EOLPodcast

Ep. 433 Medical Aid in Dying: A Physician’s Perspective with Dr. Bob Uslander

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Learn about a unique medical practice that focuses on end-of-life issues for patients including medical aid in dying.

My guest Dr. Bob Uslander is an emergency medicine physician whose career evolved toward caring for the elderly and those facing the end of their lives. He created a novel approach to end-of-life care called Empowered Endings with his wife Elizabeth, a spiritual counselor and medical social worker, to ensure that patients and their loved ones have their decisions, goals and dignity honored at the end of life. Dr. Bob shares his experiences and thoughts around providing support for patients who choose to use Medical Aid in Dying. Learn more at his website:

www.empoweredendings.com

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This episode includes:

  • How Dr. Bob got interested in working with patients at the end of life
  • The significant gaps that currently exist in palliative and end-of-life care for patients
  • Why his practice focuses on holistic care for both patients and their families
  • How Empowered Endings works along with hospice and fills in the gaps when hospice cannot provide care
  • The need for physicians to support patients who choose to use MAID
  • Why MAID providers should have some special training in this area in order to properly support patients and their families
  • What it’s like as a physician to provide medical support for patients choosing MAID
  • Advice for other physicians who may be considering supporting MAID

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu and to those who’ve bought me a coffee! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 432 Soul Contracts Between Humans and Their Pets with Danielle MacKinnon

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Learn how this animal communicator connects with animals before and after death and the lessons we can learn from our animal companions.

My guest Danielle MacKinnon is an animal communicator who has been connecting intuitively with animals and pets for all of her life. She shares her experiences learning from animals and discovering that they are some of our best teachers for our own lives, even after they have died. She teaches others how to develop their own innate ability to communicate with their pets and discusses how to understand what our pets want us to know about the role they play in our lives and how to deal with our grief after they have died. Learn more about her work at her website:

www.daniellemackinnon.com

Get the book

Watch on YouTube

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This episode includes:

  • How Danielle discovered her talent for animal communication
  • Why our pet’s “problems” are really a reflection of our own issues
  • How pets try to help us learn about and improve our own lives
  • The “soul contracts” we have with our pets and other animals
  • How to cope with grief over the death of an animal companion
  • Animals have their own timeline for life

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu and to those who’ve bought me a coffee! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 431 “No Story Lost”: Preserving Meaning and Memories with Andrew Hall

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Learn about a service to create a beautiful “coffee table book” to preserve the cherished stories of a loved one.

My guest Andrew Hall is the co-founder of “No Story Lost” – a service to help families capture their loved one’s stories and photos into a beautiful print memoir book. He’ll discuss the value of preserving memories, both before and after death, and how he and his cousin decided to create a business helping people do that. Learn more at the website:

https://nostorylost.com

Watch on YouTube

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This episode includes:

  • How No Story Lost gathers and preserves stories for their clients
  • Why our stories and memories matter when we want to leave a legacy for others
  • How memorial projects have benefitted families as they grieve the death of a loved one
  • The significance of “memento mori” and how it informs Andrew’s work
  • How legacy and memorial projects help people find meaning at the end of life
  • How transformation and healing might occur through the process of creating a memorial book

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my newest supporter Akhila Murphy and to those who’ve bought me a coffee! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign including Stacy Ann Bussy! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 430 Workplace Bereavement: Education for Employers with Mekel Harris PhD and Janet Gwilliam-Wright

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Learn about a project to train organizations and employers to provide better support for their employees who are grieving.

