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The E-Series: Finding Empowerment in Advance Care Planning

In this episode, Trent Cockerham, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, is joined by Kat Gibson, Vice President of Family Care Services for Hospice of the Piedmont. Together, Trent and Kat take deep dive into the sometimes uncomfortable yet extremely beneficial conversation of making your healthcare preferences known to those you care about, the many benefits of taking a proactive approach to these discussions and how to document your healthcare wishes.

May 2, 2022

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Hospice of the Piedmont · The E-Series: Finding Empowerment in Advance Care Planning

Guest Bio: Kat Gibson, MSW LCSW, Vice President of Family Care Services for Hospice of the Piedmont, joined the hospice team in 2016 as a Medical Social Worker before transitioning into a leadership role the summer of 2019. She is a graduate of the Joint Masters of Social Work Program through the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and recently obtained her Advance Palliative and Hospice Social Work Certification. Prior to finding her passion within hospice care, Kat has experience working with the mental health community and the long term care population across the triad area.

The E-Series is an educational webinar and podcast series aimed at engaging our community, exploring relevant topics and educating about ways to connect with our organization. Funding for The E-Series is provided by the John A. Lusk Fund for Hospice and Palliative Care Education. To listen to previously recorded episodes of The E-Series, click here.

Your entire team was amazing. They are very professional in their work but also have big hearts and it comes through in how they do their work and in their positive attitudes.

- Daughter of patient

Thank you for making your home like her home, warm and comfortable.

- Sister of a patient (in reference to Hospice Home)

Your kindness and efforts go far beyond the patients and extend to their families and friends.

- Family of a patient

Everyone who cared for my wife was, without exception, caring, kind, and exceptionally capable individuals who seemed to truly care about her well-being and care.

- Husband of a patient

Your staff (at Hospice Home) was confident, thoughtful, kind and very loving to my mom. When we couldn’t be there or take care of her needs, you took care of her.

- Son of a patient

My mother spent her last days in your facility. I want to thank you for the gifts you gave to her and our family. The dignity, caring, professionalism, and kindness will remain a bright part of our saying goodbye to our mother.

- Daughter of a patient

My family and I would not have made it without Hospice.

- Daughter of a patient

For many veterans, military service is the most important thing that they have done in their lives. As part of We Honor Veterans, those patients are now paired with a volunteer who also served in the military and share a common bond.

- Joe Lyons, Hospice volunteer

Thank you for all of your care, concern, education and kindness during Mom’s last year. My grief journey has had a lighter backpack because of Hospice.

- A patient’s daughter

Their touch, their time, their words were the comfort of a lifetime.

- A patient’s family

We were privileged to have the support of (Hospice)…They nurtured and cared for my husband as if he was their only patient.

- Wife of a patient

Me consuela saber que mi esposa tuvo los mejores cuidados gracias a Hospice. La ayudaron a ella y a nuestra familia en todas las maneras posibles.

- Marido de un paciente

I thank God for putting good people in the right job for people like me.

- Patient family member

We were so impressed by your staff and your desire to help us. No one wants to need Hospice, but when a person does, it is a tremendous blessing. Thanks again for the care you gave my dad, and ultimately all of us.

- Daughter of a patient

I would like to say that you have a beautiful Hospice Home. It is so nice and serene. I love the “quiet spots” that you can go to and meditate. Thank you so much in helping make my mother’s last days on this earth a little better and comforting.

- Daughter of a patient