Compassionate Pain Relief in End-of-Life Care: Understanding Management and Medication

When the shadows of life grow long and the light at the end of the tunnel becomes clear, pain management becomes a paramount concern for both patients and caregivers.

In our latest heartfelt episode, we venture into the delicate realm of ensuring comfort for those on their sacred final journey. Addressing the elephant in the room, we dispel common myths surrounding pain medication at the end of life, reassuring you that these treatments are there to soothe, not to hasten the inevitable. We take a closer look at the different types of pain, and how a meticulous approach to pain management can transform a patient's end-of-life experience into one of peace and dignity.

Imagine witnessing a loved one's serene transition, free from the clutches of discomfort and pain. Our discussion brings to light a case where a patient's shingles-induced nerve pain was managed effectively through precise medication logs and timely intervention, exemplifying the profound impact of proactive pain relief strategies. The collaboration between caregivers and hospice nurses is nothing short of inspiring, highlighting the importance of a detailed logbook and the foresight to administer relief before pain escalates. Together, we explore the art of pain management that allows for cherished final moments with family and friends.

As we conclude this episode, we not only share the essentials of a hospice comfort kit but also extend an invitation to our upcoming free training webinars. These sessions are designed to enrich your capacity to provide compassionate care and to embrace the end-of-life process as a natural, shared experience. It's a journey we navigate together, and your participation is invaluable. So join us for more insights, as we continue to support each other in this profound aspect of life on Ask a Death Doula.

We dive into:

(00:05 - 03:53) Pain Management at End of Life

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Doulagivers Institute
  

80-90% of a positive end of life depends on these two things:

Knowing the basic skills on how to care for someone at the end of life and planning ahead - and BOTH Doulagivers Institute is giving you for FREE!

Access them Below!

• Making your wishes known is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your loved ones. Download The Doulagivers 9 Choice Advance Directive now! It's FREE!
  

More about what we do at Doulagivers Institute - Click here!

Exploring the Empowering Facets of Death and Dying

Can we truly embrace life without acknowledging its end?

This poignant question is at the heart of today's transformative discussion as we delve into the empowering and healing aspects of end-of-life planning. Sharing insights from my years as a hospice nurse and my training in Level 1 Doulagiver's family caregiver training, we explore the importance of creating an after-death plan and voicing our wishes for after we pass, and how this can shift our perspective on our everyday life.

Our journey begins with a deep dive into end-of-life care and its many facets. We focus on the need to slow down, be present, and embrace the idea of home funerals - a topic that is often met with hesitance. Through open and candid discussions, we highlight how crucial conversations with family about after-death plans can profoundly impact the grieving process. We also touch on the legal considerations, planning, and the potential healing quality of a home wake.

We then move on to the more personalized aspects of after-death plans and celebrations. You're given a glimpse into the myriad of choices available for what happens to your body after death, including eco-friendly options such as water cremation and human composting. We also explore the importance of planning for a life celebration or memorial and the power of leaving behind a special letter or memento. I hope that this conversation inspires and empowers you to take an active role in your end-of-life planning, leading you to a new realization of the joy and beauty of life. Join us as we break the silence around death and dying, and together, let's celebrate life in all its phases.

We dive into:

(02:49 - 04:11) Grief Healing Through End of Life Training

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Doulagivers Institute
  

80-90% of a positive end of life depends on these two things:

Knowing the basic skills on how to care for someone at the end of life and planning ahead - and BOTH Doulagivers Institute is giving you for FREE!

Access them Below!

• Making your wishes known is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your loved ones. Download The Doulagivers 9 Choice Advance Directive now! It's FREE!
  

More about what we do at Doulagivers Institute - Click here!

Understanding and Conquering: A Guide to Dealing with Cancer

What if you found out that you or a loved one was diagnosed with cancer?

Would you know what questions to ask, how to navigate the complex landscape of treatments, or even how to cope with this life-altering news? In this episode, Suzanne shares her experience as a hospice and oncology nurse, equipping you with the top 10 questions to ask your doctor following a cancer diagnosis. She underscores the importance of having a support system, recording medical visits, and taking detailed notes to ensure you have all the information you need.

She further delves into the emotional aspects of end-of-life care and decision-making for cancer patients, a subject that hits close to home for many of us. Through two contrasting stories of men with different treatment approaches, we unearth the significance of considering quality of life and personal preferences. Remember, it's your life, and your well-being should always be the priority. She also tackles the process of coping with such a diagnosis, stressing the importance of taking your time, seeking multiple opinions, and never being afraid to question doctors. Join her in this powerful discussion that aims to empower anyone facing these challenging times.