This week I’m hosting two guests who have teamed up to address the issue of bereavement in the workplace. Mekel Harris PhD is a licensed psychologist who specializes in coping and adjustment to acute and chronic illness, grief and loss, and health-related trauma. She is the author of the memoir Relaxing Into the Pain: My Journey Into Grief & Beyond along with The Grief Anatomy Toolkit and Re-Imagining Life After Loss interactive course. Janet Gwilliam-Wright is a leader in the grief and loss space who founded the Motherlove Project, a global platform for motherless daughters. Janet has 15 years experience leading large organizational change and working on complex issues. Together Mekel and Janet have created Bloomwell to teach organizations and managers to support employees navigating grief and loss. Learn more at the following websites:

growwithbloomwell.com

mekelharrisphd.com

motherloveproject.com

Get Mekel’s book

Watch on YouTube

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This episode includes:

  • How Mekel and Janet came to focus on grief in their professional lives
  • How grief is not adequately addressed in the workplace in our society
  • The struggle workers face when being required to return to work shortly after the death of a loved one
  • How employers can create a better culture in the workplace
  • What to do to help a grieving co-worker
  • Bloomwell’s framework for managing grief in the workplace
  • The training offered by Bloomwell including the physical, emotional, and spiritual impact of grief
  • Why education alone doesn’t lead to behavioral change
  • The importance of creating a sense of belonging for people who are grieving
  • How workplace culture around grief starts at the top

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu and to those who’ve bought me a coffee! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 429 Debunking Myths About Hospice Care with Barbara Karnes RN

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Learn how to bust through several common myths about hospice care that persist in our society.

My recurring guest Barbara Karnes RN is back again in this episode to talk about the myths that still persist in our society around hospice care. She shares her own journey of grief after the recent death of her dear husband and how our emotions can change our ability to see what may be right in front of us. We cover the most common myths we’ve encountered from our years of talking about hospice with the general public and what we can do to overcome them. Barbara is the author of the “little blue hospice book” Gone from My Sight and By Your Side: A Guide for Caring for the Dying at Home. Learn more at her website:

www.bkbooks.com

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • How emotions can impact our experiences with hospice
  • Myths about hospice that involve medication management and fears of over-medicating pain
  • Myths that some doctors have about hospice including that it causes people to lose hope and that it’s only appropriate a few hours or days before death
  • Myths about what hospice is, where it is located and how care is provided and paid for
  • Why myths like these are harmful to patients
  • Why we need to get a clear message across about the benefits of hospice

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu and to those who’ve bought me a coffee! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 428 Love and Loss as a Caregiver Dealing with Lewy Body Dementia with Mary Lou Falcone

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Learn about Lewy Body Dementia, why it is difficult to diagnose, and the special challenges faced by caregivers.

My guest Mary Lou Falcone has been an advocate for Lewy body dementia awareness since her dear husband Nicky Zann died of the disease in 2020. Mary Lou is internationally known as a classical music publicist who has guided the careers of many celebrated artists such as Van Cliburn, Renée Fleming, and James Taylor. Her communication and strategy skills make her well-suited to be an ambassador for LBD awareness and she is committed to sharing her experience and factual information about LBD with the public. She is the author of the newly published book I Didn’t See it Coming: Scenes of Love, Loss, and Lewy Body Dementia. Learn more at her website:

www.maryloufalcone.com

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • Why Mary Lou decided to become a crusader for LBD awareness
  • The difference between Alzheimer’s and Lewy Body Dementia
  • The symptoms of LBD and why it is often difficult to diagnose
  • The inspiration for writing this book
  • Why LBD is little known by the general population
  • How to cope as a caregiver with the fluctuating symptoms of LBD
  • Survival strategies for LBD caregivers
  • Helpful resources available for caregivers

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my newest donors Trina Wacasey and Samantha Potter and to Dianne Feltham for increasing your pledge.  Also thank you to Anonymous for buying me 3 coffees and to Carol Soppe and Samantha Potter for joining the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 427 “The Natural Funeral” – Options for Disposition After Death with Seth Viddal

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Learn everything you need to know about various options for after-death care so you can make an informed choice for yourself or a loved one.

