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205 Hospice Explained: Chaplain J.S. Park on Grief Myths, Family Dynamics, and Self-Care Host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, interviews hospital chaplain J.S. Park about his work in a 1,000-plus bed level-one trauma hospital providing a non-anxious, non-judgmental presence, grief support, end-of-life planning, and family advocacy. Park describes guiding families from first contact through bedside crises and how the emotional toll follows him home. He discusses his book As Long As You Need, which addresses multiple forms of loss and challenges the myth that people should "move on," emphasizing that grief is non-linear and something people "move with." He previews We Are Made of Us (out October 20, 2026), focused on family-of-origin dynamics, inherited trauma, boundaries, and ancestry, and explains facilitating tense family situations by honoring each person's role. They also discuss therapy, self-care as "life itself," meaning beyond productivity, and multigenerational caregiving. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:29 Meet Host and Guest 01:33 Chaplain Life in Trauma Care 05:26 The Emotional Toll and Self Care 06:59 Book As Long As You Need 10:00 Grief Myths and Reality 13:24 New Book We Are Made of Us 17:22 Family Conflict at the Bedside 24:46 Intergenerational Trauma and Treasure 28:07 Self Care Beyond Work 31:23 Worth Beyond Productivity 33:33 Caring for Elders Full Circle 37:19 Closing and Where to Buy   If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

204 Supporting Teens and Families Through Hospice: Jean Anne Menna on Education, Pets, and Legacy Messages Host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, interviews returning guest Jean Anne Menna, a certified hospice and palliative nurse in New York, board member for End of Life Choices New York, and author of Go With Grace and A Pawsitive Journey. Menna shares updates on her website consulting/support services and new writing projects, including an upcoming teen guide, While You're Still Here, focused on normalizing teen emotions, reducing guilt, and encouraging healthy breaks while a loved one is dying at home, potentially on hospice. She discusses a children's book series featuring Duke and Houdini, inspired by a hospice patient's neglected cat, emphasizing the need for a pet care plan in hospice. They also highlight legacy practices like letters and voice recordings, and clarify common hospice misconceptions, stressing education, 24/7 availability, and the need for a primary caregiver in home hospice. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:29 Meet Marie and Jean Anne 01:38 New Teen Guide Preview 02:57 Why Teens Need Support 05:30 Filling the Education Gap 06:40 Where to Find the Books 07:16 Duke and Houdini Series 08:49 Houdini Hospice Story 12:27 Planning for Pets 13:25 Website and Legacy Letters 14:28 Recording Voices for Later 17:21 What Hospice Really Provides 21:19 Anticipatory Grief and Resources 22:19 Closing Thanks and Next Time 24:04 Final Sign Off https://gowithgracebook.com/ If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

203 Facing Hospice Concerns: Stories and Solutions Host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, shares two recent conversations highlighting common hospice challenges. In one case, a grandparent was admitted to hospice only 10 hours before death, leaving little time for family education; a caller described being told to "just give them more" medication without clear dosing guidance, underscoring the need for better instruction and repeated follow-up calls for clarification. In the second case, an only child caregiver needed a medical procedure and worried about being unable to physically care for a parent; Marie discusses contacting the hospice team for help, including respite care options such as short-term nursing home placement through Medicare, as well as self-pay adult family homes, nursing homes, or CNAs, noting costs and limited resources. She reminds listeners hospice is not typically a full-time caregiver, suggests using Medicare.gov to find and compare agencies, and encourages reaching out or switching providers if needs aren't met. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:28 Meet Your Host Marie 00:42 Story One Late Hospice Referral 01:32 Medication Guidance Needs 02:51 Story Two Caregiver Crisis 03:47 Respite and Care Options 05:05 Keep Calling Hospice Team 05:26 Hospice Is Not the Caregiver 05:54 Finding and Switching Agencies 07:00 Closing Thoughts and Contact   If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

