Intention setting and asking for guidance are key to showing up in the best possible way, when visiting a loved one who is dying. Being open, listening, and observing will help you intuitively know what is needed. 

Reverend Bodhi Be is a trainer of death doulas and founded an organization along with his wife Leilah Be and Ram Dass, on Maui, working with families and professionals to engage in advocacy and educational programs on conscious aging, dying and death

Reverend Bodhi Be, Death Doula and Founder of Doorway into Light offers things to consider when visiting a dying person.

Learn ways to stimulate your vegus nerve and try a breathing exercise.  I also guide you through the five senses practice to help you feel less overwhelmed.

Two tools to immediately reduce anxiety

Join us as Lori tells stories and shares what she has learned from 20+ years of working with people with dementia.  She encourages those visiting a loved one with dementia to separate the disease from the person, to let go of ego and to not take things personally.

Long-time Hospice volunteer, Lori Hallberg, shares practices that help those with dementia feel safe, comfortable and validated.

We discuss how to support our children and offer understanding, even if their grieving process looks different than our own.

Erin notes that closure and ceremony are helpful in processing and suggests letting your children come up with ways to honor their loved one that feels good to them.

We learn to be aware of warning signs and are reminded to seek professional help right away for trauma.

Erin Whitney, MA, LPC with Greatness Connection offers healthy ways to talk to our children about death, dying, loss and grief.

Grief and grieving look different for all of us. Many people use creative outlets during their process, including Tanya, who wrote everything down that she could remember about her father. This was a cathartic experience for her and culminated in writing beautiful songs in her father’s honor, one of which is played at the end of the episode.

Songwriter and musician Tanya Winch opens up about the loss of her father and her grieving process. We discuss how she used her creativity in writing not only to navigate this incredibly painful time but also to firmly root the memories of her father in her heart. 

What is the difference between palliative and hospice care? When should a person forgo curative care? Why is it important to engage your hospice team early? What are the stages of dying (biological process)? Join us as the incredible Trailwinds Hospice team answers these important questions and more.

Trailwinds Hospice team members Cara Leisher, RN, Clinical Director, Myra Tuckerman, MD, and Jane Peterson, RN, ADN, Case Manager, discuss the importance of engaging hospice early and help us to understand the stages of dying in order to empower people at end of life.

Lillian gives us an overview of hospice and digs into the various roles that make up the hospice team. Did you know that not all hospices are created equal and that you have a say in choosing the best fit for your loved one? Join us as we talk about hospice in general, the different types of hospices, and the questions you should be asking when interviewing care teams for your loved one.

Trail Winds Hospice CEO, Lilliann Osborne-Durst goes on what to expect from a hospice team and why it is important to interview hospices prior to engaging one. You have a choice!

Do you want to show up for someone you care about, but aren't sure what to say or do? We discuss ways to show support and care for loved ones who are passing on, and also for their spouses, family and friends who are grieving. 

We are compiling a list ranging from small gestures to profound action to take for the ones we love. Please share your ideas with me at jami@lightattheendpod.com



Jen Haies on meaningful ways to show up for your loved ones during difficult times.

We discuss normalizing the conversation around death as it is uncomfortable for most people.

Resources:

theconversationproject.org

BJ Miller's book Beginners Guide to the End 

Geriatric care manager and licensed professional counselor Ellen Knapp on how to gently approach the topic of death with your loved one.

We discuss how important it is to take care of yourself so you can show up in the best possible way for the people you love. 

In order to process and move through your own overwhelming emotions, you need reliable wellness tools. We offer a variety of tools so you may find the ones that work best for you and go back to them over and over again.

Jackie talks about breath work, prayer, meditation, journaling, poetry and more. Resources include:

Dr. Dan Siegel's Wheel of Awareness -https://drdansiegel.com/wheel-of-awareness/

Tara Brach's RAIN method: https -//www.tarabrach.com/rain/

Snow Geese by Mary Oliver



Wellness Coach Jackie Szablewski on navigating your emotions during difficult times.

We are here to offer tools, resources, and guidance for those supporting a loved one at the end of life. Episodes include practical and heartfelt advice, ways to show up for your dying loved one, and strategies to help navigate your own emotions during this difficult time.

We will talk to a variety of people from therapists and death doulas to hospice care teams and mindfulness experts. We will talk to people like you, who have real-life experience and wisdom to share. 

We want to hear from you. What resources do you need? Who do you want to hear from? Email me at jami@lightattheendpod.com

Please note that these episodes are conversations between friends and are meant to be inspirational. They are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have.

Jami Calabrese

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