In this episode of Hospice Uncovered, the conversation turns to one of the most misunderstood roles in end-of-life care: the hospice chaplain. Guest Douglas Jackson, director of spiritual services, hospice chaplain, pastor and nurse, explains why a chaplain's visit is not a sign of bad news, how he serves patients of every faith or none, and how he works alongside a family's own pastor rather than replacing them.

Douglas shares stories from the bedside, from singing an old Baptist hymn with a patient to a man with COPD who told him, "My last one here will be my first one there." The two discuss answering the question "Am I dying?" with honesty, sitting with fear and doubt, anger with God, church hurt, caring for exhausted family caregivers, the 13-month bereavement program, and the funeral and graveside services the team offers at no charge.

Subscribe to Hospice Uncovered for more honest conversations about hospice, caregiving and grief.

00:00 Episode preview
02:23 Welcome and introductions
02:53 What the word chaplain means
04:21 Common fears about chaplains
08:01 Serving patients of every faith
09:39 Leading by example
11:36 Working with a family's pastor
14:00 Bridging church family support
17:15 Aging churches and young volunteers
21:12 Legacy and the two thieves
24:54 What patients talk about
29:02 Bereavement and lasting relationships
30:30 Being present and relatable
33:04 My last one here
35:33 Answering 'Am I dying?'
37:08 Patients deserve the truth
39:26 Why is this happening to me
42:59 Fear and seeing loved ones
47:33 When patients don't believe
51:35 Generations without faith
53:30 Caring for family caregivers
54:39 Patient follow-up that paid off
57:38 A birthday to remember
1:04:43 Rapid fire questions
1:05:48 Anger with God
1:08:24 Guiding overwhelmed families
1:10:05 Caring for the whole person
1:13:08 Funeral and graveside services
1:15:13 Closing thoughts

In this episode of Hospice Uncovered, the hosts welcome Pastor Douglas Jackson for a conversation about how culture, family tradition and faith shape the way people meet the end of life. Drawing on decades of ministry, he reflects on changes he has seen in the African American church, including the growing acceptance of cremation, the real costs of funerals, and why so many families plan to keep living but never plan to die.

The conversation turns to hospice itself: why choosing it is not giving up on God, where mistrust of the medical system comes from, what families want to know before they trust a hospice team, and the common fear that morphine hastens death. Pastor Jackson also speaks about Medicare coverage, unmarked graves, and practical ways to help families with limited means prepare.

The episode closes with a heartfelt look at the loss of neighborhood and church community, the difficulty many of us have in receiving help, and ideas for bringing care and connection back to families walking through a loved one's final days.

Subscribe to Hospice Uncovered for more honest conversations about life, death and caring for one another.

00:00 Grounding together
02:23 Welcome Douglas Jackson
03:06 Cremation in Black communities
04:40 Faith, body and soul
10:24 The real cost of funerals
13:54 Picturing heaven
16:25 Preparing with your children
19:30 Traditions handed down
21:18 Wills and planning ahead
24:56 Faith as the key
25:54 Help for families with less
28:06 Pauper's graves and insurance
31:50 What Medicare covers
34:52 Hospice and trusting God
37:49 Mistrust in medical care
40:47 What families want to know
44:07 The church's changing role
51:26 Learning to receive help
54:44 Meals and offerings of love
56:53 Remembering neighborhood community
1:00:22 Funerals as family reunions
1:02:09 An awesome responsibility
1:04:26 Fear of morphine
1:07:55 Starting in the churches
1:08:55 Closing thoughts

Tony, a Vietnam combat medic, shares his profound journey from the battlefields of Southeast Asia to founding a military support program that has changed countless veteran lives. In this episode of Hospice Uncovered, Tony opens up about volunteering at BAMC, his transformative relationship with Eden Pearl—the most critically injured soldier in military history—and how that experience shaped his approach to veteran care at Warm Springs Rehab. He discusses the power of simply listening to veterans, preventing suicide through human connection, and the ripple effects of showing genuine care. Tony reveals why he volunteered for Vietnam at just 18 years old, what he witnessed upon arrival, and how his combat medic training became the foundation for his life's calling in hospice and veteran services. His stories illustrate how one person's decision to serve can alter the trajectory of entire families and communities.

Subscribe to Hospice Uncovered to hear more conversations about life, death, love, and the beauty of serving others well.

