We’re getting back to the basics of hospice care, sharing information about complaints, when to make them, and what should happen when you do. Hospice Social Worker Lisa Pahl (creator of The Death Deck and End of Life Deck) helps drive this discussion. Here are a few highlights from our discussion: •Patients and/or caregivers have a right to make a complaint.  •There are numerous reasons a complaint might be needed: visits aren’t being made, symptoms aren’t being managed, response time is slow, or the care is out of alignment with the beliefs or needs of the patient. •Care of a hospice patient should never be rough or insensitive - this is always a reason to make a complaint. •If delivery of medications or medical equipment (DME) is very late or doesn’t happen, a complaint should be made. •A complaint can be given directly to the case manager or director/administrator of the agency.  •The hospice agency should immediately investigate, talk to everyone involved, and work to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of the patient or caregiver. •If the hospice agency doesn’t resolve the complaint in a timely manner or to the point the patient/caregiver is satisfied, the complaint can be elevated to the state organization that provides licensure to hospice agencies. It might be the Health and Human Services Department for the state. •The hospice agency is required to furnish the patient/caregiver with contact information about making complaints, including the information for their accrediting organization. (This could be Joint Commission, CHAP, or ACHC). 

Connect with Lisa Pahl, owner/creator (thedeathdeck.com) The Death Deck and End of Life Deck     Find The Death Deck on social media: Facebook  IG  LinkedIn

You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com.

Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com.

Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com.

Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook IG LinkedIn Twitter (X)  YouTube

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95. If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions. A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care.  Book your session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.  

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer

Website: theheartofhospice.com

Socialmedia: Facebook  Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn

Drs. Barry Jacobs and Julia Mayer join the podcast for a great conversation about bringing your best to caregiving, reminding us that caregivers don’t have to be perfect.  As authors and clinical psychologists, Barry and Julia support family caregivers, guiding them through the messiness of caring for a loved one.  As a married couple, they’ve had lived experience with caring for their parents and in-laws with Alzheimer’s and dementia.  Dealing with caregiving issues in their personal lives taught them invaluable lessons, which they now share with clients and readers of their books.  

Barry and Julia’s newest book is the “AARP Caregiver Answer Book” -   Purchase your copy at caregiveranswerbook.com

Find the AARP Caregiver Answer Book on the AARP website. 

Connect with Dr. Barry Jacobs and Dr. Julia Mayer on their website:  loveandmeaning.com

Read Barry’s latest blog post “My Care Receiver’s Doctors Don’t Respect My Boundaries” here. 

Find Dr. Barry Jacobs on social media:   Facebook   Twitter (X)   LinkedIn

Find Dr. Julia Mayer on social media:  Instagram   Facebook   Twitter (X)   LinkedIn   Bluesky 

You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit by End of Life Educator Barbara Karnes at bkbooks.com.

Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com.

Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com.

Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook   IG   LinkedIn   Twitter (X)    YouTube

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95.  If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care.  Book your 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     Twitter    Instagram   LinkedIn

We’re getting back to the basics of hospice with Hospice Social Worker Lisa Pahl, sharing information about transfers from one hospice agency to another.  It’s really important for patients and their decision makers to know they can transfer to another hospice agency if the care isn’t a good fit.  Hospice team members should be knowledgeable about how transfers work and what needs to be done.  

Here are some things you need to know about transfers: • The patient or decision maker has the right to request a transfer to another hospice agency. • There are several reasons a transfer might happen, including being dissatisfied with the care, personality clashes with the hospice interdisciplinary team, or wanting to be cared for by a friend working for another company. • When the patient or decision maker requests a transfer, the current agency is required to coordinate the transfer with the new agency. • The current agency should provide a report of the care being provided, including the plan of care, list of medications, and a discharge summary.  • Transfers are allowed only once during a benefit (certification) period.  The current agency should make that information available to the patient and caregiver.  

Connect with Lisa Pahl, owner/creator (thedeathdeck.com)  The Death Deck and End of Life Deck  

You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com.

Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com.

Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com.

Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook   IG   LinkedIn   Twitter (X)    YouTube

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95.  If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care.  Book your 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     Twitter    Instagram   LinkedIn

We’re getting back to the basics of hospice with Hospice Social Worker Lisa Pahl, sharing information about transfers from one hospice agency to another.  It’s really important for patients and their decision makers to know they can transfer to another hospice agency if the care isn’t a good fit.  Hospice team members should be knowledgeable about how transfers work and what needs to be done.  