My guest Seth Viddal is the Chief Executive Officer of The Natural Funeral, a trailblazing funeral home that stands as Colorado’s premier holistic and ecological funeral provider. Seth discusses in depth the various options that are currently available for disposition after death and shares some of the innovative and cutting-edge methods that are being developed at The Natural Funeral. Learn more at the website:

www.thenaturalfuneral.com

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • How Seth was inspired to start working in funeral and disposition services
  • Why Seth uses the term “conventional burial” rather than “traditional”
  • Conventional burial is the most common but also the fastest declining preference of people choosing disposition options
  • What are “green burial” options and how they differ from conventional burial
  • How to encourage local cemeteries to allow natural burial
  • How flame cremation remains popular though it is not considered “green”
  • The advantages of “water cremation”, also known as alkaline hydrolysis
  • What is terramation and where is it available and legal at this time
  • What is Reverent Body Care as offered by The Natural Funeral and how it benefits families

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my newest donors Nancy Simmers and Tatyana Hladki and to Kris Racer for buying me coffee and joining the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 426 “Dear Brandon”: A Legacy Letter to Change the World with Krystina Christiansen and Brenna Brooks

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Hear a phenomenal and miraculous story about how a hospice patient’s “letter to the world” ended up actually traveling around the world and is now the subject of a documentary short film.

I have two guests this week joining me to talk about a documentary film that tells the story of a hospice patient named Brandon who wanted to leave a letter to share his love with the world. Brenna Brooks is the hospice social worker and trauma therapist from Sandy UT who helped Brandon write and share the letter that has now traveled around the world. Krystina Christiansen is a filmmaker from Los Angeles who found Brandon’s letter in Hawaii and was inspired to make a film about his story and the impact of his letter. You can learn more about the “Dear Brandon” film project and Krystina’s work at the websites below. Also follow posts about the letter and where it has traveled on Instagram:

www.seedandspark.com/fund/brandon

www.krystinachristiansen.com

Instagram – Forbrandonslove77

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • Brandon’s story and how he ended up writing the letter with Brenna’s help
  • How Brenna first shared the letter on a hiking trail in Utah
  • An excerpt from Brandon’s letter
  • How Krystina came to find Brandon’s letter in Hawaii
  • How Brandon’s letter spread around the world
  • What impact writing this letter had on Brandon’s end-of-life journey
  • What inspired Krystina to make a documentary about this story
  • Goals for the film and how to help support it

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu and to those who’ve bought me a coffee! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 425 Omega Homes: Community Homes for Dying People with Kelley Scott RN

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Learn how social model hospice homes are changing communities and improving end-of-life care for everyone and how you can start one where you live.

My guest Kelley Scott has been caring for dying people throughout the 37 years of her nursing career. She is the founder and executive director of Clarehouse, a “social model” hospice home in Tulsa OK. Kelley also serves as the president of Omega Home Network and provides consulting and mentoring to aspiring social model hospices. She discusses the Omega Home model and how other communities can implement it to improve end-of-life care for everyone. Learn more at the websites:

www.omegahomenetwork.org

www.clarehouse.org

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • What is a “social model hospice” or Omega Home
  • How Kelley first got interested in hospice and palliative care as a nurse
  • What inspired Kelley to found Clarehouse
  • Why Omega Homes are important to our communities
  • Advice for those who want to start an Omega Home in their community
  • Barriers to the Omega Home movement
  • How Omega Homes are funded

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu and to those who’ve bought me a coffee! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 424 Implicit Bias in End-of-Life Care with Kimberly Curseen MD

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Learn why cultural humility and awareness of hidden bias are essential in reducing racial disparities in care at the end of life.

My guest Dr. Kimberly Curseen is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care. She is the director of Supportive and Palliative Care Outpatient Services for Emory Healthcare and helps provide physical, emotional, and spiritual care for patients with cancer at any point in their disease process. She has helped educate physicians on implicit bias in healthcare and has written research articles for the Journal of Palliative Medicine and the Journal of Pain Symptom Management on structural racism and bias in palliative care. We discuss specific issues leading to racial inequities in healthcare and what we need to do to make changes and improve care at the end of life. Learn more about Dr. Curseen’s work:

med.emory.edu

Follow Dr. Curseen

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This episode includes:

