This is one of the biggest questions I get, "how are death doulas and hospice different?" Or, "why would someone need an end of life doula when there is hospice?" Or, "are death doulas competing with hospice?" These are variations of the same question. Listen in as I give you a foundation of what role each plays.

5 Important things a Death Doula must know to help their professional practice  are: 1) Get the word out about your service before every little thing is in place; 2) Know, inside and out, what the #1 tool of the trade is and take great care of it; 3) ... go to our blog post to read the rest, better yet, listen in or even better, watch the video! blessings. :) Deanna www.qualityoflifecare.com

Reverend Bodhi Be discusses with me about living as a student of suffering, dying and grieving. "We don't value suffering in this culture, that is why we are always pushing it away." Join us in this heartfelt discussion on suffering, soul and spiritual life ... What if we got grounded in the world right here right now as a way of widening and deepening our spiritual life?

Join Us In Maui: 2nd Annual Death Doula Conference

Show Sponsor: Quality of Life Care, LLC. since 2005, supporting those who accompany the dying. End of Life Doula Training and Certificate Program

We had a fantastic time in this interview! But of course, I'm not talking with just anyone who is carefully living in between the lines--I'm speaking with Elena Lipson, Divine Self Care Mentor. Self care is more than a bubble bath, it is deep.

We are used to quick fixes and band aids and measuring our results often by grand moments of success or failure. But sometimes (and this is one of those times) 'success' as far as our care for our selves goes, should be measured over time. The proof is in our sense of well being, day after day. We know when we are off track. 

My hope is that listening to this podcast with Elena, who devotes her life to this topic, will motivate you to take even better care of yourself than you already are, perhaps help you 'get back on the wagon' if you've fallen off. 

Learn more about Elena here: www.elenalipson.com

End of Life Doula Training and Certificate Program. More HERE.

Quality of Life Care sponsors "Journey with Deanna" podcast. For more information how YOU may sponsor our mission of empowering others at the end of life, email Deanna, deanna(at)qualityoflifecare(dot)com

Our role as end of life doulas is not only for the imminent days of dying. Some people want to focus there and there are many other places where we can be so useful. In the hospital is one of them. Listen in as I go over what is involved.

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Dr. Micahel Barbato stays busy enlightening us in end of life matters for decades. Recently he has completed a study with other physicians regarding what they have found inin brain activity among some people at thte moment of death.

Listen in on our podcast today to hear all about it!

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Anyone can receive end of life training to know more about the time period, what to do, how to be helpful and to feel more comfortable assisting others. But not everyone who seeks this out has the 'calling.' The calling is that powerful desire deep in your bones that you knoow you are meant to offer yourself in this way in service to others as they die.

When people reach out to me, they talk about this and it is interesting that so many feel strange for having the calling to serve others at the end of life. They are told that by family and friends who don't understand them. For the first time, often people tell me they finally feel understood and don't feel like a weird person.

Hospice professionals and end of life doulas alike talk often about how people look at them when they say what they do and how they feel about thier work. It is profound to carry this calling. Most people respect it.

In this week's podcast I discuss the calling.

Yes! Refer to hospice as a death doula. You may be serving people who are not on hospice yet and who may not realize all they are missing by NOT getting the great care they are entitled to. You may be instrumental in relieving their suffering by getting them into palliative care (whether or not they are dying). Listen in as we talk about all this. 

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This interview with Sean Cunningham is so wonderful as you can hear the awe in his voice for the work of hospice. He shares how he came across the 'nurse with the purple hair,' and how he came to create the film.

World-renowned filmmaker of the Friday the 13th series, he takes us on quite a different journey this time. Easy to talk to and not at all what I expected, I hope you also enjoy hearing from someone who has discovered the inspiring nature of hospice work.

