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Wayfinders Network
Wayfinders Network
Patient Choices Vermont has launched the Wayfinders Network, an independent and collaborative group of hospice nurses, case managers, death doulas, and social workers who are available to help patients and their families. Our collective vision is that Wayfinders will be able to help people find the right services and connect with whatever support would be helpful. For non-residents, that may include lodging and logistics. For all patients, it may include arranging caregivers, providing emotional support, and guiding the family on care of the body after death. These services supplement the assistance available on the PCV Helpline, especially where more detailed support is required. PCV has assessed all Wayfinders to ensure they have the relevant skills and knowledge to assist patients and families. All Wayfinders have training and guidance from the PCV team and other network members, and PCV in turn guides patients to find an appropriate Wayfinder. It is then up to the patient and their family to decide whether a particular Wayfinder is a good match for them. PCV is developing this network to deepen the connections between people in various roles who support those who are in their last days and months of life. To find a Wayfinder, please review the profiles below and then contact the person who you think might be a good match for you. Please call only one Wayfinder and allow 48 hours for the person to get back to you. If after that time, you have not heard back from them, then you may call another Wayfinder. PCV values our relationship with each Wayfinder and asks you to give each person time to connect with you. |
Special Thanks to Rita Mannebach and her Family: Rita Mannebach, who recently traveled from Florida to use medical aid in dying in Vermont, has provided a generous donation to PCV to help us assist others who want the same option. We extend our deepest sympathy and thanks to her family, and also honor her Wayfinder, Meg Tipper. Rita's story is provided here. PCV gratefully welcomes donations in furtherance of our mission to empower people at the end of life. |
List of Wayfinders:
SOUTHERN VERMONT
Support for Medical Aid in Dying in Brattleboro and Windham County
Patty Dunn and Suzanne Baxtresser lead a team of experienced end-of-life professionals who provide assistance to those pursuing Medical Aid in Dying in Southern Vermont. It is their goal to provide a consistent source of emotional support, concrete information, and logistical coordination as patient and families pursue Medical Aid in Dying. Members of the team have a broad range of experience in hospice, palliative care and Medical Aid in Dying. They draw on years of experience working with local healthcare providers, hospitals, hospices and community care groups. Services are offered on a voluntary basis.
Suzanne Baxtresser RN, CHPN, M.ED. is a retired hospice nurse, certified in Hospice and Palliative Care. Since her retirement from Bayada Hospice in Brattleboro, she has continued her end-of-life work with individuals and families who are interested in Medical Aid in Dying.
Patty Dunn has provided emotional and practical support to people facing the end of life and living with loss for 32 years in both professional and volunteer roles. She has been a trained hospice volunteer, manager/caregiver at 14-bed hospice residence, founder/care partner of end-of-life caregiving service for people in their homes, managed non-medical hospice programs, and provided peer support counselor/educator for grieving individuals, families and children.
Contact Info: We look forward to speaking with you. Please complete this form, and we will call within 24-48 hours after receiving your information.
Support for Medical Aid in Dying in Brattleboro and Windham County
Patty Dunn and Suzanne Baxtresser lead a team of experienced end-of-life professionals who provide assistance to those pursuing Medical Aid in Dying in Southern Vermont. It is their goal to provide a consistent source of emotional support, concrete information, and logistical coordination as patient and families pursue Medical Aid in Dying. Members of the team have a broad range of experience in hospice, palliative care and Medical Aid in Dying. They draw on years of experience working with local healthcare providers, hospitals, hospices and community care groups. Services are offered on a voluntary basis.
Suzanne Baxtresser RN, CHPN, M.ED. is a retired hospice nurse, certified in Hospice and Palliative Care. Since her retirement from Bayada Hospice in Brattleboro, she has continued her end-of-life work with individuals and families who are interested in Medical Aid in Dying.
