Recently Published!!
by Maryclaire Torinus
Surviving Hospice: A Chaplain's Journey into the Big Business of Dying Plus: How To Find a Trustworthy Hospice
This narrative is an insider’s look into the hijacking of hospice by private equity and professional investors and the subsequent harm to patients, their families, and to the interdisciplinary clinical teams. It was released by a NYC publisher on October 31, 2023. For sale on Amazon.
The author, a hospice chaplain, tells end-of-life stories of her patients who were harmed by financially-motivated policies. This is a book for anyone who is embarking on making a choice about a hospice for their loved one, working chaplains, those in training, and those interested in what dying is like with a hospice who places patients as their primary stakeholders.
Maryclaire's experience working for an owner who sold to a private equity firm helped her to realize that the reputation and viability of hospice is in jeopardy. Her goal is to alert all who love hospice to rid it of professional investors.
— Stacy Juba, author, editor, and award-winning health journalist
"Powerful, beautifully written, and eye-opening, this book spotlights the inner workings of a multi-billion-dollar industry and the effect on patients, families, and hospice staff. The author shares poignant accounts of hospice at its best and worst and the hard-hitting truths she learned on her journey. A must-read for family members exploring hospice care."
— Laura Kukowski, CEO, editor, For-Profit Badger Hospice, LLC
"Maryclaire Torinus speaks with authority, providing this essential handbook for choosing a hospice care team and why that selection really matters."
— Greg Schneider President, HVA, co-author of The Changing Face of Hospice Volunteering in Hospice and Palliative Care
"When I first found out that Maryclaire Torinus was writing this book, I immediately contacted her because in my 25+ years supporting hospice volunteers, I have seen a gradual decline in the quality of care volunteers are permitted to provide the dying and their families. There are a variety of reasons for this that I describe in the Foreward of this book. Maryclaire provides invaluable insights that everyone should know, along with solutions to help others make the right choice in choosing a hospice."
Buy Now
Comments
Beth is 84 years old with a 20-year history of Parkinson’s Disease.
She said she had low back pain and that’s why she wanted a massage. She also explained that she had two brain surgeries 1 year ago. A brain stimulator had been placed in her head with the second surgery. With my encouragement she explained that the wires to the stimulator ran from her chest up the right side of her neck. She was also experiencing right side weakness, and a large open wound on her right leg that wouldn’t heal.
I asked her if she had experienced massage before, and she said yes. A month prior to our conversation a massage therapist had come over with a table and given her a deep tissue massage.
I paused and explained that I offered very gentle work for someone with the many sensitive conditions she had explained to me. She did not adjust her request. Beth wanted more deep tissue massage.
She asked if I could refer someone else.
After much consideration I let her know that, with my experience, I could not refer her to someone for anything except very gentle massage.
She was seemingly despondent when she asked me to hold on for a moment.
She returned to the phone and said, "My sister just reminded me that I was in a great deal of pain after the last massage and fell frequently. She suggests that I try some gentle work."
This is part of a longer story. Many massage practitioners working with hospice clients as well as co ordinators dont know what the service is about. Massage schools do not teach working with dying persons in core training . Corporate administrators assume that massage practitioners have the training they need. Most administrators in hospice are not versed in what a massage program needs, to be safe for the client as well as the practitioner. Practitioners need training in the following components of this field.
Hands on percautions
Modification of standard massage techniques to meet the needs of the physically and emotionally fraigle
How to adapt massage for working with people in beds and chairs
How to gather suficient information
How to cope with the emotional impact of clients dying
This is a field of service that has to have training behind it
If you are an administrator or practitioner reading this please go to my website www.everflowing and check out the educational resources. Resources are available to give you the information you need. You may also ask questions on this site. Go ahead use me!!!
Massage in hospice care is growing fast lets have it grow in a healthy way. Many times patients are so hungry for touching that they dont know the difference in a safe and unsafe session. Its up to the integrity of the people in this field to see that safety prevails.
Blessings Irene smith author of Providing Massage in Hospice Care