202 Prescription-Grade THC-Free CBD for Pain, Anxiety, and Sleep: Pulak Sharma on Cope Now Host Marie Betcher, RN and former hospice nurse, interviews Pulak Sharma, founder of Kazmira and creator of Cope Now, a vertically integrated telemedicine, compounding pharmacy, and manufacturing platform providing prescription, pharmaceutical-grade THC-free CBD. Sharma explains their CGMP-validated hemp extraction and purification process, compounding into an oral tincture in three strengths, delivery to patients, and development of a shelf-stable nano-emulsion. He says patients most commonly seek help for anxiety and pain, and notes many consumer CBD products are underdosed, citing therapeutic ranges of roughly 200–400 mg/day and typical prescribing around 300 mg/day, with protocols for titration and liver enzyme concerns. They discuss CBD's non-scheduled status, lower side-effect profile compared with opioids/benzodiazepines, clinician and pharmacist oversight for dosing and interactions, and batch testing showing non-detect THC to avoid psychoactive effects and THC-positive urine tests. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:29 Meet the Guest and Episode Focus 02:07 How Cope Now Works 03:06 Product Formats and Strengths 03:53 Top Uses and Proper Dosing 05:25 Hospice Needs and Opioid Alternatives 08:52 Titration and Daily Timing 12:04 Telemedicine Intake and Prescribing 13:32 Founder Story and Older Patients 16:14 Closing the Guidance Gap 17:59 Addiction and THC Free Assurance 20:47 Standardizing CBD as Medicine 23:42 Final Thanks and Subscribe https://copenow.com/ If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

201 Hospice Explained: Margaret Montes RN, BSN, PHN on Early Hospice Nursing, Comfort Care, and Family Education Host Marie Betcher, RN, interviews retired hospice nurse Margaret Montes RN, BSN, PHN with facilitator Cindy Cisneros. Margaret, raised in Puerto Rico and licensed in 1976, joined the new Hospice of East San Gabriel Valley in 1987 and worked 33 years, starting when the census was eight patients and she was the only nurse; her bilingual skills helped serve Spanish-speaking families. They discuss early obstacles such as recruiting nurses suited for hospice, later team disagreements resolved through weekly interdisciplinary meetings, and common family fears that hospice or medications (including morphine) hasten death, emphasizing comfort as the goal. Margaret shares end-of-life visioning stories and a case where a family called 911 despite DNR wishes. They stress educating families on the dying process (including Barbara Karnes' "blue book"), bereavement follow-up, and analogies like the body as an aging car and end of life mirroring infancy. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:29 Meet Marie and Guests 01:49 Margaret Finds Hospice 05:26 Early Hospice Challenges 07:28 Team Meetings Behind Scenes 10:43 Hospice Does Not Hasten Death 12:14 Comfort Beyond Medication 14:25 End of Life Visions Stories 18:07 When Families Call 911 20:46 What Everyone Should Know 24:01 Family Dynamics and Aftercare 27:39 Faith Fear and Support 29:46 Analogies for Dying Process 32:08 Final Thanks and Subscribe   If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

200 Shari Brase-Smith RN, MS on Hospice Education, Facility Care, and Having Hard Conversations  Host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, marks episode 200 of Hospice Explained with guest Shari Brase-Smith RN, MS, a hospice nurse, educator, and author. Shari recounts her nursing background since 1978 and how the rapid deaths of her husband and mother shaped her understanding of end-of-life needs, emphasizing that even experienced clinicians are often unprepared because healthcare and society focus on curing and avoid dying discussions. She describes why families and facility staff lack clear, practical guidance on what dying looks like, symptom management, and when to involve hospice, especially in nursing homes and assisted living. Shari explains her books are organized for quick, crisis-time answers, highlights the importance of conversations about wishes and forgiveness, and shares her Christian-focused poetry book on grief and hope. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:29 Episode 200 Guest Intro 02:27 Shari's Nursing Journey 03:31 Personal Loss and Whirlwind 07:24 Why End-of-Life Education Matters 11:24 Books Filling the Resource Gap 17:02 Eating and Drinking at End of Life 19:17 Starting Hard Conversations 23:27 Forgiveness and Peace 27:28 Helping Facility Staff Work With Hospice 32:09 Poetry Faith and Grief 37:21 Closing Thanks and Subscribe https://sharibrase-smith.com/ If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

