Hospite 2026
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Who:
Hospice and palliative care professionals, including doctors, nurses, clergy, chaplains, lay ministers, counselors, social workers, support staff, volunteer coordinators. Invite anyone it would help!
What:
Hospite – A respite for professional Hospice caregivers is designed as a FREE annual program to provide time for reflection, networking opportunities and continuing education for Hospice professionals across Iowa.
Our keynote speaker for Hospite 2026 will be Dr. Alan Wolfelt.
We welcome internationally renowned grief educator and bestselling author Dr. Alan Wolfelt. Recognized as one of North America's leading voices in grief education, Dr. Wolfelt will share his compassionate wisdom and decades of experience, offering valuable insights for professionals who support individuals and families navigating serious illness, loss, and grief. Don't miss this inspiring opportunity to learn from one of the field's most respected experts.
Continuing Education fees will be paid by Cedar Memorial and Iowa Cremation. Please provide license information when registering. Pre-registration is required. Lunch is included.
Purpose
Exploring the Paradoxes of Mourning: Enhancing Your Understanding of Three Forgotten Truths.
In this informative workshop, Dr. Alan Wolfelt will explore three forgotten truths surrounding grief and loss. You will learn how sometimes old-fashioned trumps newfangled. You will learn how those who walked before us have much to teach us about the mysteries of life and death. You will learn about the wisdom anchored in three paradoxical truths of mourning.
TRUTH ONE: You must say hello before you can say goodbye.
TRUTH TWO: You must make friends with the darkness before you can enter the light.
TRUTH THREE: You must go backward before you can go forward.
This compassionate workshop will help anyone who wants to learn more about how to support those who have experienced loss. Nurses, psychologists, counselors, social workers, chaplains, and other interested health care professionals helping individuals cope with traumatic grief are invited to attend. Regardless of your specific job title or life role, you can and will benefit from this learning experience.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this workshop, the participant will be able to:
- Define the concept of paradox in relationship to grief and mourning
- Explain the three forgotten truths
- Describe a number of influences on the paradoxes
- Analyze the concept of the “Slow Grief Movement”
Continuing Education Credit: To obtain a certificate for CEH's or Nursing Contact Hours the pre-registered health care professional will need to register for continuing education credit along with check-in at the venue registration table, attend all of the workshop in its entirety, and check-out at the venue registration table. Certificates will not be awarded for partial credit. A Certificate of Completion indicating the contact hours or CEHs suggested will be issued in partnership with Kirkwood Community College. For Nursing and most Allied Health Professions in Iowa it is the licensee's responsibility to determine if the continuing education programs they attend meet the requirements of their professional licensure board. As a courtesy, Kirkwood lists suggested hours for professions for which the class may meet continuing education requirements, but the list is not exhaustive. Kirkwood Community College does not pre-approve content with any licensing board/agency unless specifically listed. Licensees are responsible for retaining documentation of the workshop for 4 years after the offering has concluded. Suggested hours, Nursing Contact Hours: 5 (RN's, LPN's, ARNP's), CEH's: 6 (Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Counselors). Please note: Late arrivals or early departures will be allowed to attend the workshop- but they will NOT be eligible to earn a continuing education certificate.
Register Now
If you experience any difficulties signing up for the seminar, please contact Kirkwood Community College at 319-398-1022 and press 5 to be connected with the department that can assist you with registration.
When:
Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Check in at the event will begin at 8:00 a.m. The program will begin at 9:00 a.m. Food and beverages will be available during registration, lunch and the afternoon break.
Where:
Hospite will be held at The Doubletree by Hilton in the Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, 350 1st Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401.
Parking:
Parking is available in the Convention Center Parking Garage directly across from the hotel or in the Five Seasons Parkade Garage on the corner of 1st Avenue and 5th Street.
Why does Cedar Memorial sponsor this FREE event?
Cedar Memorial is blessed with a staff of caring professionals, who embrace the families you have unselfishly served. It is our unrelenting mission to continue your care, with compassion and dignity. Our similar goals and challenges beg for our continued and frequent dialogue.
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