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Ask a Death Doula Podcast is a weekly show hosted by Hospice and Oncology nurse Suzanne B. O’Brien. Suzanne is the CEO and founder of International Doulagivers Institute. This is a vital platform for discussions and interviews that will bring back death into the natural fold of life. Ask a Death Doula will share vital education on how to care for those who are dying as well as sharing inspiring stories from working at the bedside with over 1000 dying people from all around the world. Please visit www.doulagivers.com to access our free education and resource center. About International Doulagivers Institute: The goal of Doulagivers Institute is simple and powerful - to provide affordable and accessible education and support to everyone in the world so that every person has the opportunity to die with comfort and dignity in their own home. Death is something that we all have in common no matter our race, religion, or socioeconomic status. We believe that this education to support people to have the most positive end of life experience is a human right, not a privilege.
Episodes
Wednesday May 03, 2023
Wednesday May 03, 2023
Date: 5/3/23
Death is having a rebirth!
People today are going back to their roots with the re-adoption of home wakes and funerals. Centuries ago, this was the common way to handle death. People would die at home and remain there for the viewing and the ceremony to honor their life. In fact, the “living room” was given its name because that’s where those who were still alive congregated before they went into the parlor to pay their respects to the deceased person.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Topic #2 How by doing these 2 things makes a better end of life experience by 80%-90%.
Topic #3 Why Death is actually our greatest teacher about life.
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
End of Life Level 1 Training for Family Caregivers Click here
Learn More: Doulagivers Institute Click here
Monday Apr 17, 2023
Monday Apr 17, 2023
Date: 4/18/23
I have been a hospice nurse since 2008, but it was on a volunteer trip to Zimbabwe, Africa, that I was taught the true power of our presence as the best medicine there is.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Topic #2 The Great Teachings From Those at Island Hospice
Topic #3 How We are a Global Community
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
End of Life "World Training Day" for Family Caregivers Click here
Free Family Caregiver Resource Center Click here
Learn More: Doulagivers InstituteClick here
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Date: 4/13/23
Caregiver Syndrome and How to Avoid It
Brief summary of episode: Family caregivers are often faced with a unique set of challenges as they juggle the demands of work, family and caregiving. From managing complex medical tasks to navigating legal and financial issues, it can be difficult for caregivers to find balance in their lives while providing the best possible care for their loved ones. At the end of life, it is common for a family member (usually an adult daughter) to be suddenly thrown into a position where they are fully responsible for the care of their dying loved one. Although hospice services help tremendously with structuring a care plan and receiving the necessary equipment and medications to provide this care, the family is still responsible for the majority of hands-on care. Because the current system leaves most of the work to unpaid family members, it takes a toll on already stressed and grieving individuals and leads to Caregiver Syndrome - a silent epidemic that is taking place in our country and around the world as a direct result of an inadequate elder and end-of-life care system. We can, and we must do better.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Topic #2 Why it's Important to understand.
Topic #3 How you can Avoid it.
Free Family Caregiver Resource Center Click here
Learn More: Doulagivers InstituteClick here
Wednesday Feb 01, 2023
Wednesday Feb 01, 2023
SomaEnergetics is a series of Sound Therapy Techniques developed by David Hulse at the turn of the century using the power of the ancient frequencies of the solfeggio. We use the highest quality Solfeggio Tuning forks, which are custom-made for SomaEnergetics by a manufacturer who has over 4 decades of experience developing quality, custom tuning forks. We offer training in live workshops and via Self-Study Online Courses. Our Color Solfeggio Energy Tuners and Body Tuners are available exclusively from SomaEnergetics.
This wonderful quote from Dr. Horowitz and Dr. Puleo’s, book – Healing Codes for the Biological Apocalypse sums up the importance of this work: "Nature and Grace"—the physical and the spiritual—reflect each other and reveal "the great fact" that there is a secret tone scale—or set of sounds—that vibrates at the exact frequencies required to transform spirit to matter, or matter to spirit"
FREE UNIVERSAL LIFE MASTERY MASTERCLASS- Three Steps to Conscious Awakening
Register Here: https://my.demio.com/ref/HIjLO8sw1heZ...
We are on the brink of a personal and collective shift. The world is full of chaos, and we are untethered to our spiritual being part of who we are and why we are here.
In this free webinar, you will learn:
1) How this is the time in our humanity for the big shift to take place. We are being called to go from a world running on fear, power, and wealth to one of love and compassion.
2) How when we raise our individual consciousness, we raise the collective consciousness.
3) How new research in both Neuroscience and Quantum Physics is validating that we can take control of our mind, body, and life to awaken to our highest consciousness.
SAVE YOUR SPOT Here: https://my.demio.com/ref/HIjLO8sw1heZ...
To Learn More About SomaEnergetics CLICK HERE: https://somaenergetics.com/collection...
Thursday Jan 05, 2023
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
I’m thrilled to introduce you to these two heart centered dynamic women.
