Lighting the Path: A New Concept of Hospice Care

About Lighting the Path: A New Concept of Hospice Care

Lighting the Path is here as a guide to help anyone with a life-limiting illness have a better end of life experience. Our goal is to provide you with honest, clear, and unbiased information about hospice and palliative care.

Publisher

Jerry Fenter

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

31 Oct 2022

Latest episode

29 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

100 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Sept 2026

   How to Be a Better Patient Advocate for Someone You Love

   What does it mean to advocate for someone you love during a healthcare journey? In this episode of Lighting the Path, Robin Shapiro defines patient advocacy and explores how caregivers can speak up, ask questions, and support the person in their care. Robin and Jerry discuss how healthcare has changed over the years—and why advocacy matters more than ever. She offers practical tips for caregivers, describes signs that it may be time to bring in a professional advocate, and explains why an independent advocate is worth considering. For caregiver checklists, Robin recommends The Care Partner Project (https://thecarepartnerproject.org). HealthAdvocateX is also hosting a free advance care planning webinar on October 7; registration is available at HealthAdvocateX.org (https://healthadvocatex.org). p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice: Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HospiceHarbor). Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BeaconHarborHospice). For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.com (https://www.harborhospice.com/) For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.life (https://www.beacon.life/) For more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.com Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com.

2. 

   15 Sept 2026

   How to Choose a Healthcare Proxy: Questions to Ask and Conversations to Have

   Who would speak for you if you experienced a medical emergency and could not make healthcare decisions for yourself? In this episode, Robin Shapiro of Well Said Health joins us to discuss how to choose a healthcare proxy—the person you authorize to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you lose the ability to communicate or make informed choices. Robin Shapiro is the founder of Well Said Health and a passionate advocate for helping individuals and families communicate clearly about healthcare choices. Robin explains why this is not only an issue for older adults or people with serious illness. She encourages adults to put a healthcare proxy in place when they turn 18, especially before leaving home for college. Robin offers practical guidance for selecting the right person, including the importance of choosing someone who: p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Understands your values, goals, and priorities p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Can remain calm during an emergency or emotionally difficult situation p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Is willing to speak up and advocate for your wishes p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Can communicate effectively with clinicians and family members p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Will honor your preferences, even if those preferences differ from their own beliefs p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Is available and willing to accept the responsibility The conversation also addresses an equally important question: what should you talk about after selecting a proxy? Robin shares the kinds of values, treatment preferences, fears, hopes, and quality-of-life considerations that can help a proxy make decisions with greater confidence. Naming someone is important, but having ongoing conversations with that person is what gives the appointment real meaning. For people who do not have a trusted family member or friend available to serve in this role, Robin discusses the option of hiring a professional advocate. These professionals can help represent a person's stated wishes and provide informed, independent support when healthcare decisions need to be made. Robin also recommends resources that can help individuals and families begin these often difficult—but deeply meaningful—conversations. Resources mentioned p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Robin Shapiro / Well Said Health: WellSaidHealth.com (https://www.wellsaidhealth.com/) p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Free webinar: How to Create Your Own Healthcare Proxy October 7, presented through HealthAdvocateX p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> HealthAdvocateX: HealthAdvocateX (https://healthadvocatex.org/) p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice: Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HospiceHarbor). Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BeaconHarborHospice). For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.com (https://www.harborhospice.com/) For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.life (https://www.beacon.life/) For more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.com Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com.

3. 

   1 Sept 2026

   How to Communicate With Compassion in Dementia Care

   Communicating with a person living with dementia is about far more than choosing the "right" words. In this episode, we welcome back Hollie Lowe, Certified Dementia Practitioner, for a practical and compassionate conversation about using communication to reduce distress, preserve dignity, and strengthen connection. Hollie explains why a caregiver's body language can be just as important as verbal communication. Facial expression, posture, tone, pace, physical proximity, and the way we approach someone can either help them feel safe—or unintentionally create confusion, resistance, or fear. You'll hear actionable guidance for caregivers, hospice professionals, family members, and anyone supporting a person with dementia. Hollie shares ways to use body language and simple communication techniques to help a person understand and follow directions while still being treated with respect. She also reminds us that effective dementia care requires patience: slowing down, allowing time for processing, and resisting the urge to correct, argue, or rush. Whether you are caring for a spouse, parent, patient, resident, or friend, this conversation offers practical tools for responding with greater calm, confidence, compassion, and understanding. Resources Mentioned p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> James L. West Center for Dementia Care (https://www.jameslwest.org/) p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> James L. West Center for Dementia Care YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/jameslwest1) p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Free dementia education course for professional caregivers through the James L. West Center for Dementia Care (https://www.jameslwest.org/dementia-iq/) p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice: Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HospiceHarbor). Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BeaconHarborHospice). For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.com (https://www.harborhospice.com/) For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.life (https://www.beacon.life/) For more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.com Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com.

Who has been a guest on Lighting the Path: A New Concept of Hospice Care

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Barry Jacobs
• Dr Julia Mayer
• Shanna Briggs

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 58 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

91

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

Contact Lighting the Path: A New Concept of Hospice Care

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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