00:00 Opening Reflection: Combat Medic's Call to Service
03:45 Grounding Exercise: Breathwork and Presence
05:30 Introduction to Hospice Uncovered Philosophy
07:15 How Tony and the Host Met: Warm Springs Rehab
09:45 Meeting Eden Pearl: The Most Critically Injured Soldier
13:20 The Warrior Family Support Center Connection
15:30 Alyssa's Determination to Become a Nurse
17:45 First Visit to the Burn Unit
20:15 Building Friendship and Wooden Picnic Tables
22:30 Reconnection at Warm Springs Rehab
24:50 Eden Pearl Wing Dedication
26:45 Lessons in Caring and Compassion
28:30 Other Veterans: Troy Dreberstedt's Journey to Faith
31:00 Lieutenant Spears: Lightning Strike and Recovery
34:15 Why Tony Joined the Military in 1970
36:30 JFK's Call to Service and Family Values
38:45 Volunteering for Vietnam
40:20 The Reality of Arrival: First Night in Vietnam
42:15 Combat Medic Training and Field Experience
44:45 Coming Home at 21: The Toll of Combat

Hospice Uncovered tackles one of the most critical conversations in healthcare with guests Dr. Ivan Edwards, a physician and flight surgeon, and Dan Blasini, a nurse and veteran who lost three friends to suicide within eight days during Suicide Prevention Month. Together, they explore why discussing suicide remains taboo, the multiple causes of depression including trauma, neuroplasticity, genetics, and cortisol exposure, and practical strategies for recognizing warning signs and intervening. The episode includes a powerful personal account of talking down an amputee from taking his own life and emphasizes how community support and professional help can transform lives. Essential resources are shared, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and VA crisis services available 24/7. Subscribe for more honest conversations about end-of-life care and mental health.

00:00 Welcome and Emergency Resources
01:15 Introducing Dan Blasini and Personal Motivation
04:20 Introducing Dr. Ivan Edwards
05:35 Defining Suicide Prevention in Everyday Life
07:40 Why Discussing Suicide Remains Difficult
11:20 Depression vs. Clinical Depression
13:50 The Research Behind Depression: Neuroplasticity, Genetics, and Trauma
18:15 Addressing the Misconceptions About Medication
20:50 Professional Help vs. Community Support
22:40 The Power of Simply Being Present
24:10 A Life-Saving Intervention at the Train Tracks
30:15 The Aftermath and Transformation
32:00 The Ripple Effect: Impact Beyond the Individual

Shanna and Rachel explore how the word "hospice" carries heavy emotional baggage and misconceptions that prevent families from embracing compassionate end-of-life care. Through honest conversation, they examine the negative imagery and fear associated with the term—and discuss alternative names like "life comfort care," "quality of life care," and "compassionate care" that better reflect what hospice actually provides. The hosts trace the word's origins to "home" and "hospitality," reframing hospice as an opportunity for peace, connection, and meaningful time rather than a death sentence. They address the critical gap between how doctors present hospice and how families hear it, and reveal how even healthcare professionals distance themselves from these conversations. This episode challenges listeners to recognize that language shapes our experience and that changing how we talk about end-of-life care can transform how families receive it. Subscribe to Hospice Uncovered for more conversations that shift perspectives on life's final chapter.

00:00 Opening Grounding Exercise
02:28 The Problem With the Word "Hospice"
05:14 Negative Imagery and Fear Surrounding Hospice
08:45 Immediate Resistance to Hospice Conversations
11:22 Making Hospice a Compassionate, Hopeful Word
13:56 Alternative Names for Hospice Care
17:34 The Origins of "Hospice": Home and Hospitality
20:18 Hospice as an Opportunity for Meaningful Living
24:07 Nature Metaphors: Trees, Seasons, and Sunsets
29:41 Reframing the Doctor's Conversation With Patients
33:25 The Power of Words in Shaping Experience
35:18 Healthcare Workers' Own Resistance to End-of-Life Discussions
38:02 Language as the Real Problem, Not the Concept

Rachel and Shanna welcome Kimmy, a healthcare veteran with years of experience in senior care, to break down the confusing world of care options for aging loved ones. When a patient's wife reaches out about moving her husband into assisted living, the conversation shifts to exploring personal care services, assisted living communities, memory care facilities, and the often-overlooked VA benefits available to veterans and their spouses. Kimmy shares real-world obstacles families face—including Medicaid eligibility gaps and out-of-pocket costs—while offering practical guidance on networking and finding resources. The episode also covers inpatient rehabilitation after falls, what Medicare actually covers, and how managed care plans determine approval for extended care. Whether you're facing a parent's fall, considering in-home support, or planning for the future, this episode equips you with the knowledge to navigate the system. Subscribe to Hospice Uncovered for more conversations that demystify end-of-life care and senior support options.