Karen Hendrickson and Jo-Anne Haun are the founders of Death Doula Network of BC.
They are passionate about making and creating connections throughout the Death industry, communities, and the world.
I LOVE to support people who are doing amazing work and making the world a better place. Here are two of these women.
In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, You will hear:
-How Death Doula Network of BC was born
-The Blessings of COVID bringing global awareness to end of life
-How Doulas are an asset to patients, families and the medical team
We are a global family and Doulas are being used all over the world now to help provide the much needed end of life support to help create a positive end of life.
“With the right education, kindness and support, end of life can be the natural and sacred experience it was meant to be”~ Suzanne
Learn More about Death Doula Network of BC Here: https://ddnbc.com
Take the next FREE Level 1 End of Life Doula Training Here: https://www.doulagivers.com
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Whether it’s a simple spat with your spouse or long-held resentment toward a family
Forgiveness will set you free and allow you to create the future exactly the way you want it to be.
In this webinar, you will learn:
1. What forgiveness is & why we must learn to forgive.
Working with those at the end of life has taught me EVERYTHING about life and about how to live fully. Sharing this information with you is my life’s purpose, and the greatest lesson that I could ever share with you is the transformative power of forgiveness.
Suzanne B. O'Brien RN
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Join the FREE Hospice of Green Country event with Suzanne B. O'Brien RN on October 26th at 6pm EST Below!
Register Here: https://forms.hospiceofgreencountry.org/october-26th-suzanne-obrien-rn/
If your loved one got a terminal diagnosis today, would you know how to care for them?
Unfortunately most people would answer no.
Most end of life experiences are NOT going well today, and it is the lack of understanding about the natural process of end of life and the lack of skills on how to care for someone who is dying that is the main missing piece.
Doulagivers International has created a global platform to change that and it is offered for FREE!!!!
We have been dying for thousands of years, it is only in the last 100 that we have become so far removed from the awareness of death being a natural, sacred part of life's journey.
In this episode, you’ll hear about how Doulagivers is “filling the gap” between families and hospice care to provide the answer to a fragmented medical system and allow patients and families the best opportunity to have a positive passing. And for those of you who are caught in the same place and don’t know the skills on how to care for someone at the end of life — don’t fret, because we have a free live online training for you right around the corner! (Take the End of Life Doula Training)
About Suzanne B. O’Brien RN
Suzanne B. O’Brien RN is an award winning hospice and oncology nurse and proud founding member of NHPCO’s ( National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization) End of Life Doula Council. A Council advancing Doulagivers/Death Doulas and Hospice Care to provide the best possible support to both patients and families.
The Perfect Storm:
9 out of 10 people want to be cared for at home when terminally ill.
Death is the number 1 fear in the world.
People come on hospice services very late in their process.
It is a culmination of these factors that are heavily contributing to end of life not going well for most. It is time to change that.
As a former hospice and oncology nurse, who has had the honor and privilege to have worked with over 1,000 people at the end of life, I can tell you that the answer to end of life not going well is to bring back the truth about death (how it is a natural and sacred experience) and to teach family caregivers the skill of how to care for someone who is dying BEFORE they ever need it.
80%-90% of a positive end of life is planning ahead:
Learning the skills on how to care for someone who is dying changes everything.
If you answered “I don't know how,” then read on - because I’m here to share with you the inspiring story of how Doulagivers is working with hospices to “Fill the Gap” in mainstream medical care so that every person has an opportunity to have a “Good Death.”
I know what it’s like to feel scared and unprepared to care for your loved one at the end of life. I work with families on this everyday. It does not need to be this way. There is free training and support that is available to you right now. Do not wait until it is too late.
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to get a terminal diagnosis?
What would you do?
How would you cope?
What would you say to people?
What would your everyday life look like?
If you answered “I don't know”, then read on, because I’m here to share with you an incredible woman that will change your mind– and here’s why:
Number one: Jody has been given a terminal stage 4 ovarian cancer diagnosis and may be doing more with her busy days than I am.
Number two: Her sharing the power of presence and how every single day is a gift of gratitude and awareness that has brought new meaning to her life.
Believe me, I know what it’s like to feel scared and uncertain. Death is the number one fear in our world. That fear is paralyzing and is preventing us from accessing one of the greatest teachers about how to live.
In this episode, you’ll hear from Jody Stokhamer, an amazing woman who shares how she feels more healthy and alive today with a stage 4 hospice diagnosis than ever before in her life.
And for those of you who are caught in the same place of fear of death — don’t fret, because you’ll take away strategies ( take the End of Life Doula Training ) and a new perspective on life to ensure that you work through your fear and feel empowered and inspired about life!
So if you’re ready to let go of your fear and be inspired, then pop in your earbuds and tune in!
