Ep. 63- Connection Before Care: Small Communication Shifts That Change Everything

What if the key to reducing resistance to care isn't doing more, but approaching care differently? In this episode of HPNA Palliative Perspective, internationally recognized dementia care expert Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA shares practical techniques for licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants that prioritize connection before providing care. From seeking permission and interpreting refusals to using body language, pacing, and creative storytelling, listeners will discover simple, actionable strategies that can improve comfort, trust, and communication across hospice, home care, and long-term care settings.

This episode is part of HPNA HOMES initiative, which provides dedicated support, education, and resources for hospice and palliative care licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants. The initiative is made possible through generous funding from the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF), with grant support from the Jack Buncher Foundation and the Y.C. Ho/Helen & Michael Chiang Foundation. Together, these efforts help strengthen the skills of frontline caregivers while improving quality of life for patients and families living with serious illness.

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Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, is an Occupational Therapist with over forty years of rich and varied clinical and academic experience. Her experiences led her to the development of the GEMS® States of Brain Change and the Positive Approach™ training strategies. Her company, Positive Approach to Care® (PAC), provides online and in-person education and products to support those living with brain change. She also co-founded the Snow Approach Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Teepa presents with extraordinary expertise and humor to audiences throughout the world.

Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN, FAANP, has been a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner for 18 years, practicing in multiple settings. She received her DNP from University of Alabama – Huntsville. She is currently the Palliative Medicine System Director of Operations for the Baptist Healthcare System. She is also the president of BBS Health Education – where she creates and presents continuing education for healthcare providers. Brett is a nationally recognized healthcare speaker and nationally recognized pain management expert, working for more than 20 years with pain patients in a variety of settings. She is board certified with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She is also a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and certified as an Advanced Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse.