Miranda Parker is the Executive Director of Hospice Foundation of the South and the Hospice House. Miranda is also the co-founder of Loss Love, a project that supplies care packages for child survivors of suicide. Miranda shares why a hospice house can give you the space and self care you need to reconnect with friends and get the extra support you need as your loved one’s journey begins to pass. 

 

Key Takeaways:

• Miranda shares a bit about her background and what she does for the Hospice House. 
• How does Miranda help family members transition into a new normal as their loved one gets ready to pass?
• When Susan was helping her husband through his cancer journey, she had so much on her plate that her self-care completely went out of the window. 
• Miranda helps her family members not feel so guilty for prioritizing themselves and practicing some self-care. 
• By being able to take some time for yourself, you can reconnect with your social network and friends and gain access to a support you didn’t know you had.
• Your friends want to help you, but don’t always know how. 
• Susan didn’t want to miss out, but her husband was often sleeping and she was not spending the quality time she needed with him. 
• It’s okay to continue with life. 
• For the most part, the person you're grieving doesn’t want your life to stop because theirs did. 
• Miranda understands that relationships can be complex. She asks the patient if there are particular people they don't want to visit the Hospice House. This is a request they uphold even when they might not be conscious. 
• It’s important to understand that the dying process is not about you. Miranda and her staff make sure that the person passing is going on their own terms. 
• The hospice team is such a great asset not only for the person passing, but also for the family members. 
• How is Miranda and the Hospice House giving back to the community and to the children who have experienced loss? 
• It’s important that your children realize it’s okay to grieve and express themselves. 
• What advice would Miranda like to give to an adult or to a child?