Living Forever, Not an Option
Care Dimensions is proud to launch our new podcast Living Forever, Not an Option. With their vast knowledge about hospice and palliative care, hosts Mary Crowe, LICSW, ACHP-SW, C.D.S., CDP, Director of Professional and Community Education, and Lyn Skarmeas, Vice President of Business Development, discuss various topics to dispel the myths surrounding hospice, palliative care and end of life. Their goal is to empower individuals with advanced illness to access hospice and palliative care services sooner, thereby providing more opportunity to improve their quality of life.
Hospice Volunteers
In this episode, hosts Lyn and Mary discuss the role of hospice volunteers with Care Dimensions' Director of Volunteer Services and Complementary Therapies, Sheryl Meehan.
Special Episode -- Advance Care Planning with Ellen DiPaola
Host Mary Crowe discusses advance care planning with guest, Ellen DiPaola, president & CEO of Honoring Choices in Massachusetts. Both experts on the topic, they dispel common myths around advance care planning and offer advice on how and when to fill out these important documents.
Episode 12 - Taking to the Bed? I Don't Think So!
Hosts Lyn and Mary discuss the misconception that a person has to "take to the bed" in order to receive hospice care.
Episode 11 - The Importance of Listening
Hosts Lyn and Mary discuss the importance of listening when you or a loved one has a serious or advanced illness.
Episode 10 - Telling Our Stories: The Importance of Reminiscing and Life Review
Hosts Lyn and Mary discuss the benefits of reminiscing and life review through both their personal and professional experiences.
Episode 9 - Living with a Serious Illness
Hosts Lyn and Mary discuss the challenges associated with living with a serious illness and provide tips on how to adjust after receiving a diagnosis.
Episode 8 - Complementary Therapies: Enhancing Well-Being at End of Life
Hosts Lyn and Mary discuss various complementary therapies and the benefits to both patients and families at end of life.
Episode 7 - Caring for the Caregiver
Hosts Lyn and Mary discuss the importance of caring for the caregiver to ensure the best quality of life for both the patient and caregiver.
Episode 6 - Concepts of Grief and Loss
Hosts Lyn and Mary touch upon the realities of grief and loss and ways that we can care for each other during those times.
Episode 5 - Living Well, Making Every Moment Count
Hosts Lyn and Mary focus on living well, what gets in the way, and how we can incorporate techniques or approaches that can positively influence our life, healthcare and overall quality of life.
Episode 4 - Starting the Conversation Around Death and Dying
Hosts Lyn and Mary tackle the challenges of starting a conversation starting a conversation about death, dying, and making your wishes known.
Episode 3 - Who is Driving the Bus? Taking Charge of Your Healthcare Wishes
Hosts Lyn and Mary discuss the importance of advance directives and making your healthcare wishes known.
Episode 2- Hospice Myths and Misconceptions
Hosts Lyn and Mary discuss several myths and misconceptions surrounding hospice care. Lack of understanding or awareness of the services and support that hospice can bring to patients and families, as well as preconceived notions often perpetuate these misconceptions about hospice.
Episode 1 – Understanding Hospice and Palliative Care
Hosts Mary and Lyn explain the differences between hospice and palliative care, the philosophy and history of hospice, and dispel some of the myths surrounding hospice care because "living forever is not an option."
Special Episode - Coping with the Holidays After a Loss
Hosts Mary and Lyn discuss coping with the holidays after a loss. The holidays can be a challenging time for people in general, but coping with the holidays after a loss adds a new level of difficulty to anyone’s life.
Meet the hosts
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Mary Crowe, LICSW, ACHP-SW, C.D.S. Over the past 13 years, Mary has led the Care Dimensions' professional and community educational outreach, coordinating and delivering hundreds of programs each year for healthcare professionals, families and community groups. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, and post graduate certificates in gerontology and alcohol counseling. Mary worked as a medical social worker for over 25 years in acute care, rehabilitation, skilled nursing and adult day health settings caring for individuals and families with advanced illness or at end of life. |
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Lyn Skarmeas |
Care Dimensions Learning Institute is committed to providing opportunities that strengthen comprehensive learning around serious illness and end of life care that are responsive to the needs of the professionals, community, patients and families we serve.