One Man’s Quest to Change the Way We Die

Posted on January 4, 2017 by webmaven

See a story about Dr. B.J. Miller and the Zen Hospice in this recent article in NY Times.

The Zen Hospice Project has long been a forerunner in the conscious death and dying movement. From their website:

Zen Hospice Project’s legacy of compassionate and pioneering service initially grew from the San Francisco AIDS crisis in 1987, as one of the city’s first residential hospices. Since then, the organization has been recognized as innovative leader providing care for those facing advanced illness and their loved ones, while also educating and supporting an ever-growing community of caregivers worldwide.

The iconic Guest House of Zen Hospice Project opened in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley in 1990 as a community-based model to attend to those dying and in most need of support.  As an early responder to the AIDS crisis, the organization provided care when others would not during this era of fear. The Guest House was renovated and re-opened in 2010 with 24 hour, wrap around care, including a nursing staff that provides the highest caregiver to patient ratio in the country, trained in palliative and hospice care with specific emphasis on symptom and pain management.  Combined with a team of volunteer caregivers and a professional kitchen staff, trained in a unique approach to mindful, compassionate, and skillful care, the Guest House offers a unique space for living at the end of life.

Since 1988, the Volunteer Caregiver Program of Zen Hospice Project has provided the same groundbreaking quality of care at San Francisco’s Laguna Honda Hospital, one of the largest long-term care facilities in the United States.   These volunteer caregivers serve more than 14,000 hours annually on the 60-bed hospice and palliative care floor to support residents and their families, working in collaboration with professional clinicians, social workers and hospital staff.

The MindfulCaregiver Education (MCE) fills a gap in existing caregiver training with a balance of social, medical, and spiritual practices. The model educates, enables, and empowers caregivers to care for themselves so they can take better care of others. The focus is to help caregivers practice self-awareness and compassion, while building resilience to enhance care and reduce burnout.

Thousands of professional, family, and volunteer caregivers have been trained using core elements of the 12-module MCE. The training builds on a 30-year evidence base and the quality clinical care provided by the Guest House, the residential hospice of Zen Hospice Project.  A 2016 MCE survey found that 95% recommend the course and 89% state that MCE will change the care they provide.

At the Guest House in San Francisco, at the City’s Laguna Honda Hospital, and through the Mindful Caregiver Education program, Zen Hospice Project embarks on its 30th year poised to change the experience of dying and caregiving in America.

Posted in buddhism, buddhism, cancer care, care giving, care giving, care giving, clear light, death and dying, death and dying, hospice, hospice, Hospice care, hospice care, hospice nursing, palliative care, spiritual care, tibetan buddhism | Comments Off on One Man’s Quest to Change the Way We Die

Professional and Family Care Provider Workshop for 2017

Posted on December 19, 2016 by webmaven

Learn 5 Easy Techniques to Help Manage Your Stress

A WORKSHOP FOR THERAPISTS, NURSES & CLINICIANS as well as FAMILY AND PROFESSIONAL CARE PROVIDERS

This workshop provides the tools and techniques for you to EASILY and EFFECTIVELY deal with stress, burnout and compassion fatigue. You will discover that as you deal with stress you are naturally mindful!

You will learn:

  • Organizational tools

  • Exercises and body energy techniques for stress relief

  • Very simple and time efficient relaxation techniques

  • The basis of mindfulness practice and many different and creative activities for engaging mindfulness

  • How to be present in crisis situations, transitions, and for those who are dying

AFTER LEARNING THESE TECHNIQUES YOU WILL EASILY BE ABLE TO TEACH AND SHARE THEM WITH YOUR PATIENTS. EVERY PARTICIPANT WILL RECEIVE A COPY OF THE BOOK, CAREGIVER REVOLUTION.

Grant Abrams is a physical therapist who has worked in hospital, home care, and nursing home facilities for more than 25 years. He is co-author of Caregiver Revolution and over the past 10 years has led workshops on reducing caregiving stress, life story telling, end of life care, coin collecting, tai chi, yoga and other therapeutic exercises. He lives in the Hudson Valley region of New York state. Please contact at www.thecaregiverwebsite.com, or workspace@hvi.net 

Posted in care giving, care giving, care giving, caregiver, caregiver stress, caregiver stress, caregiver support, caregiving, end of life, mindfulness, palliative care | Comments Off on Professional and Family Care Provider Workshop for 2017

The Heart of Meditation: Teachings of the Dalai Lama and Pema Chodron

Posted on December 8, 2016 by webmaven

The 59 Slogans of Lojong | The Buddhaful TaoWe will be meeting tonight to discuss The Heart of Meditation: Teachings of the Dalai Lama, Pema Chodron and others. According to the Buddhist teachings, the essential thing that brings meditation alive is Compassion. Without this basic foundation other practices are pointless. Fortunately, the mind can be trained in the qualities of love, empathy and respect for others. We will talk about this tonight and welcome you to bring your questions, individual viewpoints and personal experiences.

