Subscribe to Gabby's website to find treasures in her blog, workshops, and books. CHEERS

Hosted by Patricia M Sears, End-of-Life Doula and founder of Graceful Transitions. Subscribe to hear monthly conversations with nationally recognized experts on death, dying, and life's most important transitions.

Join the Graceful Lifers community at Substack for exclusive invitations to join live audience and Q&A sessions with guests and deeper conversations about navigating life's thresholds.

With nearly 7 million Americans living with dementia and 12 million providing unpaid care—often quietly and exhausted—Lori shares practical guidance on early conversations, person-centered care approaches, and how communities can step up to support the "circle of care" surrounding someone with dementia. 

From understanding the importance of getting tested early to learning how to visit a loved one with dementia, this conversation offers hope and actionable tools for families facing one of healthcare's most isolating challenges. 

Whether you're planning ahead, supporting aging parents, or helping a loved one through this transition, this episode provides the compassionate framework to talk about dementia the way we talk about heart disease or diabetes—openly, without shame, and with dignity.

Resources that Lori mentioned in our conversation and others she's sharing:

• Dementia Minds - ⁠https://dementiaminds.org/⁠ Support groups are for persons living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Training and tips for caregivers: 

• Positive Approach to Care (Teepa Snow) ⁠https://teepasnow.com/⁠ Caregiver training ⁠Free videos on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSXrEX7LkWOmfTaV6u1C7wQ'⁠
• Adria Thompson - ⁠https://www.belightcare.com/⁠ Speech Pathologist.Offers a ton of short videos and more! Follow on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

Caregiver Resources 

• Daughterhood offers a free, virtual dementia support group, “Circles,” that empowers family caregivers with emotional and practical support throughout the caregiving journey.⁠https://daughterhood.org/⁠
• GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) Model - Medicare coverage for a comprehensive package of care coordination and care management for people with dementia, along with support for qualifying caregivers, including education and respite services. ⁠https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/guide⁠
• Alzheimer's Association ⁠https://www.alz.org/⁠
• Alzheimer's Foundation of America ⁠https://alzfdn.org/⁠

Conversation and Advance Care Directives 

• The Conversation Project - Starter guide for caregivers of people with dementia: ⁠https://theconversationproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Dement

Hosted by Patricia M Sears, End-of-Life Doula and founder of Graceful Transitions. Subscribe to hear monthly conversations with nationally recognized experts on death, dying, and life's most important transitions.

Join the Graceful Lifers community at Substack for exclusive invitations to join live audience and Q&A sessions with guests and deeper conversations about navigating life's thresholds.

Angela Shook is an end-of-life doula, Hospice volunteer, and instructor for the Doula Programs at the University of Vermont, and offers multiple end-of-life educational workshops and grief support groups.

She is a veterinary doula with Pet Well Mobile Vet, where she assists with euthanasia and the end-of-life care and support of companion animals.

Angela has received the Animal Hospice Advocate Certificate from the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC). She is a certified Pet Loss Grief Specialist through the Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement.

How can you be more aware and prepared for your pet's death or your family & friends' pets' death? Have you wondered about that?

What about after your death? How will your companion animal be cared for?

There's an end-of-life care plan for that. Trusts? Directives? Care Circle?

For many of us, our companion animals are family.

And yet, too often, we're left making hard decisions in moments of stress or grief.

Making a care plan for your pet while they are still well is a gift — to yourself, your family, and most of all, to the animal who trusts you completely.

Having these plans in place brings comfort, reduces uncertainty, and allows you to be more fully present with them when the time comes.

1. Companion Animal Advance Care Directives
2. Pet Trusts Primer

Please find an hour to listen when you have a quiet moment.

You don’t need to fill out anything right away, but I hope you’ll consider reading them and starting the conversation.

These decisions can be emotional.

But they can also be empowering.

And the peace of mind that comes from knowing your furry family member’s future is lovingly accounted for?

That’s something you truly can’t put a price on.

Companion Animal Advance Care Directive

Pet Trusts

Hosted by Patricia M Sears, End-of-Life Doula and founder of Graceful Transitions. Subscribe to hear monthly conversations with nationally recognized experts on death, dying, and life's most important transitions.

Join the Graceful Lifers community at Substack for exclusive invitations to join live audience and Q&A sessions with guests and deeper conversations about navigating life's thresholds.

Without an advance directive, the court can keep you alive and 'comfortable' even if you don't want to be intubated or have limbs removed. Your family can override your unspoken wishes.

Angela Ross, an attorney with 31 years of experience and current probate judge in Orleans County, Vermont, shares what most people don't know about estate planning—and what it costs families when they avoid it.

In this essential conversation:

• Why your will becomes public (and how to avoid probate)
• The difference between revocable and irrevocable trusts
• Medicaid planning and Enhanced Life Estate Deeds
• Estate and gift tax thresholds ($12 million—you're probably fine)
• What questions to ask prospective estate lawyers
• Why advance directives are MORE important than wills
• How to ensure your end-of-life wishes are legally honored

This isn't just legal information—it's protection for you and peace of mind for your family.

