Ep. 456 Passages: An EOL Program for a Senior Living Community with Tom Waknitz

End-of-Life University

Learn about a senior living community that is bringing end-of-life doula training to residents, thanks to the efforts of its chaplain.

My guest Tom Waknitz is a chaplain and end-of-life doula who is working with Walker Methodist Senior Living Community to establish a unique end-of-life program for residents called Passages. He is certified by INELDA and is currently earning a Master of Divinity Degree. After serving his first year as an end-of-life doula, Tom shares his innovative ideas for serving people and their families in transition at the end of life. Learn more about Passages and Tom’s coaching services at these websites:

walkermethodist.org

onemtl.org

YouTube Channel

Listen here:

This episode includes:

• Tom’s journey from a career in technology to becoming a chaplain and end-of-life doula
• Tom’s role as a chaplain and doula in a senior living community
• Why Tom decided to bring INELDA training to the residents of this community and how it can serve as a model for others
• The power of guided imagery and “familial stories”
• Facilitating end-of-life conversations with residents and family members
• What Tom learned in his first year as an end-of-life doula
• The power of the intentional pause
• Why changes in the end-of-life field must be sustainable

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Register for Foundations of Compassionate Communities Course (Free)
• Tom’s blog post: “Reflections on my First Year as a Spiritual Care Provider & End-of-Life Doula”
• Learn more about INELDA
• NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving
• Get my two new books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death
• Get EOLU Podcast Merch here
• Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here
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