00:00 Opening and Guest Introduction
02:15 Grounding Exercise and Gratitude
06:45 Valuing Quality Time With Aging Parents
08:30 Technology and Medical Innovations
10:15 The Importance of Support Systems
12:00 Intentional Time With Loved Ones
14:30 Marriage, Love, and 50 Years Together
17:45 Different Levels of Care Overview
19:20 Personal Care Provider Services Through Medicaid
21:15 Assisted Living and Memory Care Communities
23:00 Obstacles: Medicaid Eligibility and Out-of-Pocket Costs
24:45 VA Benefits for Veterans and Spouses
27:30 VA Companion Services and Human Connection
29:15 COVID's Impact on Senior Decline
31:00 Falls and Inpatient Rehabilitation
33:45 What Inpatient Rehab Actually Entails
36:15 Medicare Coverage and Therapy Requirements
38:30 Appeals Process for Extended Care Days
40:15 Understanding Managed Care Plans
42:00 Medicare's Role in Aging in Place
44:30 Different Levels of Medicare-Covered Care

In this episode of Hospice Uncovered, host Shanna is joined by Douglas, director of clinical services and chaplain, and Rachel, community liaison, to explore the profound journey of bereavement and grief that follows a loved one's passing. Douglas shares his expertise on how grief differs dramatically depending on whether a death was anticipated or sudden, drawing on personal experiences including the loss of his father to cancer and his beloved German Shepherd, Leonidas. The team discusses the critical difference between knowing death will happen intellectually and experiencing the emotional reality of loss, the importance of pre-bereavement education, and why support often becomes most crucial in the months following a funeral when the full weight of finality sets in. A powerful conversation about honoring those we've lost and the ongoing role hospice teams play in family healing.

00:00 Opening Grounding Exercise
02:15 Welcome and Episode Focus
03:30 Introduction to Bereavement Topics
04:20 The Difference Between Anticipated and Sudden Loss
06:45 Douglas Shares His Father's Cancer Journey
08:10 The Trauma of Unexpected Death
10:25 Knowing vs. Understanding Death
12:40 The Hezekiah Story and Preparation
15:50 Grief Despite Preparation
17:30 Douglas's Personal Loss of Leonidas
19:45 The Importance of Post-Hospice Support
21:30 The Funeral and the Decline That Follows
24:15 The Team's First Patient and Unexpected Grief
26:30 Hospice Care as a Calling
28:10 Guilt and Grief Together
29:45 Supporting Families Through Loss
31:20 Sacred Moments After Death
33:00 The Chaplain's Role in Ministry to Families

In this episode of Hospice Uncovered, the hosts explore one of hospice care's most profound lessons: how to truly live. Through candid conversations and patient stories, they discuss why intentionality matters more than productivity, why no one on their deathbed wishes they worked harder, and how society's messaging around hustle culture can rob us of meaningful moments with loved ones. The episode features powerful examples—from a farmer with dementia who lit up talking about his tractor, to a marathon runner whose family honored her legacy—that illustrate what makes a life worth remembering.

The hosts dive deep into the concept of vision-driven living, sharing personal anecdotes about making intentional choices, like setting aside 30 minutes to sit with a child instead of staying in constant motion. They challenge the notion that we're inherently wired to climb the ladder, examining instead how society conditions us to prioritize more money, more status, and more stuff at the expense of genuine human connection. This episode serves as a gentle but urgent reminder that our daily choices should align with our deepest values, and that the time to live intentionally is now.

00:00 Opening Grounding Exercise
02:45 Welcome and Episode Theme: What Hospice Taught Us About Living
04:15 Intentionality as a Way of Life
06:30 The Diversity of Hospice Patients Across All Walks of Life
09:15 Awakening to Your One Beautiful Life
11:45 The Story of the Farmer and His Tractor
14:30 Legacy Through Small Moments: The Marathon Runner
16:45 Nobody Ever Wishes They Worked Harder
19:30 Family as the Driver: Working for Stability and Legacy
22:15 The Cost of Hustle Culture on Relationships
25:00 Creating Intentional Memories Daily
27:30 Personal Story: 30 Minutes with Your Child
31:00 Unintentional Living and Its Consequences
34:15 Are We Wired to Hustle or Conditioned by Society
37:45 Vision-Driven Living and Aligned Choices
40:30 Common Regrets: Time and Slowing Down
43:15 Why We Talk Ourselves Out of Meaningful Moments
46:00 Self-Worth and Permission to Prioritize People Over Productivity