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Amy Wright Glenn earned her MA in Religion and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Amy is a Kripalu Yoga teacher, Birthing Mama® Prenatal Yoga and Wellness Teacher Trainer, (CD)DONA birth doula, hospital chaplain, and founder of the Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death. Amy is a regular contributor to PhillyVoice and author of Birth, Breath, and Death: Meditations on Motherhood, Chaplaincy, and Life as a Doula published in 2013. She is also the author of Holding Space: On Loving, Dying, and Letting Go available this fall through Parallax Press. Amy leads workshops and trainings both online and in person. In 2015, she created the popular "Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss" training that has trained hundreds of birth and mental health professionals around the world.

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As an end of life practitioner, having experience underneath you really does matter. We all must start somewhere yes. Get a group of hospice professionals together as we share stories of our beginning days and you will hear the funniest and sweetest stories.

That's my point: we don't know until we have been there.

There is a big movement going on right now of people who feel called to serve the dying and we call ourselves a multitude of things: death doula, end of life doula, end of life guide or coach, soul midwife, death midwife. Some are coming from hospice ranks, developing a private practice after a long career within the field. And there are others who are wanting to serve others without coming through the hospice channels.

As I think about this and know in my bones that you don't need a credential to serve the dying well, you DO need experience to do it well. This goes for the credentialed and non-credentialed alike.

This podcast discusses the biggest reasons why.

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Listen in as I discuss why it is so important to understand palliative care when you are an end of life doula. You will understand so much more about present services, especially if the person you are accompanying is not on hospice services when you begin working with them. This is paramount to your work.

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As you study the 3 keys to starting your end of life doula practice, you may feel awkward right now, but over time, as you learn more about these principles and practice them, you will feel better. I promise!

It's not rocket science to accompany the dying, it is a human endeavor, natural to us--it is something we have always done. However, if you want to do this in a professional capacity, it has been my experience that you need to have more intentional development.

Blessings on your journey.
love, Deanna

Last night sitting outside beside the powerful Maui ocean, Sharon and I talked about her own life and death journey.

She has been serving others at the end of life since 1986 in a variety of ways, as she weaves in her own path of healing her own mind, body and spirit.

There is a place for every single one of us who has this calling to be of help at the end of life in our communities. Regardless of how unconventional we feel we are, listen in as Sharon describes how her sacred journey unfolded into a powerful ministry.

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The Dying Well Collective in Canada is doing beautiful work for the community. This interview with Glenda Myles, Founder of the Collective illustrates how she the death doula role is bridging death care in Canada. The website: http://www.dyingwellcollective.com

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The Social Model Hospice House is a beautiful model for care for those at the end of life. Today listen in as I interview Kevin Miller, Executive Director of the Toni and Trish House in Auburn Michigan. He discusses the concept of the social model of a hospice house and what it takes to run it, very different than a hospice house run by a hospice agency. The caregivers get tremendous support for up to 90 days. Visit the Toni and Trish House website here: https://toniandtrishhouse.org/

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The beautiful ministry of the chaplain during the end of life time period is one of the best offerings of hospice and hospitals. A great chaplain can do more to facilitate healing than most other roles or therapies or strategies combined. 

Jo Jensen is one of these people who has this kind of skill and presence and has served children and adults alike. I have the great pleasure to know her and I wanted to introduce you to her.

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Join Janis Underwood and I in tackling a touchy subject...that of a person who wants to do their calling every day, not just after "work." The person who has no trust fund, organization to pay for them or a financially supportive partner. I am talking about most people who feel inspired to serve in a soulful way and they must deal with the issue of money. Janis is the Founder of Soul Biz Startup and learned first-hand the difficulties in building a soul-based business. After a long search for the right solution to help build her healing practice, she found herself looking to her small business experience, technical career and spiritual practices for answers. She now helps other soul-based business owners step into empowered entrepreneurship. website: http://www.soulbizstartup.com/

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Support for self-care among workers who serve the dying is not as popular as you may think. It seems obvious that for hospice workers, hospital workers, firefiighters, paramedics and others in the healthcare world that taking very good care of ourselves would be a given, understood by all and supported by our employers.Craig Williams, L.A.c., Clinical Herbalist AHG, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Author, Health Coach, and so much more shares the hour with me discussing this deep topic. I've been working with him since September; he's kind, wise, brilliant and has helped me to turn my life around to put it mildly! Visit his website at: http://www.ayurvedaaustin.com/index.html

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For the majority of people, the space between birth and death hold their attention, and is the focus of their journey. But for Patty Burgess, the ending point of death, with its surrounding fear, stigmas and mystery, is a rich area to indulge her ever expanding curiosity and passion for heartfelt life experiences. Join Patty and I as we discuss her work in the field and qualities that make for a wonderful EOL Doula. Please visit her website for great information: http://www.DoingDeathDifferently.com 

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This week's podcast gives some background on why there is death doula training. There is a huge movement of "light bearers," people who are called to serve the dying, coming forward looking for mentoring and training and to learn from those who know how to accompany others through death. Hospice is one way to serve and there are others being called who want to be helpful to families and hospice as well, people who don't fit the traditional roles of hospice. The real beauty is not that there are more options from which to learn the wisdom of others but that there are so many people coming forward who WANT it. It's a beautiful thing that is happening. 

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Ellen Rand, author of the book, "Last Comforts: Notes From the Forefront of Late Life Care,"has been a journalist for more than 40 years, including five years as a housing columnist for The New York Times. She is a hospice volunteer with Holy Name Medical Center in Bergen County, New Jersey, a member of the Hospice Volunteer Association and the Association of Health Care Journalists. Her essays have appeared in several medical humanities publications, including Pulse—Voices from the Heart of Medicine; KevinMD; and Life Matters Media. She blogs at http://lastcomforts.com.

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Most people love hospice and the mission of hospice. And of course, there is always room for improvement.

"In Dr. Margaret Overton's new memoir, HOPE FOR A COOL PILLOW (Outpost 19, March 2016), she explores about two polar opposite experiences with hospice during the decline and death of her mother and father.

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Vigil days (pre-death vigil) is what most people think of when they think of serving the dying and their families. Here are some tips that may be helpful if you are considering doing this service professionally.  

This week's show I am discussing the shadow side of this wonderful ability of ours as humans to feel and live in compassion. We all may find ourselves in one or more of these spaces as we give to others. As you listen to the talk, please just see how you feel in your body as you listen. Did you get tight when I described one or more of these? If so, explore it and write about what it brought up.

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One of the wonderful topics I share with other doulas is what is in our EOL Doula bag? What do we take with us when we go to families? Also in this discussion we include some ways we support people as well. Each doula is different in how they support people so our "bags" will be different. Please add to the discussion, what is in your bag?

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Blane Brazier has worked full time in hospice since 2008. He has a unique ministry of using his guitar or sometimes the ukulele to engage the spiritual life of his patient's. He currently works at Amity Hospice as their Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator where he also facilitates grief groups for bereaved family members. He recently wrote a booklet called CELEBRATING LIFE a Compassionate Guide Through Funeral Planning. The booklet serves as the last chapters or Afterward of Barbara Karnes GONE FROM MY SIGHT. A short read that deals with the "what's next" of preparing for final arrangements. You can find it in the Amazon book store and on Kindle

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Today I am speaking with Kelly Roman about her story of living in forgiveness for her father who died this year; and, how she is getting through the holidays. She is the Director of Recreation at a long term care facility in New Jersey; she has completed her studies this year as a Death Doula and as a Spiritual Counselor. Thank you for sharing your story with us Kelly. This is just one story of many in my 2015 Series: "Life and Grief Through the Holidays." http://love-empower-release.me/

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Today's podcast is a discussion I had with Martha Koock Ward of Austin. She is a delightful woman, 5th generation Austinite, and I loved what her family is doing to honor one of their deceased siblings. I asked her to share with us for the series I am doing called "Life and Grief Through the Holidays. 

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Present day healthcare services are squeezed for time, doulas and practitioners need experiences and the person who is ill and dying and their family needs attention. If we can work together on creating a system that uses the skills of the doulas in serving people as they gain practical mastery of the art of it all, we will best serve everyone who is concerned that these doulas are well trained.

