do humans need at any age, and how do we keep it or create it as we grow older? Perhaps we could be fighting for a paradigm of aging that celebrates the experience of growing older, sees each older person as a unique person, and recognizes that aging is multi-dimensional!
Check out her website: https://www.sbcgerontology.com
Follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SonyaBarsnessConsulting/m
#122 A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death – Diane Hullet
Why is this one of my favorite books? How can a book like this have a positive impact on your view of your life *and* your death? What are some pragmatic topics we could benefit from thinking about? What are some of the thoughtful gems from authors BJ Miller, MD and Shoshana Berger?
Listen in as I talk about this book and see if you want to add it to your nightstand pile... A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death.
#121 The Heart of Hospice and Best Life Best Death in Conversation - Helen Bauer and Diane Hullet
This week: a joint podcast with The Heart of Hospice and host Helen Bauer. This is swift-talking, wide-ranging, longer-than-usual chat! What brought me into end of life work? Why might any of us want a “supported death”? How can end-of-life workers bring an open mind to any death? How can caregivers be held, metaphorically and literally? What can we learn while in a relationship with hospice? How can we hold expectation vs hope? How do we support the multiple needs of various people involved in any caregiving situation? At the end of life, how do you begin to let go of the bonds of the world? *Bonus trivia: What’s Diane’s end-of-life playlist?
#120 Choices at the End of Life Part 2: Dementia Advance Directives and Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking – Chaplain Hank Dunn
Description:This podcast is jampacked with content, including a discussion of advance directives for dementia, Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking, and a deep dive into decision making. In this week’s conversation, Chaplain Hank Dunn suggests a framework for thinking things through, including asking:
1) What’s the goal that you are trying to accomplish?
2) What would the patient want, and what does the patient think about their current and probable future condition?
3) What is in the best interest of the patient? and
4) What is the prognosis and probable consequences if a certain treatment plan is followed? Join us for all this good thinking and more!
Visit website: https://hankdunn.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hospicechaplainhank/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hard-Choices-for-Loving-People-191343157564700
Join us for all this good thinking and more!
#119 Choices at the End of Life Part 1: Crisis Decision Making – Chaplain Hank Dunn
When difficult choices arise around healthcare and the nearing end of life, Hank Dunn has some ideas to help us decide what to do. In his book, Hard Choices for Loving People, he suggests that families consider asking themselves and each other: What are we trying to accomplish? What’s the goal? Are we trying to cure? Are we looking to stabilize functioning? Or are we preparing for a comfortable and dignified death? This podcast is full-full-full of thoughtful content that is important for all of us to consider.
#118 Three Doulas and The Doula Tool Kit – Diane Button, Gabby Jimenez and Angela Shook
What an honor to chat with three leading doulas and teachers, Diane Button, Gabby Jimenez and Angela Shook. Their new book combines the best of all that they know – over 30 years of experience with death and dying. The Doula Tool Kit: The Complete Practical Guide for End-of-Life Doulas and Caregivers provides “the guidance and tangible tools that people need to actually feel comfortable to sit with the dying.”
Learn more and get the book here -
https://www.thehospiceheart.net/
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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#117 What Do We Mean by “New” and “Greener” After Death Care? – Eric Rooney, Regeneration Earth
Eric Rooney and I talk about what it might mean to have a “greener” mindset about death, and how “natural burial” is not new at all, in the Big Scheme of human existence. We talk about 5 ways we can care for bodies in Colorado: burial (buried traditionally in a casket, embalmed or not); flame cremation (the body is burned at high temperature, returning “ashes” to the family); water cremation (dissolving in alkaline hydrolysis, returning fluid to the earth in chosen locations); Natural Organic Reduction/Composting (the body decomposes in a specially designed vessel, ending up as nutrient dense soil); and natural burial (shroud or biodegradable casket, buried without embalming or cement encasement of the casket). What's your plan for after death care?
More about Eric and Regeneration Earth here - https://www.regenerationearth.org/
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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#116 Thanksgiving Gratitude – Hank Dunn, Chaplain
This week, in honor of Thanksgiving here in the US, I share a brief conversation with Hospice Chaplain Hank Dunn. He reads two moving pieces from his book, Light in the Shadows: Meditations While Living with a Serious Illness, and we talk about “letting go” versus “letting be.”
