Palliative and Hospice Massage in a Death Avoidant Culture with Ashley Brzezicki

Send us Fan MailIn this episode I have a great conversation with Ashley Brzezicki, an RMT and death doula, whose personal narrative and cultural insights bridge the gap between massage therapy and end-of-life care. Exploring this tender intersection, we shine a light on the human touch in healthcare—a touch that offers solace to those grappling with terminal illnesses and envelops their loved ones in the warm embrace of empathy and understanding. Ashley's tapestry of narratives threads through our conversation, from confronting the cultural discomfort around death to the art of finding meaning amidst life's final chapter. We delve into the vital role of hospice care, a misunderstood haven offering more than just comfort in dying—it's about living each moment to the fullest, with dignity. Our discourse challenges the medical community's preoccupation with cure over care, advocating for a holistic approach where every healthcare provider, from the massage therapist to the hospice nurse, becomes a guide in the patient's odyssey of self-discovery and acceptance.This episode calls out some of the noticeable absences in healthcare education, and we advocate for massage therapy to become a university-level degree. We dissect the ethical implications of outdated teachings and the significance of evidence-based practice, as well as the challenges practitioners face in the evolving landscape of Continuing Education. Our exchange extends beyond academia to the essence of patient-centered care, weighing the merits of various modalities against the need for genuine relief. Join us, as we unfurl the importance of compassionate healthcare and the enduring impact of a simple human touch in the profound journey of life's sunset.The Massage Science Podcast and my company, The Centre for Evidence-Based Education (The CEBE), are now official partners with Noterro.Partnering with them feels like a natural alignment with our mission to support busy clinicians.Get Noterro free for 44 days!Noterro makes clinic management easy with scheduling, billing, and charting all in one placeSupport the showHead on over to my website. This includes a list of all my upcoming courses, webinars, self-directed learning opportunities as well as some helpful learning resources.thecebe.comPlease connect with me on social mediaFB: @ericpurvesrmtIG: @eric_purves_cebeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ericpurves2502Would you like to make a donation to help support the costs of running my podcast?You can buy me a coffee by clicking here