Merilynne Rush's guest appearances

Merilynne Rush

End-of-Life University

Billy Fingers

Annie Kagan

Debra Diamond

Terri Daniel

Ken Wilber

Caitlin Doughty

Mary Oliver

Mary Roach

Joanna Penn

William Peters

Matt Mckay

Joe DiNardo

Roger Moore

Stephen Jenkinson

Stacy Smith

OwlTail

Learn best practices for creating a meaningful and powerful funeral or memorial service online. My guest Merilynne Rush is an EOL Doula Mentor, Home Funeral Guide, Green Burial Educator, Advance Care Planning Facilitator, Death Cafe host, former hospice nurse, and former home birth midwife. Today she shares her personal experience planning and hosting a virtual memorial service for her father, including all of the challenges and benefits of taking on such a task. She offers helpful advice to anyone who feels called to plan a virtual ceremony and explains why this new way of being together after a loved one dies is likely here to stay. Learn more about her work at her website: www.thedyingyear.org Read her blog post on Virtual Memorials here Listen here: This episode includes: The importance of funeral and memorial rituals and why they should happen sooner rather than later after a deathWhy a virtual ceremony can be just as effective as in-personWhy good planning and organization is essential for conducting an online eventGetting outside help from a tech assistant and an “MC” to manage the flow of the ceremonyCreating an effective “script” for the eventWhy breakout rooms are helpful at the end of the ceremonyTips for creating a slide show to use during the eventHow virtual gatherings can “carry all the love” we want to share and help with our griefWhy virtual funerals and memorials are likely to continue even after the pandemic Links mentioned in this episode: Vital Decisions’ National Healthcare Decisions Day Campaign: Pick a Proxy and Plant it ForwardVirtual Workshop on Grief with Ben Kintisch of Life Review: The Hospice Musical – April 25th – Learn more hereNHPCO EOLD Council Grief Support ProgramThe Dying Year End-of-life Doula TrainingACP Facilitator TrainingMerilynne’s research articleSteven Birenbaum, How to Hold. Virtual Memorial Service, NYT 1-14-21Debbie Waldman, How to Pay Your Respects During a Virtual Funeral, Wired, 3-17-21Sign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulSubscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes! Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my newest supporter Heather Capuano! Your contributions make all the difference!

