Close Up Radio

Ashburn, VA - Americans spend a lot of time avoiding and not thinking about death, but like taxes, death is inevitable. Talking about where you'd like to be, who you'd like to be, and what you'd like to do is essential to entering this life-stage with confidence and grace. As the former Vice President of Regulatory and Compliance at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and a longtime advocate for hospice services under Medicare, Judi Lund Person has been working hard for more than 40 years to protect the definition of hospice care and to provide resources and guides for hospice providers to meet the Medicare requirements and provide high quality hospice care. Many people think that hospice is a place. Other people think that hospice means that you will be required to die at home. The reality is that hospice is a service that provides care wherever the patient is. Hospice care is provided by an interdisciplinary team, including nurses, physicians, social workers, chaplains, aides and other people who might be needed, like music therapy and massage. The team works together to develop a plan just for the patient and their family. The patient and the patient's chosen family all receive care from the hospice team—and support for physical symptoms; psychosocial and spiritual concerns for both the patient and their family. After the patient's death, bereavement support is available to the family for 13 months to help with the adjustments to the loss of their loved one. Since leaving NHPCO, Ms. Person founded LundPerson & Associates Hospice Consulting for hospice providers looking for resources and expert guidance. For more information about Judi Lund Person, please visit https://hospiceconsultant.com/

St. Louis, MO - Occupational therapy and aging aren't two concepts that are often brought together, but Karen Frank Barney has spent her life helping older and incarcerated adults achieve a better quality of life with occupational therapy. Author of Occupational Therapy with Aging Adults, Promoting Quality of Life Through Collaborative Practice, Karen worked with 82 leaders in gerontology and occupational therapy to publish the second edition, coming out this fall. ?Since earning my emeritus status at Saint Louis University, I wanted to include content I have been working on since 2013 related to a rehabilitation model for people being released from prison,? shares Karen. Thirty years of age is typically human's physical peak. ?That's why the book is geared toward aging adults, as we're all aging after age 30. I wanted to include everyone who is on decline, whether physical, or psychological, for a variety of reasons. We know that, on average, older adults have 40% less muscle mass than younger adults. Physical decline is a natural part of life. Keeping our bodies functional throughout our adult ages, is essential for quality of life. With proper therapy and other interventions, that 40% can be mitigated and even reversed. Exercise can be as simple as taking a walk to the store rather than driving. My husband and I are both in our early 80s and we've been working with a trainer for a decade,? shares Karen. Occupational Therapy with Aging Adults is available on Amazon. For more information about Karen Frank Barney, please visit https://www.slu.edu/doisy/faculty/barney-karen.php

Lloydminster, SK - Close Up Radio welcomes back highly regarded Empowerment Strategist, Emotional Resilience Expert, and Mentor Bonnie Wirth, in this must listen to three-part series, where she will share interesting insights on relationships. She will discuss the importance of giving and receiving equally in relationships, self-love, and how to handle conflicts in a healthy way. Whether it's marriage, friendship, family, or any other personal connections, these relationships can bring us challenges and heartache if we don't have a positive experience. But rather than trying to heal from our wounds, we may resort to blaming other people for being cruel and betraying us. Bonnie affirms that love comes with honoring ourselves and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable to all our feelings and emotions. In fact, part of the human experience is getting hurt, healing, and loving again. That's the only way we grow and evolve. After all, we are all worthy of healthy, loving relationships. When we engage with one another attentively and empathetically, we are showing our loved ones how blessed we are to have them in our lives. Bonnie advises us to not be so dependent on our smart phones which disconnects us from the people around us. Our lives were meant be lived with purpose, love, and making sure to spread kindness and compassion to every living being on earth. Undoubtedly, satisfying relationships will lead to longer and happier lives. They help us navigate life's challenges so much better, so we look forward to every day with positivity and optimism. It's up to every single one of us how much joy and fulfilment we bring to our own lives. For more information, visit www.bonniewirth.ca