You may want to listen more than once.

Hosted by Patricia M Sears, End-of-Life Doula and founder of Graceful Transitions. Subscribe to hear monthly conversations with nationally recognized experts on death, dying, and life's most important transitions.

Join the Graceful Lifers community at Substack for exclusive invitations to join live audience and Q&A sessions with guests and deeper conversations about navigating life's thresholds.

Kasey March, a certified MAID Wayfinder and end-of-life doula with Doula Care for Dying, guides us through the realities of medical aid in dying in Vermont—from the process itself to finding a safe, appropriate location to take the prescribed medicine.

This conversation addresses:

• What MAID actually is (and what it isn't)
• The role of a MAID doula or Wayfinder
• Why people travel to Vermont from out of state to access MAID
• Options for Vermont residents who don't want to die at home
• Common myths and misconceptions about medical aid in dying
• How families are supported throughout the process
• What questions to ask if you're considering MAID

This is a robust, revealing conversation that expands understanding of this deeply personal end-of-life option. Whether you're considering MAID for yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply want to understand this aspect of end-of-life care, Kasey offers compassionate, clear insights.

Death on your own terms—that's what MAID makes possible.

Hosted by Patricia M Sears, End-of-Life Doula and founder of Graceful Transitions. Subscribe to hear monthly conversations with nationally recognized experts on death, dying, and life's most important transitions.

Join the Graceful Lifers community at Substack for exclusive invitations to join live audience and Q&A sessions with guests and deeper conversations about navigating life's thresholds.

Francesca Lynn Arnoldy, death literacy advocate and author of 'The Death Doula's Guide to Living Fully and Dying Prepared,' believes that transforming our relationship with death begins with a single step.

In this conversation, we explore:

• What 'death literacy' actually means and why it matters
• The surprising pleasure of starting difficult conversations
• What makes a 'good death' (hint: presence, choice, and love)
• How to support others during grief and loss
• Practical steps toward living fully while preparing to die well

Francesca is the original program director for UVM's End-of-Life Doula Certificate Programs, a published researcher with the Vermont Conversation Lab, and her work has been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, and AARP.

'Death literacy empowers us to navigate the end of life with clarity, confidence, and compassion—transforming fear into understanding and avoidance into meaningful preparation.' —Francesca Arnoldy

Ready to take that first step?

Find 'A Guide to Living Fully & Dying Prepared,' and other books by Francesca, here on my curated booklist at bookshop.org so you can support your local bookshop.

Hosted by Patricia M Sears, End-of-Life Doula and founder of Graceful Transitions. Subscribe to hear monthly conversations with nationally recognized experts on death, dying, and life's most important transitions.

Join the Graceful Lifers community at Substack for exclusive invitations to join live audience and Q&A sessions with guests and deeper conversations about navigating life's thresholds.

Lindsey shared, “You know, doing homework on the costs. A lot of people, I think, don’t realize what it’s gonna cost them for that traditional… I shouldn’t say traditional, I should say conventional burial.

And things that reflect their values and wishes. So I don’t think that there’s any one right way to go about end-of-life planning and disposition planning, but I think it’s really important to look at all the options and make choices that reflect your values.

[I have seen] people in my family with, sudden deaths that, funeral poverty has really hit them hard, and they didn’t know their options. And so, that made me feel, you know, more passionate about delving into this.”

Here is the Fact Sheet Lindsey prepared for us:

This touching conversation brought ‘aha moments,’ in particular that we all have the power to choose from several options that support our values.

We hope that when you listen, you’ll learn from Lindsey and her answers to questions from Graceful Lifers (aka paid subscribers who receive exclusive invitations to participate live in the podcast).

Now, thinking about what matters most to you, your values, who would you talk with about these after-death care options?

Click the button below for a free copy of ‘5 Essential Questions Each Family Needs to Ask (Before it’s too late).

Lindsey Warren, green burial specialist, opens our eyes to end-of-life choices most of us don't know exist.

Motivated by watching 'funeral poverty' devastate families after sudden deaths, Lindsey is passionate about helping people understand all their options for disposition planning.

In this touching conversation with 'aha moments' throughout:

• What green burial actually is (and what it costs)
• How your body can nourish a tree or wildflower meadow
• Why traditional funerals are so expensive—and alternatives
• Options for families facing 'funeral poverty'
• How to make disposition choices that reflect YOUR values
• Green burial availability in Vermont and beyond
• Environmental impact of traditional burial vs. natural burial

'I don't think there's any one right way to go about end-of-life planning and disposition planning, but I think it's really important to look at all the options and make choices that reflect your values.' —Lindsey Warren

You have more power and more choices than you realize.

Hosted by Patricia M Sears, End-of-Life Doula and founder of Graceful Transitions. Subscribe to hear monthly conversations with nationally recognized experts on death, dying, and life's most important transitions.

Join the Graceful Lifers community at Substack for exclusive invitations to join live audience and Q&A sessions with guests and deeper conversations about navigating life's thresholds.

Last week, Graceful Transitions welcomed Kasey March of Doula Care for Dying (Vermont) to our "In Conversation With an End-of-Life Specialist" series.

