Hospice at the End of Life
Understanding Hospice Care for Baby Boomers
Navigating the twilight years can be challenging, especially when it comes to making healthcare decisions. For the Baby Boomer Generation, hospice care is becoming an increasingly important consideration.
Hospice care provides comprehensive services and support to patients facing life-limiting illnesses. It brings together a team of healthcare professionals who cater to the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the patient, as well as their physical well-being.
For Baby Boomers, who are now entering their 70s and beyond, hospice care offers the chance to maintain dignity, comfort, and quality of life during their final days. It’s about making the most of the time left, surrounded by care, compassion, and familiarity.
Understanding and choosing hospice care is a crucial step for Baby Boomers and their families. It allows them to plan ahead, ensuring that their wishes are respected and their lives are celebrated, even in their sunset years.
Hospice Specialists & Contributors
Podcasts About Hospice
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The last conversation you want to have shouldn’t be the last one you do have. Filmmaker Johanna Lunn is using her lifelong curiosity about death to bring documentaries about "What happens when we die," to life. She’s the co-founder of the When You Die Project which hosts a resource-rich websi…
The last conversation you want to have shouldn’t be the last one you do have. Filmmaker Johanna Lunn is using her lifelong curiosity about death to bring documentaries about "What happens when we …
The last conversation you want to have shouldn’t be the last one you do have. Filmmaker Johanna Lunn is using her lifelong curiosity about death to bring documentaries about "What happens when we die," to life. She’s the co-founder of the When You Die Project which hosts a resource-rich website, podcast, and documentary trilogy. The When You Die Project is here to facilitate a cultural dialogue most often avoided — one that begins at the end. From existential afterlife questions such as “What happens when you die?” to palliative care, and the nuts and bolts of preparing for…
Helen Bauer
October 4, 2024 Someone asked me about deathbed rituals. They wanted to know what to say and do when someone is in the moments before death and what to do before the funeral home arrives. Here are my suggestions: In the hours to minutes before death, gather family and significant others. Encourage each person to sp…
Someone asked me about deathbed rituals. They wanted to know what to say and do when someone is in the moments before death and what to do before the funeral home arrives. Here are my suggestions: In …
Someone asked me about deathbed rituals. They wanted to know what to say and do when someone is in the moments before death and what to do before the funeral home arrives. Here are my suggestions: In the hours to minutes before death, gather family and significant others. Encourage each person to spend some time alone with the person dying. This is the time to talk from the heart, to talk about the good and the challenging times, to speak of love and forgiveness. This is a private time. The person dying will be non responsive, breathing erratically, probably with their eyes partially open. I…
Barbara Karnes
October 2, 2024 
Mike sits down with us to talk about his military transition and how networking led him to his second career. Mike talks about his journey from being a fighter pilot to giving back to the veteran community through volunteering. He talks at length about his volunteer efforts with Veterans Last Patr…
Mike sits down with us to talk about his military transition and how networking led him to his second career. Mike talks about his journey from being a fighter pilot to giving back to the veteran com…
Mike sits down with us to talk about his military transition and how networking led him to his second career. Mike talks about his journey from being a fighter pilot to giving back to the veteran community through volunteering. He talks at length about his volunteer efforts with Veterans Last Patrol and the value they are bringing to veterans at the end of their lives as they prepare for the final transition. Mike Ware is a retired Air Force fighter pilot and airline pilot. He is a published author and motivational speaker. Mike is an active volunteer serving as an ambassador for Veterans La…
Shawn Welsh
October 2, 2024 
Catherine was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer at the tender age of 10 while also enduring an abusive home environment. Catherine shares the harrowing details of her treatments in the 1970s, the emotional isolation she faced, and how her faith became her lifeline. Catherine's journey is d…
Catherine was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer at the tender age of 10 while also enduring an abusive home environment. Catherine shares the harrowing details of her treatments in the 1970s, the…
Catherine was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer at the tender age of 10 while also enduring an abusive home environment. Catherine shares the harrowing details of her treatments in the 1970s, the emotional isolation she faced, and how her faith became her lifeline. Catherine's journey is detailed in her book "Everyday Awakening." Catherine Duncan is an Integrative Spiritual Consultant, Author, Holistic Healer, Inspirational Speaker, and Resilience Trainer, committed to whole-person healing with a focus on emotional and spiritual health.We dive into the transformative journey of tradi…
Daniela Stockfleth-Menis
September 30, 2024 
We explore the differences between palliative care and hospice, stressing how vital it is to know what to expect from each service and to be informed about the dying process. Betsy also shares her own caregiving experience, offering recommendations for navigating hospice with professional help.Among…
We explore the differences between palliative care and hospice, stressing how vital it is to know what to expect from each service and to be informed about the dying process. Betsy also shares her own…
