The Heart of Hospice Podcast

A Personal Story of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, Special Episode

22 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In a story that inspired the nation, New York City police detective Lou Alvarez advocated in support of the first responders who served at Ground Zero...

Get to Know Life. Death. Whatever, Heartbeat, Episode 170

20 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Anna Lyons and Louise Winter want to change how we converse about death.  Through their organization LifeDeathWhatever.com, the two women are making ...

The Authentic Heart of a Hospice Nurse with Helen Haddick, RN, Episode 051

15 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever met someone and felt an instant connection?  That’s the way we felt when we interviewed today’s guest. Helen Haddick is a hospice c...

Simple Tips that Will Make Your Caregiving Experience Easier, Heartbeat, Episode 169

13 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There are over 42 million unpaid caregivers in the United States.  Friends and family members of all ages and stages are providing care for a loved o...

A Review of the Being Mortal Documentary, Heartbeat, Episode 168

06 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Healthcare professionals often have to have some of the hardest conversations with their patients.  We deliver news that nobody wants to hear, and we...

An Insider's Perspective of Palliative Care with Dr. Jessica Zitter, Episode 050

01 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Our special guest on today’s podcast is Dr. Jessica Zitter, MD, MPH.  According to Dr. Zitter’s website www.jessicazitter.com, she is a “nation...

Removing Barriers to Care: Communication and Connection, Heartbeat, Episode 167

29 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

End of life professionals should always maintain healthy boundaries with the seriously ill patients.  When those boundaries become barriers to good c...

Get the Help You Need From the NHPCO HelpLine, Heartbeat, Episode 166

22 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s hard to know which hospice agency will provide the best care for you or someone you love.  When you’re having to hospice shop, using the Hel...

The Information You Need About Hospice at CaringInfo, Heartbeat, Episode 165

16 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Another great resource from NHPCO!  Whether you need information on choosing a hospice, advance planning, or end of life care, caringinfo.org is a gr...

A Hospice Journey with Jennifer Kennedy of NHPCO, Episode 049

15 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Dr. Jennifer Kennedy, Senior Director of Regulatory and Quality for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization!  Jennifer sat down wi...

We Should Change the Conversation About Hospice, Heartbeat, Episode 164

08 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”  That old saying can be applied to hospice care. The Heart of Hospice is out to ...

Talking All Things Hospice with Judi Lund Person of NHPCO, Episode 048

01 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

To kick off National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we’re talking with Judi Lund Person, BA, MBH, CHC, NHPCO’s Vice President, Regulatory and ...

How to Celebrate and Promote National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, Heartbeat, Episode 162

25 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and we’re celebrating the care that hospice and palliative care programs all over the country...

How to Have Fun and Meaningful Conversations with The Death Deck Game, Heartbeat, Episode 161

18 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t let the name fool you. The Death Deck game is really fun!  Irreverent, thought provoking, and funny - the discussion prompts and questions of...

The Sixth Stage of Grief: A Conversation with Grief Expert David Kessler, Episode 47

15 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Heart of Hospice was honored to sit down and chat with David Kessler about his work in grief and healing, his personal grief experiences, and his ...

How to Make Your Day Better with Morning and Evening Self Care Routines, Heartbeat, Episode 159

04 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How you start and end your day makes a difference in how you feel.  Healthy Self Care routines can give you a boost when you get going and help you t...

Let's Talk About Death Over Dinner with Michael Hebb, Episode 046

01 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jerry and Helen are excited to share their interview with Michael Hebb, the author of "Let’s Have Dinner and Talk About Death”, and the founder of...

Conquer Travel Fatigue with These Self Care Ideas, Heartbeat, Episode 158

27 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Working from the road carries its own kind of fatigue that requires some well-designed Self Care.  When you’re moving from patient to patient, or f...

Improve Your Self Care with Accountability Partner Challenges, Heartbeat, Episode 157

20 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Having an accountability partner can really boost your Self Care.  Whether it’s for mind, body, or spirit Self Care, your accountability partner is...

