EOLPodcast

Ep. 556 Zen Caregiving: A Mindful Approach to Caring for Others with Roy Remer

Learn about mindfulness and compassion-based tools to nurture and empower caregivers as they serve the needs of others.

About the guest:

Roy Remer is the executive director of the Zen Caregiving Project in San Francisco and the lead creator of the Mindful Caregiving Education curriculum. He is an educator and end-of-life caregiver since 1997 and a dedicated practitioner in the Soto Zen tradition. Roy is also the author of Zen Caregiving: How to Care for Yourself While Caring for Others. Learn more at the website:

ZenCaregiving.org

Listen here:

In this episode:

  • Being a caregiver is part of the human experience and will affect most of us
  • Caregiving can be a pathway for growth but certain illnesses (especially dementia) can exact a huge toll on caregivers
  • The value of learning genuine presence
  • How this book can help everyone be better prepared in the future to become a caregiver
  • How serving others differs from helping, which is outcome focused
  • Our compassion is incomplete if we don’t also care for ourselves
  • Caregivers do not receive adequate preparation or support physically, emotionally, or spiritually for the task of caring for others
  • Why grief and guilt are common experiences of caregivers
  • Simple rituals for processing grief while providing care

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Transcript:

EOLPodcast

Ep. 512 Navigating a Life-Changing Diagnosis: Action Steps with Hsien Seow PhD

Learn about a helpful workbook and a free workshop toolkit to support people who are navigating a life-changing diagnosis.

My return guest Dr. Hsien Seow is a palliative care researcher and a professor in the Department of Oncology at McMaster University. He is a co-host with Sammy Winemaker MD of The Waiting Room Revolution Podcast and they are both the authors of the book Hope for the Best Plan for the Rest. Today we discuss the new workbook that accompanies the book and a workshop toolkit they are offering at no charge. Learn more at the website:

waitingroomrevolution.com

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • Why Hsien and Sammy created a workbook for their book
  • What the workbook consists of – reflections, exercises, FAQ’s
  • The power of learning from one another about navigating illness
  • The Ambassador Program and the free downloadable workshop that people can access and teach to others
  • Toolkit included with the “workshop in a box”
  • The goal is to create empowered patients and families
  • Why the workshop toolkit would work well for doulas and hospice providers
  • This information is for caregivers and loved ones as well as patients
  • The public health palliative care approach to illness
  • International audience reaction to the book
  • The value of “relational care” in the medical 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, and to Molly Byock for buying me a lot of coffee and Aralyn Hughes who made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 383 The Good News of 2022 with Karen Wyatt

Learn some of the positive developments around end-of-life issues that took place in 2022.

This is the last episode of 2022 and I’m sharing some of the best “good news” stories I’ve seen this year about progress we’ve made around care at the end of life. Every month I curate end-of-life news stories for my supporters on Patreon and I’ve made note of some encouraging developments that I present to you today. Watch this on YouTube if you’d like to see slides or enjoy listening to the audio. Meanwhile, farewell to 2022 and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • The Lancet Commission on the Value of Death calls for a global paradigm shift on death and dying
  • NHPCO works to improve equity in death and dying and decrease racial disparities in care
  • Studies document inequities in end-of-life care
  • Plan to train community workers to do outreach in underserved areas
  • Recognizing the emotional and spiritual aspects of the dying process
  • Federal legislation to create a national strategy on grief and to expand advance care planning
  • Studies on caregiver stress and model for paying family caregivers
  • Best and worst places to die in the US
  • Studies on use of psychedelics to decrease anxiety at end of life
  • Virtual reality similar to psilocybin in reducing anxiety
  • “Death Tech” and media coverage of death both on the rise
  • Human composting now legal in 5 states

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 have made a donation through Paypal or bought me a coffee! Your contributions make all the difference.