  • How Dr. Curseen became interested in hospice and palliative medicine
  • What is “implicit bias” and how we can recognize it
  • Her work in rural Arkansas to educate community members and healthcare providers on implicit bias
  • Why we need “cultural humility” along with cultural competency training
  • How implicit stereotypes and biases contribute to racial inequities in healthcare
  • The current problem of racial disparities in pain management
  • Why improving racial disparities in advance care planning and hospice utilization must begin with our own personal work on hidden biases
  • How end-of-life care providers can develop cultural humility and a person-centered approach in their work
  • Why we need to change what we offer in end-of-life care to fit the patients that need care, rather than trying to force patients to fit into our existing model

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu especially my newest donors Lacy Buynak and Grace Lawrence and to Robin Blanche and Sandy Jane Stacy for increasing your pledge.Thank you to my newest donors on PayPal Erin Collins, Debora Schauss, Kathleen Lynch, and Janice Wildrick! Also many thanks to Ann Hyland and Jerry for buying me coffees! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 423 Writing as a Tool for Grief with Karen Wyatt MD and Larry George MD

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Learn about an inspirational books of stories, poems, essays and reflections that teaches how to use writing during a time of grief.

In this episode I’m joined by my dear husband, Dr. Larry George who is a family physician (now retired) and an expert in Integral Medicine, an application of Ken Wilber’s Integral Model. We engage in a thoughtful discussion about how writing was an essential component of my personal grief journey and the newly published book Stories from the Dark Night, which is a compilation of varied types of writing that helped me survive during the long years of grief after my father’s suicide death. Learn more about the book:

www.eoluniversity.com/books

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • Our shared experience of grief after my father’s suicide death
  • How I got started writing during my time of grief
  • How writing can benefit grief
  • Types of writing that are helpful
  • How writing transformed me and how my grief transformed my writing
  • How readers can benefit from this book

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu and to those who’ve bought me a coffee! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 422 Practices to Prepare for the End of Life with Patt Lind-Kyle

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Learn how meditation practice can help decrease the fear of death and prepare you for a peaceful end of life.


My guest Patt LInd-Kyle is an authority on mindulness meditation, chakras, and the Enneagram who will share practices for addressing the fear of death. She is the author of 4 science and spirituality books including her latest Embracing the End of Life, A Journey into Dying and Awakening and Heal Your Mind, Rewire Your Brain. Patt is also a thought leader on how the mind and brain work together to arrive at a sense of who we are. She has studied the dying process in preparation for her own death and has become a leading authority on death and dying consciously. Patt has produced a series of guided meditations to accompany her Embracing the End of Life and Heal Your Mind, Rewire Your Brain books. Learn more at her website:

www.Pattlindkyle.com

Get the book

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • Why it is important to face the fear of death
  • The benefits of meditation for confronting the end of life
  • How to start a meditation practice
  • How to let go of the need to control death 
  • How facing death helps us live life more fully

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu and to those who’ve bought me a coffee! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 421 Caring for Veterans Through the End of Life with Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar

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Learn about a groundbreaking new educational series about end-of-life care for veterans and their loved ones.

My return guest this week is Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar, an Army veteran, end-of-life doula, educator and the founder of In Their Honor, LLC, an organization dedicated to re-imagining end-of-life care for veterans and their families. Qwynn recently collaborated with PsychArmor Institute to launch Course 1 of the “Caring for Veterans Through the End of Life Series,” which provides online education for veterans, their loved ones, caregivers and healthcare providers around compassionate end-of-life care for veterans. She’ll discuss her own journey to realizing this goal and why this series is a game-changer. Learn more about Qwynn’s work and the course at these websites:

www.intheirhonor.info

www.psycharmor.org

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • What inspired Qwynn to create this course
  • Her remarkable 2 year journey to realize this goal
  • Why some of the issues facing veterans at the end of life and unique and need to be recognized
  • Who can benefit from this free course
  • Why end-of-life education is important for veterans and their loved ones
  • Why healthcare providers in all specialties could use additional training in working with veterans in a compassionate manner
  • The importance of developing “compassionate communities” for everyone

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu and my newest donors on PayPal Kimberly James and Gaja Andzel! Also many thanks to Ann Hyland for buying me coffee! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 420 Providing Comfort During the Last Days of Life with Barbara Karnes RN

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Learn useful tips for helping patients and loved ones be more comfortable at the very end of life – small changes can make a big difference.