Review of HBO Documentary "Alternate Endings", Heartbeat, Episode 156

13 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A new documentary from HBO is a way to gain insight into how Americans handle deaths.  According to the HBO website, the film was “Directed and pro...

An Overview of Death With Dignity Laws, Heartbeat, Episode 155

06 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There are currently 9 states in the U.S. that have Death with Dignity laws in place.  Designed to allow self determination in death and prevent suffe...

What You Need to Know About the FY2020 Final Rule, Heartbeat, Episode 154

30 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hospice billing can be a complicated process to tackle, and just when you figure it out, things change. CMS recently released the Final Rules for Fisc...

How to Provide Self Care for Your Team, Heartbeat, Episode 153

23 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hospice administrators and managers are faced with the unique job of providing self care for hospice teams.  Multiple or difficult deaths, personal l...

Improving Your Care Through Contemplative Practices, Episode 043

15 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Prescott has made it his life’s work to teach patients, caregivers, clinicians, and anyone who seeks to learn about contemplative practices...

Are You Self-Aware About Your Self Care?, Heartbeat, Episode 151

09 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Part of practicing healthy self care is being self aware. Jerry and Helen do a self care check-in, sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of their se...

The Heart of Hospice Celebrates Another Milestone, Heartbeat, Episode 150

02 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’re celebrating the start of Year 4 of The Heart of Hospice podcast!  All our wonderful guests, countless bloopers, a few tears with tons of laug...

Freddie Fuller Sings for People with Terminal Illnesses, Episode 042

01 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Fred Fuller will tell you that he gets more than he gives in his work with terminally ill patients.  Fred is one of a talented group of musicians who...

Recognizing the Value of a Chaplaincy Taxonomy, Heartbeat, Episode 148

19 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hospice professionals are always looking for better ways to standardize documentation.  It’s vital that each discipline have reliable resources to ...

Fulfilling Musical Last Wishes with Christine Albert, Episode 041

15 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Music has a special place in the hearts of patients with a terminal illness.  The musicians at Swan Songs create unforgettable memories for those pat...

Private Concerts Fulfill Musical Last Wishes, Heartbeat, Episode 147

12 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Music has special meaning in times when we’re struggling or grieving. In the Austin, Texas area an organization called Swan Songs provides music for...

What You Need to Know About Body Donation, Heartbeat, Episode 146

05 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When someone you love dies, it can be hard to make decisions. Funeral, organ donation, cremation with a memorial service?  It’s a very personal cho...

Jethro Heiko and Nick Jehlen on Communicating With Vulnerability, Episode 040

01 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jethro Heiko and Nick Jehlen are the co-founders of Common Practice and the creators of the “Hello” game, a game designed to facilitate meaningful...

How to Start THE Conversation with Ellen Goodman, Special Episode 001

24 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ellen Goodman is a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist, an award-winning journalist, an author of 7 books, and the co-founder of The Conversation Project...

Unexpected Grief Series with Counselor Chuck Olliff: Unexpected Responsibilities & Milestone Events, Heartbeat, Episode 144

21 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We continue our series on grief with our friend LPC Chuck Olliff, discussing how the unexpected responsibilities after a death can surprise us and amp...

Mamma: In the Meantime, A Conversation with Tony Luciani, Episode 039

15 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest Tony Luciani was an artist and painter before he became a caregiver for his mother after her diagnosis with dementia. Using creative and uno...

Unexpected Grief Series with Counselor Chuck Olliff: Disenfranchised & Recurring Grief, Heartbeat, Episode 143

14 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week continues our grief series with our friend and special guest LPC Chuck Olliff. In our discussion today we explore grief that’s disenfranch...

Unexpected Grief Series with Counselor Chuck Olliff: Guilt & Regret, Heartbeat, Episode 142

07 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Grief will often surprise us with something we didn't expect. The "I didn't know it would feel like this" moments. In this series of Heartbeat episode...

How to (Legally) Show Appreciation to Hospice Staff, Heartbeat, Episode 141

31 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Many people want to show appreciation to their hospice team for providing exceptional care. In this episode Helen & Jerry discuss how you can expr...

