Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, I’m joined by Martine Brousse, a medical billing advocate who’s been helping people take back their power in the healthcare system for over a decade. Together, we talk honestly about what really happens when the bill shows up, why it's often wrong, what you can do about it, and how to protect yourself or a loved one before things even get to that point. Martine shares her personal journey from working inside the system to standing firmly on the side of patients. We talk about why even "free" preventive care can still cost you, how to recognize red flags in your bill, and why it’s okay, and necessary, to question what you’re being charged. Whether you're recovering from a hospital stay, preparing for a procedure, or supporting someone through serious illness, this episode offers clear guidance without the jargon. It’s about dignity, financial clarity, and learning how to stand up for yourself. In this conversation, we cover: What most people get wrong about medical bills How to challenge charges without getting lost in the system What it really means to become a “guarantor” for a loved one’s care When and how to ask for discounts or financial assistance How to protect yourself before the bills even start Our healthcare system can be cold and complicated, but you don’t have to face it alone. This episode is here to remind you that you have rights, and that speaking up isn’t just allowed, it’s necessary. Links/Resources Guest: Martine Brousse – https://www.advimedpro.com Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Resources Mentioned: No Surprises Act – https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises Preventive Care Services – https://www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-adults/ Your State’s Department of Insurance - for patient rights and complaint support If this episode helped you or got you thinking, please like, share, and subscribe. Your support helps us reach more people who need these conversations.   #DeathDoula #EndOfLifeDoula #MedicalBillingAdvocacy #PatientRights #GriefSupport #AdvanceCarePlanning #CaregiverSupport #NoSurprisesAct #HealthcareAdvocacy 

Steve Gurney, founder of the Positive Aging Community, dives into the realities of aging solo with thoughtful insights drawn from over 35 years in the senior living field. He emphasizes creating a 'personal village' for emotional and practical support. Steve discusses the importance of proactive planning, the role of aging life care managers, and how to select trusted proxies for crucial decisions. He addresses the unique challenges introverts face in building connections, alongside the transformative role of technology in fostering communication and combating isolation.

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli sits down with Cindy Spence, massage therapist at the T. Boone Pickens Hospice Center and author of Palliative Touch: Massage for People at the End of Life. Together, they discuss how simple, intentional touch can become one of the most powerful tools for comfort and connection in hospice care. Cindy shares her journey from family caregiver to palliative massage expert, explains the myths and misconceptions surrounding end-of-life massage, and offers deeply practical tips for bed positioning, reading nonverbal cues, and inviting caregivers to confidently engage in comfort touch. This episode is a compassionate guide for anyone supporting a loved one at the end of life, and a beautiful reminder that care doesn't always require words. Key takeaways include: How to use palliative touch without formal training Why proper bed positioning is one of the most overlooked aspects of hospice comfort Tips for reading signs of pain and discomfort when someone can’t speak The emotional weight of caregiving and tools for caregiver self-care This episode is for caregivers, hospice workers, doulas, and anyone who wants to offer dignity, ease, and presence during the final chapter of life. Links/Resources Guest: Cindy Spence – https://finaltouchtraining.com Host: Traci Arieli's Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Palliative Touch: Massage for People at the End of Life by Cindy Spence  Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! 

Katie Keckeisen, a historian and researcher specializing in Victorian grieving practices, brings fascinating insights into the world of 19th-century Spiritualism. She discusses the profound impact of the Fox Sisters on public mourning and how women gained a voice through this movement. The conversation delves into how the Civil War shaped grief and the rituals surrounding it, including the intimate experience of dying at home. Furthermore, technology like the telegraph offered new metaphors for the afterlife, reflecting our enduring quest for connection with the deceased.