We dive into:

(04:57 - 06:05) Questions About Chemotherapy Options

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Doulagivers Institute
  

80-90% of a positive end of life depends on these two things:

Knowing the basic skills on how to care for someone at the end of life and planning ahead - and BOTH Doulagivers Institute is giving you for FREE!

Access them Below!

• Making your wishes known is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your loved ones. Download The Doulagivers 9 Choice Advance Directive now! It's FREE!
  

More about what we do at Doulagivers Institute - Click here!

Lessons of Love and Letting Go from Hospice Care

What if embracing death could enrich your daily life? Join us as we navigate this profound exploration with our cherished guest, Dr. Karen Wyatt.

A transformative journey awaits, as Dr. Wyatt shares her personal story of finding meaning and purpose in the wake of her father's suicide, eventually leading her to a rewarding career as a hospice physician. 

Discussion takes a turn towards the deep end as we delve into the world of hospice care, unfolding the transformative power it holds over death and its spiritual growth. Dr. Wyatt enlightens us on how these experiences have shown her the importance of love while dealing with pain and forgiveness. We also touch upon the cultural shift needed in our perception of death and the support we extend to our healthcare professionals.

The conversation graduates to the insights from Dr. Wyatt's inspiring book, "The Tao of Death". Drawing from this, we discuss how death can be a mindful part of our lives, and how embracing it can ultimately enrich our existence. We conclude the episode with some practical tools to help you connect with your higher self and find peace in life’s turbulent waters. This episode is your gateway to comfort, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.

We dive into:

(01:25 - 02:22) Finding Purpose in End-of-Life Care

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Doulagivers Institute
  

80-90% of a positive end of life depends on these two things:

Knowing the basic skills on how to care for someone at the end of life and planning ahead - and BOTH Doulagivers Institute is giving you for FREE!

Access them Below!

• Making your wishes known is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your loved ones. Download The Doulagivers 9 Choice Advance Directive now! It's FREE!
  

Learn more about Dr Karen Wyatt - Click here!

Check out Karen's books in Amazon - Click here!

More about what we do at Doulagivers Institute - Click here!

Securing a Positive End-of-Life Experience through Planning

Imagine having the power to dictate the quality and course of your end-of-life care, being able to define what 'quality of life' means for you.

This episode explores just that, with expert insight from Suzanne O'Brien, a former hospice and oncology nurse with years of experience in guiding individuals through this deeply personal journey. Dive into the world of advanced directives and the surprisingly non-binding nature of these documents. Discover the power of the POLST form, a tool that can help ensure your wishes are respected when it matters most. 

The conversation doesn't stop there. We navigate the significant role your healthcare proxy plays, shedding light on the importance of defining your personal benchmarks for quality of life and establishing clear communication lines with your loved ones. We'll delve into the nine choices advanced directive document, a comprehensive guide that covers everything from who should voice your desires, to the heartfelt messages you want your loved ones to hold onto. Drawing from a poignant tale of a hospice patient, we're reminded of the simple yet profound joys of life and the importance of maintaining that quality until the very end. Let’s journey together into this solemn yet empowering topic of end-of-life care planning.

You are also invited to join the upcoming Live Learning Lab Workshop to explore these topics further.

(04:23 - 05:14) Seeking Legal Advice for Advanced Directives

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Doulagivers Institute
  

80-90% of a positive end of life depends on these two things:

Knowing the basic skills on how to care for someone at the end of life and planning ahead - and BOTH Doulagivers Institute is giving you for FREE!

Access them Below!

• Making your wishes known is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your loved ones. Download The Doulagivers 9 Choice Advance Directive now! It's FREE!
  

More about what we do at Doulagivers Institute - Click here!

The importance of Advance Directives: A discussion with Sylvia Cohen

Can you imagine the emotional turmoil and familial discord that arises when end-of-life wishes are not clearly defined?

Get ready to walk in the shoes of Sylvia Cohen as she courageously recounts her personal journey surrounding end-of-life care and the profound impact it had on her family. An enlightening chat about the cultural complexities within a multicultural family in a medical setting awaits you, emphasizing the importance of understanding and respecting different beliefs and customs. Sylvia also shares her mother's experience with hospice care, highlighting the significance of maintaining a certain quality of life.