199 At What Point Do We Say Stop? A Brother's Death, CPR Trauma, and Why End-of-Life Wishes Must Be Discussed Early with Gabrielle Elise (Gabby) Jimenez Host Marie Betcher welcomes back hospice and palliative care nurse, end-of-life doula, and The Hospice Heart founder Gabrielle Elise (Gabby) Jimenez to share the story of her brother Ben's death and why earlier end-of-life conversations matter. After years of estrangement, Gabby spent 18 days at Ben's bedside as he was mostly nonresponsive on a ventilator and tube feeds, then briefly woke and repeatedly said "yes" to escalating life-sustaining measures, creating conflict between what Gabby believed he'd want and what he voiced. When Ben suddenly deteriorated, Gabby arrived to find a chaotic CPR code and ultimately told the team to stop, allowing Ben's final minutes to be quieter with his daughter. They discuss how traumatic and violent CPR can be for medically fragile patients, how staff must follow expressed wishes without prior directives, and the importance of advance directives, POLST/MOST forms, and clearly communicated plans so loved ones can confidently honor a person's choices. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:29 Meet Host and Guest 02:31 Ben Hospitalized Reunion 04:16 Wakes Up and Choices 07:51 Code Blue Saying Stop 10:38 Aftermath and Regrets 12:22 CPR Trauma Explained 20:08 Advance Planning Tools 26:58 Marie's Brothers Story 32:08 When CPR Helps or Hurts 34:47 Have the Conversation 36:12 Final Takeaways and Goodbye https://www.thehospiceheart.net/ If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

198 Hospice Explained: Eric Horwith on End-of-Life Planning and Navigating Grief Host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, interviews Eric Horwith, a social worker and UPMC regional director of business development who focuses on improving timely access to hospice, palliative care, and home health services and teaches at the University of Pittsburgh. Eric shares how his father's unexpected death forced urgent end-of-life decisions without advance planning, reinforcing the need for earlier conversations and legal documents. He describes his mother's peaceful death at 83 and his subsequent intense grief, which led him to write the Amazon-available guide, "Grief Exists Because Love Persists: Navigating Life After Loss," emphasizing grief as individualized and something to move through while honoring a loved one's legacy. Eric outlines his university course covering hospice, palliative care, organ donation, autopsy, cultural considerations, and advance care planning. He advises researching hospice providers, noting hospice is a benefit regardless of ability to pay and highlighting publicly reported quality metrics. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:41 Meet Eric Horwith 02:33 Eric's Story and Calling 04:56 Sudden Loss and Planning Ahead 07:41 Mom's Peaceful Passing 09:23 Why He Wrote the Grief Guide 10:06 Grief Exists Because Love Persists 12:28 Grief Nuggets and Marathon Metaphor 15:37 Honoring Barbara's Legacy 16:42 Teaching Death and Dying 24:07 Hospice Access for Underserved 28:13 Final Takeaways and Goodbye If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

197 Author Dr. Jerry Woodbridge on Children's Grief, Widowhood, and Writing the Loved, Lost, Won Series In Hospice Explained episode 197, host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, interviews educator and author Dr. Jerry Woodbridge about grief, faith, and her writing. Dr. Jerry shares her background in education and educational technology, her sudden widowhood in 2004 when her husband died one day after a colon cancer diagnosis, and the impact on her children, including her son's unspoken panic attacks and a difficult move from Florida to Indiana. She describes how journaling, faith, and ballroom dancing supported her grief, leading to her widow's devotional Trading My Sorrows for the Joy of the Lord. Prompted by a TEDx conversation, she wrote the children's grief novel Joy Overcame Sorrow with a companion Joy's Journal, and released book two, The Intersection, about twin loss and survivor's guilt. She is also researching a future book about a military family's loss and emphasizes moving between sorrow and joy through love. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:38 Meet Dr. Jerry Woodbridge 03:21 Sudden Loss and Widowhood 05:38 Parenting Through Grief 10:15 Adoption and Added Complexity 10:53 Writing Through Grief 14:55 Joy Overcame Sorrow 19:26 The Intersection Twin Loss 22:35 Anticipatory Grief and Faith 24:38 Turning Pain Into Purpose 26:28 Final Reflections and Goodbye   https://www.drjerrylwoodbridge.com/books If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

