Stay tuned for details regarding our 2025 Spring Course!
Please email Judith Pedersen-Benn with any questions, which are very much welcomed.

Course Syllabus
MATERIALS
The items that are provided will be mailed to you or you may pick them up before the course begins.
We will provide “Gone From My Sight” and “The Eleventh Hour” by Barbara Karnes, M.D. as well as the Five Wishes document.
Dying Person’s Bill of Rights by David Kessler, Tennessee Advance Directives (or forms specific to the state where you reside) and organ donation information can easily be found online.
Recommended reading: “Final Gifts, Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs and Communications of the Dying” by Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley

REQUIREMENTS
Attendance at all eight sessions is required for certification. We also ask for active participation for this to be a meaningful course, we are all in this together, right?
Completion of a death packet by each student that includes:  the Five Wishes (or your state advanced care directives); organ donation form; create your epitaph; identifying your personal funeral arrangements; your death mind-map; and creating a “personal death ritual.”  Student experiences with completing the packets will be presented at the last class
Journal for reflection and questions for class discussions

CLASS SCHEDULE:

Session 1:  Introduction to the Program (Welcome Home & Our Philosophy)
Judith Pedersen-Benn, MS, CADC, CHT and Sherry Campbell, LMSW
This session will include introductions of participants and what to expect from the course.
We will discuss the big taboo- why we don’t talk about death in our society and the “Dying Person’s Bill of Rights”.
End of life care packets will be discussed, including the Five Wishes, organ donation, creating your epitaph and your funeral arrangements and other items to be shared during the last session if you wish.

Session 2:  Planning for End of Life and Ethical Considerations
Bob Zylstra, LCSW, Ed.D
To include legal and ethical Issues, healthcare wishes, after death care and final arrangements. Watch Extremis and discussion.

Session 3: Hospice and Palliative Care & Having Difficult Conversations
Terry Melvin, M.D., FAAHPM
We will explore the differences and myths surrounding hospice and palliative care as well as ways to begin these difficult conversations and providing advocacy and education.

Session 4: Why It is Important to Plan
Amy Boulware, LAP, MSW
Crazy things can happen when you don’t have your affairs in order. Amy will share about legal and financial issues and concerns related to death and why it is important to prepare so you don’t leave your family in a bind!

Session 5: Being a Companion/The Role of a Death Doula
Sherry Martin, Death Doula, Judith Pedersen-Benn, MS, CADC, CHT, Sage-ing Instructor
In this session, we will discuss ways to support those with a life threatening illness and caregivers. Sherry will share about her experiences in the new but very important role as a death doula. We will talk about “solo-agers” and self care. Judith will lead us in mind mapping our own death.

Session 6:  Being Present
Rose Gordon, Spiritual Care and Bereavement Provider, Taos, New Mexico
It is important to keep a mind’s eye to a cultural perspective, that we all may have the same needs at the end of life- death, dying and grief look different through all cultures. In this session, Rose helps us explore culture and diversity.

Session 7:   New Rules for End of Life Care by Barbara Karnes, RN, EOL Educator
Discussion guided by Sherry Campbell, LMSW
This week we will watch the highly informative video “New Rules for End of Life Care” and conclude with discussion, question and answer session among our group.

Session 8: Grief, After Death Care & Final Arrangements
Kim Adams, NEDA Board, NHFA Board, Omega Home Network
In this very interesting session, Kim will share about home funerals and alternatives to traditional funeral arrangements. We will learn aspects of grief and how to support those who are grieving and caring for ourselves. For this final session, attendees will present their “end of life packets” and a post-test will be distributed for completion.

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