As the conversation progresses, Sylvia's journey towards becoming a death doula unfolds. Discover how a death doula can provide invaluable guidance and support during the end-of-life journey, and the critical role of having an advanced directive and 'five wishes' in place. Sylvia's insights on legacy planning and advanced directives advocate for the importance of these topics in end-of-life care discussions. Her story is a testament to the importance of preparedness and fostering a supportive environment during such challenging times.

Finally, we address the topic of legacy planning and advanced directives. Sylvia underscores the need to consider the character traits and abilities of your children when assigning a medical proxy. The conversation stresses the necessity of creating an advanced directive and how it can be a significant gift for both the individual and their loved ones. Sylvia also highlights the importance of crafting a legacy box, revealing how it can serve as a meaningful method of passing on love and education to future generations. Tune in to gain insights from her experiences and join her mission to improve end-of-life care and support for others.

(00:02) Improving End-of-Life Care and Support

(09:59) Navigating End-of-Life Decisions and Cultural Sensitivities

(16:24) Hospice Care and Quality of Life

(32:42) Challenges With Hospice Care and Communication

(45:08) Death Doula's Role

(50:50) Legacy Planning and Advanced Directives

Links mentioned in this episode:

Doulagivers Institute

80-90% of a positive end of life depends on these two things:

Knowing the basic skills on how to care for someone at the end of life and planning ahead - and BOTH Doulagivers Institute is giving you for FREE!

Access them Below!

• Making your wishes known is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your loved ones. Download The Doulagivers 9 Choice Advance Directive now! It's FREE!
  

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CERTIFIED DEATH DOULA?

JOIN the FREE Death Doula Discovery Webinar on December 14th at 7pm ET Click Here!

More about what we do at Doulagivers Institute - Click here!

How do you envision the end of your life?

What if you could transform that vision from a fear-filled one to a peaceful and sacred experience?

Join us for a heart-to-heart conversation with our guest, Cathy Yuhas, a seasoned nurse specializing in ICU, ER, and hospice care. Cathy shares a powerful, deeply personal story about how a woman's decision to embrace hospice care completely redefined her perception of death, and illuminated the profound importance of planning for the end, free of judgment.

We also explore the glaring gaps that exist in our healthcare system, with a specific focus on the realm of hospice care. Cathy recounts her difficulties navigating the system when her father was dying, emphasizing the desperate need for more education and resources in this area. She provides a detailed overview of the history of hospice care in the United States, highlighting the ongoing challenges it faces due to changing reimbursement structures.

Cathy's journey maps out the transformative power of end-of-life planning. She emphasizes the critical role played by directives like the Medical Order for Scope of Treatment (MOST) form, and how hospice can be a beacon of care. As we wrap up, Cathy opens up about her role as a grief educator, and the importance of love, forgiveness, and comfort in the dying process. Tune in to this poignant episode that offers profound insights into dying and grief, underscoring the importance of living each day to the fullest.

We dive into:

• (01:12 - 02:17) Nurse's Journey in Hospice Care

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Links mentioned in this episode:

• Doulagivers Institute

80-90% of a positive end of life depends on these two things:

Knowing the basic skills on how to care for someone at the end of life and planning ahead - and BOTH Doulagivers Institute is giving you for FREE!

Access them Below!

• Making your wishes known is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your loved ones. Download The Doulagivers 9 Choice Advance Directive now! It's FREE!
  

Learn more about Cathy - Click here!

More about what we do at Doulagivers Institute - Click here!

I have been studying what makes a “Good Death” for years. When I was working with end of life patients and their families, I quickly learned that being a part of a positive end of life experience is a blessing. 

It not only makes you aware that this natural and guaranteed part of life can be beautiful - but it changes you. It allows you to step into a sacred and wondrous place. It suddenly gives a deeper meaning to life and it exposes you to a new energy and connection that shifts your perspective, heals you, and sets you on a path to discover your higher purpose.

We are all holistic beings that consist of four primary bodies of energy:

• Physical Body

• Mental Body

• Emotional Body

• Spiritual Body

At the end of life, as someone's physical body is diminishing, their spiritual body is growing and it is at this time that people get what I call their “spiritual eyes” or “spiritual wisdom”. They become connected to their higher consciousness and the greater part of themselves that opens them up to a newfound perspective and understanding of just about everything!

It is at this time where they say “I get it now! Now I know why all those things happened to me!”