Learn best practices for creating a meaningful and powerful funeral or memorial service online. My guest Merilynne Rush is an EOL Doula Mentor, Home Funeral Guide, Green Burial Educator, Advance Care Planning Facilitator, Death Cafe host, former hospice nurse, and former home birth midwife. Today she shares her personal experience planning and hosting a virtual memorial service for her father, including all of the challenges and benefits of taking on such a task. She offers helpful advice to anyone who feels called to plan a virtual ceremony and explains why this new way of being together after a loved one dies is likely here to stay. Learn more about her work at her website: <a href="https://www.thedyingyear.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thedyingyear.org</a> Read her blog post on Virtual Memorials <a href="https://www.thedyingyear.org/blog/how-and-why-to-do-a-virtual-memorial" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> <a href="https://eolupodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Listen here:</a> <h3>This episode includes:</h3> <ul><li>The importance of funeral and memorial rituals and why they should happen sooner rather than later after a death</li><li>Why a virtual ceremony can be just as effective as in-person</li><li>Why good planning and organization is essential for conducting an online event</li><li>Getting outside help from a tech assistant and an “MC” to manage the flow of the ceremony</li><li>Creating an effective “script” for the event</li><li>Why breakout rooms are helpful at the end of the ceremony</li><li>Tips for creating a slide show to use during the event</li><li>How virtual gatherings can “carry all the love” we want to share and help with our grief</li><li>Why virtual funerals and memorials are likely to continue even after the pandemic</li></ul> <h3>Links mentioned in this episode:</h3> <ul><li>Vital Decisions’ National Healthcare Decisions Day Campaign: <a href="https://info.vitaldecisions.net/nhdd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pick a Proxy and Plant it Forward</a></li><li>Virtual Workshop on Grief with Ben Kintisch of Life Review: The Hospice Musical – April 25th – <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nIK1I9SGTSaMFUh9ezkoug" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more here</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nhpco.org/doula-grief-support/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">NHPCO EOLD Council Grief Support Program</a></li><li><a href="https://www.thedyingyear.org/end-of-life_doula_trainings.html" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Dying Year End-of-life Doula Training</a></li><li><a href="https://www.thedyingyear.org/advance_care_planning_facilitator_training.html" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">ACP Facilitator Training</a></li><li><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2632352420973226" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Merilynne’s research article</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/well/family/virtual-funeral-advice.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Steven Birenbaum, How to Hold. Virtual Memorial Service, NYT 1-14-21</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/zoom-funeral-etiquette-manners/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Debbie Waldman, How to Pay Your Respects During a Virtual Funeral, Wired, 3-17-21</a></li><li>Sign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at <a href="http://eepurl.com/df15zz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this link</a></li><li>Support your local bookstore by buying my books on <a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/books-by-karen-wyatt-md" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bookshop</a> and Indiebound: <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781786783110" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">7 Lessons for Living from the Dying</a> and <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780982685563" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Journey from Ego to Soul</a></li><li>Subscribe to this podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/end-of-life-university/id1033282990" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9lb2x1cG9kY2FzdC5jb20vY2F0ZWdvcnkvZW9scG9kY2FzdC9mZWVkLw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/7bdr4odBlaaDy8NoJhcFsL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-end-of-life-university-31099550/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iHeart Radio</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/karen-wyatt/endoflife-university" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher Radio</a></li><li>Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past <a href="https://eolupodcast.com/series/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a></li><li>Join the team at <a href="http://patreon.com/eolu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon.com/eolu</a> and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously!</li></ul> If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider <a href="https://eolupodcast.com/reviews/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">leaving a review on iTunes</a>! Thanks again to all supporters on my page at <a href="http://patreon.com/eolu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon.com/eolu</a>, especially my newest supporter Heather Capuano! Your contributions make all the difference!

Ep. 294  Virtual Funerals and Memorials: How and Why to Hold Them with Merilynne Rush

EOL Doulas

Learn about important resources for caring for loved ones and patients at home and far away. My guest Merilynne Rush is a former hospice nurse who now practices as an End-of-Life Doula mentor, Home Funeral Guide, Green Burial Educator, Death Cafe host and more. Merilynne joins me today to talk about safe practices for home funerals during the COVID-19 pandemic, how to stay connected to our ill and dying loved ones, and she offers many resources for eol doulas at a distance, as well. Learn more at her website: www.thedyingyear.org Listen here:Death Care at Home and at a DistanceThis episode includes: What a home funeral consists of and why consider one nowHome funeral resources:National Home Funeral AllianceNew Hampshire Funeral Resources and Advocacy (Facebook page)OregonFuneral.orgUndertaken With LoveCrossings Resource GuideSacred CrossingsFinal PassagesHow to conduct a safe home funeral during the COVID-19 pandemicThe option of live-streaming Virtual Wakes, Visitations, or FuneralsTips for staying connected to our loved ones at a distanceLegacy projectsLeave written instructions for distributing possessions after deathVoice recording of messages for loved onesWindow visitTechnology Why early hospice admissions are important for hospital and long-term care patientsTips for EOL Doulas to stay in touch with patients when visits aren’t possible (download handout below)Why Advance Care Planning is essential right nowAdvance Care Planning facilitator training Tips-for-EOL-Doulas-at-a-DistanceDownload Other links mentioned in this episode: FREE Course on Advance Directives hereHospice News article about TelehealthNext Door AppNHPCO COVID-19 Shared Decision-Making ToolNEDA Webinar with Merilynne Rush and Diane Button (become a NEDA member to view the webinar)Merilynne’s The Dying Year website (learn about weekly discussion group for doulas, doula training, and ACP Facilitator training)The Dying Year Facebook pageObserve the NinthLeave a message for me at SpeakPipe.com/eolu and I’ll include it in a future episode!Join the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes! Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu! Your contributions make all the difference!

