204 Supporting Teens and Families Through Hospice: Jean Anne Menna on Education, Pets, and Legacy Messages

204 Supporting Teens and Families Through Hospice: Jean Anne Menna on Education, Pets, and Legacy Messages

Host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, interviews returning guest Jean Anne Menna, a certified hospice and palliative nurse in New York, board member for End of Life Choices New York, and author of Go With Grace and A Pawsitive Journey. Menna shares updates on her website consulting/support services and new writing projects, including an upcoming teen guide, While You're Still Here, focused on normalizing teen emotions, reducing guilt, and encouraging healthy breaks while a loved one is dying at home, potentially on hospice. She discusses a children's book series featuring Duke and Houdini, inspired by a hospice patient's neglected cat, emphasizing the need for a pet care plan in hospice. They also highlight legacy practices like letters and voice recordings, and clarify common hospice misconceptions, stressing education, 24/7 availability, and the need for a primary caregiver in home hospice.

00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer

00:29 Meet Marie and Jean Anne

01:38 New Teen Guide Preview

02:57 Why Teens Need Support

05:30 Filling the Education Gap

06:40 Where to Find the Books

07:16 Duke and Houdini Series

08:49 Houdini Hospice Story

12:27 Planning for Pets

13:25 Website and Legacy Letters