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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#115 Sharing the Stories and Artifacts of Our Lives – Heather Nickerson, Artifcts Founder
What’s the latest way to organize your stuff and plan for where it goes when you are gone? Enjoy my conversation with Heather Nickerson, Founder of Artifcts, who explains: “Artifcts is a new web- and app-based technology to help you capture, preserve and share the history, the stories, the meaning and the value behind all your stuff. And also, plan for what you want to do next with it? Sell, donate, keep in the family, bequeath, record that it’s already gone?”
Why do the stories behind our things matter? Why does having an easy way to *share* these stories matter? What’s the advantage of digitizing all of this? Can we do a better job of “connecting the dots” between generations? Heather and I will be breaking the myth that “no one wants this stuff.” (Hint: they don’t if it’s not easy and if they don’t know the story!)
Learn more here - https://artifcts.com/
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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#114 Dementia – How Do We Approach This Long Road? Kay Adams, Dementia Coach and Author
Dementia is disruptive, incredibly so. You can’t get help for what you don’t understand, so this path requires gathering information, pushing for an accurate diagnosis, educating yourself and those around you, and finding new approaches for everyone involved. Kay Adams shares valuable information from her extensive experience as a dementia coach: Why does getting an accurate diagnosis matter? Why is neurological screening by itself not enough? What is helpful for caregivers/carepartners to realize about their experience? Why is dementia on the rise, and what can we do? As Kay says in her book, Bedside Witness: Stories of Hope, Healing and Humanity: “This heartbreaking illness and the collateral damage it can leave in its wake is one of the most complicated journeys any human being may ever have to take.”
More about Kay here www.kaymadams.com
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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#113 What Is the Enneagram? - Renee Rosario, Narrative Enneagram
The Enneagram is a psychological and spiritual map… and a fascinating predictor of what motivates you, drives your responses to others and shows you where your edges are as you learn to be your best self. Who doesn’t want to have insight into themselves and others? Who can tolerate a ‘peek behind the curtain’ of their own blind spots? As I say in our conversation, “I think this is an interesting topic because what we know about ourselves and about how we interact makes such a difference for what we bring to the world and what we bring to our lives… and how we live is how we die.” There are many books, websites and ways to take an Enneagram quiz and find out your ‘type.’ Let me know what you learn!
Learn more about Renee at www.enneasight.com
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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#99 As Good as Hospice Can Be… There Are Gaps – Susan Elliott, End of Life Coach and Doula
When Susan Elliott’s mother was at home on hospice, she was cared for by her husband and adult children. These primary caregivers received a great deal of support from hospice, and yet – as Susan says, “There were gaps." Susan’s experience is not unique. In fact, many of us will find ourselves in this exact situation one day. How can we learn more now, in order to set ourselves up for when it happens? What are the gaps, and how might they be filled?
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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#112 What is a Healthcare Advocate? – Ashley Bright, Founder of Life Journey Advisors
Ashley Bright asks an incredibly important question: Who can families turn to, in order to get guidance in navigating the complexities of healthcare these days? Geriatric care manager, healthcare/ medical/ patient advocate, health navigator, or social worker – whatever the name, there are professionals who can help with better understanding your journey in the maze of the healthcare system. How do we find someone? What can they do to help? What kinds of questions should we ask along the way?
Connect with Ashley here www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyrbright
Follow Life Journey Advisors here www.facebook.com/LifeJourneyAdvisors
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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#111 Living Fully and Dying Prepared – Francesca Arnoldy, Author and Community Doula
Francesca Arnoldy takes us into the Big Picture overview of why conversations about mortality matter. She notes, “We need to remember what it is to be mortal… and what it is to die… and what it is to grieve. We need to learn from one another and hear each other’s stories.” How does an open-minded parent, grandparent or teacher make a difference for a child’s experience of death? What is a legacy? How does reflection help us to integrate as we learn? And why does looking back and looking forward impact how we live? Francesca’s most recent book title sums it up: “The Death Doula's Guide to Living Fully and Dying Prepared: An Essential Workbook to Help You Reflect Back, Plan Ahead, and Find Peace on Your Journey.”
Learn more about Francesca and get her books at francescalynnarnoldy.com
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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#110 Do No Harm: A Conversation with Dr Diana Barnard, Vermont Palliative Care Provider — Dr Diana Barnard
Dr. Diana Barnard is one of those doctors you hope to have sitting in a room with you when decisions have to be made. Thoughtful, patient- and family-focused, able and willing to take the time it takes to think things through. She practices in Vermont, one of the first states to amend their laws so that non-residents can choose Medical Aid in Dying in that state. As she notes, “People want to be heard and understood. They want to know what their options are, and then they want to have a little say in what option makes sense for them… In almost any situation, it’s not black and white.” I think you’ll find value in her experience and insights about: Families and the End of Life, Autonomy and Choice, The Reality of Care Needs, The Longing for Options, Medical Aid in Dying, and more.
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
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#109 Loose Ends: Finishing the Project Someone Else Started - with CoCreators Jennifer Simonic and Masey Kaplan
This world-wide project, called Loose Ends, started in 2022 and “aims to ease grief, create community, and inspire generosity by matching volunteer handwork finishers with projects people have left unfinished due to death or disability.” What do they and their mass of volunteer finishers take on? Knit, crochet, sewing, quilting, tatting, rug-making, embroidery, cross-stitch, weaving… to name just a few! Join us for this creative chat and find out about some of the projects have they finished (think: historical to quirky), plus why do such legacy projects matter?
More about Loose Ends here https://www.looseendsproject.org/
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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#108 Last Flight Home: A Family's Experience with the End of Life Option Act in California - Ondi Timoner, Filmmaker and Founder/CEO of Interloper Films
It is not often that a film captures some of the most tender moments of a family’s experience and shares the love and lessons from a beloved man at the end of his life. Ondi Timoner didn’t set out to make this film; what she intended was to capture the last days of her father’s life. But when she reviewed the hours of film from those last 15 days, and created a 30-minute compilation to share as a remembrance, people who saw it were so touched by the experience that Ondi realized a longer film was about to be born. Ondi and I discuss: What is the End of Life Option Act in CA? Why did Eli Timoner choose “death with dignity”? What was the trajectory of his life and how did he revise his understanding of “success”? How did this experience transform those around him? What can we all take away from Eli’s living and his dying?
For more info about the film: https://www.interloperfilms.com/lastflighthome
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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#107 This Conversation is for All of Us: Suicide - Cait Maddan, Death Doula/Educator with a Focus in Suicide Care and Conversations
Starting with material from her digital workbook called "How to Live with Suicidal Ideations," Cait and I discuss how to move from fear and a focus on “100% prevention” to a more reflective, supportive perspective. Let’s move away from stigma and move towards understanding. Let’s move from silence to conversation! What does “suicidal ideating” mean? What’s the difference between passive and active ideating? What can we do or say if we know or sense that someone is considering suicide? What can someone do to support themselves? How is conversation itself suicide prevention?
https://www.facebook.com/caitthedeathdoula/
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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#106 Dignity Day: The Experience of Choosing Medical Aid in Dying for Individuals and Families — Gabby Jimenez — Hospice Nurse, Doula and End of Life Educator
Hospice Nurse and dynamic educator, Gabby Jimenez shares thoughts from her latest book, “Dignity Day: A guidebook for anyone searching for comfort and clarity relative to the end-of-life medications.” This conversation goes beyond the logistics of MAID to get at the heart of what is happening for terminally ill individuals and their families. Why would someone choose MAID? How do others feel about that? What happens if we walk away? Can we make the space to “step into their shoes”? Written with compassion for wherever someone stands in relation to this experience – the terminally ill person, the spouse, the children, the loved ones – this book may help you have a thoughtful, feeling-informed conversation.
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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Gabby's Website - www.thehospiceheart.net
#105 We Will All Be Called to Care for Someone at the End of Life - Suzanne O'Brien RN
Founder of of the Doulagivers Institute, one of the largest doula training institutes in the US, Suzanne O’Brien RN shares her expertise and opinions about how we approach death and dying. With 98% of the hands-on care at the end of life done by family caregivers, she asks, “What can we do to support them? What do they need? What can we provide to fill in the gaps?"
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bestlifebestdeath
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bestlifebestdeath
Doulagivers - www.doulagivers.com
#104 What Is the Role of a Hospice Chaplain? - Ellie Douglass and Kathy Gambino, Hospice Chaplains
This week enjoy the perspectives of two hospice chaplains, Ellie Douglass and Kathy Gambino. What does their job entail? What role do they play on a hospice team? What insights can they offer about when and how to use hospice? And most importantly – how do families benefit from what they bring to the experience of the end of life. As Ellie says, "The word 'chaplain' can be a little bit loaded, depending on your life experience. Our role is to walk alongside."
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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https://www.artoftransitions.com/
#103 How Talking about Death Changes Your Life - Aimee Yawnick, Death Doula and End of Life Coach
This week I talk with my friend and colleague Aimee Yawnick. She and I are both end-of-life coaches who teach classes and workshops + work with individuals. In this episode, we discuss: how talking about death changes your life; why conversations about mortality matter; how a class can help people grapple with big questions; what it takes to have accountability; what sorts of materials we bring to the table; and what people take away weeks and months later. Why have this conversation?!
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
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#102 Why Bother with Social Media - Joyce Feustel, Boomer Social Media Tutor
As we age, one of the biggest things we need is social connections! Listen in as social media tutor and trainer Joyce Feustel and I talk about how social media creates connections – with family, friends, past-times, careers, hobbies, and “kindred spirit groups." How can social media platforms help? How do Facebook, Instagram and Linked In differ? What about http://meetup.com? How do we get started, if we don’t know how to begin?
https://boomerssocialmediatutor.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycefeustelsocialmediatrainer/
https://www.instagram.com/joycefeustelsocialmediatrainer/
https://www.facebook.com/boomerssocialmediatutor
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2s7fzNl0OaGg1jB4lmse1g/featured
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
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#101 Another View of Dementia - Emerson Lee, Dementia Readiness Coach and Life Enrichment Specialist
Emerson Lee shares a view of dementia that broadens how we perceive the loss of cognitive abilities – and thus might shift how we deal with such changes. What if we put less emphasis on mental abilities and found ways to connect, relate and create? What if caregivers understood how to find the “micro delights” for each individual, thus supporting connection and regulation? What if your fears of dementia could be eased through greater understanding of possibilities and planning ahead? What if caregivers gained new tools and resources to support themselves and their loved ones?
https://www.makinghappymemories.com/
http://instagram.com/letsmakemoments
http://facebook.com/happymemorieseldersupport
https://www.youtube.com/@happymemorieseldersupport
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
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#100 Let's Talk about Death and Dying - Penny Smith, aka Hospice Nurse Penny
Hospice Nurse Penny is everywhere on social media with her fast-paced, humorous, informative commentary, through which she offers education about death and dying. As a hospice nurse, Penny sees firsthand the misconceptions about hospice and how – when understood for its what it is and what it is not – “Hospice provides education and support and a team.” On BLBD podcast episode #100, we discuss how you “get on” hospice, in what ways families are supported when they choose hospice, the “right” time to visit, the “end of life rally” that is sometimes seen, and "quality of life over quantity of life." Bottom line: What do people need to know to take advantage of what hospice has to offer?
Find Penny on IG and FB:
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
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#98 The Experience of the Hospice Doctor's Widow: An Art Journal of Love and Loss - Jennifer O'Brien, Author and Artist
Jennifer and I talk about this rare treat of the book she created! Intimate, never preachy; concrete but not a self-help book; art-sy but so much more; personal yet applicable to so many. I love this book, in which Jennifer explores the death of her husband and her own survivorship, through the facts and the feelings of the experience.
https://www.hospicedrswidow.com/
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
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#97 Bonus Episode #1 - Extra Material from Theresa Brown, Barbara Karnes and Avani Dilger
In this Bonus Episode #1, I tell you more about why I interviewed these people, and they each share more about themselves and their work. Hear more from Theresa Brown #62, Barbara Karnes #64, 65, 27 and 28, and Avani Dilger #69.
