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Navigating the Professional Role in End of Life Care

This single-day training will cover important and relevant topics such as understanding Hmong culture at end of life, kids and grief, and dementia care at end of life. Expert presenters will share their knowledge and experience on these important topics.

Key Program Information
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Become an expert and provide the best care possible.

As care providers, you might know what it takes to make a patient feel comfortable at the end of their life, but do you know how to respect their cultural beliefs and values? While you might commonly work with older adults at end of life, do you know the best ways to support grieving children? When your patients are suffering from dementia, do you have the experience and skills to support them at end of life? 

During this single-day training, our passionate expert presenters will educate care providers on all of the critical topics listed above. Please join us to feel better prepared and more knowledgeable navigating these unique and important topics.  

Agenda

10:00 am         Welcome

10:15 am         Hmong Culture at End of Life 

11:45 am         Lunch

12:30 pm         Kids and Grief 

2:00 pm           Break

2:15 pm           Dementia Care at End of Life

3:45 pm           Closing

4:00 pm           Adjourn

 

Hmong Culture at End of Life

Currently, Wisconsin has the third-largest Hmong population in the United States. In the presentation, Hmong Culture at End of Life, Youhung Her-Xiong and Elizabeth Moua will discuss the traditional healthcare beliefs and rituals of many Hmong Americans. The Hmong have been living in the United States for 40 years and have adjusted in many ways to their new culture, yet many still honor the beliefs and rituals of health, healing and end of life that they practiced in their hometown. The lack of knowledge of different health care practices within the Hmong community has served as a barrier for healthcare professionals to provide culturally sensitive care to Hmong patients.

Objectives for this session include:

  • Understand the Hmong American beliefs and rituals surrounding the care provided at end of life
  • Understand the Hmong American’s health and healing beliefs 
  • Understand the challenges faced by Hmong American elders who honor their traditional beliefs and rituals and how healthcare professionals can use this knowledge to deliver culturally sensitive health care to their patients. 

 

Kids and Grief

Typically, when we talk about end of life care and support, we think about older adults. There is a lack of expertise and knowledge for how best to support young children when they experience the difficult emotions surrounding death and the loss of a loved one. In the presentation Kids and Grief, Dr. Lisa Quinn Lee will go beyond bereavement basics to help you best support your young patients. In this presentation, you will learn the similarities and differences between adult and child grief. You will learn the critical support methods a child needs when they are grieving and learn how to help them.  

Objectives for this session include:

  • Understand the similarities and differences between child and adult grief
  • Explain the needs of grieving children 
  • Identify ways to help grieving children 

 

Dementia Care at End of Life

Dementia is a terminal illness, yet the course of the illness varies from person to person. In the presentation, Dementia Care at End of Life, Deborah Hoffman, and Lisa Wells will teach prognostication tools for a referral to palliative care and the benefits of hospice care. They will educate you on the common symptoms that signify a person with dementia is approaching end of life. You will also learn important communication, spiritual and cultural dimensions for supporting families and caregivers of those with dementia. Special guest, Paula Wainscott, a wife and caregiver for her husband who had Alzheimer's, will share her experience.

Objectives for this session include:

  • Recognize dementia as a terminal disease for Palliative & Hospice Care Eligibility
  • Identify best practices in the management of common symptoms at end-of-life
  • Acknowledge the importance of supporting individuals living with dementia and their families at end-of-life

 

Who should attend

Social workers and counselors, health and human service professionals, nurses, nurse practitioners, doctors, chaplains, nursing home administrators.

Instructors

  • Youhung Her-Xiong, MSW, APSW, is currently a Doctoral Candidate in the Ph.D. in Social Welfare program in the School of Social Work at UW-Madison. She has experience with medical social work, community work, program evaluation, and qualitative research. Her interests surround healthcare disparities, aging, end-of-life care, and interventions and education with minority communities.

  • Elizabeth Moua, MSW/APSW, is an advanced practice social worker at Mayo Clinic Health System. She has served as co-chair of the Education Committee for the Section of Social Work since 2014 and was an Associate Lecturer for the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s Part-Time Social Work program for the last three years.  Elizabeth’s areas of interest include Hmong health and aging, end-of-life care and advance care planning.