What You Need to Know About Accrediting Organizations, Heartbeat, Episode 140

24 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Accrediting organizations such as Joint Commission, CHAP, and ACHC give confidence to consumers that a healthcare agency or facility is providing qual...

How to Promote Better Hospice Care Through Surveys, Episode 139

17 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS) is a survey that measures the quality of the care provided by hospice as det...

How to Save Yourself From Burnout with Dr. Clark Gaither, Episode 037

15 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Burnout is a very serious condition that needs to be effectively managed before it creates severe problems for the person suffering from burnout.  In...

Nurses Are the Heart of Hospice, Episode 138

10 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

National Nurses Week is May 6-12 in the U.S. and in honor of hospice nurses everywhere we turn down the serious for a few moments to recognize the pro...

Why Documentation in Hospice is Absolutely Necessary, Heartbeat, Episode 137

03 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Documentation is critically important in any healthcare setting, and it's no less important in hospice. Every hospice discipline is required to docume...

A Hospice Caregiver's Perspective with Jahnna Beecham, Episode 036

01 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Being a personal caregiver for a terminally ill patient on hospice can be one of the most difficult roles and one of the most rewarding ones, too. Jah...

Get to Know the NAHC, Heartbeat, Episode 136

26 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The National Association of Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) is a professional organization that represents the professional caregivers who care for chron...

Get to Know the ADEC, Heartbeat, Episode 135

19 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) is committed to excellence in the care of the dying, grief counseling, and research in thana...

Death Doula Sarah Kerr on the Healing Power of Rituals, Episode 035

15 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Kerr is a death doula and ritual healing practitioner. She uses the healing power of rituals to bring comfort and peace to those who are left to...

Having the Conversation on National Healthcare Decisions Day, Heartbeat, Episode 134

12 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16, and the purpose of National Healthcare Decisions Day is to encourage everyone to have the conversation ...

Get to Know the INELDA, Heartbeat, Episode 133

05 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This podcast episode will introduce our listeners to the crucial work of an end of life doula. What is an end of life doula? A doula is a person with ...

Understanding the Role of the Hospice Nurse Practitioner with Tiffany Hughes, Episode 034

01 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The role of the nurse practitioner in hospice has expanded over the past several years, and the outcome has been an improvement in the overall qualit...

Get to Know the NCHPP, Heartbeat, Episode 132

29 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode the spotlight shines on the National Council of Hospice & Palliative Care Professionals (NCHPP). Through the leadership of the Nat...

Celebrating the Role of the Hospice Social Worker, Heartbeat, Episode 131

22 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

March is #SocialWorkMonth and we want to recognize and celebrate the outstanding work of the hospice social worker. In this episode we celebrate the c...

How to Become a Certified Hospice Professional, Heartbeat, Episode 130

15 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

National Certified Nurses Day is March 19, and we want to recognize all of those nurses who have gone the extra mile to become Certified Hospice &...

How to Manage Safety in the Home, Heartbeat, Episode 129

08 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Safety is important no matter who you are: patient, caregiver, nurse, staff member.  And no matter where you are: home, hospital, hospice, nursing fa...

Pallimed Editor Lizzy Miles on Death Cafe and Social Work, Episode 033

01 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Lizzy Miles shares how she began the first Death Cafe in America in Episode 33, and the natural progression of her work in hospice from volunteer to s...

The When, Why and How of Pleasure Feedings, Heartbeat, Episode 128

22 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The purpose of "pleasure feedings" is just what the name implies, for pleasure, or comfort. The goal of hospice is to help make the patient as comfort...

The Full Dose on Managing Medicines in Hospice, Heartbeat, Episode 127

15 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

One of the enduring myths about hospice is that a patient’s medications are discontinued when they’re admitted to hospice. We’re talking about m...

Hospice Care for People Living in a Long Term Care Facility, Heartbeat, Episode 126

08 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In the latest survey (2016), almost 42% of hospice patients were receiving hospice care in a long-term care facility. In today’s episode you can lea...

