Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula

Traci Arieli
  • 4.9 (7)
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Join host Traci Arieli for "Comforting Closure," a podcast where the often silent topics of aging, death, and grieving are explored with compassion and clarity. Each episode features guests who share practical advice, emotional insights, and spiritual perspectives to illuminate these natural yet seldom discussed aspects of life. Dive into tender conversations designed to demystify and destigmatize these experiences, offering solace and understanding to those navigating life's final chapters. Grab a warm drink and find a moment of peace amidst profound transitions with "Comforting Closure."

  1. 6D AGO

    Dementia Caregiving: The Shift from Caregiver to Care Partner

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with Marilyn Raichle, author of Don’t Walk Away, about what it means to care for someone living with dementia in a more human, relational way. Together they discuss how dementia caregiving can shift from managing decline to building partnership, presence, and connection.   Marilyn never planned to become a caregiver. Raised in a family where Alzheimer’s was considered worse than death, she was taught to walk away emotionally if dementia appeared. But when her mother began living with dementia, Marilyn’s perspective slowly changed. Through unexpected moments of creativity, art, music, and daily connection, she discovered a different way to approach dementia caregiving: as a care partner rather than only a caregiver.   Key topics discussed include:   • The difference between being a caregiver and becoming a care partner  • How fear and cultural narratives shape dementia caregiving  • Why connection and personhood remain even as memory changes  • Practical ways caregivers can reconnect with someone living with dementia  • The role of creativity, art, and shared activities in maintaining relationship  • The emotional realities of caregiving, guilt, and family dynamics  • Major gaps in dementia care systems and support for caregivers  Whether you are a family caregiver, a professional supporting people with dementia, or simply someone trying to understand how to care for aging loved ones, this episode offers a different way of thinking about dementia care.  Links/Resources  Guest: Marilyn Raichle - https://dontwalkaway.net Book: Don’t Walk Away by Marilyn Raichle - https://dontwalkaway.net Host: Traci Arieli - https://www.comfortingclosure.com   If this conversation helped you see dementia caregiving in a new way, please like, share, and subscribe. Your support helps more people find these important conversations.

    40 min

  2. APR 23

    Therapy Dogs in Funeral Homes: Comfort for Grieving Families

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli sits down with Dan Ford, President of Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes and President of the National Funeral Directors Association, to talk about something many people have never heard of before: therapy dogs in funeral homes.  Dan shares the story of Joey and Annie, two certified therapy dogs who work alongside him to support grieving families. When people walk into a funeral home, they often expect formality and silence. What they do not expect is the quiet comfort of a dog sitting beside them while they process loss.  In this conversation, Traci and Dan talk about how Joey and Annie became part of the funeral home, how families respond when they meet them, and why their presence can make such a difference during moments of grief. They also discuss the practical side of bringing therapy dogs into grief spaces, including training, certification, and how Dan makes sure both families and the dogs themselves are supported.  This episode offers a thoughtful look at how the death-care profession is evolving and how funeral homes are finding new ways to support people through grief.  Whether you work in end-of-life care, support grieving families, or are simply curious about how people cope with loss, this conversation shows how presence, compassion, and sometimes a dog, can help people feel less alone.  Links/Resources  Guest: Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes – https://www.fordfh.com Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com National Funeral Directors Association - https://nfda.orgRemembering a Life - https://www.rememberingalife.com  If this conversation resonated with you, please like, share, and subscribe so more people can find thoughtful conversations about death, grief, and end-of-life care.

    37 min

  3. APR 16

    Writing a Will Starts at the Kitchen Table

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli discusses why planning for the future often begins with a simple family conversation. Joined by Jermaine Ee, founder of the estate planning platform Heirlight, they discuss what it means to talk openly about retirement, illness, death, and writing a will before a crisis forces decisions.  Jermaine shares the story of his close relationship with his parents and how those conversations shaped the way his family approached planning. After losing his mother, Jermaine began reflecting on what those conversations made easier for his family and why so many people still delay writing a will.  Together, Traci and Jermaine talk about the real barriers that keep people from planning, including fear, cost, cultural differences, and simply not knowing where to begin. They also discuss why estate planning is not just about documents, but about clarity, family communication, and understanding what matters most.  This conversation is designed to normalize discussions about aging, death, and grief while offering practical advice for families, caregivers, and professionals working in end-of-life care.  Links/Resources  Guest: Jermaine Ee - https://www.heirlight.com, https://www.eejermaine.com Host: Traci Arieli - https://www.comfortingclosure.com Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes. If this conversation helped you think differently about planning, please share it with someone who might need to hear it.

    47 min

  4. APR 9

    Inside the Dementia Journey: What Caregivers Wish Someone Had Told Them

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli, end-of-life doula and founder of Comforting Closure, explores the reality of caring for a loved one with dementia. Joined by author and end-of-life doula trainer Patty Brennan, the conversation looks closely at the emotional, practical, and relational challenges families face when dementia enters their lives.  Patty Brennan is the Owner and Director of Lifespan Doulas, a training and certification organization for aspiring birth, postpartum, and end-of-life doulas. She is also the author of Into the Fog, a personal account of caring for her mother through dementia.  Together, Traci and Patty discuss what dementia caregiving really looks like inside a family. They talk about fear and uncertainty, navigating residential care, communicating with a loved one whose world is changing, and the many losses that happen long before death. They also address difficult topics such as appetite changes, end-of-life decisions, and how caregivers learn to trust themselves during a time when there are few clear answers.  Key takeaways from this episode include:  • What families often misunderstand about dementia and how it progresses  • How communication shifts when logic no longer works  • The emotional reality of caregiving and the grief that unfolds over time  • Navigating residential care and advocating for a loved one  • Why many caregivers feel unsure about decisions around food, care, and comfort  • What caregivers often wish someone had told them earlier  Whether you are caring for a parent with dementia, supporting a family member, working in healthcare, or simply trying to understand this growing reality, this conversation offers thoughtful insight and reassurance. The goal is not to provide perfect answers, but to help normalize the experience and remind caregivers that they are not alone.  Links/Resources  Guest: Patty Brennan, Owner and Director of Lifespan Doulas, https://www.lifespan-doulas.com Book: Into the Fog by Patty Brennan, https://www.amazon.com/Into-the-Fog-Patty-Brennan Host: Traci Arieli’s Website , https://www.comfortingclosure.com Additional information about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia statistics referenced in this episode: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures   If this conversation helped you better understand dementia caregiving, please like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes.

