Hospice Explained

Marie Betcher RN
  • 5.0 (58)
  • How To
  • Updated Weekly

This is a podcast to Explain what is hospice. The goal of this show is to decrease fear and increase education for patients and their families during the end of life season. The show will also share some experiences and stories to help the listener understand what does Hospice mean, and how a person can help care for their loved one.

  1. 5d ago

    196 Six-Year Anniversary Reflections and CPR Considerations at End of Life

    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 Marie@HospiceExplained.com 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

  2. Aug 2

    195 Funeral Planning, Grief, and Hospice: Bob Arrington on Why Celebrating a Life Matters

    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 Marie@HospiceExplained.com 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.

  3. Jul 27

    194 Pet Grief and Disenfranchised Loss (with Hospice Chaplain Jessica Shannon)

    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 Marie@HospiceExplained.com 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.

  4. Jul 19

    193 From Grief Math to Spiritual Play: A Journey with Chaplain Jessica Shannon

    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 Marie@HospiceExplained.com 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.

  5. Jul 5

    192: Cynthia Cisneros on Home Hospice, Symptom Management, and Team Support

    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 Marie@HospiceExplained.com 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.

  6. Jun 28

    191 Jack Clifford on EECP, Self-Advocacy, and Supporting Loved Ones at End of Life

    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 Marie@HospiceExplained.com 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.

  7. Jun 21

    190 Comfort Measures in the Hospital: What They Mean and How They Help

    190 Comfort Measures in the Hospital: What They Mean and How They Help Host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, explains what "comfort measures" mean when offered during a hospital stay. Comfort measures begin when curative care stops and the focus shifts to relieving discomfort, pain, and distress for patients nearing end of life through appropriate medications and bedside care. She notes that comfort measures are not a full care program and lack the added support hospice can provide, but they are still valuable, especially when hospice is not offered or available due to insurance or location. Marie encourages families to participate at the bedside, report symptoms such as anxiety or shortness of breath, and expect fewer disruptions, limited transports and procedures, and a calmer environment. She also mentions hospice or palliative care as options depending on eligibility and time. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:29 Meet Your Host 00:42 What Comfort Measures Mean 01:12 Comfort Measures vs Hospice 01:51 How Families Can Help 02:20 Creating a Calm Hospital Room 03:01 When to Choose Hospice 03:43 Palliative Care Option 04:15 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 Marie@HospiceExplained.com 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.

    190 Comfort Measures in the Hospital: What They Mean and How They Help

  8. Jun 7

    189 Cumulus: Reimagining Digital Memorials and Legacy with Architect-Founder Alexander Josephson

    189 Cumulus: Reimagining Digital Memorials and Legacy with Architect-Founder Alexander Josephson Host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, interviews Alexander Josephson, creator of Cumulus, a Toronto/New York-based digital memorial platform designed as an immersive "memory cloud" where families can store and experience photos, videos, notes, and other legacy content in VR-accessible spaces, with mapping for gravesites or ash scatterings. Josephson shares how repeated family encounters with death—his grandparents' passing, his grandmother's Lewy body dementia, and his father's cancer, chemotherapy, and near-fatal COVID ICU stay—inspired him to build a trusted digital "place" for remembrance beyond gravestones or genealogy. He explains collaboration features, admin controls, next-of-kin account transfer, pricing tiers, and plans for a perpetuity trust, noting current users and rollout to funeral homes and cemeteries. He closes with: "Love, love hard." 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:42 Meet Alex and Cumulus 02:38 Why Digital Memorials Matter 04:36 Family Losses and Inspiration 07:48 Dad the Doctor and ICU Journey 10:15 Near Death Visions and MAID 13:17 How Cumulus Works 16:08 Legacy Beyond Family Trees 17:42 Plans Pricing and Growth 21:38 Grief Message and Meaning 22:47 Sci Fi Comparisons 24:23 Find Cumulus and Final Words 25:43 Podcast Closing   https://www.cumulus.world/ 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 Marie@HospiceExplained.com 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.

See All (197)

Trailer

5
out of 5
58 Ratings

About

This is a podcast to Explain what is hospice. The goal of this show is to decrease fear and increase education for patients and their families during the end of life season. The show will also share some experiences and stories to help the listener understand what does Hospice mean, and how a person can help care for their loved one.

Information

  • Creator
    Marie Betcher RN
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    197
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © @hospiceexplained
  • Show Website
    Hospice Explained

You Might Also Like