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli sits down once again with Erica Baccus, whose husband Jon was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. What followed was a journey of deep love and courageous choices- culminating in his decision to pursue assisted death in Switzerland. Now, months later, Erica returns to share reflections from her new book, A Promise Kept: Honoring His Wishes, Embracing Our Love. We talk about what it means to truly honor a loved one’s end-of-life wishes, the emotional reality of choosing a death with dignity, and how it feels to hold someone’s hand through their final moments. Erica also opens up about mentoring others facing similar paths and her involvement with A Better Exit, a group working to support patients with dementia, ALS, and other devastating diagnoses.  Whether you’re walking a similar road, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to understand what compassionate end-of-life care can look like, I hope this episode offers a sense of connection and clarity.  Links/Resources Guest: Erica Baccus – https://ericabaccus.com Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Book: A Promise Kept: Honoring His Wishes, Embracing Our Love Mentioned: In Love by Amy Bloom – https://www.amybloom.com Organization: Dignitas – https://www.dignitas.ch Advocacy: A Better Exit – https://www.abetterexit.org Podcast Episode- Death with Dignity in Switzerland: A Husband’s Final Choice :https://watch.comfortingclosure.com/death-with-dignity-switzerland  Please like, share, and subscribe to the channel to support more honest conversations around aging, illness, dying, and grieving. Your voice helps break the silence and spread comfort where it's needed most. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli explores the emotional and financial toll of denied medical claims. Joined by founder and patient advocate Holden Karau, creator of Fight Health Insurance, they unpack the broken insurance system and how one AI-powered tool is helping people push back. From appeal letters to patient assistance programs, this episode offers clear, empowering steps for those facing healthcare denials, because no one should have to fight alone. Links/Resources Guest: Fight Health Insurance – https://fighthealthinsurance.com Host: Traci Arieli's Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli explores the true meaning of a good death, and why it begins with how we choose to live. Joined by teacher, speaker, and author Chris Palmer, they unpack what it means to live with intention, plan ahead with compassion, and face death as a part of life rather than a medical failure. Chris shares deeply personal stories and lessons from his book Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life, reflecting on fear, autonomy, quality of life, and how to make end-of-life care more humane and empowering. Key takeaways include: Why intentional living leads to a more peaceful death How to approach advanced directives, even if you're scared Practical tools for having difficult conversations with loved ones How medical culture can hinder, rather than help, end-of-life care The importance of creating a personal mission statement for life and legacy Whether you work in aging care, are planning ahead for yourself or a loved one, or are simply curious about what it means to die well- this episode offers powerful, grounded, and compassionate information.  Links/Resources Guest: Chris Palmer’s Website -  https://www.chrispalmeronline.com/death-dying Host: Traci Arieli’s Website -  https://www.comfortingclosure.com Resources Mentioned: Book: Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life by Chris Palmer Compassion & Choices Dementia Values Tool – https://www.compassionandchoices.org Final Exit Network – https://www.finalexitnetwork.org AARP Advance Directive Links – https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/financial-legal/free-printable-advance-directives   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes. Help us normalize these vital conversations and bring more comfort, clarity, and closure to end-of-life planning. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli explores the complexities of senior living decisions with Angie Graham, Division President of Our House Senior Living. Together, they break down what “good care” really looks like, and how families can distinguish between nurturing communities and places that fall short. Angie shares her personal story of navigating memory care for her father, insights into caregiver burnout, and why culture and communication are just as important as the building itself. You’ll learn what questions to ask on facility tours, how to read between the lines, and how to prepare emotionally for this deeply personal transition. Whether you're supporting an aging parent or planning for yourself, this episode offers practical tools and guidance to help you make informed, compassionate choices. Key Takeaways: What defines high-quality senior living How to spot red flags during facility visits Common misconceptions about assisted and memory care Ways to support caregivers and avoid burnout The emotional dynamics of transitioning into senior living This conversation aims to normalize these often-difficult discussions, & empower families. Links/Resources Guest: Our House Senior Living – https://www.ourhousesl.com Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! Help us spread awareness and compassion around aging, dying, and grief. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with Farah Baxter, co-founder of Soalma, about the essential documents, conversations, and emotional legacies we should prepare before we die. Together, they explore how thoughtful end-of-life planning can ease the burden on loved ones, reduce chaos, and create space for healing. Whether you’ve already started planning or are hearing about this for the first time, Farah offers gentle, practical guidance and introduces Soalma, a digital platform designed to help families document, store, and share life’s most important details. Key takeaways include: What you actually need to document before you die (beyond just a will) The emotional and practical impacts of being prepared How planning ahead can prevent family conflict Why even young, healthy adults should start documenting now How Soalma helps users store both vital documents and meaningful stories This episode helps normalize conversations around death and dying by showing how preparation is not only an act of love but a way to preserve peace and dignity for everyone involved. Links/Resources: Guest: Learn more about Soalma – https://soalma.com Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Advance Directives by state: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/financial-legal/free-printable-advance-directives/   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes. Every conversation helps build a more compassionate world. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with grief advocates and co-authors Leanne Whallett and Jess Slater about their children’s book All Around Is Me. They share personal stories of loss, parenting through grief, and the deeply healing role their book plays in helping children process death and memory. Together, they discuss how children experience grief differently than adults, why silence around death can be confusing for young ones, and how we can create safe, compassionate spaces for kids to feel and express their emotions. Key takeaways include the importance of honest conversations, recognizing signs of grief in children, and using storytelling and ritual as tools for connection. This episode gently normalizes conversations around childhood grief and offers encouragement to caregivers, educators, and anyone supporting a grieving child.  Links/Resources Guest Website: https://motherduckpublishing.com Host: Traci Arieli's Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Book: All Around Is Me on Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/All-Around-Me-Leanne-Whallett/dp/B0DGQSC8RJ   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes!