Content is provided for general informational purposes only and is not to be considered legal, financial or health advice.
Consult with your legal, financial, healthcare, or other service providers before taking action based on this information.
Community Events
End of Life Doula Training
October 15, 2025 from 5:00-8:00pm
Meridian Senior Center
1920 North Records Way Meridian, ID 83542
Award-winning Doulagivers family caregiving and End-of-Life Doula training. In this FREE training, you will learn how to care for someone who is dying from the time of a terminal diagnosis all the way through until the end-of-life, presented by Suzanne B. O’Brien. Several vendors will be there to answer questions about services available in your community, including LEARN. Book signing of “The Good Death” book during the event sponsored by Re-Discovered Books in Boise. A special Thank You to Doulagivers Institute and Ancora health Services for hosting this FREE community event!
We believe that this education to support people to have the most positive end of life experience is a human right, not a privilege.
What will you learn in this training?
In this FREE training, you will learn how to care for someone who is dying from the time of a terminal diagnosis all the way through until the end-of-life.
You will learn the 3 Phases of End of Life Model of Care that we teach in our professional certification programs at Doulagivers Institute, as well as interventions to provide comfort and support to both patients and their families in each phase.
Space is limited and registration is required.
Registration is required. Click Link to Register:
Being Mortal Screening
October 16, 2025 from 4:00-6:00 pm (Doors open at 3:45)
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
220 E. Parkcenter Blvd, Boise, ID
Ancora Health Services and Doulagivers Institute are pleased to partner with Idaho Public Television and OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute sharing a special screening of “Being Mortal” presented by Frontline.
“FRONTLINE follows renowned New Yorker writer and Boston surgeon Atul Gawande as he explores the relationships doctors have with patients who are nearing the end of life. In conjunction with Gawande’s book, “Being Mortal”, the film investigates the practice of caring for the dying and shows how doctors — himself included — are often remarkably untrained, ill-suited and uncomfortable talking about chronic illness and death with their patients.”
Following the film screening, please join us for a panel discussion with Dr. Billy Galligar, Palliative Care Physician, Marissa Click, Palliative Care and Oncology Chaplain and Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN, founder of Doulagivers Intitute & author of the international bestseller “The Good Death” book.
This FREE community event is open to the public
Parking is available at the Yanke Family Research Park at 220 Parkcenter Blvd. Visitors in the Yanke parking lot may use the Parking Kiosk located at the end of the sidewalk near the building entrance. Have your license plate number available to enter and the fee is $2.75/hour. Osher Institute members’ parking permits are valid for this event.
Registration is required. Click link to register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1698438899469?aff=oddtdtcreator
The Good Death Book Tour
Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Barnes and Noble of Boise
Registration is required.
Click link to register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1653255173729?aff=oddtdtcreator
Good Death Seminar Series in Boise!
12-week session of the Good Death Seminar series at Brookdale Boise ParkCenter Assisted Living
Last Tuesday of every month of the month
6:00-7:45 PM
Brookdale Boise Parkcenter Assisted Living
739 E Parkcenter Blvd. Boise, ID 83706
Presented by End-of-Life Doula and Community Educator at Ancora Health Services, Karen Midlo. The Good Death Seminar Series helps to support and educate communities on end of life care. The series is based on The Good Death Book: A Guide for supporting your loved one through the end of life by Suzanne B O’Brien.
All are welcome and invited to participate! This series is FREE to attend. Please attend all sessions or only those that interest you.
RSVP to Mary DeMartile for questions or additional information at 986-217-1530 or mardem@brookdale.com
Visit https://thegooddeathbook.com/ to purchase your own copy of the The Good Death book. Purchase of the book is not required to attend the seminar.
Thank you to Brookdale Boise ParkCenter Assisted Living for sponsoring this incredible series and making it FREE to the community!
Video Collections
Funeral Directors Clarke Thomson and Joelee Godfrey from Alsip and Persons Funeral Chapel in Nampa, Idaho answer the questions you are afraid to ask and share information you want and need to know about funeral planning.
Christine Soza
Clarke Thomson
Joelee Godfrey
Click on the questions below to view the videos
Martha Gonzalez, Director of Family Services at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Caldwell, Idaho, answers questions she is often asked by families making decisions at the cemetery.
Christine Soza
Martha Gonzalez
Basics with Barbara is a monthly series where hospice pioneer Barbara Karnes, RN shares her extensive knowledge and experience on end-of-life with End of Life Doulas, Karen Midlo and Christine Soza. Barbara is an award-winning end-of-life educator and hospice nurse. She offers compassionate end‑of‑life education designed to guide families and professionals through the final stages of life.
Barbara Karnes , RN
Karen Midlo
Christine Soza
Barbara explains what hospice is and the support it provides to a person with a life-limiting diagnosis and their family. (June 2025)
Barbara discusses the signs and changes that occur months before death and how to use those signs to decide when to call hospice. (July 2025)
Barbara discusses the importance of “Caring for the Caregivers” and how all of the family caregivers across the country are truly the unsung heroes. (August 2025)
“Death is not like what you see in the movies” ~ Barbara Karnes Listen to this incredible episode of “Basics with Barbara” as she explains the dying process and how similar it is to the birthing process. She also shares how an End-of-Life Doula can play an important supportive role at the end of life alongside the hospice team.