Here are some things you need to know about transfers: • The patient or decision maker has the right to request a transfer to another hospice agency. • There are several reasons a transfer might happen, including being dissatisfied with the care, personality clashes with the hospice interdisciplinary team, or wanting to be cared for by a friend working for another company. • When the patient or decision maker requests a transfer, the current agency is required to coordinate the transfer with the new agency. • The current agency should provide a report of the care being provided, including the plan of care, list of medications, and a discharge summary.  • Transfers are allowed only once during a benefit (certification) period.  The current agency should make that information available to the patient and caregiver.  

Connect with Lisa Pahl, owner/creator (thedeathdeck.com)  The Death Deck and End of Life Deck  

You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com.

Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com.

Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com.

Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook   IG   LinkedIn   Twitter (X)    YouTube

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95.  If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care.  Book your 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     Twitter    Instagram   LinkedIn

Elder law attorney Patrick Cawley is equipping dementia caregivers with the essential tools they need for estate planning, including advance care planning for end of life. Patrick guides family members as they navigate the health care system and complicated ways to pay for long-term care for their loved one. He is a certified dementia care consultant, and host of the Dementia Empowered podcast.  Patrick has lived experience with a family member who has Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), so he knows firsthand what dementia caregivers face. Here are some highlights from this episode:

• Patrick endorses trying care solutions before going straight to legal solutions which might escalate problems and family dynamics. 
• The biggest challenges for dementia caregivers that Patrick sees are financial issues, forming a care team, and complicated or discordant family dynamics.
• Patrick advocates for caregivers to be paid in certain situations, depending on estate taxes and the financial burden on the caregivers. 
• Recording keeping is vitally important; Patrick recommends keeping a paper trail of transactions and healthcare decisions. 

Listen to the Dementia Empowered Podcast here. Connect with Keystone Elder Law here.   Connect with Patrick Cawley on LI Find an Elder Law Attorney in your area at naela.org

You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com.

Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com.

Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com.

Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook   IG   LinkedIn   Twitter (X)    YouTube

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95.  If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care.  Book your 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     Twitter    Instagram   LinkedIn

On-call, after hours, 24/7 services - no matter what you call it, hospice care is available to patients and caregivers every hour of every day. Regardless of the day of the week, whether it’s a holiday, or the office is closed, a member of the hospice team is accessible all the time. Some hospice agencies have answering services or triage teams, but the final result of a call is connection with a nurse. If another discipline is needed, that’s going to be coordinated by the agency. No question or concern is dumb. Hospice agencies offer this service to make sure patients and caregivers feel comfortable in their homes while experiencing the end of a life.  Here are some of the reasons a caregiver or patient might want to contact the hospice team when the office is closed.

• The patient has had a change in condition, and is showing different symptoms.
• Your person (the patient) has died. 
• There’s a question about medications. 
• A piece of critical equipment isn’t working (oxygen, BiPap, electric hospital bed, air mattress or overlay).
• There are spiritual or faith needs, and the chaplain’s (or social worker’s) support is needed.  
• The patient has had a fall and there’s an injury. 

You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com.

Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com.

Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com.

Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook IG LinkedIn Twitter (X)  YouTube

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95. If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions. A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care. Book your 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  Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn

Email: [email protected]

Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to [email protected].

Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)

Blending aromatherapy and sound bathing into the care of dying patients comes naturally to end of life doula and hospice nurse Carrie Oram. Carrie has witnessed deep, relaxing responses from clients as they experience the vibrations of Tibetan sound bowls. Regardless of diagnosis or disease progression, people who are at the end of their lives become more relaxed during treatments with aromatherapy. The benefits are many - calm, an elevated sense of happiness and wellbeing, comfort, connection with pleasant memories and sensations, even appetite stimulation.   

Carrie integrates her doula work into her work as a hospice nurse, being sure to separate responsibilities that are under her nursing license from her doula tasks. You can find Carrie at angelheartholistics.com. Carrie is the compassionate owner and operator of Angel Heart Holistics, where she combines her extensive background in healthcare with her deep passion for holistic healing. As a hospice nurse with years of experience, Carrie has witnessed firsthand the profound impact that emotional and physical well-being have on a person’s overall quality of life.  

Connect with Carrie on Instagram (@angelheartholistics)

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95. If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions. A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care. Book your 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  Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn

Email: [email protected]

Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to [email protected].

We’re getting back to the basics of hospice, talking about Continuous Care with hospice nurse Gabby Jimenez of The Hospice Heart.  Continuous care can be confusing.  We’re talking about when it’s used, how it works, and where it happens.