If you are a person who sees the brilliance in this and works in hospice, home health or the hospital and wants to be part of making history, email me and lets talk. deanna@qualityoflifecare.com. 

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We all go through loss. It can be devastating regardless of what time of year it is. Many people describe an extra heaviness during the holiday season (end of the year) and I wanted to address this with stories. People who have been there and are there now.

We get strength from each other through our stories. I am not trying to fix anyone, help you “get over it,” or anything like this. My intention is to bring us together in community, across the miles, and share a common experience together. Every side of this will be addressed by whomever decides to join me. Whether you are ill, recovering, dying… or whether you are a loved one, paid caregiver, medical person or bereaved. Share with us.

This Series will run from November  25, 2015 – January 1, 2016. There will be audios, videos, blabs, written stories, pictures…whatever you want to share.

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Amanda Carr is an ER nurse who has worked ERs around the country. She is on a mission. Her blog, Changing the Face of Dying, www.changingthefaceofdying.com, is where you can find her sharing her observations and making a difference. She recently accompanied me on my 2nd Doula Journey to New Zealand and Australia and we not only shared a wonderful experience meeting world leaders in end of life and seeing beautiful countryside, but we met our own souls and dug deep in our own spiritual nature.

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Meeting Dr. Barbato and his wife Ann was one of the highlights of my trip to Australia. He has been a physician for over 50 years and Hospice Medical Director for over 20. He is not only an accomplished physician, author and educator but a very kind soul and lovely human being. Listen in as he shares about the 'deep sleep' state, about the hardest part of dying, about demedicalizing dying. We spent Saturday afternoon at his home in Kiama.

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I am in New Zealand as this podcast is created overlooking the majestic Cathedral Cove. My heart was soaring as I conquered big fears in coming here. The fear of flying stopped me from traveling the last 20 years. What is stopping you from doing what you love? Is anything? Are you doing, being living as you love to do and be now?

Let's live our dreams together. We are only here for a short time.

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What you have learned as a death doula is the same set of skills and awarenesses that you need now, during COVID-19. Its not that we need new skills, its that we need to dive deeper within for a newer deeper level of self care to be that guiding light that we already are, whether we are aware of it or not. 

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Listen in as Zenith tells me about the film made about her and her thoughts of empowering families. I am so grateful to be spending the Day of the Dead with her November 8, 2015 during my trip to Australia and New Zealand. For more information on this: www.doulajourney.com.

From Zenith's website: "I am not fixed in any belief, religion or dogma, I embrace them all and work towards a more universal and accepting approach, open to discovery, and in love with the mystery. What happens after death will become clear to us when we die, It is our journey to get there that is my interest and passion.  Ultimately, I am inspired by the words of the Dalai Lama, “my religion is simple, my religion is kindness”. The Documentary website: Zen and The Art of Dying

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Are you a person that wants to make a difference in your community related to illness, dying, death and mourning? 

You can and you don't have to train with anyone to do so. What communities need are safe spaces where individuals can join together and explore their feelings and thoughts around these topics.

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There is still so much misunderstanding about Palliative Care in and outside of Healthcare. There are educational videos I have found on the internet and definitions about Palliative Care that are flat out wrong.

What is wrong: they are saying that palliative care is what you use at the end of life.

Listen in and get the real scoop.

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I'm inviting you to explore this topic within yourself and with people you love and trust. I am inviting you to not be in grand, heated debates but in introspective, respectful discussion with others. Practice the discipline of silence and respect as you hear what your partner is saying about their thoughts on the subject.

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There is an explosive growth of people wanting to serve others as companions and service providers of all kinds. This is their vocation; they want to serve full time, not just after work or on weekends.

The willingness to pursue their vision of serving others opens many doors for people in their personal life as well. It is very common that people will give themselves permission to explore and pursue new interests and deepen what they are already doing because now they are giving life to their calling.