Patty Dunn has provided emotional and practical support to people facing the end of life and living with loss for 32 years in both professional and volunteer roles. She has been a trained hospice volunteer, manager/caregiver at 14-bed hospice residence, founder/care partner of end-of-life caregiving service for people in their homes, managed non-medical hospice programs, and provided peer support counselor/educator for grieving individuals, families and children.
Contact Info: We look forward to speaking with you. Please complete this form, and we will call within 24-48 hours after receiving your information.
Kasey March, Ed. M., is a doula, educator, and advocate. She believes that everyone can have a supported death. In her work she helps clients understand the challenges at end-of-life and navigate them. Her goal as a doula is to assist and empower you, the client. She recognizes the importance of a dying person’s autonomy and realizes there are many who don’t know that they have access to choices and preferences at end-of-life. Kasey provides an open-hearted presence to the dying and their circle of care. She simplifies complex information so that clients can spend time on what matters most to them.
Kasey worked in higher education administration helping students navigate university systems to access supports, overcome obstacles, and complete their degrees until moving to Vermont. In 2021, she decided to utilize her skills in a new way and became a hospice direct care volunteer and trained with the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA). She currently serves as a death doula and hospice volunteer in Vermont and New Hampshire.
For more detail on Kasey's services, please contact her.
Contact Info: [email protected], 802-546-1110
Kasey worked in higher education administration helping students navigate university systems to access supports, overcome obstacles, and complete their degrees until moving to Vermont. In 2021, she decided to utilize her skills in a new way and became a hospice direct care volunteer and trained with the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA). She currently serves as a death doula and hospice volunteer in Vermont and New Hampshire.
For more detail on Kasey's services, please contact her.
Contact Info: [email protected], 802-546-1110
UPPER VALLEY
Licia Berry-Berard is a social worker who has worked in healthcare for over three decades. During her career she has been an advocate for at-risk older adults, provided long term care management services for patients living with complicated medical issues and supported patients and families during the end-of-life process. In the early 2000’s Licia co-designed and lead a hospital wide effort to improve patient, family and staff experience. Licia and her team created opportunities to listen to and partner with patient, family and health care team members to improve quality, safety and care experience.
Licia is experienced in building relationships, and understands the intricacies of navigating the healthcare system, living with and managing the challenges of a change in health. She is committed to bridging the gap between a patient's desired and actual experience. Licia believes in open communication and will work to support patients and families compassionately and collaboratively.
For more detail on Licia's services, please contact her.
Contact Info: [email protected]
Licia Berry-Berard is a social worker who has worked in healthcare for over three decades. During her career she has been an advocate for at-risk older adults, provided long term care management services for patients living with complicated medical issues and supported patients and families during the end-of-life process. In the early 2000’s Licia co-designed and lead a hospital wide effort to improve patient, family and staff experience. Licia and her team created opportunities to listen to and partner with patient, family and health care team members to improve quality, safety and care experience.
Licia is experienced in building relationships, and understands the intricacies of navigating the healthcare system, living with and managing the challenges of a change in health. She is committed to bridging the gap between a patient's desired and actual experience. Licia believes in open communication and will work to support patients and families compassionately and collaboratively.
For more detail on Licia's services, please contact her.
Contact Info: [email protected]
CENTRAL VERMONT
Luke Rackers, MFA, is an aging services and community engagement professional, creative aging advocate, and nonprofit leader. With a Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts degree, Luke has a background as a private educator, music director, pianist, and composer. Inspired by teaching piano students age 60-90+, Luke entered the aging services field in 2016 as an AmeriCorps Member with Central Vermont Council on Aging (CVCOA). Since then, Luke has held several positions at CVCOA, including volunteer coordinating, communications and philanthropy, and now leading all volunteer and community engagement programs. Luke has continued graduate study in education, critical and creative thinking, and gerontology, currently studying at Virginia Commonwealth University in the department of health sciences with research interests in creative aging, LGBTQ+ issues and aging, social gerontology, and end of life choices.
