How to Have the Hard Conversations Before the Hard Things Happen

The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Hospice nurse Eileen Spillane of Befriending Death has learned to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. Eileen is the Founder of Befriending Death and has been a Registered Nurse for over thirty years, specializing in Oncology, Critical Care, and Obstetrics. She is a certified Life Coach from New Ventures West, a former Zen Hospice Project Volunteer, a Meditation Teacher, and an Active Travel Guide. She has been at the bedside of many as they transition through the dying process and cares very deeply about this topic.

On the Befriending Death website, Eileen writes that “if we have conversations about it (death), we might loosen up the fear and anxiety around it. If we prepare and share our wishes, we can give our loved ones the gift of clarity and direction so they feel confident they are following our wishes and have the opportunity to grieve without further unnecessary stress”.

Eileen’s courses can benefit everyone, from people with life-changing illnesses to elder law attorneys and caregivers for someone with a chronic illness. The courses include smaller “buddy groups” that create a deeper connection between participants. The Let's Chat About Death course provides an opportunity to investigate what’s important in our lives and make changes that reflect that.

Find Befriending Death at befriendingdeath.com.

Read more about Eileen Spillane here.

Be a part of the Let’s Chat About Death course here.

Enroll in the Befriending Death, Befriending Your Life course coming Sept. 2024 here.

Send a message to Befriending Death here.

Find all the resources that Barbara Karnes has to offer at bkbooks.com.

Purchase the End of Life Guideline Series Bundle here.

Find Barbara’s new booklet Always Offer, Never Force: Food at the End of Life here.

Read Barbara’s blog here.

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Order your copies of The Hospice Care Plan: A Path to Comfort here, now available in English and Spanish!

Check out the free library of video tutorials from the creators of The Hospice Care Plan hospice nurses Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire here.

Read more about Nancy and Brenda and their mission to improve hospice care here.

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Hospice Navigation Services is here for you. If you have questions about hospice care or need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.

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

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