Caring Now, Planning Ahead

A workshop + support group for caregivers balancing eldercare and end-of-life planning.

Caregiving for older or terminally ill loved ones can be lonely, confusing, and overwhelming. Whether it's managing doctor visits, moving them to a new home, or focusing on their end-of-life care, the work is intensive and complicated, and it often fluctuates between slow progress and urgent needs.

Caring Now, Planning Ahead is part-educational workshop, part-peer support group. In four sessions, we cover topics related to eldercare, such as having hard conversations, figuring out end-of-life planning, and other caregiving challenges. We’ll then facilitate a discussion driven by participants’ particular challenges. 

The purpose of this workshop — just one hour every other week —  is to provide guidance, resources, and support. We know many of you are also working full-time and maybe raising children. This time is built to offer both practical information and camaraderie with others.

This will not be a time to delve into medical questions or to get advice on specific resources in a given locality. But we can all share and support each other on issues of communication, changing family dynamics, compassion, and empathy.

And of course, staying true to The Heartwood Collective’s mission, we’ll help you think about what you want for your own end-of-life preparation. It may feel premature, but thinking about and planning for yourself gives you a head start on getting your own affairs in order, while gaining empathy and insight to help your loved ones.

Who will benefit from this workshop?

  • You are currently managing, supporting, and navigating the needs of your aging relatives. You may be just starting to see signs of aging or declining independence and you want to be ready, or you may be in the thick of it. 

  • You are looking for like-minded individuals to share experiences, coping methods, and challenges. Maybe you’re worried that you’re burdening others in your life, and you want to have time with people going through similar challenges with whom you can brainstorm, vent, and give and get support.

THE WORKSHOP Details

FALL Zoom Workshop: Tuesdays at 4pm PST / 7pm EST:

Sept 30, Oct 14, Oct 28, Nov 11

___________________________

SPRING Zoom Workshop: Wed at 4pm PST / 7pm EST:

March 18, April 1, April 15, April 29

___________________________

Please plan on attending all four dates.

Cost: $275/person

  • TESTIMONIALS

    Jen and Karen's graceful guidance combined with the space to share ideas, perspectives, and different ways of looking at the subject of mortality, make Peace of Mind Planning a great workshop.

    — Jake

  • TESTIMONIALS

    With Jen’s experience, patience and professionalism, I was finally able to face the daunting task of completing an Advanced Directive. Jen gently, and with great empathy, helped me face and explore my experiences and feelings surrounding the end of life. 

    By the end of this work, I felt heard and understood.  Jen’s insightfulness, patience and kindness are all exceptional.  I cannot recommend Jen more highly, for this work or other End of Life Doula support.

    — Karen

  • TESTIMONIALS

    Peace of Mind Planning is a great way to begin thinking about something we all will go through, but may push off planning for. The Peace of Mind Planning workshop is a smart combination of practical planning, resources, and thoughtful reflection.

    — Louis

  • TESTIMONIALS

    Jen met me where I was emotionally and brought me and my family immediate comfort with her compassionate spirit. Jen helped me navigate my husband’s transition into Hospice care at home and helped me establish a caregiving team when my husband’s health declined and he urgently needed skilled bedside care beyond what I knew. She helped me organize, coordinate and harness the power of our community, who were all so eager to give, help in any way possible, drop off meals, etc.  No task was too big or too small for Jen – from helping tidy up our home to helping arrange end of life details and logistics, to helping plan my husband’s Celebration of Life, Jen was my quarterback, my sounding board and communicator. I’m beyond grateful for Jen and can’t imagine where I’d be today without her.

    — Minda

  • TESTIMONIALS

    I finally got myself and my husband going with our own end-of-life planning, which feels great.

    — Laurie

  • TESTIMONIALS

    The Peace of Mind Workshop is a great way to familiarize yourself with the landscape of end-of-life planning for yourself and your loved ones. Whether you've completed a Life File or have no idea what to put in one, this workshop can help you prepare. Jen and Karen offer a holistic consideration of death and tools for mitigating the emotional and practical ways that the end of a life unfolds in the lives of those who remain.

    - Sasha