Explore every episode of the podcast The Traveler's Guide to Life

Today, we’ll be discussing loving someone who is on a palliative care journey. It’s really dynamic, isn’t it? I imagine it’s a relief seeing someone you care about receiving more care that they might’ve really needed.

For sure. Especially if you’re a caregiver, caring for someone might be rewarding, but also exhausting. And having the extra helping hand that Palliative care can provide is such a help to the patient and their family.

In today’s episode, we are exploring the concept of cumulative grief, and why it can be so hard to navigate.

Yes, cumulative grief can be so complicated when you’re the one experiencing it. And of course, we don’t talk about it enough. Grief can be about many things, not just losing a friend or family member. And it’s very possible for us to be grieving multiple things at once.

Today's episode focuses on the thing a lot of people want to know about but don't ask about; the actual dying process. What this end-of-life journey physically looks like. 

For both the hosts the actual process of dying, what it looks like, was never something discussed before a loved one was on hospice. While it was a lot to take in knowing what was "normal" and what to expect when was so helpful.

Today's topic is about things that happen behind the scenes for the patient's enrolled in the AIM program. The benefits to the program that seem to take a "back seat", if you will.

Perfect analogy and yes, no one likes a back seat driver, but these aspects of the AIM program are not the annoying back seat driver you've joked about. These pieces make the AIM program such a wonderful source of additional support for our patients. 

Today's episode has us exploring the idea of staying connected even after the end-of-life journey. Is staying connected to someone who had died a "normal" part of grief? 

Absolutely! It's not something that everyone feels comfortable with but it is completely normal. We don't talk about grief and what that looks like so when we experience it, it can be overwhelming and confusing.  

Today we're looking at loving someone who is on their own Hospice journey. Having loved someone who was on Hospice the hosts can tell you there is a lot to this. There is a lot to consider, for sure. Loving someone who is on their end-of-life journey with Hospice support is both heartbreaking and beautiful. 

Today's episode has us exploring some decisions that will need to be made along the way as someone moves toward their end-of-life, specifically talking about having a Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) as well as using something like the Five Wishes.

Today’s journey has us looking at the road ahead and talking about the concept of anticipatory grief. 

This is such an important topic and it’s one that gets frequently written off as “just stress.” It’s not something that everyone will experience with every loss but when you do experience it, it can be a bit of a double-edged sword.

Today’s conversation will explore how the Hospice journey starts for a patient. Reaching out to Hospice for additional support sooner means you and your family get support from nurses, home health aides, spiritual care staff, and social workers sooner.

Today’s episode is helping us understand more about the Palliative Care journey and the Advanced Illness Management (AIM) program here at Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley. 

The Palliative Care journey is the perfect place to start because most people need support like our AIM program way before they need Hospice care. 

AIM, Palliative Care, isn’t hospice? What’s the biggest difference?

AIM is not Hospice. There are quite a few differences but the biggest one is that people on AIM only need to have a chronic condition, they’re not in the terminal or end stages of their illness. 

The Traveler's Guide to Life Podcast, presented by Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, is back for the 7th season with 2 new hosts!

Join Kate and Skip as they explore end of life planning, palliative care, hospice care, death, dying, grief, and how to face it all with courage, compassion, and maybe even a laugh or two. 

It's a journey we're all on...let's keep talking about it. 

Taking Control of the Wheel: Writing Your Own Obituary

Still Have Gas in the Tank: Lessons Learned from Seniors on How to Enjoy the Journey

Picnic Basket

Hitting the Speed Limit

Easing Off the Gas: Care for the Caregivers

Selecting What Model Works for You: Burial Options

Season 5 Episode 7

Season 5, Episode 6

Season 5 Episode 5 

Season 5 Episode 4: Reading on the Road

Join hosts Mary and Linda in an inspiring journey through the pages of some captivating books in this episode of our podcast. As avid readers, they delve into a discussion about their current literary companions, focusing on works that explore the art of seizing life's moments to the fullest. From seizing opportunities to cherishing every experience, they explore the profound messages embedded in these reads. Tune in as Mary and Linda share insights, reflections, and personal anecdotes sparked by these thought-provoking narratives. Whether you're a bookworm or simply seeking inspiration, this episode promises to ignite your passion for living fully.

Season 5 Episode 3: Car Ride Conversations

Hosts Linda & Mary discuss a new upcoming project called the "Life Story Project" tune in to hear more about the program and other tips for how to live life to the fullest and create a legacy. 

