Exploring the Concept of Hope and the Need of Clients and Families at End of Life

This program explores the concept of hope and the unique needs of individuals and families as they approach the end of life. During this deeply personal time, people face a range of physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological challenges that call for compassionate, personalized care.
Central to this experience is the evolving nature of hope. Developing a deeper understanding of what hope means to each individual is essential to delivering holistic, patient-centered care.

The program will offer strategies for having meaningful conversations about advanced illness, death, and dying. These discussions require sensitivity, active listening, and emotional presence. Guided by empathy and openness, they create space for individuals and families to share their fears, wishes, and hopes.

Additionally, the program will address the many facets of grief, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and supporting those who are grieving both before and after a loss.

This program explores the evolving concept of hope and the unique physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological needs of individuals and families at the end of life. Healthcare professionals will gain strategies for engaging in meaningful, compassionate conversations about serious illness, death, and dying. The session also addresses the complexities of grief—before and after loss—highlighting the importance of holistic, person-centered support.

Objectives:

• Learner will be able to define hope.
• Learner will be able to list at least 2 things individuals hope for at end of life.
• Learner will be able to name at least 2 needs of individuals and families at end of life.
• Learner will be able to list two techniques for engaging in difficult/end-of-life conversations.

3.5 CE Credits

Presenter:

Mary Crowe, LICSW, ACHP-SW, C.D.S., CDP is the Director of Professional and Community Education for Care Dimensions (formerly Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston). Over the past 19+ years she has led the organization’s professional and community educational outreach, coordinating and delivering hundreds of programs each year for healthcare professionals, families and community groups.

Mary holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, and post graduate certificates in gerontology and alcohol counseling. She also has a Facilitator Certification- Virtual Dementia Tour, Dementia Live Certified Facilitator, CARES Dementia Specialist (CDS), Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP). She also is a Certified Grief Informed Professional (CGP), Certified Geriatric Care-Informed Professional (CGIP), Certified End of Life Care Specialist (ELCS) and is an ELNEC- End of Life Nursing Education Consortium- Core Trainer.

Prior to transitioning to her role as educator, Mary worked as a medical social worker for over 20 years in acute care, rehabilitation, skilled nursing and adult day health settings caring for individuals and families with advanced illness or at end of life. She has been an Adjunct Professor at North Shore Community College and a Visiting Professor at Salem State University.