About Kasey's Practice

Kasey shared insights from her work as an end-of-life doula, focusing specifically on medical aid in dying (MAID). As a certified Wayfinder in Vermont, she provides compassionate support to individuals and their loved ones throughout this deeply personal journey.

Services She Provides

Kasey's support for MAID includes helping clients find a safe, appropriate location to take the prescribed medicine. This is particularly valuable for:

* Out-of-state residents who travel to Vermont to access MAID (if it's not available in their home state)

* Vermont residents who, for various personal reasons, choose not to die at home

What We Learned

Our conversation with Kasey was both robust and revealing.

Participants asked thoughtful questions that helped expand our collective understanding of MAID.

The discussion provided valuable reality checks and helped dispel common myths surrounding this end-of-life option.

We believe you'll find these insights helpful for understanding this important aspect of end-of-life care.

You can also find this conversation with Kasey on my YouTube playlist, and soon it will be available on the major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple, et al)

In Conversation With End-of-Life Specialists:Opening doors to the conversations that change everything

We're back with Season 2, and we're going even deeper.

This season explores the topics that matter most — from green and natural burial options to having The Conversation with your loved ones, from understanding hospice team roles to navigating grief awareness and bereavement support.

These aren't just conversations.

They are cultural shifts that make the end of life a natural part of life.

This Season's Compelling Voices

Season 2 features stories from some of the most respected voices in end-of-life care, including:

* Gabrielle Elise Jimenez, Hospice and palliative care nurse, end-of-life doula, author (The Conversation, End-of-Life Tips, Dignity Day, and 7 more), blogger/Facebook page (The Hospice Heart), death educator, grief support, national public speaker.

* Jenny Filush-Glaze, author of Grief Talks and Grief Talks 2: Additional Thoughts on Life, Death, and Positive Healing, founder of ZenJen's Mindful Living blog and Facebook page, and founder of Camp Good Grief, an annual bereavement camp for children/teens who have experienced loss.

* And other thought leaders transforming how we approach mortality, including and not limited to: Lindsey Warren and Lori Rizzo,

What We'll Explore Together

Together, we'll navigate the full spectrum of end-of-life experiences: grief and loss, green natural burial, dementia care in the final stages, financial planning for life's end, funeral home services, and the practical realities families face when conversations become urgent rather than planned.

Host Patricia M. Sears continues to expand the reach and impact of her passion for proactive end-of-life care planning, driven by her belief that normalizing these conversations helps us all live more meaningful lives.

Remember: Graceful Lifers (paid subscribers to this Substack) and alumni of the Guide to Living Fully & Dying Prepared workshop series receive the exclusive invitations to be a participant in the In Conversation With End-of-Life Specialists podcasts.

You are invited to exclusive-to-you Office Hours because you are a Living Fully & Dying Prepared (LFDP) workshop series alumni or paid subscriber to the 'Graceful Transitions’ Substack publication. This is one of the benefits of belonging to the Graceful Transitions community. CHEERSThe purpose of the LFDP Office Hours is an intentional gathering to build a source of resiliency and grow this community's collective capacity for end-of-life care planning and death literacy.

Some highlights for me include:

* After you die and if your estate is in probate, the will becomes public information with no right to privacy.

* There is no estate or gift tax if your estate is worth less than $ 12 million.

* The helpful and valuable tips Angela shared about how to avoid probate (the process can be lengthy because the courts are slow).

* Irrevocable trusts vs. revocable trusts, wills, Medicaid Planning (including Enhanced Life Estate Deed), transfer tax, and what questions to ask prospective lawyers for your estate (!).

* The paramount importance of Advance Directives (what to do with your body while you are alive and actively dying, and after death). If you don’t have an Advance Directive (find it on your state’s website and/or choose FiveWishes, which has more specific questions in a more straightforward format) completed, witnessed, and registered, the Court can keep you alive and comfortable even if you don’t want to be intubated, have limbs removed, etc. Without an Advance Directive, family members can sometimes keep their dying loved one alive longer than the person wants.

Angela shared her contact information with Office Hours participants: email.

The next Office Hours with special guest Angela Shook, companion animal doula, is Wednesday, 19 March 2025, at 4p. You can register here & now to save your seat.

Remember that as a Living Fully and Dying Prepared workshop alumna (or paid subscriber to Graceful Transitions Substack publication), you have lifetime access to the archives anytime you want the helpful information we have curated for easy navigation.

Please mark your calendar for the next Office Hours: On the third Wednesday of February, the 19th, at 4p, our special guest will be Angela Ross, probate judge. Register Here to save your seat and get the Zoom link.

Here is the 2025 Office Hours schedule for the next six months:

* 19 February | Angela Ross, attorney at law & probate judge

* 19 March | Angela Shook, Companion Animal End-of-life Doula, Pet Loss Grief Specialist

* 16 April | Francesca Arnoldy, author of the workbook we use, ‘A Guide to Living Fully & Dying Prepared’

* 21 May | Paul Decelles, Financial Planner

* 18 June | Lyn Limoge, Director of OEVNA & Hospice