As a Wayfinder through Patient Choices Vermont (PCV), Luke specializes in supporting people at the end of life through a secular (humanist, agnostic, atheist, freethinker, skeptic, non-religious) and creative meaning-making lens. As an advocate for compassionate end-of-life choices, Luke is deeply committed to supporting clients and their loved ones who make the choice to die with intention. As a Wayfinder, Luke can help navigate the challenging logistical and emotional challenges of the process.
Luke serves clients in Washington, Orange, Lamoille, Chittenden, Addison, and Caledonia counties in Vermont and may be willing to travel throughout Vermont.
For more detail on Luke's services, please contact him.
Contact Info: 303-952-0268.
As a Wayfinder through Patient Choices Vermont (PCV), Luke specializes in supporting people at the end of life through a secular (humanist, agnostic, atheist, freethinker, skeptic, non-religious) and creative meaning-making lens. As an advocate for compassionate end-of-life choices, Luke is deeply committed to supporting clients and their loved ones who make the choice to die with intention. As a Wayfinder, Luke can help navigate the challenging logistical and emotional challenges of the process.
Luke serves clients in Washington, Orange, Lamoille, Chittenden, Addison, and Caledonia counties in Vermont and may be willing to travel throughout Vermont.
For more detail on Luke's services, please contact him.
Contact Info: 303-952-0268.
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VERMONT
Support for Medical Aid in Dying in Chittenden and Washington Counties
Support for Medical Aid in Dying in Chittenden and Washington Counties
Meg Tipper, Ed. D., is a teacher by training and calling. She spent her full-time work life teaching and developing interdisciplinary curricula in high schools and colleges in Maryland. After moving to Vermont in retirement, Meg became a 500 hour Kripalu Yoga Teacher and founded, supervised and taught in the Recovery Community Yoga program at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County. Having retired from yoga teaching, she now devotes herself to work as a Death Doula, certified through UVM’s EOL Doula Program. Meg helped her mother die using VSED (voluntary stopping eating and drinking) and is deeply committed to accompanying clients and their families who make the hard decision to die with intention. As a PCV Wayfinder, Meg can help with many of the logistical and emotional challenges of the process. Meg serves clients coming to Chittenden County.
For more detail on Meg's services, please contact her.
Contact Info: [email protected]
For more detail on Meg's services, please contact her.
Contact Info: [email protected]
Questions & Answers:
Is the Wayfinder Service Free?
Some Wayfinders are volunteers while others provide their services for a fee. It is up to the patient and family to ensure that the Wayfinder they choose is a good match, both in terms of capabilities and fees. PCV has no financial interest in the work of the Wayfinders.
Is a Wayfinder a substitute for hospice?
No, the Wayfinders are not a substitute for hospice. PCV strongly recommends that all aid-in-dying patients be enrolled in hospice for the combination of medical, comfort, and emotional support they provide.
Is the Wayfinder Service Free?
Some Wayfinders are volunteers while others provide their services for a fee. It is up to the patient and family to ensure that the Wayfinder they choose is a good match, both in terms of capabilities and fees. PCV has no financial interest in the work of the Wayfinders.
Is a Wayfinder a substitute for hospice?
No, the Wayfinders are not a substitute for hospice. PCV strongly recommends that all aid-in-dying patients be enrolled in hospice for the combination of medical, comfort, and emotional support they provide.
PCV is an independent 501(c)(3) organization, not supported by any government agency.
While our services are free, our small staff and dedicated team of volunteers counts on individual donations to cover our month-to-month operations. Please, consider supporting the PCV team by making a donation.
Thank you.
While our services are free, our small staff and dedicated team of volunteers counts on individual donations to cover our month-to-month operations. Please, consider supporting the PCV team by making a donation.
Thank you.
How do I apply to become a Wayfinder?
If you are interested in receiving information about becoming a Wayfinder, please fill out the form below. Please understand that the program is in its pilot stage. At the time when additional Wayfinders are added to the network, we will be in touch with you.
If you are interested in receiving information about becoming a Wayfinder, please fill out the form below. Please understand that the program is in its pilot stage. At the time when additional Wayfinders are added to the network, we will be in touch with you.