Events & Happenings
Living with Grief: Best Practices in Hospice Care for Advanced Dementia
Live on April 14, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m. EST—OR—On Demand April 15 through October 14, 2026. Register by April 13, 2026.
AMOREM, your local, non-profit hospice and palliative medicine provider will offer Hospice Foundation of America’s (HFA) annual Living with Grief® Series: Best Practices in Hospice Care for Advanced Dementia, live on April 14, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m. EST or on demand April 15 through October 14, 2026. Registered participants will receive a program link, downloadable handouts and a payment code for 2 continuing education credits, if desired.
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are now among the top reasons people are admitted to hospice care in the United States. It is estimated that there are 6.9 million Americans over 65 living with dementia in 2025, a number expected to grow along with the rapidly aging population. This 2-hour program focuses on the challenges hospice and end-of-life care providers encounter while caring for this terminally ill population. Beyond exploring the role of hospice in dementia care, the program explores how interdisciplinary teams can best support patients, their care partners and staff in caring for patients with dementia. The program also stresses the importance of educating communities about the services hospice and palliative medicine can offer people living with dementia, their caregivers and support networks, who are often family members.
Frank Sesno, former CNN anchor, will lead the panel of noted authorities that includes: Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv; Karen O. Moss, PhD, RN, CNL, FNAP, FGSA; Deanna Rymaszewski, DSW, APSW, APHSW; and Katherine Supiano, PhD, LCSW, F-GSA, FT, APHSW-C.
This program will be practical for individuals and all levels of professionals—entry level, intermediate or advanced. The information provided will be useful to healthcare clinicians, social service clinicians and others working in hospice, palliative care, counseling, hospital, nursing home, funeral home or faith community environments. Two hours of continuing education credits are available at no cost to participants until October 14, 2026, through HFA for nurses, social workers, counselors, clergy and more. For HFA’s list of board approvals, go to https://www.hospicefoundation.org.
The complimentary presentation and CE credits are provided as part of the community grief support services of AMOREM because of their belief that it can improve quality of life. Registration is required by April 13, 2026. To learn more about this program or to register, contact Lisa Caviness, director of public relations, at 828.754.0101 or lcaviness@amoremsupport.org.
Compassionate Connections:
Good Grief Meals
HIGH COUNTRY SERVICE AREA
April 1, 2026
3:00 p.m.
Cracker Barrel, 1601 Blowing Rock Rd., Boone
CALDWELL COUNTY SERVICE AREA
April 2, 2026
3:00 p.m.
Mi Carreta Mexican Grill, 1146 Hickory Blvd., Lenoir, NC
BURKE COUNTY SERVICE AREA
April 10, 2026
3:00 p.m.
Abele's Family Restaurant, 2115 S. Sterling St., Morganton, NC
The Good Grief Meal is sponsored through Ashewood Grief and Counseling Services, grief support services of AMOREM, and is one of many opportunities offered to help individuals of all ages and families cope with the loss of people they love. The Good Grief Meal is a time of fellowship and socialization for individuals who are grieving. AMOREM reserves meeting space and participants are responsible for the cost of their own meal. Locations and times are subject to change. Please verify before attendance. Please RSVP to Katie Pekman at kpekman@amoremsupport.org for Burke Service Area, Nichole Annas at nannas@amoremsupport.org for Caldwell Service Area and Kimberly Setzer at ksetzer@amoremsupport.org for High Country Service Area. You may also call 828.754.0101 with any questions.
Advance Care Planning Workshop
April 9, 2026
1:30 p.m.
Thrive, formerly Caldwell Senior Center
650A Pennton Avenue SW, Lenoir, NC
AMOREM and Thrive, formerly Caldwell Senior Center, will partner to offer an Advance Care Planning Workshop at no cost to the community on the second Thursday of each month. The workshop will be held April 9, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the Thrive in Lenoir.
Advance Directives: Living Wills and Healthcare Powers of Attorney are gifts to your family. Deciding, discussing and documenting your healthcare wishes helps ensure your healthcare wishes are known and honored. It also gives you peace of mind that you have made appropriate preparations. Notaries and witnesses will be available to help anyone who wants to complete their documents at the clinic. Space is limited and registration is required. For more information, or to register, call 828.758.2883.
Compassionate Connections:
Good Grief Meals
HIGH COUNTRY SERVICE AREA
May 6, 2026
3:00 p.m.
Mike's Inland Seafood, 174 Jefferson Rd., Boone
CALDWELL COUNTY SERVICE AREA
May 7, 2026
3:00 p.m.
Mayflower Seafood, 303 Blowing Rock Blvd., Lenoir, NC
BURKE COUNTY SERVICE AREA
May 1, 2026
3:00 p.m.
Boulevard Barbeque, 810 S. College St., Morganton, NC
The Good Grief Meal is sponsored through Ashewood Grief and Counseling Services, grief support services of AMOREM, and is one of many opportunities offered to help individuals of all ages and families cope with the loss of people they love. The Good Grief Meal is a time of fellowship and socialization for individuals who are grieving. AMOREM reserves meeting space and participants are responsible for the cost of their own meal. Locations and times are subject to change. Please verify before attendance. Please RSVP to Katie Pekman at kpekman@amoremsupport.org for Burke Service Area, Nichole Annas at nannas@amoremsupport.org for Caldwell Service Area and Kimberly Setzer at ksetzer@amoremsupport.org for High Country Service Area. You may also call 828.754.0101 with any questions.
Advance Care Planning Workshop
May 14, 2026
1:30 p.m.
Thrive, formerly Caldwell Senior Center
650A Pennton Avenue SW, Lenoir, NC
AMOREM and Thrive, formerly Caldwell Senior Center, will partner to offer an Advance Care Planning Workshop at no cost to the community on the second Thursday of each month. The workshop will be held May 14, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the Thrive in Lenoir.
Advance Directives: Living Wills and Healthcare Powers of Attorney are gifts to your family. Deciding, discussing and documenting your healthcare wishes helps ensure your healthcare wishes are known and honored. It also gives you peace of mind that you have made appropriate preparations. Notaries and witnesses will be available to help anyone who wants to complete their documents at the clinic. Space is limited and registration is required. For more information, or to register, call 828.758.2883.
Compassionate Connections:
Good Grief Meals
HIGH COUNTRY SERVICE AREA
June 3, 2026
3:00 p.m.
Cracker Barrel, 1601 Blowing Rock Rd., Boone
CALDWELL COUNTY SERVICE AREA
June 4, 2026
3:00 p.m.
Mi Carreta Mexican Grill, 1146 Hickory Blvd., Lenoir, NC
BURKE COUNTY SERVICE AREA
June 5, 2026
3:00 p.m.
El Maiz Mexican Food, 414 Carbon City Rd., Morganton, NC
The Good Grief Meal is sponsored through Ashewood Grief and Counseling Services, grief support services of AMOREM, and is one of many opportunities offered to help individuals of all ages and families cope with the loss of people they love. The Good Grief Meal is a time of fellowship and socialization for individuals who are grieving. AMOREM reserves meeting space and participants are responsible for the cost of their own meal. Locations and times are subject to change. Please verify before attendance. Please RSVP to Katie Pekman at kpekman@amoremsupport.org for Burke Service Area, Nichole Annas at nannas@amoremsupport.org for Caldwell Service Area and Kimberly Setzer at ksetzer@amoremsupport.org for High Country Service Area. You may also call 828.754.0101 with any questions.
Advance Care Planning Workshop
June 11, 2026
1:30 p.m.
Thrive, formerly Caldwell Senior Center
650A Pennton Avenue SW, Lenoir, NC
AMOREM and Thrive, formerly Caldwell Senior Center, will partner to offer an Advance Care Planning Workshop at no cost to the community on the second Thursday of each month. The workshop will be held June 11, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the Thrive in Lenoir.
Advance Directives: Living Wills and Healthcare Powers of Attorney are gifts to your family. Deciding, discussing and documenting your healthcare wishes helps ensure your healthcare wishes are known and honored. It also gives you peace of mind that you have made appropriate preparations. Notaries and witnesses will be available to help anyone who wants to complete their documents at the clinic. Space is limited and registration is required. For more information, or to register, call 828.758.2883.