Barbara Karnes Talks About Reluctance to Refer and Pet Death, Episode 032

01 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Barbara Karnes was one of our first guests on the podcast, and she returns as our very first guest to have a second interview. Barbara Karnes is a hos...

The Power of an Accountability Partnership, Heartbeat, Episode 125

25 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s now the end of January.  How are you doing on reaching your goals for 2019?  One of the best ways to improve your chances of success is to en...

What You Need to Know About DME, Heartbeat, Episode 124

18 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Many people on hospice will need medical equipment (DME) to help improve their quality of life.  In most cases, medical equipment is supplied by the ...

New Content Coming in 2019 on The Heart of Hospice

15 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Helen & Jerry took a break during the holidays; time for self care, family connection, and general R & R.  On the HOH blog there were many fe...

Finding Help For Your Grief, Heartbeat, Episode 123

11 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Bereavement care is one of the primary services provided by hospice.  In this episode we discuss when bereavement care begins, and the methods that ...

Insider Tips on Advance Care Planning with Katie Ortlip, Heartbeat, Episode 122

04 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Advance care planning is one of the many services that social workers provide for patients and families.  On this encore episode Katie Ortlip offers ...

The Value of Humor in Difficult Times with Tom Batiuk, Episode 031

01 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We had the opportunity to talk with Tom Batiuk, creator of the Funky Winkerbean comic strip, about how humor can have a positive affect on the mind, b...

The Most Helpful Resource Available for Caregivers, Heartbeat, Episode 121

28 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Being a caregiver is a difficult job. Being a caregiver without any experience is even more difficult. We recommend Living With Dying by Jahnna Beech...

What You Need to Know When a Hospice Patient is in Crisis, Heartbeat, Episode 120

21 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When a hospice patient's symptoms are becoming difficult to manage, hospice can assist by providing higher levels of care during a crisis.  Helen and...

What to Expect From Hospice at Home, Heartbeat, Episode 119

14 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The majority (98%) of hospice care is provided at the patient's home, whether a private residence, assisted living, nursing home--wherever the patient...

What You Should Know About the Hospice Admission Process, Heartbeat, Episode 118

07 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There seems to be a lot of mystery and misunderstanding about how a person begins receiving hospice care. We demystify the hospice admission process i...

The Value of Music in Hospice with Music Therapist Kati Wettstein, Episode 030

01 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens," said Maria von Trapp. In this month's full-length episode we replay our...

The Benefits of Humor for Your Spirit, Heartbeat, Episode 117

30 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Laughter and humor can also have positive affects on your spirit. In this episode Helen & Jerry continue discussing the positive affects of humor ...

The Benefits of Humor for Your Body, Heartbeat, Episode 116

23 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

"Laughter is the best medicine," isn't just an old saying, it's truth. Studies have proven the benefits of laughter on the body. In this episode we fo...

How to Talk About Death With College Students, Heartbeat, Episode 114

09 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

One of our favorite resources for advance care planning is The Conversation Project and they recently released a new resource for college age students...

How to Prepare for an Emergency, Heartbeat, Episode 113

02 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Disasters happen and sometimes without notice. Hospice agencies are required to have emergency plans should there be a disaster in their area. This ep...

How to Overcome Compassion Fatigue in the Helping Professions, Episode 029

01 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Compassion fatigue is a reality for anyone who works in the helping professions: healthcare professionals, first responders, counselors, pastors, teac...

Review: Pallimed for Palliative Care Professionals, Heartbeat, Episode 112

26 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Pallimed is an educational organization founded in 2005 by Dr. Drew Rosielle to train healthcare professionals about palliative care. Content is contr...

Review: Good Grief, a Support for Grieving Children - Heartbeat, Episode 111, Good Grief Website Review

19 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

1 in 7 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling before the age of 20 and 90% will experience the death of a relative or close friend....

The Difficult Decision of Long Term Care, Heartbeat, Episode 110

12 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Deciding to place someone you love in a long term care facility is a difficult decision. It's even more complicated if you live far away.  This Heart...