This week I welcome back my recurring guest Barbara Karnes RN, hospice nurse, author, speaker, thought leader and expert on end-of-life care. She is the author of ‘the little blue hospice book,” Gone from My Sight and the recently published By Your Side: A Guide for Caring for the Dying at Home. We discuss tips for caregivers to provide comfort to patients during the last days and hours of life when they may not be able to communicate their needs. There are dozens of “little things” that can make a big difference in the comfort level of our loved ones and patients and you’ll learn about them in this conversation. Learn more about Barbara’s work and books at her website:

www.bkbooks.com

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • Why grooming and hygiene matter for patients all the way through the end of life
  • Tips for good mouth and lip care
  • Preserving patient dignity by honoring their routines
  • Preventing skin breakdown
  • Importance of positioning and turning patients for maximum comfort
  • Dealing with breathing issues and “death rattle”
  • An alternative to adult diapers
  • Options for administering medications sublingually, rectally or as a skin cream

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my newest donor Michelle Sandner and to  Amrita for buying me a coffee! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 419 Humane Prison Hospice Project with Lisa Deal RN and Fernando Murillo

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Learn about a remarkable program that trains incarcerated people in palliative and hospice care skills so they can provide care for their peers in correctional facilities.

My two special guests this week work with the Humane Prison Hospice Project: Lisa Deal is the Executive Director, who previously worked for Mission Hospice and Home Care in California. Fernando Murillo is the Program Manager for the Palliative Care Initiative at the Humane Prison Hospice Project where he trains incarcerated people to provide palliative and hospice care for their aging and dying peers. Fernando shares the story of committing himself to improving the overall quality of life in the correctional setting during his own 24 years of incarceration. Together we discuss the need for hospice and palliative care in prisons and how this project is meeting that need and hoping to expand in the future. Learn more at the website:

www.humaneprisonhospiceproject.org

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • How the Humane Prison Hospice Project got started
  • How Lisa became interested in the idea of prison hospice
  • Fernando’s journey from incarceration to now providing training in palliative and hospice care skills to others who are incarcerated
  • Why palliative and hospice care is desperately needed right now in prisons in the U.S.
  • How incarcerated people benefit from receiving training to become caregivers for their fellow residents
  • How the entire prison, including staff, benefits from the presence of the Humane Prison Hospice Project
  • How to get similar projects started in other prisons across the country
  • What hospice workers need to know before volunteering to teach in a correctional setting

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my newest donors Cathy Duke, Laurie Kurs, and Kelly Oberle! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 418 Self-Care Series: How to be More Present with Patients at the End of Life with Karen Wyatt MD

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Today is “Self-Care Monday” and I’ll be taking a little time off to have cataract surgery. In this brief audio recording you will learn three simple steps for being in the present moment with a patient that can help you feel more focused and less stressed. I hope you’ll take time for some self-care too as you work to help others experience a better end of life and prepare for your own future path. See you next week for a regular episode where I’ll share a new interview!

Listen here:

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Ep. 417 Dignity Day: A Guidebook for Medical Aid in Dying with Gabrielle Elise Jimenez

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Learn about a helpful guidebook to provide information and dispel fear around medical aid in dying.

