Hospice care: learning what you need to know when the time comes in NEXT AGE episode 4

There is no more tender time than the months, weeks and days before a loved one's passing. More likely than not, hospice care is going to be involved. Still, many people don’t fully understand what hospice looks like. So today we’re breaking down what you need to know so you’ll be a little more prepared when it matters. 

We'll hear from two Tennesseans who relied on hospice care, both at home and at a care facility, during each of their mother's final days. We'll talk with representatives from hospice agencies in Middle Tennessee and an end-of-life doula about how to prepare for end-of-life care and how to make the most of it. And we'll discuss the grief services hospice providers offer during the months following a loved one's passing.

In our monthly series NEXT AGE, we’re having conversations about growing older — and efforts to reframe aging in a way that helps all of us. Our show is made possible, in part, by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and our series on aging is made possible by a grant from The West End Home Foundation — enriching the lives of older adults though grantmaking, advocacy and community collaboration.

This episode was produced by Katherine Ruppelt.

GUESTS:

• Tiffany Johnson, Caregiver for mom who passed on hospice
• Chuck Cardona, Caregiver for mom who passed on hospice
• Dr. Martha Presley Tran, Alive, Chief Medical Officer, 
• Meredith Portwood, Heartn’ Soul Hospice, Community Education Representative
• Bre Clark,  End-of-life doula, hospice volunteer
• Ali Drescher, Alive, Sr. Director of Mission Based Services

Further Listening:

• The Cost Of Dying: Modern Death Hits Home For A Health Care Reporter