How to Create a Digital Legacy with Sue Kemple - Episode 028

01 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Kemple is the CEO of a digital legacy creation service called My Last Soundtrack. They provide a way to create your own, or someone else's, digita...

Heartbeat, Episode 108, Family Caregiver Alliance Review

28 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you're a personal caregiver to a family member you need to know about Family Caregiver Alliance.  FCA has been around for over 40 years providing ...

Heartbeat, Episode 107, Bereavement Care Guidelines Resource

21 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most important aspects of hospice is the bereavement care that's provided following the patient's death.  NHPCO has published a new resour...

Heartbeart, Episode 106, National Caregiving Conference 2018

14 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The National Caregiving Conference is created by caregivers for caregivers. NCC18 will be in Chicago on November 8-11, and hundreds of caregivers will...

Heartbeat, Episode 105, Self Care Inventory

07 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

School is beginning and that signals the start of the race towards the end of the year, and that creates greater challenges for our self care. In this...

Episode 026, Interview with LPC Chuck Olliff on Grief Care

01 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Chuck Olliff joins us on this episode to share his insights about grief and bereavement.  Chuck specializes in ...

Heartbeat, Episode 104, Everyone's Grief is Unique

31 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone's grief is as unique and individual as our fingerprints.  In this episode the discussion centers around the need for us to accept the way ot...

Heartbeat Announcement from The Heart of Hospice

27 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Heartbeat is the new weekly podcast episode from The Heart of Hospice. Heartbeat has taken the place of the Five for Friday.   There's a new forma...

Heartbeat, Episode 103, Unique Grief Needs of Military Veterans

24 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

1 out of 4 hospice patients in the U.S. are military veterans, and these veterans have very unique grief responses.  Hospice professionals can provid...

Heartbeat, Episode 102, Unique Grief Needs of Older Adults

17 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Complicated grief occurs more often in people between the ages of 75-84, and there's a higher risk of depression, anxiety and suicide among this popul...

Heartbeat, Episode 101, Bereavement Care in Hospice

10 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Bereavement care is actually one of the primary services provided by hospice.  In this episode we discuss when bereavement care begins, and the way t...

Gratitude Moment of the Day #5

04 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're celebrating our 2nd anniversary. As part of the celebration Helen and Jerry are sharing some of their gratitude moments each day this...

Edo Banach

03 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Edo Banach, president & CEO of NHPCO, talks about The Heart of Hospice.

Heartbeat, Episode 100, 100th Episode Celebration

03 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today we celebrate the 100th episode of our weekly podcast. In this episode we take a look back, a look forward, and we ask for your help in creating ...

Gratitude Moment of the Day #4

02 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're celebrating our 2nd anniversary. As part of the celebration Helen and Jerry are sharing some of their gratitude moments each day this...

Barbara Karnes

01 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Barbara Karnes talks about The Heart of Hospice. 

Episode 026, 2 Year Anniversary Episode

01 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today is August 1.  Two years ago today the first 3 podcast episodes of The Heart of Hospice were published on iTunes.  Back then we were asking our...

Gratitude Moment of the Day #3

31 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're celebrating the 2nd anniversary of The Heart of Hospice.  As part of the celebration Helen and Jerry are sharing some of their gratit...

Gratitude Moment of the Day #2

30 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're celebrating the 2nd anniversary of The Heart of Hospice.  As part of the celebration Helen and Jerry are sharing some of their gratit...

Gratitude Moment of the Day #1

29 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're celebrating the 2nd anniversary of The Heart of Hospice.  As part of the celebration Helen and Jerry are sharing some of their gratit...

Five for Friday, Episode 099, Discharged from Hospice Care. Now What?

27 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There are occasions when a person will be discharged by a hospice agency for “failure to decline.”  In this episode we explain the reasons why th...

Five for Friday, Episode 098, Moving to Another Hospice Agency

20 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There are times when a patient or family may want to change hospice providers.  In this episode we explain the process to follow for that to occur. H...