Please preregister here: Highland Library Events

Posted in buddhism, buddhism, clear light, Meditation, mindfulness, tibetan buddhism | Comments Off on The Heart of Meditation: Teachings of the Dalai Lama and Pema Chodron

A Buddhist Grief Observed

Posted on October 11, 2016 by webmaven

A Buddhist Grief Observed by Guy Newland is a thought provoking, valuable book which I just finished reading and highly recommend.

I picked this little book up to scan it for a series of caregiver talks that I have been giving, more specifically to focus on end of life care, and I found that I got deeply immersed in it. The wide breadth of the author’s knowledge about Buddhism combined with his down to earth, conversational manner makes for a surprisingly profound read. It is the kind of  book that can be opened at any point, but there is a story, a progression, which reaches a definite dramatic conclusion. This happens when the author gives his first talk about grief after his wife has passed away. The book goes on to give practical advice about being with loss and helping those who are grieving, shows how to avoid common pitfalls, and shares the worldview of one who is bereaved but willing to share his knowledge and experience for the benefit of others. It is a treasure, not to be missed.

The eulogy is beautifully written, the resources and notes are invaluable – each could serve as the basis for a years research work. I thank the author for sharing them with us.

Posted in bereavement, bereavement, buddhism, buddhist, cancer care, death and dying, grief, grief, grieving, grieving, palliative care | Comments Off on A Buddhist Grief Observed

St. Raphael – Patron Saint of Medical Workers

Posted on October 5, 2016 by webmaven

At Caregiver Revolution we advocate bringing spirituality into  your work. Whatever spiritual tradition you believe in, go for it! It will give  you strength and  conviction. Of course you respect other’s beliefs and realize that your practice is your practice and mine is mine…or I may have none at all. Honor the dignity of every being, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, that is the highest spiritual work!

St. Raphael is one of the seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord, and one of the only three mentioned by name in the Bible. He appears, by name, only in the Book of Tobit. Raphael’s name means “God heals.” This identity came about because of the biblical story that claims he “healed” the earth when it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in the apocryphal book of Enoch.

straphaelthearchangelAlthough only the archangels Gabriel and Michael are mentioned by name in the New Testament, the Gospel of John speaks of the pool at Bethesda, where many ill people rested, awaiting the moving of the water. “An angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond; and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water was made whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under” John 5:1-4. Because of the healing powers often linked to Raphael, the angel spoken of is generally associated with St. Raphael, the Archangel.

St. Raphael is the patron saint of travelers, the blind, bodily ills, happy meetings, nurses, physicians and medical workers. He is often pictured holding a staff and either holding or standing on a fish. His feast day is celebrated on September 29, along with St. Michael and St. Gabriel. Thank you Catholic.org

Posted in catholic, Catholicism, healers, healing, hospice care, prayers for the dying, saints, saints, spiritual care | Comments Off on St. Raphael – Patron Saint of Medical Workers

Every Healthcare Provider is a Caregiver!

Posted on October 3, 2016 by webmaven

Every clinician is a caregiver. Our book, Caregiver Revolution is for family caregivers and professionals. With our new clinical education initiative you will see how our tips, tools and techniques are applicable to the clinical environment.

Take for instance “matching the mood of a room.” Any experienced nurse will tell you that she instinctively does this. When she walks into a room she is never overly aggressive or loud because the important thing is to relate to the patient, the situation, and the patient will indicate how to do that. Of course we all love patients who like to joke around or families who are having fun, but generally, when entering a room in most cases we are quiet and respectful of the patient’s space. 

You have to keep patient care as your beacon, your North Star. It is the most important thing. You will get to your documentation. Patient care is your number one goal and that will keep you in line with your original reasons for going into this profession. You wanted to help people, right?

Try some simple mindfulness techniques when on the job. If you can take a deep breath as you enter a room, repeat an affirmation, or try to bring all of your focus on a small task it will help you to be more present with your patient, more focused on his or her situation and less distracted by yours. I guarantee that your patient will sense this and appreciate it. 

These are just three small ways that the tips provided in Caregiver Revolution are applicable to conditions in any health care environment. We will post many more of these simple practical suggestions, oriented to the clinical environment. Meanwhile see our caregiver tips link above and please leave feedback – we value your input on this!

Posted in caregiver, caregiver stress, caregiving, end of life care, home care, hospice, hospice care, mindfulness, nursing, nursing, palliative care, palliative care, spiritual care | Comments Off on Every Healthcare Provider is a Caregiver!