    57 min

  5. APR 2

    Birthdays From Beyond: The Words They’ll Open Later

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli speaks with Molly Pearson, founder of Birthdays From Beyond, about legacy, anticipatory grief, and how relationships can continue after death.  Molly shares how her father’s cancer diagnosis led her to ask him to write birthday cards meant to be opened after he died. That personal experience became Birthdays From Beyond, a project that helps people write letters and cards to pass along love, stories, humor, and guidance to the people they care about.  The conversation covers anticipatory grief, why people struggle to know what to say, and how prompts can make legacy writing feel more manageable. Traci and Molly also discuss continuing bonds after death and why legacy work is less about being remembered and more about staying connected.  Links/Resources  Guest: Birthdays From Beyond - https://www.birthdaysfrombeyond.com Instagram: Birthdays From Beyond  - https://www.instagram.com/birthdaysfrombeyond Host: Traci Arieli, Comforting Closure  - https://www.comfortingclosure.com   Thank you for joining us. If you have any questions, please comment below or reach out directly. If you've found this conversation helpful, please like, share, comment, and subscribe.

    37 min

  6. MAR 26

    Navigating Social Security When a Spouse Becomes Ill or Dies

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli talks with Martha Shedden, Co-Founder and President of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts (NARSSA).  Together, they discuss how Social Security changes when a spouse becomes ill or passes away, and what families can do to plan ahead. This conversation helps listeners understand how illness, caregiving, and loss affect survivor benefits and what practical steps can make a difference during some of life’s hardest moments.  Key takeaways include:  What happens to Social Security benefits when a spouse becomes ill or dies. How timing affects survivor benefits and long-term financial stability. What documents to gather before a crisis. How to avoid common mistakes when claiming benefits. The emotional and practical value of understanding your options early. This episode helps normalize conversations around money, planning, and caregiving, especially for families navigating illness, loss, and the realities of aging.  Links/Resources  Guest: Martha Shedden – www.narssa.org | www.rssa.com Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Social Security Administration – https://www.ssa.gov   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes!    #DeathDoula #EndOfLifeDoula #SocialSecurityAwareness #FinancialPlanning #Caregiving #AgingWithDignity #GriefSupport

    40 min

  7. MAR 19

    Demystifying Social Security: What Everyone Should Know

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli talks with Martha Shedden, Co-Founder and President of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts (NARSSA).  Together, they discuss what Social Security really is, how it works, and why it matters to every family. They talk about what Social Security covers beyond retirement, why it’s more stable than people think, and how understanding it can help you plan with less fear and more confidence.  Martha shares information that helps make sense of a system that often feels overwhelming. This conversation is for anyone who wants to plan ahead, support aging parents, or understand how Social Security fits into long-term financial security.  Key takeaways:  What Social Security actually includes and why it’s more than a retirement check. How and when to claim benefits. The truth about funding and the “running out” myth. Why early planning helps ease stress later. It’s a clear, grounded look at a system that touches nearly 69 million Americans and one that every family needs to understand.  Links/Resources  Guest: Martha Shedden – www.narssa.org | www.rssa.com Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Social Security Administration – https://www.ssa.gov If this conversation helped you see things a little more clearly, please like, share, and subscribe to stay connected with future episodes.

    39 min

  8. MAR 12

    When Words Fail, Art Speaks: Art and Grief

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli sits down with Isabelle Dekkers, a grief counselor, social worker, and artist based in Belgium. Together, they discuss how art can support people through grief when words feel unavailable.  Isabelle shares her personal journey, including how her daughter’s illness shaped her understanding of loss, caregiving, and creative expression. The conversation looks closely at how drawing, painting, repetitive movement, and working with the hands can support the body and mind during grief. Traci and Isabelle also discuss why many people feel pressured to “be okay,” how society limits space for mourning, and how art creates room for honesty, release, and connection.  Key takeaways include how creative expression can help regulate the nervous system, why you do not need to be an artist to benefit from art, and simple ways grieving people can begin creating without fear or judgment. This episode is relevant for caregivers, clinicians, end-of-life professionals, and anyone navigating loss.  Links and Resources: Guest Website: https://www.isabelledekkers.be Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whenwordsfailartspeaks Host Website: https://www.comfortingclosure.com    If this conversation resonates with you, please like, share, comment, and subscribe. Your support helps normalize conversations about aging, death, and grief.

    31 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Join host Traci Arieli for "Comforting Closure," a podcast where the often silent topics of aging, death, and grieving are explored with compassion and clarity. Each episode features guests who share practical advice, emotional insights, and spiritual perspectives to illuminate these natural yet seldom discussed aspects of life. Dive into tender conversations designed to demystify and destigmatize these experiences, offering solace and understanding to those navigating life's final chapters. Grab a warm drink and find a moment of peace amidst profound transitions with "Comforting Closure."

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