Learn about important resources for caring for loved ones and patients at home and far away. My guest Merilynne Rush is a former hospice nurse who now practices as an End-of-Life Doula mentor, Home Funeral Guide, Green Burial Educator, Death Cafe host and more. Merilynne joins me today to talk about safe practices for home funerals during the COVID-19 pandemic, how to stay connected to our ill and dying loved ones, and she offers many resources for eol doulas at a distance, as well. Learn more at her website: <a href="https://www.thedyingyear.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thedyingyear.org</a> <a href="https://eolupodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Listen here:</a>Death Care at Home and at a Distance <h3>This episode includes:</h3> <ul><li>What a home funeral consists of and why consider one now</li><li>Home funeral resources:<ul><li><a href="https://www.homefuneralalliance.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Home Funeral Alliance</a></li><li>New Hampshire Funeral Resources and Advocacy (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NHFREA/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>)</li><li><a href="https://www.oregonfuneral.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OregonFuneral.org</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Undertaken-Love-Funeral-Families-Community/dp/1533638721" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Undertaken With Love</a></li><li><a href="http://www.crossings.net/resourceguide030109.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crossings Resource Guide</a></li><li><a href="http://sacredcrossings.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sacred Crossings</a></li><li><a href="https://finalpassages.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Final Passages</a></li></ul></li><li>How to conduct a safe home funeral during the COVID-19 pandemic</li><li>The option of live-streaming Virtual Wakes, Visitations, or Funerals</li><li>Tips for staying connected to our loved ones at a distance<ul><li>Legacy projects</li><li>Leave written instructions for distributing possessions after death</li><li>Voice recording of messages for loved ones</li><li>Window visit</li><li>Technology </li></ul></li><li>Why early hospice admissions are important for hospital and long-term care patients</li><li>Tips for EOL Doulas to stay in touch with patients when visits aren’t possible (download handout below)</li><li>Why Advance Care Planning is essential right now</li><li>Advance Care Planning facilitator training</li></ul> <a href="https://eolupodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Tips-for-EOL-Doulas-at-a-Distance.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tips-for-EOL-Doulas-at-a-Distance</a><a href="https://eolupodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Tips-for-EOL-Doulas-at-a-Distance.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Download</a> <h3>Other links mentioned in this episode:</h3> <ul><li>FREE Course on Advance Directives <a href="https://eoluniversity.com/roadmapcourse" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a></li><li>Hospice News article about <a href="https://hospicenews.com/2020/03/18/hospices-turn-to-telehealth-to-reach-patients-during-covid-19-outbreak/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Telehealth</a></li><li><a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nextdoor-local-neighborhood/id640360962" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Next Door App</a></li><li>NHPCO <a href="https://www.nhpco.org/wp-content/uploads/COVID-19-Shared-Decision-Making-Tool.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">COVID-19 Shared Decision-Making Tool</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nedalliance.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NEDA Webinar</a> with Merilynne Rush and Diane Button (become a NEDA member to view the webinar)</li><li>Merilynne’s <a href="https://thedyingyear.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Dying Year website</a> (learn about weekly discussion group for doulas, doula training, and ACP Facilitator training)</li><li>The Dying Year <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thedyingyear/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook page</a></li><li><a href="https://observetheninth.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Observe the Ninth</a></li><li>Leave a message for me at <a href="https://speakpipe.com/eolu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakPipe.com/eolu</a> and I’ll include it in a future episode!</li><li>Join the team at <a href="http://patreon.com/eolu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon.com/eolu</a> and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously!</li></ul> If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider <a href="https://eolupodcast.com/reviews/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">leaving a review on iTunes</a>! Thanks again to all supporters on my page at <a href="http://patreon.com/eolu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon.com/eolu</a>! Your contributions make all the difference!

Ep. 242  Death Care at Home and at a Distance for Families and EOL Doulas with Merilynne Rush