Part 2 of the discussion between Mary Jones, Hospice Director of Family Support Services and Brother John Youngblood, Hospice Spiritual Care Coordinator

Season 5 Episode 1: Holding Hands Walking Each Other Home (Part 1) 

In this episode Mary Jones, sits down with Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley's Spiritual Care Coordinator, Brother John Youngblood. Together they discuss the importance of Spiritual Care as part of the holistic approach to caring for Hospice patients and their families, meeting their needs and often having difficult conversations. John also talks about his experience as a new member of the team, along with his day-to-day responsibilities and his ideals and approach of implementing spiritual care to meet the needs of our patients or connecting with them with the people in their own faith community. 

Starting Point- In this episode, Mary Jones sits down with current and founding Hospice SLV Board Member Frank McLaughlin to discuss the origin of Hospice care and the early evolution of care in the North Country, Frank also walks us through our organization's starting point and progression over the years.

In this episode, Linda and Mary discuss the details of our recently launched community resource workbook called, "Road Maps for the Journey's End."

Season 3 Episode 6

Season 3 Episode 5

Season 3 Episode 4

Season 3 Episode 3

Season 3 Episode 2

Season 3 Episode 1: Mary Jones sits down with Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley's, We Honor Veterans Program Coordinator Amanda Mason. In this episode, they discuss the history of the program, details about the program, where it is headed in the future, and the plan for the upcoming Veterans Day on Friday, November 11th. 

To learn more about Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley's, We Honor Veterans program visit us on the web at www.hospiceslv.org/wehonorveterans or contact Amanda Mason at amason@hospiceslv.org

Season 2 Episode 8 - First Aid Kit - In the face of all kinds of loss, how to heal yourself (so you can better care for others).

Guest Speaker: Kate Favaro, Hospice Bereavement Coordinator

Season 2 Episode 7- Dead Battery - What you need to know about funerals 

In this episode, Mary Jones sits down with Chad Green, Funeral Director/ Owner of Donaldson Funeral Home in Massena, and Donaldson- Seymour Funeral Home in Potsdam. This discussion provides an overview of the funeral planning process.  

Welcome, Chad to the podcast! 

Season 2 Episode 6 - Dead Battery - What you need to know about funerals 

In this episode, Mary Jones sits down with Chad Green, Funeral Director/ Owner of Donaldson Funeral Home in Massena, and Donaldson- Seymour Funeral Home in Potsdam. This discussion provides an overview of the funeral planning process.  

Welcome, Chad to the podcast! 

Season 2 Episode 4 - Who Is Driving the Car? - Being in control of your healthcare decisions for advance planning 

Advanced Care Planning is not about planning for your death. It is about making health care decisions that are right for you. We don’t' consider planning for important health care decisions because that won’t happen for a long time and discussing dying is sad and depressing. At Hospice we have learned over the last 40 years that talking about and planning for serious health issues allows patients and family to spend time with each other making memories and sharing stories until the patient’s last breath.  

Season 2 Episode 3: The teen years are the bridge between childhood and adulthood. As with any change, there is grief to navigate . Here are the key discussion points from todays episode  with Linda and Mary. 

• Adults supporting teens do not assume and lower your expectations. 
•  Teens need support, understanding, a listening ear and boundaries. 
• Encourage teens to create their own coping strategies 

Thank you to the Potsdam Public Library, for the use of their podcasting studio! 

Season 2 Episode 2: On this episode of the Travelers Guide to Life, Linda and Mary uncover the facts about how to handle grieving kids (12 and Under) The conversation leads to identifying key actions and conversation points, such as not excluding (protecting) children from the conversation and using concrete language and terms to help them process and understand death.  Listen in for all the full details and to learn more through another important in depth discussion, on the Travelers Guide to Life. 

Season 2 Episode 1: Welcome back to Season 2 of the Travelers Guide to Life. In this episode Mary and Linda pick up where we left off from Season 1's episode of Welcome to Holland. We read the second part of the essay and dive into a deep discussion, as we analyze this wonderful essay and how it applies to theme of our podcast. Listen, Share and Enjoy! 

Season 1 Episode 7

Season 1 Episode 6: On today's episode we talk about gratitude, intention, and celebration or, to put it another way, this is about why it is important to stop and smell the roses

Season 1 Episode 5: Prompts & Ideas to get the conversation started. As a kid, one of the best parts of going on a road trip was the games we played in the car.  Games like, I spy, 20 questions, and License plate bingo, kept us busy for hours. They were amusing and sometimes led to great conversations and family stories. That's what good games do; they help us remember and talk about what matters. 

Season 1 Episode 4: Did your family call it the glove box or the glove compartment? The glove box has long been viewed as the place to store information for journeys; like user manuals, maps and trinkets collected along the way. In this episode, Linda & Mary discuss the important documents we need to complete and have on hand at the end of life. The glove box is an important document holder. But it serves no purpose when it's empty.

For more information and resources visit our website: http://www.hospiceslv.org

Season 1 Episode 2