This week, meet Monique VanGuten.

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Heather Poduska is a personal brand strategist, speak-to-sell expert for entrepreneurs, image consultant, and former professional operatic soprano. Heather uses her expertise to teach entrepreneurs how to clarify and deliver their own unique and profitable brand message so they can attract and convert ideal clients .

I had the idea to talk with her about her ideas of how principles of branding could help our end of life "death positive" movement. Listen in!

Heather's website: http://www.clearvoicebranding.com/

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Karen Van Vuuren has been a part of what has grounded this "death positive" movement in the USA for over the last 20 years. When you think about the power that our ancestors have in our present day lives, I want you to think of Karen's story and let it impact you. Karen's efforts to transform people's fear of dying is to be commended. Her latest project, a documentary entitled "Go in Peace" is about veterans at the end of life. Karen's website: http://www.naturaltransitions.org/

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I spoke with Nina, longtime hopice nurse, last week about her book and this week's podcast is a glimpse into what makes her tick.In From Sun to Sun, Nina Angela McKissock goes from home to home and within the residential hospice to give care, and shares her experiences and lessons learned in reflections about dying.

Nina's website:http://ninaangelamckissock.com/

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As a Certified Thanatologist and founder of Practically Dying, Kim Mooney offers private consultations and workshops to help individuals explore how to live based on their highest values throughout their lives and into their deaths. Through workshops, presentations and consultations, she works with individuals, families and organizations to provide the resources they need to successfully navigate a journey from wellness in life to wellness in death.  website: http://www.practically-dying.com/

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Jim Bates has been a funeral consumer advocate volunteer for over 25 years; serving in local, state and national leadership positions. Locally, he leads a board of directors who help consumers with deathcare issues in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, as well as teaching a seniors course on funeral planning at a local community college. Statewide, Mr. Bates serves as the legislative liaison in the state capitol, defending consumer rights and authoring consumer-friendly legislation. 

website: http://www.fcant.org/

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You can heal from your illness and NOT have to suffer. That is the message in this video. Unconventional ways to use the medicine most think only hospice uses. (all death doulas and healthcare advocates should know backwards and forwards whats in this video.)

love, Deanna

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There are so many things that could happen in this time period if we were not so busy and applauded for fighting it. Can we stretch what is acceptable behavior as we are dying to include activities that show we are lovingly and with great dignity and grace choosing to learn to die in a way that honors us? Can that be just as acceptable as fighting our dying and expecting a miracle? If not, why not? 

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We have a wonderful time in dialogue about "Thunder," a dramatic film about coming of age and deals with themes of identity, family, and fear. Grief is a universal theme and central to this film, which is about a young male death doula and his relationship with his grandfather as he dies. Maxwell and I explore quite a bit about the movie, our own experiences and life. Join us! website: http://www.maxwelladdae.com/

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Beth is a certified professional life coach serving women impacted by cancer. As a two-time cancer survivor she recognizes the need for a consistent and constant resource throughout the cancer experience. As a coach, Beth partners with you from point of diagnosis through treatment and beyond, enabling you to take action aligned with your personal beliefs and needs. Serving as partner, practical facilitator, and objective listener, you regain your footing and show up fully engaged in your own healing process throughout your cancer journey. Her Website

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Dr. Mark Carlson and Laurie Rock are leading the pack when it comes to innovative solutions to caring for seniors.

It's not just about chronic disease management, its about wellness, being proactive about living well that got my attention and wanting to speak with Dr. Carlson. He explains not only pharmacogenetic testing, but with 25+ years of oncology experience behind him, his in depth knowledge about what it takes to creatively address quality of life in the midst of health care challenges is enlightening.

Time. It really is about taking time with people. And it is about utilizing the latest developments in medicine and pharmacy to clearly develop a plan, especially when a person has "tried everything," and is still suffering.

Dr. Carlson's website  Contact Laurie Rock for more information about pharmacogenetic testing: 713-703-9985 or email her at Laurie lauriewalkerrock@gmail.com

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