QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The concept comes from many years of hospital nursing. I bring those conversations from behind that bedside curtain, when my patient was asking questions and searching for answers in an environment that was unfamiliar and closed off from the world. The best place to talk about things is in the light of day, in a safe neutral environment and where there is breathing room to consider all information. The "boardroom" could be anywhere, in an education session, in a corporate C-suite or a desk in a doctor's office. It's any healthcare conversation that is brought out of the darkness into the safe light of day. The best time to understand your choices is when you have the time to contemplate your choices, and the luxury of time rarely happens in a crisis.
When I use the word "choice", the connotation is softer and implies that there may be other choices if the information changes. The word gives the person room to breathe. The word "decision" is a harder word, and the connotation is that the mind is made up. When you say you change your mind, you're guided by the head and logic, whereas the word choice is softer and is swayed by the heart. Choice leaves all possibilities open whereas decision locks things down and eliminates other possibilities. Words matter.
Besides nurses, nurse practitioners, doctors and social workers, I curate healthcare/deathcare education into the full service packages of lawyers who work with wills and estates. The legal consulting is totally bespoke as the service philosophy and business model of every lawyer is different.
Well, my consultation combines a half century of bedside nursing and healthcare/deathcare wisdom and provides clarity and conversation that is authentic, raw and real. At the risk of being cheeky, maybe I'm NOT for you. The delivery is always respectful but the information is not for everyone. Please review my free resources in "DOWNLOADS" and see if there is anything helpful there. Alternatively, a webinar called "Preparing For Death" is available under "COURSES". It was created for nurses and healthcare/deathcare professionals, however, you are more than welcome to purchase for your own review. My book “Having Everyday Conversations About Death and Dying” may be a good starting point, please email me if you wish to purchase a copy.
If you already have a home care nurse or a nurse practitioner, please bring this website to his or her attention and see if they can answer questions for you. They may not even know that you HAVE questions! Your nurse is your first point of contact. Alternatively, your family doctor may agree to a collaboration with my company "Death Maven" and can contract my support for your education, healthcare or deathcare services.
Not directly, however, I can work with you in partnership with your health care providers. The mandate for "Death Maven" is to provide resources, education and collaboration within a health care team environment: this integration of several professionals ensures a comprehensive, safe, client centered plan of care.
There is information online for everything but nowhere to pull all of the information together into one cohesive, integrated healthcare/deathcare picture. Nurses are highly skilled critical thinkers and can provide solutions that you will never find online. You see, the "app" and information is only that, information, but making that information work for you requires the heart and compassion of an actual person.