We explore the differences between palliative care and hospice, stressing how vital it is to know what to expect from each service and to be informed about the dying process. Betsy also shares her own caregiving experience, offering recommendations for navigating hospice with professional help.Among the topics discussed are pain management, medically assisted dying, and the wealth of resources in the book to aid caregivers. Advocacy for oneself and loved ones is highlighted, with Dr. Sankar and CM Cassady reminding readers that caregiving is incredibly challenging and not something you can do …
Betsy Wurzel
September 30, 2024 
116 Embracing the Role of a Caregiver: Tips and Techniques with Lili Udell Fiore In episode 116 of 'Hospice Explained,' host Marie Betcher RN interviews Lili Udell Fiore, author of 'Lili's Caregiver's Guide.' Lili shares her personal journey of caregiving for her aunt and parents, providing valuable…
116 Embracing the Role of a Caregiver: Tips and Techniques with Lili Udell Fiore In episode 116 of 'Hospice Explained,' host Marie Betcher RN interviews Lili Udell Fiore, author of 'Lili's Caregiver's…
116 Embracing the Role of a Caregiver: Tips and Techniques with Lili Udell Fiore In episode 116 of 'Hospice Explained,' host Marie Betcher RN interviews Lili Udell Fiore, author of 'Lili's Caregiver's Guide.' Lili shares her personal journey of caregiving for her aunt and parents, providing valuable insights on managing grief, organizing caregiving tasks, and improving the quality of life for loved ones. Lili, also a death doula, offers practical advice on dealing with dementia, understanding the importance of self-care, and navigating the responsibilities of a caregiver. She emphasizes the im…
Marie Betcher
September 29, 2024 
Rosanne Corcoran, host of Daughter the Podcast is sharing her best advice about being a caregiver for a person dealing with dementia. As caregiver to her mother for 12 years, Rosanne learned how to navigate the healthcare system as an advocate, deal with sleep deprivation, and to care for herself al…
Rosanne Corcoran, host of Daughter the Podcast is sharing her best advice about being a caregiver for a person dealing with dementia. As caregiver to her mother for 12 years, Rosanne learned how to na…
Rosanne Corcoran, host of Daughter the Podcast is sharing her best advice about being a caregiver for a person dealing with dementia. As caregiver to her mother for 12 years, Rosanne learned how to navigate the healthcare system as an advocate, deal with sleep deprivation, and to care for herself along the way.Rosanne Corcoran is the creator and host of Daughterhood the Podcast. She is also a Daughterhood Circle leader and their Director of Content. She cared for her mother through her journey with vascular dementia, starting as a supportive caregiver to an in-home sandwich caregiver for…
Helen Bauer
September 27, 2024 Dear Barbara, I am a hospice nurse advocate and working on an education piece for hospice leadership. What is the average length of time you feel is appropriate for a comprehensive/quality nursing visit that includes education and psychosocial support? This is such an important question, particularl…
Dear Barbara, I am a hospice nurse advocate and working on an education piece for hospice leadership. What is the average length of time you feel is appropriate for a comprehensive/quality nursing vis…
Dear Barbara, I am a hospice nurse advocate and working on an education piece for hospice leadership. What is the average length of time you feel is appropriate for a comprehensive/quality nursing visit that includes education and psychosocial support? This is such an important question, particularly today after all of the changes that have taken place in hospice over the years. Before I address time let me plant an idea: today, most hospices have an assessment nurse, an admitting nurse, and then a primary care nurse. This is WAY TOO MANY people for families to understand and bond with. Famili…
Barbara Karnes
September 25, 2024 
Learn why you should start a death collaborative in your community and tips for getting started.My guests this week are members of the Minnesota Death Collaborative and will share how the collaborative was created, including tips for others who might like to start a similar collaborative …
Learn why you should start a death collaborative in your community and tips for getting started.My guests this week are members of the Minnesota Death Collaborative and will share how the c…
Learn why you should start a death collaborative in your community and tips for getting started.My guests this week are members of the Minnesota Death Collaborative and will share how the collaborative was created, including tips for others who might like to start a similar collaborative in their community or state. Michelle Kolling is a hospice volunteer and end-of-life doula who serves as secretary of the collaborative and Nina Guertin is an end-of-life doula, death educator and a co-founder of the original collaborative. They share their personal experiences and the benefits and…
Karen Wyatt
September 23, 2024 
Navigating Hospice Care: Insights from Derek J. Flores, RN In Episode 115 of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher, RN, replays an insightful conversation from Episode 36 with Derek J. Flores, RN. Derek, a seasoned hospice nurse and author, shares his experiences and wisdom on hospice care, discus…
Navigating Hospice Care: Insights from Derek J. Flores, RN In Episode 115 of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher, RN, replays an insightful conversation from Episode 36 with Derek J. Flores, RN. D…
Navigating Hospice Care: Insights from Derek J. Flores, RN In Episode 115 of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher, RN, replays an insightful conversation from Episode 36 with Derek J. Flores, RN. Derek, a seasoned hospice nurse and author, shares his experiences and wisdom on hospice care, discussing his bestseller 'Seven Keys to a Peaceful Passing,' caregiving dynamics, the phases of dying, the importance of honesty, and the impact of communication on patient and family outcomes. They also explore the controversial topic of physician-assisted suicide, emphasizing natural death and the impo…
Marie Betcher
September 22, 2024 
