National Healthcare Decisions Day: The Importance of Expressing and Documenting your Healthcare Wishes
Each year, April 16 is National Health Care Decision Day, which exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and health care providers about the importance of advance care planning. In this NCM, host Bess Kirnie talks with Samantha Jones from Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley about the importance of Advance Care Planning, how to get it done, how to choose a health care proxy agent, and how to communicate your wishes to family and your health care providers. Bess and Samantha guide you through the five steps toward completing this process. (Filmed March 11, 2020)
The Art of Death Cleaning
Bess Kirnie is a volunteer and board member for Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley who recently presented at one of Hospice’s monthly Lunch & Learn workshops about the subtle art of death cleaning. Bess joins NCM Host Donna Seymour to discuss Death Cleaning, what it is, how it got started and local resources you can use to help with your own death cleaning. (Recorded October 1, 2019)
“The Travelers Guide to Life” Podcast
North Country Matters previews “The Traveler’s Guide to Life” podcast. Sponsored by Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley, the Traveler’s Guide is a podcast about how to live fully so when you do get to life’s end, you will feel happy about your choices on this journey we all share. NCM host Bess Kirnie talks with Mary Jones, Director of Family Support Services, and Linda Potter, a Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley Board Member, about why they developed the podcast, what it will cover, and who can benefit. (Recorded September 3, 2019)
“Dying to Talk”
Samantha Jones and Mary Jones of Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley talk with NCM host Bess Kirnie about the difficult but necessary conversations we should have about the end of life and the need for Advanced Care Planning. They provide a wealth of resources to help us start that conversation. (Recorded Feb. 7, 2018)
Palliative Care Services
AIM (Advanced Illness Management) Director at Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, Diane Pickering talks with NCM host Bess Kirnie about services available in St. Lawrence County to improve the quality of life and care for those managing life with a chronic illness. (Recorded Feb. 7, 2018)
“Being Mortal”
North Country Matters explores end-of-life issues, both globally and in our local communities. Mary Jones of Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley talks with NCM host Bess Kirnie in a conversation that touches us all.