My guest Gabrielle Elise Jimenez is a hospice nurse, an end-of-life doula, and a conscious dying educator. She is the author of 6 books and the host of The Hospice Heart Facebook group, which now has 140,000 members. We discuss her latest book Dignity Day, an informational guide for people who are considering or want to learn more about medical aid in dying, based on Gabby’s experiences with patients who have chosen this option in her home state of California. Learn more about Gabby’s work and join her Facebook group at the following links:

www.thehospiceheart.net

fb.com/thehospiceheart.net

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • Why Gabby chose “Dignity Day” as a title for the book
  • The general requirements for using MAID in states where it is legal
  • What patients and their families should expect when they consult medical providers about MAID
  • How a hospice nurse or end-of-life doula can support a patient going through this process
  • The preparations needed before the medication is ingested
  • What it looks like when a person dies using MAID and how to prepare patients and loved ones for that
  • How to talk to loved ones who don’t support a patient’s decision to use MAID

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my newest donors Lorene Reyes, David Easton, Ed Modell, and thanks to Joan Roellchen-Pfohl for upping your pledge! Also many thanks to Dan and Judy Dickinson for buying some coffees and to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 416 Upstream Care for Veterans at End of Life with Lauren Grigsby and Wes Moldogo

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Learn about an innovative ranch that provides a safe and healing space for veterans and how to help veterans prepare for end of life “upstream”, before it’s too late.

My guests this week are two veterans who now work with other veterans at end of life. Lauren Grigsby is the co-executive director at Central Oregon Veterans Ranch and is an end-of-life doula with The Peaceful Presence Project. Wes Moldogo is chaplain who serves in the Oregon Army National Guard’s 2-162 Infantry Regiment and works also as a hospice chaplain. Together Lauren and Wes discuss the Central Oregon Veterans Ranch and the concept of “upstream care” for veterans with spiritual pain. Learn more about the ranch at the website:

www.covranch.org

Listen here:

Watch on YouTube

This episode includes:

  • The inspiration behind the Central Oregon Veterans Ranch
  • Mental health issues and “soul injury” for veterans
  • How the COV Ranch provides dignity and purpose for veterans
  • How needs for veterans change at different life stages
  • What is “upstream care” for veterans (and others) and why is it needed
  • Creating safe space for veterans as they face the end of life
  • Why the military culture of strength may make hospice acceptance more difficult for veterans
  • Why the staff members of Veterans Ranch work on their own vulnerability first
  • The importance of “distress tolerance” in end-of-life work
  • The need for palliative care for unhoused veterans
  • How the Central Oregon area is a great example of community collaboration for veteran care
  • The 3 “spiritual pains” often seen in veterans
  • Upstream interventions to help veterans with spiritual pain

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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Ep. 415 End-of-Life Care for Children and Their Families with Toula Saratsis

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Learn how a grieving mother has been called to offer palliative, end-of-life, and after death care to children and their families.

My guest Toula Saratsis is a certified end-of-life doula who specializes in prenatal and pediatric palliative, end-of-life, and after death care support. She shares her poignant story of being called to this work after the death of her daughter Angelica from a life limiting condition. Toula’s work and wisdom are remarkable in a field of care that many find too painful and heartbreaking to pursue. She shows us that grief is a powerful transformer and creator of good in the world. Connect with Toula:

toulasaratsis@gmail.com Facebook:  Toula Saratsis Instagram:  @toula_saratsis

Watch on YouTube

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This episode includes:

  • Toula and Angelica’s story
  • How Toula managed to cope with devastating loss and grief
  • Why Toula felt well-suited to provide palliative and end-of-life care to children after facing death on a daily basis
  • How to inspire more end-of-life care providers to work with children even through their discomfort
  • How Toula advocates for patients and families within the healthcare system
  • The need for palliative and end-of-life care for perinatal death
  • How to talk to a child with a life-limiting condition about death
  • The importance of a home funeral after a child dies
  • Self-care while doing this work

Links mentioned in this episode:

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Ep. 414 Self-Care Series: The Benefits of Gratitude with Karen Wyatt

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Today is “Self-Care Monday” and I’ll be enjoying a little time off. In this brief audio recording you will learn about powerful benefits of experiencing gratitude and 3 simple practices to help you bring more gratitude into your life. One thing I’m grateful for is all of the wonderful listeners out there who send me encouraging messages and make contributions to keep this podcast on the air. Thank you for your support! I hope you’ll take time for some self-care too as you work to help others experience a better end of life and prepare for your own future path. See you next week for a regular episode where I’ll share a new interview!