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
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#96 How Is the End of Life Deck a Conversation Starter? - Lisa Pahl and Lori LoCicero, Co-Creators of The Death Deck
Lisa Pahl and Lori LoCicero met when Lori’s husband was dying, in his 40s. Together, they realized they could create a tool to help families and friends start conversations before it was too late. As Lori notes, “Why are we waiting until that [last] moment to talk about it… that’s when we don’t want to talk about it, that’s when it’s hardest to talk.” We need simple tools to get conversations going earlier in our lives and in ways that don’t feel overly heavy or overwhelming. That’s where the Death Deck and the EOL Deck come in. These two decks, designed with both multiple choice and open-ended questions, can help when we aren’t sure where to even begin.
Learn more at: Thedeathdeck.com
#95 Caring for People with Disabilities at the End of Life: Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable - Carrie Batt, Death Doula and Grief Educator
Carrie is a doula and a sister to a man with disabilities. She wants people to consider how communication, comprehension and pain management are different concerns for the population she specializes in. How can medical teams understand more about their needs? Who speaks for them, if they cannot speak for themselves? What are their issues at the end of life, and how do they differ from the general population?
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
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#94 What Is Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation? - Cheryl Talley, Director of PR and Communications for the Donor Alliance
Talking with Cheryl made me more keenly aware of the ripple effect that donations have in the world. Organ, eye and tissue donations are life-saving. We talk about how she got involved with the Donor Alliance, finding donor networks in your region, how science and medicine are constantly working to improve outcomes, and what is helpful for donors and recipients to know.
Learn more at: https://www.donoralliance.org/
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
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#93 Financial Matters: How Do You Know Which Questions to Ask? - Shane Phillips - Founder of First Steps Help
Let's delve into financial matters with expert Shane Phillips! As Shane says, “The genesis of my work is seeing that most people are not prepared.” We discuss how he got into this work and the broad categories of paperwork that we all manage, no matter how simple or complex our financial situation, including personal documents, asset documents, legal and tax papers, and liabilities. What are the things we need to get together when someone dies? How might we get this organized ahead of time? If we are in charge of managing the paperwork after someone dies, where do we begin? What do our loved ones need to know and have access to? How can we find help if we need it?
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
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#92 Dying with Dad: Tough Talks for Easier Endings - Yvonne Caputo - Author
Yvonne Caputo felt compelled to write about her experiences with her father and family. She wrote "Flying with Dad: A Daughter. A Father. And the Hidden Gifts in His Stories from World War II" plus her second book, "Dying With Dad: Tough Talks for Easier Endings." In her work in retirement homes and as a psychotherapist, Yvonne knew that it mattered to have conversations about the end of life, and because she and her dad were able to have those, including working through "The Five Wishes," they gained trust, clarity and connection.
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#91 It's Hard Being You: A Primer on Being Happy Anyway - Sharon Emery - Author
Working with a severe stutter in the field of communication, Sharon Emery faced huge challenges daily. Finding love, raising children, creating satisfying work – all of these laid the ground for losses and grief yet to come. Sharon’s approach to “limits” and “being happy anyway” can show us all what human resilience is about. As she says, “Limits don’t define our lives so much as empower us to shape them. We determine the trajectory of the story around the limits we face.” Sharon's book is a 2023 Michigan Notable Book, and as one of the judges for that award wrote: “How can you look at some of the challenges she’s faced and not think that’s a remarkable story?”
#90 Donating Your Body to Science: Why? How? - Kate Serr - Admin Coordinator for the Colorado State Anatomical Board
Every state has a process to donate your whole body to science when you die. This week I talk to Kate Serr, organizer of this program for the state of Colorado and parts of Wyoming. Why do people decide to donate their body to science? What does that mean? How do you apply for this and what kind of deaths are accepted? An important take-away from this conversation: whatever your choice for what to do with your body after you die, talk abut it with your family in advance!
For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at www.bestlifebestdeath.com
Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:
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