Resources
End of Life
Articles
Guest post from Barbara Karnes, RN, award Winning End of Life Educator, Award Winning Nurse, NHPCO Hospice Innovator Award Winner 2018 & 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year
One night many years ago when I was a hospice RN, when most people couldn’t pronounce the word “hospice,” or understand what the services were about, I was sitting with a family. Mom was in the bedroom, probably a week or so from death. The family and I were in the living room. I was explaining why mom was doing the things she was doing. Why she was making “strange” sounds, why she was restless and agitated, why she wasn’t responding to them.
One of the daughters was taking notes. I was surprised. No one had done that before. What a great idea! To have these words of reassurance when I wasn’t there to guide and support them.
Podcasts
In this heartfelt episode of the Senior Matters podcast, host Mark Wight opens the door to a profoundly compassionate conversation about one of life’s most profound transitions: the end of life. Mark explores the essential role of death doulas—non-medical professionals who provide emotional, spiritual, and practical support to individuals and their loved ones as they navigate the final stages of life.
Karen Midlo
Christine Soza
Mark Wight
March 2025
Videos
The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for both patients and their families. Join us to learn about this specialized type of medical care that focuses on providing patients of any age and at any stage of a serious illness with relief from pain, stress, and symptoms.
Dr. Jessica Evert, MD
St. Luke’s Palliative Care
March 3, 2022
This video explains the difference between Personal Care / Home Care, Home Health, Palliative Care and Hospice Care. Learn how these programs are funded and how to successfully engage with these programs as a family caregiver to best support yourself or your loved one.
Nichole Claiborn
Kim Ouwehand
Reiki is a complementary/integrative therapy that aids in stress reduction and promotes deep relaxation. Reiki is a holistic, non-invasive therapy that allows the body to deeply relax and helps to calm the nervous system so that we can experience life with a greater sense of ease and feel at peace.
Death Doulas: Changing the Face of Death
This video will introduce you to the role of the Death Doula and how they can help you and your family improve the end-of-life experience.
This session will explore the availability of options for a dignified death, states that have Right to Die options, the importance (and shortcomings) of Advance Directives, and more. Final Exit Network will share what they do and how they address the needs of potential clients.
Disclaimer: This presentation contains information about difficult issues. LEARN provides access to a broad range of resources and information related to aging and caregiving topics and does not take a position on any of our educational topics.
Jim Van Buskirk
Final Exit Network
April 21, 2022
The video “An Introduction to Hospice” provides an overview of hospice care, explaining its purpose, benefits, and the support it offers to patients and their families during the end-of-life process. It highlights the compassionate care provided by hospice teams, focusing on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for those with terminal illnesses.
Mike Briggs
Keystone Hospice
July 29, 2021
End-of-Life Doulas of Idaho is an organization that seeks to connect the terminally ill and their families with emotional and practical support. But, we know death isn’t just for the dying… Our Doulas also focus on community education, preplanning, eco conscious practices and grief support.
Links
Pre-planning & Advance Directives
Videos
This video will provide you with a detailed understanding of the Healthcare Advance Directive forms for Idaho. This session will also provide guidance about how to talk with your family and friends about your healthcare preferences and choices.
This video provides an overview and introduction of the Idaho POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment). This document falls under the umbrella of Advance Care Planning for Healthcare.
This video will provide you with an overview of the Healthcare Advance Directives used in Idaho.
Rick Bassett, MSN, RN
St. Luke’s Health System
April 11, 2021
Articles
Funerals & Celebrations of Life
Videos
The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Idaho is a non-profit organization empowering people to choose simple, meaningful, and affordable after-death arrangements.
Write your Own Obituary
A good obituary reveals the joy in living and tells the story of your life. It is also a historical document that should be archived. This session reveals how to write an obituary that honors you, as well as touching those who know you and all who will read it.
Articles
Grief and Aftercare
Treasure Valley Wind Phone
LEARN is delighted to share the announcement of the “Wind Phone” to the community in the Treasure Valley. It was a collaborative effort with our end of life channel sponsor, Alsip & Person’s Funeral Chapel, a local Girl Scout, Katie Beaton and End-of-life Doula, Christine Soza of True North Awakening.
Feeling the loss of a loved one? Discover how a valley-unique “Wind Phone” in Nampa is helping people find closure and finding the words that may have been left unsaid. The hope is that you may you find solace, peace and comfort here and “May the wind carry your words” to your loved ones.
Videos
Executors play a pivotal role in estate planning and management, a task that encompasses legal, financial, and emotional challenges. From the immediate aftermath of death, dealing with body disposition and securing property, to the complexities of asset distribution and closing the estate, this talk unpacks the executor’s journey. It highlights the practical steps involved, the potential for family disputes, and the emotional toll on the executor.
Providing support to caregivers through outdoor adventures. Hike 2 Heal provides wilderness respite for caregivers who selflessly provide care through guided hiking, snowshoeing, and backpacking trips. Caregivers understand caregiving is tough and the key to balance in caregiving is taking a much-needed break. Take a break, and go to nature to regain balance.
Dan Canfield
Hke 2 Heal
January 2024
Articles
Content Contributors:
