Ep. 396 The Chrysalis Room: Transforming Death in the Nursing Home with Loretta Downs

kwyattmd

Mar 27

Learn about a mission to transform care for dying patients and their loved ones in nursing homes.

My guest Loretta Downs is a Certified End-of-Life Care Practitioner and holds a Masters Degree in Gerontology. She founded Chrysalis End-of-Life Inspirations to advocate for the creation of private rooms in nursing homes and hospitals where families and friends can keep vigil with a loved one who is dying. She'll discuss her project and share some of the stories that have inspired her work. (NOTE: This is an archived interview from the days before I acquired a professional microphone, so the sound quality is less than desired, but the content is excellent!) Learn more at Loretta's website:

www.endoflifeinspirations.com

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This episode includes:

How Loretta became interested in working with the dying
What is a "Chrysalis Room"
How Loretta conceived of the idea of a separate room for the dying in nursing homes
How the Chrysalis Room has benefitted both the patients and the staffs of long-term care facilities
What it takes to create a Chrysalis Room
How to advocate with a facility to change the way they care for the dying

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