EOLPodcast

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

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.

EOLPodcast

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

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.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 324 End-of-Life Care for Veterans with Qwynn Galloway-Salazar

Learn how to meet the unique needs of veterans and their families as they face the end of life.

My guest Qwynn Galloway-Salazar is a behavioral health professional and end-of-life doula who, as an Army veteran herself, specializes in the needs of veterans and their families facing end-of-life challenges. She discusses her work strengthening behavioral health systems for SAMHSA’s Service Member, Veterans, and Their Families Technical Assistance Center and her work with an initiative to reduce the incidence of suicide in the military and veteran population. She is passionate about teaching end-of-life professionals to provide sensitive, trauma-informed care to their patients who are veterans. Learn more at her website:

www.intheirhonor.info

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • How Qwynn was inspired to become an end-of-life doula specializing in veteran care
  • The unique needs of veterans who are facing the end of life
  • Questions to ask patients who are veterans
    • Did you serve in the armed forces? or a loved one close to you?
    • Which conflict?
    • Which branch of service?
    • Combat or non-combat?
  • The importance of screening for mental health issues in veterans receiving care
  • How the end-of-life needs of women veterans differ from those of men
  • How stoicism in military culture can interfere with pain and symptom management at the end of life
  • Many veterans experience shame, isolation, moral injury and survivor’s guilt that they have difficulty talking about
  • The importance of recruiting veterans of all ages as volunteers in hospice
  • The family members of veterans also have a need to tell their stories and be heard
  • The value of presence and soul-to-soul heartwork when working with dying veterans
  • Tips for practicing trauma-informed care with patients who are veterans
  • Suicide prevention work for veterans that is currently taking place

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.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 288 PEACH: Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless with Dr. Naheed Dosani

Learn about an innovative program to provide end-of-life care to people living on the streets and in shelters in Toronto.

My guest Dr. Naheed Dosani is the founder of PEACH, a mobile outreach program that provides palliative care to the homeless on the streets and in the shelters of Toronto. His model led to the development of Journey Home Hospice, Toronto’s first hospice for the homeless, which opened in May 2018. He’ll share how and why he started PEACH and inspire all of us to be more aware of and active in dealing with the issues of homelessness and health inequities in our communities. Learn more about PEACH at this webpage:

http://www.icha-toronto.ca/peach-covid-19-palliative-care-resources-for-physicians-and-frontline-workers

Follow Dr. Dosani:

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • What inspired Naheed to create a palliative care program for homeless people
  • How PEACH functions and provides care for patients on the streets and in shelters
  • Why there is a great need for palliative care for the homeless population
  • Health issues faced by homeless people and their shockingly low life expectancy
  • How to replicate PEACH in other cities and countries
  • Trauma-informed care and why it is needed for all patients, including those who are homeless
  • Why we need systemic change in medicine to provide more equitable care to all people
  • Dealing with grief, compassion fatigue and moral injury for healthcare providers
  • Why we’re facing a global pandemic of grief due to COVID-19

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!