Listen to this episode to learn details about the work of a death doula with Kacie Gikonyo, better known as Death Doula Kacie. Kacie has built a large online community as a Registered Nurse death educator. She’s the founder of the Death Doula School and her book Laboring Out of Life: A Death Doula’s Approach to Intentional End of Life Care is a resource for death doulas, healthcare professionals, and family caregivers alike.  

Kacie is also the creator of the Labor Out Conference happening Oct. 28, 2026 at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. The conference brings together healthcare providers and deathcare providers to educate on death, dying, and end of life conversations. It’s a great opportunity for anyone wanting to improve their practice and skills. Featured speakers include Kacie, Dr. Bob Uslander from Empowered Endings, and founder of Your Palliative PA Chelsea Ernest. CEUs are offered for some healthcare professionals. You can register for the Labor Out event here. 

Here are some highlights from today’s episode:

• Death should never be so scary we can’t talk about it.
• The role of the death doula can be vital in supporting people with life-limiting illness and their caregivers. 
• End of Life Doulas, or Death Doulas provide non-clinical support, working side by side with hospice teams.
• Kacie advocates for bringing in hospice care sooner, establishing a solid support system for both patient and caregivers.  
• Introducing the topic of hospice with their doctor should be easy for patients and decision-makers to do, creating open, honest conversation.
• A good starting point is discussion about quality of life, focusing on the patient spending their time doing things that matter to them. 
• It’s ok for patients to be direct and tell their healthcare team, “That’s not how I want to spend my time.” That’s another way to define quality of life.
• Kacie envisions the role of a death doula becoming commonplace in the next ten years, being integrated into hospitals, rehab units, and long-term care facilities.

Connect with hospice nurse and Death Doula Kacie Gikonyo:

Website: deathdoulakacie.com Social media: @deathdoulakacie on all platforms Website for The Labor Out Conference: Where Healthcare Meets Deathcare): deathdoulakacie.com/laborout Purchase your copy of Kacie’s new book Laboring Out of Life: A Death Doulas Approach to Intentional End of Life Care here

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care. 

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com. 

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Email: [email protected]

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

In her work as a Spiritual Life Doula and hospice nurse, Marggie Moertl walks with her clients through the challenges of chronic illness and decline, continuing through their final days.  The work of a doula is unknown for many people, so this episode offers a glimpse into the care a doula can provide.  Marggie explains how a doula provides a complementary service alongside hospice and shares what it means to hold a sacred space when she works with her clients.  The roles of doula and hospice nurse are very different - despite being a RN, Marggie never uses her skills and experience as a medical professional while working as a doula. Providing support for deep conversations and life review is an important component of her work.  Marggie uses her intuitive skills to help clients maintain and strengthen their connection to soul during difficult illness. In this way, she encourages clients to choose the treatment path they desire, while fostering their own healing from within.

Connect with Marggie Moertl:  

Website:  embraceyourinnerselfllc.com Social Media:  Facebook  Facebook   LinkedIn   Substack

Purchase your copy of Sally: A Memoir and Life As A Prayer here

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care. 

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com. 

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website:  theheartofhospice.com Social media:  Facebook   Instagram   LinkedIn   YouTube

Email:  [email protected]

More podcast episodes:  The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Keeping her balance as a daughter, mom, and wife made Certified Dementia Practitioner Amanda Bailey feel pulled in multiple directions, feeling the full range of emotions as a sandwich caregiver for her mom.  When her mom died of Alzheimer’s Disease, Amanda’s life was changed forever.  Now she’s supporting other families and caregivers to get the help they need to find home care that’s a good fit.  She has first hand knowledge of how senior living communities operate and shares that knowledge with the families she helps.

Here are some highlights from our conversation:

1. Listen closely - small comments can give big insight into your Person’s thought process
2. Caregivers need to be observant, following up with reassurance and support
3. Progress toward decisions about home care can be slow, in small increments
4. Think ahead - crisis mode is a bad place to make decisions
5. Don’t make promises that you might not be able to keep about caring for your Person at home 

Connect with Amanda Bailey of Help for My Parents Website - helpformyparents.com Social Media - FaceBook   LinkedIn  Link to Amanda’s workbooks 

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care. 

