The Heart of Hospice Podcast Hosted by Helen Bauer, BSN RN CHPN

Dr. Sammy Winemaker is starting a social healthcare revolution with The Waiting Room Revolution podcast. On The Waiting Room Revolution podcast, Sammy is having insightful conversations about palliative care, advance care planning, and change-making for end-of-life care with co-host Dr. Hsien Seow. Sammy is an Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, in the Division of Palliative Care at McMaster University. She teaches palliative care to healthcare professionals. 


Here’s what The Waiting Room Revolution website says about their mission: They started the Waiting Room Revolution movement because they wanted to improve the patient and family illness experience. They want to build a community to share deeply human stories about caring for others. Through interviews with experts, clinicians, patients, and caregivers, they are harnessing the advice of those with lived experience to better prepare those who are just starting their caring journey.


They cannot do it alone. Individuals, families and communities have to be empowered as the catalyst for change. They believe we have so much to learn from one another.  


As they say in The Waiting Room Revolution, Together, we can move from being “in the dark” to being “in the know.


Connect with The Waiting Room Revolution with founders Dr. Sammy Winemaker and Dr. Hsien Seow at waitingroomrevolution.com.


Listen to The Waiting Room Revolution podcast here.


Pre-order your copy of Hope for the Best, Plan for the Rest by Dr. Sammy Winemaker and Dr. Hsien Seow by clicking here. Find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, or Indigo.   


Looking for a copy of the Odonata Care Plan? Click here to purchase it for yourself or your care agency.  


NEW** - the Odonata Care Plan is now available in SPANISH - purchase it here!! 


Check out the free Care Video tutorials from Odonata founders and hospice nurses Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.  


Partner with National HME to provide medical equipment for your patients at nationalhme.com.


Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com) 


Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com. 


Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 


Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.

Joanne Eason, President of Five Wishes, knows it’s important to document our end of life wishes so our voices are heard when we can’t speak for ourselves.  Five Wishes was established over 25 years ago through a series of listening tours, asking people what was important to them.  From those results, the Five Wishes document was formed with guidance from the American Bar Association and other palliative care providers across the U.S.  It's designed for individuals to use when sitting down with their families, a tool for talking about what’s important to the person.   


Five Wishes has incorporated three questions into their Five Wishes document: How comfortable do you want to be? How do you want to be treated? What do you want those around you to know about you?  Those answers are the voice of the patient.  Where health systems use certain forms to document decision-makers and specific medical directives, Five Wishes is about not just the wishes of the person, but who they are.


It can be used like a workbook and comes in both digital and paper forms.  The workbook is a living document and should be revisited as healthcare status changes or your spokesperson changes.  


Five Wishes can also be utilized by hospice agencies, healthcare organizations, and businesses. It’s legal in almost every state in the U.S. so it’s a very flexible document.  If you live in one of only four states (New Hampshire, Kansas, Ohio, or Texas) you can still use the Five Wishes Paper but may need to take an extra step.  Five Wishes is available in 30 languages, as well as Braille.


Find out more about Five Wishes at fivewishes.org. 


Follow Five Wishes on Facebook, YouTube, IG, and Twitter.   


Check out Five Wishes for your personal use here.


Get information about utilizing Five Wishes for your patients or employees by clicking here.


Visit the Five Wishes store here.


Check out the free webinars from Five Wishes here.


Looking for a copy of the Odonata Care Plan?  Click here to purchase it for yourself or your care agency.  


NEW** - the Odonata Care Plan is now available in SPANISH - purchase it here!! 


Check out the free Care Video tutorials from Odonata founders and hospice nurses Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.  


Partner with National HME to provide medical equipment for your patients at nationalhme.com.


Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com) 


Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com. 


Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook,  Instagram, and LinkedIn. 


Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.

Home funeral director Glenda Villegas helps families to create meaning with home funerals.  


After learning valuable lessons about what it’s like to plan a funeral for the unexpected loss of a loved one, Glenda started a career working in the funeral industry.  She first worked in pre-need cemetery sales, then moved on to family services where she learned how to serve families at death. During these years, Glenda learned the funeral industry inside and out.  She realized her path led to providing home funerals for families after a death. Her  desire to serve families through education about laws related to death care, combined with the option of a home funeral experience, led her to become a licensed funeral director.  Today Glenda teaches families how to care for their dead, helping to facilitate the grief process by creating meaning with home funerals.


Connect with Glenda Villegas and Thresholds Home and Family Directed Funerals at thresholdsfamilydirectedfunerals.com. 


 Contact Glenda:


Ph.  (619) 719-1156


Email:  vglenda79@gmail.com


Looking for a copy of the Odonata Care Plan?  Click here to purchase it for yourself or your care agency.  


NEW** - the Odonata Care Plan is now available in SPANISH - purchase it here!! 


Check out the free Care Video tutorials from Odonata founders and hospice nurses Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.  


Partner with National HME to provide medical equipment for your patients at nationalhme.com.


Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com) 


Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com. 


Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook,  Instagram, and LinkedIn. 


Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.

Sociavi founder Paula Muller realized the need to keep her mother connected with all the activities of her family living internationally.  That need planted the seed for the Sociavi device. #senioradult #cognitivedecline #dementiacaregiver


https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/sociavi-is-a-revolutionary-device-keeping-older-adults-connected


The name Sociavi comes from the Latin word “share” and “unite”, demonstrating their mission of keeping seniors and their families closer together despite cognitive decline. Certified in Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care, Paula used her knowledge of cognitive decline to design the features of the Sociavi device.  She refers to it as a “picture frame”, avoiding a technology label that might be intimidating to users.  


The Sociavi device fosters a feeling of accomplishment as well as keeping the user connected with family and friends.  Through simple games and activities, the user has choices that are customized to someone who needs simplicity.  It’s super easy to start using the device, no password or login required.  Paula ensured the Sociavi device responds easily to touch and accommodates for hearing loss.  The screens are clear, with only one activity displayed at one time.  Photos and video calls are a wonderful additional feature.  To place a video call, the user simply has to touch the photograph of whomever they want to call.   The network is private and encrypted, so spam and robo calls are eliminated.  Paula’s in-laws consider a video call a “visit” from a family member.  


Users with cognitive decline can utilize many of the functions and games of the device.  If the user is nonverbal, Sociavi features a communication board with icons that can be utilized to communicate needs and thoughts. There are also alarms that serve as reminders for medications or tasks, keeping the administrator of the device notified of whether their loved one has turned the alarm off.  The only things needed in the home for the Sociavi device are power and internet connectivity.  Simple set up, simple to use, Sociavi is a great device for any adult with cognitive decline, helping them to stay active mentally and connected with loved ones.


Find out more details about the Sociavi device at sociavi.com.  


Read more about the Brain Fitness functions of Sociavi here.


Purchase a Sociavi device for someone you love by clicking here.


Looking for a copy of the Odonata Care Plan?  Click here to purchase it for yourself or your care agency.  


NEW** - the Odonata Care Plan is now available in SPANISH - purchase it here!! 


Check out the free Care Video tutorials from Odonata founders and hospice nurses Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.  


Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com) 


Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com. 


Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook,  Instagram, and LinkedIn. 


Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.






   

Today’s guest is Sarah Turner, CEO and founder of My Modern Tribute. They’re writing life tributes that provide opportunities to celebrate and honor a life while we’re still alive.


Over the years, Sarah learned that we all have stories to share. We’re all interconnected by a shared human story. Sarah believes that everyone deserves a space to express their feelings, and understands the importance of empathy and warmth.


My Modern Tribute offers writing services for anyone looking to have a written tribute, featuring any information about their lives that clients want to share. Achievements, impact, adventures, and experiences - a Tribute captures all the history of a life.  


Partnering with My Modern Tribute is an easy process. Each My Modern Tribute client completes the Tribute Questionnaire. This consists of 10 questions to gather the nuts and bolts of your life. My Modern Tribute will then assign you to a writer that best matches your personality and coordinate a date and time for your client interview. The assigned writer connects with you over Zoom or by phone for an interview. The first draft of your Tribute is emailed to you within 10 business days. Up to two edits are offered before the final draft is sent. The final draft is the client’s sole property to do with as you wish.  


Clients can share a Tribute, keep it for themselves, or use it as a personalized eulogy during a funeral or memorial service. It’s entirely up to the client to decide how to use it.  


Through My Modern Tribute, Sarah harnessed her life experiences and her passion for people to create an invaluable service to clients while providing fulfilling work to professional writers. My Modern Tribute is helping others explore their mortality. 


Partner with My Modern Tribute to have your tribute writing at mymoderntribute.com.


Looking for a copy of the Odonata Care Plan? Click here to purchase it for yourself or your care agency.   


Check out the free Care Video tutorials from Odonata founders and hospice nurses Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.  


Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com) 


Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com. 


Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 


Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.


 










 


  

Melanie McMillion has found meaning in her decades working as a hospice counselor and community educator. Melanie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and has worn a lot of hats as a hospice worker. She worked as the Director of Psychosocial Services, leading a 45-person interdisciplinary team of social workers, counselors, and spiritual care counselors to coordinate psychosocial, spiritual, and bereavement services.  As a hospice worker, she was an advocate for her team.  Educating her community became Melanie’s focus later in her career.  Her work in hospice gave Melanie an understanding of how compassion fatigue affects each member of the team.  The unique structure of a hospice team enables each member to support the others to combat the effects of compassion fatigue.  Melanie has found meaning in the decades she has spent working in hospice care.  


Find all the services and products Odonata Care offers at thecareplan.net.


Order your copies of The Care Plan here.


Check out the free video tutorials from Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.  


Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com) 


Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to helen@theheartofhospice.com. 


Follow The Heart of Hospice on Facebook,  Instagram, and LinkedIn. 


Connect with The Heart of Hospice podcast on The Whole Care Network, along with a host of other caregiving podcasts by clicking here.