John  Bishop, Executive Director of Crossroads Hospice led off today’s show.  John is an Atlanta native with a background in mental health counseling.  In addition to a degree from Ohio State University, John is also a Registered Nurse.  Though he loves his job as executive director, he misses taking his pet parrot out to spend time directly with patients.  John has a passion for helping people that goes well beyond his day to day job responsibilities.  He, and Crossroads Hospice, work closely with the Alzheimer’s and ALS Associations, and John is a board member with Friends of Gwinnett Senior Services (www.fogcss.com).  John can be reached via email at psychranger@yahoo.com, or on his cell phone, which he bravely recited during our interview (you’ll have to listen to get it, though)!  www.crossroadshospice.com

Next, we spoke to Patsy Golden, Social Services Coordinator for Emory Eastside Heritage Center.  Patsy is part of a unique organization that brings together a full suite of services to evaluate and treat Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias and geriatric depression.  She is a certified “Thanatologist” (our word for the day!), meaning she is trained in all aspects of death, dying and bereavement.  In her spare time, she leads a grief support group at Snellville United Methodist Church.  Patsy loves the opportunity to work with family members to assist with and share in the grief and bereavement process.  Each day she lives out the adage, “a grief shared is halved and a joy shared is doubled.”  Patsy can be reached via email at Patsy.Golden@hcahealthcare.com.