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:
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:
- What Really Matters Podcast
- Episode 310 with Kevin Hines
- Qwynn’s email address: qgsalazar@gmail.com
- Follow Qwynn on Instagram
- Follow Qwynn on Facebook
- Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Soul
- Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher Radio
- Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past here
- Join the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously!
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.
If you are currently experiencing a crisis or feeling hopeless please know that you are not alone. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for free and confidential support available 24/7 for people in distress: 