196  Six-Year Anniversary Reflections and CPR Considerations at End of Life In episode 196 of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, marks what she considers the podcast's six-year anniversary since beginning work on it in August 2020 and reflects on how it grew far beyond the 20 episodes she originally expected. She highlights a recent Facebook post from The Hospice Heart by nurse educator Gabby Jimenez about her brother's end-of-life and CPR experience, encourages listeners to read it, and notes plans to invite Gabby back after her prior appearance on episode 168. Marie discusses key considerations about CPR at end of life, especially for elderly patients, including risks like fractures due to weakened bones and low likelihood (less than 5%) of leaving the hospital after CPR, urging families to discuss these realities in advance. She invites listeners to share personal stories by emailing her. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:29 Episode Intro and Host 00:49 Six Year Podcast Milestone 01:42 Gabby Jimenez Spotlight 02:37 CPR End of Life Realities 03:09 Risks for Elderly Patients 03:35 Making the CPR Decision 04:28 Share Your Story Invite 05:25 Closing Thanks and Subscribe https://cprcertificationnow.com/blogs/mycpr-now-blog/cpr-for-the-elderly-special-techniques-and-considerations   If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

195 Funeral Planning, Grief, and Hospice: Bob Arrington on Why Celebrating a Life Matters Host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, interviews Bob Arrington, NFDA spokesperson and longtime Tennessee funeral director, about how funeral service supports the grief journey and why planning matters. Arrington explains that families don't call a funeral director just to bury or cremate, but to begin adjusting to a "new normal," and that skipping any kind of service often makes grief harder for family and community. He encourages pausing to honor a life even with simple gatherings, and stresses that pre-planning (not necessarily pre-paying) reduces emotional stress by preventing loved ones from making major decisions in crisis. They discuss hospice as a major benefit that supports care and dying at home, grief resources through NFDA and Alan Wolfelt, the importance of individualized grief timelines, and NFDA's "Have the Talk of a Lifetime" conversation cards. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:28 Meet Host Marie 00:41 Introducing Bob Arrington 02:47 Bob's Funeral Calling 03:59 Why Services Matter 08:57 Community Grief Ripples 11:53 Grief Support Resources 15:37 When Grief Becomes Physical 17:53 Funeral Process Explained 21:49 Preplanning Without Fear 27:45 Prepay vs Emotional Relief 31:05 Hospice and Final Takeaways 33:06 Contact and Closing https://www.nfda.org/ Link to Bob's episode "Death It's a Living" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3573530/ https://www.nfda.org/your-business/business-resources/remembering-a-life/have-the-talk-of-a-lifetime/conversation-cards/ If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

194 Pet Grief and Disenfranchised Loss (with Hospice Chaplain Jessica Shannon) Host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, interviews board-certified hospice chaplain and author Jessica Shannon in episode 194, focusing on pet grief. They discuss pet loss as "disenfranchised grief," often experienced as lonely and minimized by society, and describe anticipatory grief that begins as pets age and decline. Jessica explains how pet grief can be as intense as human loss, may trigger cumulative grief when an animal is tied to a deceased loved one, and includes grieving routines and caregiving roles after a pet dies. She shares her experience losing multiple dogs and the impact of euthanasia decisions, notes that surviving pets also grieve, and offers guidance to acknowledge the grief as real, allow time, and not rush into getting another pet. Jessica also mentions her memoir, The Sum of Grief: A Daughter's Memoir, about "grief math," which includes animals' roles in coping with loss. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:29 Meet Host and Guest 01:37 Why Pet Grief Matters 03:38 Anticipatory Grief Signs 05:41 Lonely Disenfranchised Loss 07:09 Stories of Multiple Losses 10:09 Pets as Connections 14:42 Routine and Caregiver Role 16:49 Rehoming After Death 19:28 Practical Pet Grief Tips 21:43 Animals Grieve Too 22:36 Book Plug and Wrap-Up 23:55 Final Thanks and Outro If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