This is important because I think that as be and hospice, I love hospice. I love the people that work for hospice. It is such a beautiful model of care. And it's very misunderstood in the public is what, what I know. But they also, people don't fully understand the amount of time that everything comes to your house. But the nurse will come for a time period. The social worker. What about all of that other time that you're home? And I love that you just shared about understanding your husband's needs and what it would be like for him and having that other person that knows the end of life to be there to hold the space. And that really is, again, the definition of a Doulagiver. Now you have it with a home health aid. Beautiful. As long as we understand what's needed in that dynamic for everyone.
* (18:58): Hospice and Doulagiver Support is not just for the dying person- It is for their loved ones as well.Not just for you, but for your husband as well. So I love that you did that. And I think it's so important for us to understand how difficult it is for caregivers. You know, for me as the hospice nurse, I would come in and assess the patient and the model is that I'm supposed to teach the loved ones how to do the care. Sometimes I was there for only an hour. Periodically the fear of death. We're asking people to take care of their loved ones that are dying without them really knowing the first thing on how to do that. That is almost cruel. That has to change. And that Jody is again, why the level one doula givers is out there being taught every month for free to teach families how to do this, to teach people about end of life. So they don't have to be fearful to give them inspiration about what that lens could look like if we look through it at life.
* (21:43): Bringing Back the Awareness of Death: So let me ask you this, Jody. What, what do you think the world would be like if we could bring back that awareness early on in the journey? Talk to our children honestly and openly, age appropriately about the life cycle that we have with nature and with animals and, and everything that happens. And looking at life from the very early stages, not at the very end, with that kind of lens on what would our life be like? What would this world be like?
* (24:02):That awareness of end of life death is our greatest teacher. About how we are similar and how time is our greatest commodity and how kindness is something and presence is what we can give to each other every single day. And that can change the world.
*(25:07): A Fundraiser for Jody
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!
Links mentioned in this episode:
Ask a Death Doula Podcast- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Free End of Life Doula Training-https://www.doulagivers.com
International Doulagivers Institute-https://www.doulagivers.com
Jody's Go Fund Me Page-https://gofund.me/4569a4c9
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
In This episode of Ask a Death Doula, I will share what V.S.E.D. ( Voluntarily Stop Eating and Drinking ) is, why it's a viable option, and the checklist of things you need to go over before deciding if V.S.E.D. is right for you!
What is V.S.E.D.? [2:00] – V.S.E.D. stands for voluntarily stopping, eating, and drinking, and it is an intentional decision to stop drinking liquids and eating food for the specific purpose of causing death. It does not refer to stopping food or fluids provided by means of a feeding tube or to situations in which a patient has no appetite or is unable to eat or drink due to illness or disease. Time until death depends on a patient's underlying physical condition and disease state, but typically takes place within about 5 to 21 days with the median time of death occurring in 7 to 14 days after implementation - the cause of death is dehydration. The exact process of dying from V.S.E.D. will not be the same for every individual. Despite being intentionally used to cause death, the dying process experienced by V.S.E.D. is a natural one. In the first few days after ceasing intake of food and fluids, individuals may retain their energy levels for physical activity, but soon will become very weak. Once they begin to feel weak movement requires assistance in order to prevent falls or accidents, and weakness or dizziness may occur suddenly - which is why 24-hour support is recommended. Once the individual begins, the fasting causes mental alertness to be replaced by longer and longer periods of sleeping. In many cases, individuals eventually remain in a coma state during the final stages of death. The dehydration from V.S.E.D. affects the kidneys and the heart and each organ system in the body begins to shut down. One of the things that I want you to know about this is that it’s something that's naturally occurring in the end-of-life process already. One of the first tell-tale signs that somebody's headed into the transition phase is that they stop eating and drinking. This is naturally how the body starts to shut down to have its end of life. V.S.E.D. allows the person to have the intentional decision of speeding that up a bit when they have a terminal diagnosis.
Why People Choose V.S.E.D. [5:28] – It is critically important for me to discuss this topic because there is so much debate and discussion about Medical Aid in Dying (M.A.I.D.). The most common reasons that people want to choose medical aid in dying is that they don't want to suffer, and they don't want to be a burden to their family. V.S.E.D. is an alternative option that is not marred with controversy and does not require people to go through a lot of stressful legality issues. You don't have to wait for someone else's permission. You can decide if this is an option that you would like to take, but again, it must be an informed decision and done with the right support. I'm going to give you the checklist to make sure that you fully understand what's involved and if it's right for you. V.S.E.D. is a wonderful option and it gives power back to the person at the end of life. This is about empowering people with the information they need to make their own choices.
The V.S.E.D Checklist - The reason we have this checklist is because it really lays out everything involved and it needs to be a yes, across the whole entire board, before V.S.E.D. is implemented. The Doulagivers V.S.E.D. checklist also has a complete list of supplies and equipment needed to ensure that the patient is comfortable and safe during their V.S.E.D. journey.
This is YOUR Journey. You can choose whatever you want. Just make sure that you make educated, subjective decisions for you.
xo Suzanne
FREE End of Life Doula Training: REGISTER HERE: https://www.doulagivers.com