Contrary to popular belief, hospice is not a four letter word nor is hospice something to be feared. Hospice is a philosophy and model of health care designed to serve persons in compassionate, life giving ways. So why does the word cause so much angst? More often than not, our reactions are rotted in lack of knowledge, fear of death, denial and avoidance. On this episode of Prepare To Care, Jane Barton takes us through the first steps to overcome our fears of hospice so that we can Prepare To Care.
You Might Know Me As The Bow Tie Guy - "Wearing a bow tie is like wearing two smiles."
When people ask me, "why did you create the Whole Care Network"... I always come back to our caregiving experience and how fortunate I was to find resources that helped me and my partner Richard Schiffer manage our caregiving journey. Every caregiver has a story; through our stories, we find validation, resources, and respite to help manage our caregiving day.
We were fortunate to have our story chronicled in a 2015 Pulitzer Prize-nominated 3-part story, “In Sickness and In Health: A Couple’s Final Journey,” which told our journey of caregiving. The story told of the challenges LGBT partners have in dealing with the medical and legal system, but it also told of the love and joy my partner Richard's last years had on our relationship.