Here are some highlights from this episode:             • Continuous Care (CC) is a level of care within the Medicare hospice benefit.  It’s also called Crisis Care. • CC is used for symptom management and is managed by the hospice team in the patient’s residence. • There’s no increased cost for the patient or family if CC is implemented. • Continuous Care DOES NOT have to be continuous - it can be divided into increments that benefit both patient and caregiver. • CC is used when symptoms become unmanageable, things like pain, shortness of breath, or agitation.  • CC is temporary.  Having Continuing Care DOES NOT mean the hospice team will put staff in the home 24/7 indefinitely; it’s only in place until the symptoms are resolved. • An RN or LVN has to do at least 50% of Continuous Care hours.  If medication is being administered, a nurse must be the hospice team member to provide the Continuous Care. • When the symptoms resolve, Continuous Care will be stopped, and the routine hospice care will resume.

Connect with Gabby Jimenez of The Hospice Heart: Gabby Jimenez is a hospice nurse, end-of-life doula, death and dying educator, and author.  Her website and Facebook page, which are both named The Hospice Heart, offer support for people who are either terminally ill, or caring for someone who is nearing the end of their life.  Gabby has learned from being at the bedside of about 2,000 people who have taken their last breath.  Her end-of-life doula training has helped her to truly understand the sacredness of death and dying, and what it means to be present for someone during that intimate and final moment.  You can find her information and all of her offerings on her website: www.thehospiceheart.net  Contact: thehospiceheart.net/contact Buy Gabby’s books: thehospiceheart.net/books Book Gabby to speak at your event: thehospiceheart.net/book-gabby Social Media for Gabby Jimenez Facebook (The Hospice Heart) Instagram (gabrielle.elise.jimenez)

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95.  If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care.  Book your 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     Twitter    Instagram   LinkedIn Email:  [email protected]

Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to [email protected].

Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)

Funeral director Andre Roupp of Roupp Funeral Home believes each person and every family has a story, and he’s sharing all the ways funeral planning makes services personal and meaningful.  When advance care planning doesn’t include funeral planning, there can be fallout that makes the family’s grief journey more difficult.  Here are some highlights from Andre’s interview:

• Pre-planning a funeral can ease the immediate overwhelm of tasks that happen right after a death occurs.
• Including funeral plans in an advance care plan eases the emotional, financial, and decision-making burden for the surviving family.
• Military ceremonies can provide a personalized, respectful recognition of service.
• A lack of pre-planning can cause a lot of anxiety for a family, deepening their grief or causing discord among the family members.   

Connect with the resources that Roupp Funeral Home offers at rouppfuneralhome.com

GrandPad is a great gift for Father’s Day to stay connected with a senior loved one.  Get more information at grandpad.net/thoh GrandPad website: grandpad.net Social Media for GrandPad:   Facebook   Instagram   LinkedIn   YouTube

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95.  If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care.  Book your 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     Twitter    Instagram   LinkedIn Email:  [email protected]

Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to [email protected].

Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at The Heart of Hospice Podcast (theheartofhospice.com)

We’re getting back to the basics of hospice care with Social Worker Lisa Pahl to talk about respite care and how it works. Respite care is part of the care that hospice agencies provide but the details about it can be confusing. Here are a few things you should know about respite care:

• Respite care offers 5 days of care for a hospice patient to allow the caregiver time away.
• There is no regulation that states how often respite care has to be provided; many agencies offer it once a certification period (may be a 90 day period or a 60 day period). 
• Respite care has to be provided in a Medicare-certified facility with whom the hospice agency has a contract. It can’t be done in the patient’s home. 
• Cost of the respite care (including transportation) is the responsibility of the hospice agency, but there may be a small copy that is charged to the patient/caregiver.  
• The caregiver doesn’t have to use all 5 days, but that might make it difficult to find a facility willing to accept the patient.
• There are many reasons why caregivers might utilize respite - health needs, a family event, travel, or just feeling overwhelmed.
• It isn’t easy for a caregiver to choose to use respite.  They may feel guilt or fear, have a sense of losing control, or want to be with their person every minute of whatever time they have left.  They might even worry their person would die while in respite care.   Connect with Lisa Pahl, owner/creator (thedeathdeck.com)  The Death Deck and End of Life Deck  

Interested in purchasing a GrandPad to stay connected with a senior loved one?  

Get more information at grandpad.net/thoh

GrandPad website: grandpad.net

Social Media for GrandPad:   Facebook   Instagram   LinkedIn   YouTube

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95.  If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time.  Book your 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     Twitter    Instagram   LinkedIn

Email:  [email protected]