Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is A Guiding Light a substitute for Hospice or other medical care?

A: No. A Guiding Light is an information and education resource to help healthcare professionals explore the best options available for their patients particular situation and help patients and families compare and select the answers that best serve their needs. As an example: Hospice may or may not be the best option for the care a patient or their loved one needs. A Guiding Light curriculum recommends the excellent services available from those professional providers only when hospice is the right choice. A Guiding Light also regularly provides information to the public about quality of life issues and choices when facing terminal diagnoses. An informed patient is better equipped to enjoy a better quality of life on their own terms.

Q: My patient (or their loved one) was just diagnosed with cancer - a terminal illness. Their doctors want them to pursue treatment but at the same time aren't sure if it will work. How do I proceed with advocacy that represents the patient's best quality of life and wishes?

A: Cancer by itself is a frightening word and a diagnosis that no one wants or deserves. The fear of the disease can be compounded when it's coupled with the fear of the unknown. At A Guiding Light you'll be trained as a Guide who can help explore your patient's options so that they can make informed, well-educated decisions. The goal we share is a better quality of life for them and their loved ones.

If the patient decides to pursue treatment, the Guide will help prepare them for what to expect. Side effects and possible outcomes are discussed. The Guide will help prepare the family to support their loved one through this difficult time. They will be there to provide the comfort and support the patient and family needs.

If the patient or their medical team decide not to pursue treatment, the Guide will help to explore options to ensure comfort, guide the patient in finding closure with this life, and help the family prepare for their sometimes difficult time ahead.

Q: Do you provide medical or "hands on" care?

A: No. Most Guiding Light "Guides" are not licensed to provide medical counsel, administer medication, or provide any direct "hands on" medical care. The Guide is most often a counselor, social worker, minister, or other licensed and highly experienced professional who is there to help the patient and family understand the information that has been provided by medical providers, locate or coordinate resources in the area that best fit patient needs or wishes, or that medical providers may recommend, and help to explore all the options available so they can make the best informed decisions, the best choices, for their best quality of life.

Q: You don't provide medical care. You don't provide "hands on" care. What DO you do?

A: Your A Guiding Light Guide is there to light the way through the difficulties or confusion that often come with terminal or potentially-terminal diagnoses. Whether it is helping to identify a healthcare surrogate or helping to understand why one is needed, the Guide will be there every step of the way to inform and educate, provide support in the decision-making process, and then advocate for the decisions that are made. If the injury or disease eventually results in death, a Guide will typically continue to provide that same support and guidance on necessary resources and services available to the family for a short time afterwards.

Q: Are Guide services free, billed hourly, per visit, or something else?

A: A Guiding Light is an education resource for professionals. Once certified as a Guide, the professional may or may not charge for their counseling services depending on their role in the community. Many professional counselors do charge for their very valuable knowledge and sometimes this service can be paid for by insurance or employment benefits. In some cases when no resources exist to pay for needed counseling services a Guide may ask A Guiding Light to provide charity funds. Our goal is to see anyone, of any age, that needs assistance to receive the benefit of decades of experience and resource management in quality of life and end of life preparation from highly trained professionals.

Q: What if I can't afford the training modules?

A: A Guiding Light, as a nonprofit charity, depends on the generosity of donors to help cover the costs of training those who need our educational services but may not be able to afford them. A Guiding Light strives to never turn anyone away who requests knowledge but needs financial assistance. The organization will provide qualified professionals educational grants so training is done at no cost or at reduced costs as determined on a case-by-case basis.

Q: What qualifies A Guiding Light to provide education on counseling and quality of life/end of life support?

A: A Guiding Light's staff includes a state Licensed Clinical Social Worker who is certified as a Qualified Supervisor in the field. That means their advanced training, certification, and experience allows them to train and assess other professionals in the field. Our team also includes a professor with nearly 15 years of university classroom experience and an advanced degree in education, curriculum, and instruction.

Q: Does A Guiding Light offer CEU's?

A: Not currently. A Guiding Light is currently seeking partnerships that will make CEU's available for many of our modules in the future.

Let us know if you have other questions, we love to hear from you!