It is like watching someone put all the puzzle pieces of their life together and the clarity, peace, and serenity they find in this moment is indescribable. It is truly magnificent.

But here is what I want you to know… we do not have to wait until the end of our lives to experience this aha! moment we all so desperately want. We can access this higher wisdom and connection right now. 

Yes - RIGHT NOW! 

We just need to do the work. We need to make a conscious decision to make intentional choices that raise the frequency of our energy so that we can tap into that higher perspective and that inner-knowing right here and right now.

I will tell you right now that working with those at the end of life has taught me everything I know about how to truly LIVE.

How to: 

• Live a Life of Presence

• Live a Life of Purpose

• Live a Life of Fulfillment

It is by learning these important life lessons that have been passed on to me by my former patients that you can learn to live an extraordinary life too! 

That is why on Thursday, October 26th at 7pm ET I am teaching a LIVE Universal Life Mastery {ULM} Masterclass Webinar where I will be going deeper into these life-changing perspectives and realizations I have been fortunate enough to experience and benefit from in my own life. 

I would love for you to join me in this class where we will explore how to find a place of inner peace no matter what your external circumstances may be, how to connect to the higher version of yourself that is waiting to be accessed, and how to find your path and purpose in this life! 

Click Here to Register Now!

Get the Book: Unbolted Potential here

P.S. The next FREE Level 1 End of Life Doula and Family Caregiver Training Webinar will be COMING UP SOON! 

What is the Meaning of Life?

​​YES- This is a big question and one that I have sought the answer to for a long time. Ironically, it was when I started to work with the dying, that I learned everything about HOW to LIVE!

We are on the brink of a personal and collective shift. The world is full of chaos, and we are untethered to our spiritual being part of who we are and why we are here. 

Join me in this heartfelt conversation with Ron Damico. Ron Damico is an Intuitive Healer, Spiritual Guide, and is at the forefront of leading the New Human Consciousness. He is a master mentor, healer, teacher, and way shower who has been guiding people from all walks of life and backgrounds through the healing and transformation process for over two decades.

In this episode of Ask a Death Doula,

You will learn:

1) How this is the time in our humanity for a big shift in consciousness to take place. We are being called to go from a world running on fear, power, and vitriol to one of love and compassion. 

2) How when we raise our individual consciousness, we raise the collective consciousness. 

3) How new research in both Neuroscience and Quantum Physics is validating that we can take control of our mind, body, and life to awaken to our highest consciousness. 

Click Here to Listen and please Spread the Word!

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

FREE Universal Life Mastery Masterclass Thursday, October 26th  7pm ET Click here

Learn More About Ron Damico Click here

#spirituality #consciousness #healing

It takes an extremely special person to go from being the poster girl of health/wellness and how to live our best lives to talking about grief.

And not just grief we feel when a loved one dies, but grief on all levels and of all kinds.

Could the denial of death, and thus the lack of education and information about grief, be the cause of so much depression, anxiety, and even disease in our world today?

Many of you may not know, but Kris Carr has been a guiding light, mentor, and supportive presence in my journey of creating Doulagivers Institute. 

She is ethical, she is wicked smart, and she keeps everything real with an extra-large side of FUN!!!

When she told me she was writing a book about grief, I was so grateful. I know this could not have been an easy choice. I ALSO knew how many people this would invite into this conversation and help.

In this episode of the Ask a Death Doula Podcast, I will be talking to Kris about her new book, “I’m Not A Mourning Person.” 

In it, she shares what to expect when you’re not expecting your world to fall apart. In true Kris Carr fashion, it’s raw and inspiring but also has joy, humor, and hope too! This book gives readers tips and strategies to move forward and start living again after experiencing loss. 

In this episode, we will discuss:

1. How LIFE promises you it all - the positive and the challenging parts of the journey and HOW you navigate through the tough times that makes ALL the difference in that experience.

1. How death awareness can be our greatest teacher about how to live fully.

1. Beautiful, priceless, and sage life lessons from her late father.

We will all be touched by grief - all kinds of it - and that does not need to be a terrible thing. It is a great reminder of our humanity and how we are so much more alike than we are different. 

Death, Grief, and Love are the great equalizers of the world.

Let’s share what we can to support each other through the hard times in the healthiest way possible.

Xoxoxo,

Suzanne

Get the Book "I'm Not a Mourning Person" Click here

Learn more about Kris Carr  Click here

More about Doulagivers Institute Click here