  • Lisa Quinn-Lee

    Lisa Quinn-Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at UW-Eau Claire. She received a Bachelor’s in Social Work from UW-Eau Claire, Master’s in Social Work from UW-Madison, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Quinn-Lee has spent over 15 years as a clinical social worker in the areas of grief, loss, and end-of-life care, especially related to children's grief. She has worked as a hospice social worker, grief therapist, and bereavement coordinator. She has always felt honored and privileged to have the opportunity to work with people during the difficult times in their lives. Dr. Quinn-Lee has given many presentations nationally and locally about death, dying, grief, and loss and is passionate about the field. At UW-Eau Claire, she conducts research in the areas of grief and end-of-life care, and also teaches a death and bereavement course. Prior to coming to UW-Eau Claire, she spent most of her career working in the Twin Cities.

  • Debra Hoffman, DNP, MS, RN, APNP, ACNS-BC, CNE, is an associate professor, adult clinical nurse specialist and nurse educator with over 35 years of experience in hospice, palliative, integrative methods/medicine, perianesthesia, and grief/bereavement.  Her research includes the use of acupressure for postoperative nausea and vomiting in ambulatory surgical patients, complementary alternative medicine use in older adults and group exercise effects on quality of life in patients and families with dementia. She has worked collaboratively with the Eau Claire County Health Department and Aging and Resource Center with undergraduate student projects focused on populations with dementia and also serves on the Eau Claire County Dementia Coalition.

  • Lisa Wells has been with the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County, WI for 17 years. Ms. Wells provides support for individuals with Dementia and their caregivers, offers memory screenings, evidenced based-programs, assistance with care planning and connections to support and resources. She assists in developing dementia-friendly communities, the civic awareness of dementia-related issues, and training. She is also an instructor at the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College and teaches Gerontology – Aging Services Professional Program. Ms. Wells holds a master’s degree in Gerontology from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

  • Paula Wainscott found herself in the role of full-time family caregiver when her husband Charles was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2013. In the spring of 2015, Paula’s brother Ron was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She experienced first-hand the support of both palliative care and hospice care as she navigated terminal and end of life care with both of these special men. Paula currently volunteers as a support group leader and trainer to other family caregivers. She is also a care partner for her mom who is living with early stage memory loss. 

Sponsor

*Listing of sponsors does not represent endorsement by UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education/Extension.

CEU Information

Participants will earn 5 Contact Hours upon completion of this program.

Additional CEU Information by Profession: 

Wisconsin Social Workers

Our programs qualify as continuing education offered by an accredited university. The State Board recognizes contact hours for all listed programs.

Wisconsin Substance Abuse Counselors

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services approves contact hours for programs consisting of relevant content taught by qualified presenters. Contact our office with questions about specific program approvals.

Wisconsin Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists

Our programs qualify as required continuing education offered by an accredited university. The State Board recognizes contact hours for all programs.

Wisconsin Licensed Counselors

Our programs qualify as required continuing education offered by an accredited university. The State Board recognizes contact hours for all programs.

Wisconsin Educators and School Psychologists

Continuing education programs from the University of Wisconsin campuses may qualify toward your Professional Development Plan (PDP).

Other Professions

Contact your professional board or organization for specific continuing education requirements.

Disability Accommodations

UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education encourages individuals with disabilities or other special needs to participate in our programs whenever possible. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please notify us at least two weeks in advance of the program so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Contact Continuing Education at 715-836-3636 / toll-free 866-893-2423, or use the Wisconsin Relay System (711). All requests are kept confidential.

An EEO/Affirmative Action employer, University of Wisconsin provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA requirements.

Cancellation Policy

We understand life happens. Should you need to cancel your registration, you may substitute someone to take your place, at any time, at no cost to you. If we cancel a program, we’ll give you your money back.

If your program is 14 or more days away:
You may transfer once to any currently available program – no charge!
If you have to cancel, you will receive a refund, minus a 20% administrative fee.

If your program is less than 14 days away:
You may transfer once to any currently available program, plus a 20% transfer fee.
If you cancel, you will not receive a refund.

If you are registered and do not attend the program, you are responsible for the full fee.

Substitution, refund or transfer requests must be submitted via email or phone call to UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education.

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