Living With Hospice

Episode 29: Hospice and the Holidays

Holidays are often difficult for anyone who has experienced or is facing the death of someone they love.   Instead of being a time of tradition, family togetherness, sharing and giving thanks for blessings, this time of year can bring feelings of sadness, loss and emptiness.  What do we do when we are feeling pressure to engage in the "holiday spirit", but we are triggered by memories of earlier times with a loved one who is now facing a terminal diagnosis?  While no simple guidelines exist that will take away the hurt,  Mitch discusses how to acknowledge and deal with these very normal feelings, and provides some alternative suggestions for keeping traditions and celebrating with a loved one who is in Hospice.

Episode 45: Accepting the Prognosis (Part 1)

In this three part series, Mitch discusses the experience and emotions associated with being told that a disease is no longer treatable from different perspectives.  In part one of this series, we look at how this news impacts the patient and the fear associated with such a prognosis.  Mitch provides suggestions and love on how to address this fear, as well as to how to help other loved ones during this time.  

Episode 44: To Doula or Not to Doula

Diverging a bit from the Hospice theme, in episode 44, Mitch explores another form of end-of-life care and the role of a "Death Doula".   He explains the origins of a doula role in relationship to the dying process, and the recent resurgence of this in modern end-of-life care.  

Episode 43: The 7 Minute Scoop: Just Breathe...

At sometime in our lives, we will all have a  traumatic experience that causes us to have a strong emotional or physical reaction. On most occasions though, these reactions subside as a part of the body’s natural healing and recovery process, but in the moment, they seem overwhelming.  In this edition of Living With Hospice, Mitch discusses what happens in those few moments after trauma has occurred, and reminds us that sometimes something very simple - breathing - is the key to getting through it. 

Episode 42: It's Never Too Late to Plan

Talking about the eventuality of death is not something anyone likes to do - much less plan for.  In addition to bringing up a whole host of emotions, it can be just an incredibly  uncomfortable conversation to have with someone who is terminally ill.    In this episode of Living With Hospice, Mitch discusses why these conversations are necessary to have before death and how to ensure that they are productive.