193 From Grief Math to Spiritual Play: A Journey with Chaplain Jessica Shannon Hospice Explained host Marie Betcher (RN and former hospice nurse) interviews board-certified chaplain, writer, certified grief coach, and hospice bereavement coordinator Jessica Shannon. Jessica explains how chaplains provide interfaith support without proselytizing and help families find hope in whatever sustains them, including in complex situations where family members draw on different sources such as faith or science. She describes pediatric spiritual play—rooted in child development and adapted from Jerome Berryman's Godly Play—using tools like bibliotherapy, coloring prompts, and "emotional Uno" to help children express feelings and process illness and grief, sometimes facilitating honest family conversations about dying. Jessica also discusses adapting these approaches for adult bereavement support and introduces her book, The Sum of Grief, based on her mother's sudden death when Jessica was 17years old, and her later experience of "grief math" as she approached her mother's age at death, with a future episode planned on pet loss. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:29 Meet Host and Guest 03:53 Chaplaincy and Bereavement Role 07:07 Pediatric Spiritual Play Basics 08:42 Bibliotherapy Case Story 10:44 Working With Parents Too 13:27 Interfaith Support and Hope 15:57 Spiritual Play Tools and Games 23:28 Adapting Play for Adults 25:41 Her Book and Grief Math 34:47 Closing and Pet Loss Teaser 36:40 Final Thanks and Subscribe https://www.sutrahouse.com/books/cml077vxw0000lb04pa71ymyu If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

192: Cynthia Cisneros on Home Hospice, Symptom Management, and Team Support Host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, interviews Cynthia Cisneros RN in episode 192 about her nursing career and hospice experience. Cynthia describes studying at UCLA, earning a nursing degree in 1981, and working in orthopedics, pediatrics, oncology, and with early AIDS patients before moving into home health and then hospice, where she was mentored by a pioneer nurse, Margaret, and later worked in palliative care and home hospice evaluations. Cynthia emphasizes that families often wish they had started hospice sooner because it brings peace through symptom management, education, and emotional support from the full interdisciplinary team, including social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, and volunteers. She discusses the benefits of home hospice—control, no visiting hours, and 24/7 on-call nurse support—along with concerns about inconsistent comfort-med dosing in facilities and the need for education, including reassurance that morphine provides comfort and does not kill patients. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:43 Meet Cynthia Cisneros RN 02:40 From Oncology to Hospice 03:58 Why Hospice Helps 05:37 The Hospice Team 06:37 Volunteers and Nurse Humor 07:43 Home Hospice Benefits 10:13 Morphine Myths and Facilities 13:19 On Call Support at Night 14:21 When Death Often Happens 16:03 Learn Before You Need It 16:41 Margaret and Early Hospice 18:33 Closing and Subscribe   If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.

191  Jack Clifford on EECP, Self-Advocacy, and Supporting Loved Ones at End of Life Host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, interviews retired US Coast Guard E9 Jack Clifford, author of "EECP: The Most Underutilized Therapy in Medicine," about his experience declining emergency triple-bypass surgery after being hospitalized in January 2021 with severe coronary artery disease and instead pursuing enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP). Jack describes researching options, advocating for a pause in urgent medical "pipelines," and traveling to access EECP before financing a home machine and using it nearly daily, reporting improvements he attributes to vascular/endothelial effects. He shares resources (eecplocator.com and his books, offering free copies by email) and discusses end-of-life support: meeting people where they are, respecting decisions to continue or stop treatment, reducing isolation by simply sitting with someone, and focusing on quality time and acceptance. He also recounts his grandmother and uncle with Parkinson's choosing voluntary stopping of eating and drinking and dying peacefully.   00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:29 Meet Marie and Jack 02:47 Facing Emergency Bypass 05:18 Researching Alternatives 06:28 What Is EECP 08:10 Daily Treatment Mission 09:10 Listening to Symptoms 09:54 How to Reach Jack 10:51 Navigating Life Threats 14:31 A Peaceful Passing Story 15:56 Voluntary Stopping Eating 17:27 Caregiver Purpose and Presence 19:50 Loneliness and Simple Help 21:29 Final Advice and Wrap Up 23:27 Closing and Subscribe https://eecplocator.com/ https://eecpbook.com/ If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice  Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.  Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com,  When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119) When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You) Marie's Contact [email protected] www.HospiceExplained.com   Finding a Hospice Agency 1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency, 2. choose Find provider 3. Choose Hospice 4. then add your zip code This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.