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com. 

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website:  theheartofhospice.com Social media:  Facebook   Instagram   LinkedIn   YouTube

Email:  [email protected]

More podcast episodes:  The Heart of Hospice Podcast

As a hospice nurse and end-of-life caregiver for her husband, Shari Brase-Smith learned the power of good communication and coordination at the end of life.  Now she devotes her energy to educating the public and healthcare workers about the qualities of good hospice care.  One of her strongest beliefs is the advantage of using word of mouth recommendations when choosing a hospice agency, asking for specific answers about why the agency was a good (or bad) choice.  Shari’s writing books to help caregivers talk to their person when they’re dealing with end-of-life concerns.  Her most recent book is a guide for people who need to talk with a spouse or partner when they’re dying.  What to Say When Your Spouse is Dying: A Compassionate Guide for Love, Grief, and the Final Days provides help with decision making, protecting dignity and closeness in the relationship, and having honest conversations about dying.  Shari brings her personal and professional experience to the book, providing honest, true, and gentle words to use.  

Connect with Shari Brase-Smith, MS RN:

Website: sharibrase-smith.com

Social media:  Instagram  Substack

Purchase a book: sharibrase-smith.com

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care. 

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com. 

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website:  theheartofhospice.com Social media:  Facebook   Instagram   LinkedIn   YouTube

Email:  [email protected]

More podcast episodes:  The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Karen Fee took what she learned as an end-of-life caregiver to her mom and shared it with family and friends, creating a ripple effect that impacted how they all talked about death and dying. Her group of friends known as The Mama Surfers became a place for end-of-life discussions and reflections, where they could hold each other accountable for creating their advance care plans .  Karen’s caregiving experience shaped her own advance care planning.  Because Karen’s mom had a plan, the end of life experience was easier.  Her dad was challenged to make decisions by himself and to manage things after her mom’s death.  Karen added that support to her caregiving role. 

If you’re a caregiver or a person supporting a caregiver, you’ll get a lot out of this conversation.  Keep listening; there’s a lot to learn. 

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care. 

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com. 

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website:  theheartofhospice.com Social media:  Facebook   Instagram   LinkedIn   YouTube

Email:  [email protected]

More podcast episodes:  The Heart of Hospice Podcast

End of Life Doula Tracy Chalmers is dedicated to helping others find the beauty and healing that so often exists alongside the pain at end of life.  In her doula work, she companions the dying with a focus on gentle dying.  Tracy is also an end of life educator and a hospice volunteer.  Her book The Nature of the Journey is a guidebook for caregivers who are walking with their Person through their final journey with acceptance, empathy, connection, and presence.  As a hospice vigil volunteer, Tracy has sat at the bedside for people who would otherwise die alone.  She believes dying is a social event and drawing support from others enhances the experience for the dying, family members and caregivers.  

Connect with EOL Doula Tracy Chalmers:

Website for End-of-Life Doula Association of Canada Social media:  Facebook   LinkedIn   Instagram Purchase your copy of The Nature of the Journey at Amazon or Indigo 

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care. 

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com. 

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website:  theheartofhospice.com Social media:  Facebook   Instagram   LinkedIn   YouTube

Email:  [email protected]

More podcast episodes:  The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Death Doula Darnell Lamont Walker shows up for difficult conversations and heartbreaking losses. He knows the power of dying moments. His new book Never Can Say Goodbye: The Life of a Death Doula and the Art of a Peaceful End shares the stories he’s gathered in his work with people with life-limiting illness. Darnell acknowledges that we have a healthcare system that’s “one size fits all”, but people are looking for care they can trust, that’s delivered in ways that feel respectful and appropriate. The “cookie cutter” approach doesn’t feel like a good fit for care when someone is dying. Darnell learned from his grandmother to provide care with intention and curiosity, to be present with grief and suffering. Her wisdom lives on in his work. 

Darnell works to educate, engage, and speak out about death and end of life care. You can find his work at darnellwalker.com. Don’t miss his beautiful book; buy your copy here or at major booksellers. 

Connect with Darnell Walker: Website: darnellwalker.com Find out more about Darnell’s Death Doula services here Social media: Instagram TikTok  LinkedIn

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care. 

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com. 

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

Email: [email protected]

More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Grief specialist Dawn Delahoye is supporting people with terminal illness and their caregivers, promoting intentional self care and accepting help when offered.  After caring for her dad during his experience with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), Dawn gained valuable personal perspective that made her understand the needs of caregivers.  People who support someone with a neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease) often face a unique caregiving situation. Isolation and lack of support are common.  Dawn recognizes the anticipatory grief that happens before the death occurs, and describes the small incremental changes in her dad as “losing him long before his actual body was gone”.  That experience motivated Dawn to train in grief support, initially working with the ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) community.   

Dawn offers the following guidance for caregivers:  Care for yourself gently; don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to the person you care for most in the world.  Anticipatory grief is real.  It might feel like your Person is slipping away a little at a time.  Try to connect with someone who really gets what you’re going through. Give yourself grace in your grief, because caring for yourself is just as important as caring for your Person.   If you’re supporting someone who is a caregiver, be specific in offering to help.  By offering to do a specific task or help to a caregiver, you’re not adding to the decisions they have to make.  

Connect with Dawn Delahoye: Website:  sunrisecoaching.com Social media: LinkedIn

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care. 

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com. 

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website:  theheartofhospice.com Social media:  Facebook   Instagram   LinkedIn   YouTube Email:  [email protected] More podcast episodes:  The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

As a hospice aide and certified End of Life Doula, Cassidy Bastien is helping her clients and their families facilitate and provide meaningful after death care.  She’s cared for people with serious illness for six years and  hosts Death Cafes in her Washington state community.  Since 2022 Cassidy has served the non-profit End Of Life Washington as an Ambassador Volunteer assisting in providing their End of Life Ready Presentations online. Cassidy is also a passionate advocate for caregivers, founding the renowned Caregivers Hub Support Group on Facebook. The Caregivers Hub Group welcomes thousands  of members throughout the world who seek and share support, knowledge and advocacy with caregiving. Cassidy’s deep dedication to end of life work really shines through in this great conversation.

Connect with EOL Doula Cassidy Bastien:

Website: www.myendoflifenw.com

Social media:  Instagram: @myendoflifenw facebook.com/myendoflifenw 

Caregiver's Hub Support Group: www.facebook.com/groups/caregivershubsupportgroup

MyEOLNW Death and Dying Support Group:

www.facebook.com/myeolnwdeathanddyingsupportgroup

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care. 

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com. 

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website:  theheartofhospice.com Social media:  Facebook   Instagram   LinkedIn   YouTube

Email:  [email protected]

More podcast episodes:  The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Social Worker Bridget Sumser works to provide support to patients and families in palliative and end-of-life care for over a decade, looking to unearth untended-to grief and sadness as a means to be more in touch with our lives.  In this meaningful conversation, Bridget discusses how grief shows up in all its many forms.  Grief can result from loss that’s not only related to death, but comes from life events like divorce, retirement, or other major life changes.  Many people experience disenfranchised grief and often compare losses in what Bridget calls “the Grief Olympics”.  In her work as Director of Practice at Mettle Health, Bridget works with a team to help clients navigate grief experiences so grievers know they’re not alone. 

Connect with Bridget Sumser LMSW, Director of Practice at Mettle Health: Website: mettlehealth.com Socials: LinkedIn

Connect with HaloCare: Website: halocaregroup.com HaloCare services for healthcare professionals: halocaregroup.com/healthcare-professionals Get more info about HaloCare for yourself or a loved one here Socials: Facebook Instagram Twitter  LinkedIn Connect with HaloCare by phone at (888) 247-7102 

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care. 

If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. It’s easy to connect by phone or video. You can book a 30-Minute Navigation Session for just $45 if you’re starting to talk about end of life care. A 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95 provides for an in-depth discussion, and allows for up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.

Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com. 

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Email: [email protected] More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to [email protected].