The Hospice Chaplaincy Show with Saul Ebema – Details, episodes & analysis

In Today’s episode, Saul talks with Joelle Johns on the importance of community education on death, dying and grief. Joelle is a pastoral thanatologist and a clinical chaplain. 

When someone close to us dies at an older age, we often take comfort not only in celebrating their life, but also in knowing that death is part of the natural process of living. This experience is not the same when you are faced with the sudden death of your child. In this episode, Julie Spears talks about the tragic death of her 16 year old son and how she has coped with it.

In today’s episode, Saul talks to Dr. Jeremy Holloway on Social Isolation in older adults and Tellegacy. Dr. Holloway is a speaker, consultant, and cross-cultural communication educator. He is also a Geriatric Professor and Director of Geriatric Education at the University of North Dakota, specializes in diversity, equity, & inclusion with a unique focus in cross-cultural communication, human connection, resiliency, self-efficacy, and personal empowerment of individuals, especially in the healthcare workforce. You can find out more about Dr. Holloway at www.jeremyholloway.com

From graduate school, she was appointed to work on the Women’s Campaign where she collaborated with Jewish women from around the state of Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts, assisting in leadership development and strengthening women’s voices in philanthropy. 

After her first child was born, she pursued her Chaplaincy dream and worked in Miriam Hospital’s cancer unit and surgical intensive care units during her CPE residency. She worked for over 2 years at the VNA Care New England as a Hospice Chaplain and for the past 6 years (and currently) as a behavioral health clinician in Emergency Departments. 

Her unique perspective and ability to help others suffering from mental health and/or addiction and serving those individuals at end of life, is the reason Meredith says she feels honored to do this holy work.

Dr. Goodhead is a Methodist Minister with 14 years Church based experience gained in several localities throughout the UK, both urban and rural. In his role at St Christopher’s Andrew is concerned to ensure that all End-of-Life Care professionals have the skills and confidence to offer spiritual assessment and ongoing support to all patients and their families. 

He has a particular interest in the concept of spiritual pain as a way of understanding spiritual need. For patients with faith needs Andrew is developing the pastoral and religious role of the Spiritual Care Lead. Andrew graduated in 2014 with the King’s College, London, MSc in Palliative Care. His dissertation explored the experiences and attitudes of community clergy in caring for dying people. 

Andrew has published his thesis with Wipf & Stock (USA) under the title A Crown and a Cross; the Origins, Development and Decline of the Methodist Class Meeting in Eighteenth Century England. 

In November 2010, Mortality published the results of Andrew’s research into memorialization: A textual analysis of memorials written by bereaved individuals and families in a hospice context. In July 2011, The European Journal of Palliative Care published Physiotherapy in Palliative care: the interface between function and meaning, this is a philosophical examination of how physical ability affects the way in which meaning can be made. 

His most recent paper, (accepted by Palliative Medicine) based on his MSc dissertation study is ‘I think you just learnt as you went along’ – Community clergy’s experiences of and attitudes towards caring for dying people: a pilot study [in process of publication]. Andrew is a co facilitator for the Spirituality Education Group on the European Association of Palliative Care and a member of the Spirituality Taskforce of the EAPC.

In this interview, Cathy Siebold who has witnessed firsthand the evolution of hospice care since its modern incarnation in the 1960s, presents a balanced and objective analysis of the movement’s accomplishments and failings.

You can also read more about that in her book “The Hospice Movement: Easing Death’s Pains.” 

She uses social movement theory to frame her discussion. Siebold traces the bell curve of growth, maturity, and decline that, to a point, has characterized the hospice movement. Founded by a diverse group of religious leaders, nurses, social workers, and laypeople, the movement was galvanized by the plight of a silent majority: dying patients, often isolated from family and friends in a hospital where intensive, last-ditch efforts to “cure” them were valued more than their own comfort and wishes. In its struggle to survive, the movement coalesced fairly quickly around the goal of securing eligibility for reimbursement from federally funded and private insurers. The movement attained this goal in the 1980s, giving the entire concept of hospice care legitimacy and, ironically, a secure place within the same health care system early hospice activists had struggled to escape. 

You can purchase the book here on amazon.

Terence Youk began work in film and television production in1986, first as a composer and later writing, producing, directing, and editing independent documentaries, crafting promotional media and producing news spots for a variety of broadcast clients. Under the auspices of the production company, Brook Hollow Productions, Inc., he has collaborated with carefully selected creative and technical associates according to the unique requirements of each production.

 

His programs for broadcast have aired on PBS, A&E, the Wisdom Channel as well as independent distributors of educational and presentation films crafted for nonprofit institutions, including: Thich Nhat Hanh & Plum Village, National Hospice Foundation, Institute of East-West Medicine and many others. He also has served as a freelance producer for several new gathering entities, including CNN, NBC, MSNBC, and ABC news.

 

EXPERIENCE

Producer, production & editor credits include National Geographic (Most Mad Seas), A&E (Most Mad Seas), Wisdom Channel (Thich Nhat Hanh: Roots of Peace)( now defunct), PBS National (Body & Soul), CT Public television (Backyard Bird Watcher), Outdoor Life Channel (Fly Fishing in the East). News Gathering: CNN, NBC News, MSNBC, ABC news. Promotional media content: National Hospice Foundation, NHPCO, VNA of Vermont, NH VNA & Vermont Institute of Natural Science.

 

Award-winning independently produced films include: Thich Nhat Hanh: Roots of Peace, Numen: The Nature of Plants and Pioneers of Hospice & the Birth of Modern Hospice and The Next Dali Lama? (Director Mickey Lemle) released in 2017 (served as assistant editor).

 

You can find more of Terence Youk’s work on his website HERE.

In today’s episode, Saul Ebema sits down to talk remotely with Charles James Parker- the new Director of Hospice Division for the Spiritual Care Association. Here is a little insight about Charles James Parker. • Originally from Long Island NY • Prior Active-Duty Air Force (over 17 years) • Ministry over 12 years • Chaplaincy background includes: Acute Care, Oncology, Palliative Care, and Hospice. • Currently serves as a hospice chaplain/bereavement coordinator in Biloxi MS. • Adjunct Professor with the University of Theology and Spirituality.

Marellen Mayers also works as a Hospice Chaplain at Gilchrist Hospice. She has also attained the following degrees.

·        A.A, degree in Early Childhood Education

·        B.A. degree in Human Services (Social Work)

·        M.A. degree in Holistic Spirituality

Her simple-to-read approach helps anyone experiencing the “grief brain” better navigate the immediate aftermath of unexpected loss.  Chelsea’s book is a wonderful reminder that grief is not insurmountable, and with courage and action you can move through it in one piece.

The Sudden Loss Survival Guide is available for purchase on Amazon and on Amazon Kindle Unlimited. You can also order directly on Chelsea Hanson’s Website to receive a free bonus.