Frequently Asked Questions
What is an End of Life Doula?
“Doula” in Greek means “caregiver”. A death doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides support to the dying person and their family. An end of life doula, death doula, or death midwife provides non-medical support. By providing emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical support for a person who has received a life-limiting disease or illness, a doula comes alongside the person, along with their family members, informing, educating, and empowering choices and decisions.
A doula stands in the gap between Hospice visits. A doula is present, answers questions, and emotionally supports the dying person. In a hospital setting, a doula can be at the bedside to advocate for the patient’s wishes, provide emotional support, communicate with hospital staff, and support the family as desired.
Why do I need an End of Life Doula?
Our society has medicalized dying to the point that many people have not experienced the death of another person let alone how to care for a person at their end of life. Families often are thrust into caregiving. A trained doula knows the phases every body goes through as it dies and can cue the family to these phases so they know when death is near. A doula actively listens and supports the dying person as well as the family as they wish to be supported. Doula work is a broad scope. A doula guides completion of the Advance Directive and Power of Attorney for Healthcare. Doulas assist in performing life review, creation of a legacy project or recording someone’s life story.
There are so many tasks needed to care for my loved one, will a doula help me with that?
Yes. While not providing medical care, a death doula is trained in comfort care and emotional support. We can assist with finding care outside of the scope of Hospice, downsizing the home, and searching out resources. Many doulas offer to sit with the dying person in vigil as the final phase of life approaches. Some end of life doulas are celebrants and can conduct funerals. Even if you have a large family or support network, things happen: people get ill or may need to tend to matters away from the dying person. A doula can be present so folks can get a shower, run an errand, or simply have a moment of solitude to collect their thoughts. A doula might prepare a meal, run an errand for the family or be present for a family member who needs a break, a nap, or to make phone calls.
What is an Elder Care Doula?
This is a companion to a middle-aged or elderly client, going on outings, running errands, helping to downsize, creating a legacy for loved ones, and building a trusting relationship so that when a life-limiting diagnosis is made, the elder care doula can attend doctor visits and be an extra set of ears, assist with asking questions, and take notes for the family. This trusting relationship can go through the end of a client’s life provide to continued bereavement and compassionate support for the family.
What is a Doula Care Consultant?
I took advanced training to learn all aspects of advanced care planning. I became certified as a Doula Care Consultant, which means I have walked someone through making their own advance directive, choosing their health care agent, and describing for their loved ones what their wishes are for their end of life. This typically is referred to as planning for The Good Death. The Doula Care Specialist wraps up all aspects of end of life care into one broad scope of practice. Each doula has their own areas of expertise within that scope of practice, which is why many doulas belong to a collective, or have connections with other doulas in their community so that clients can be referred to a doula with the expertise and experience they desire.
I don’t proclaim to know it all but I do search out the facts so that I can provide accurate answers and up-to-date information. I approach my work with kindness, gentleness, and patience.
Please be aware that I do not hold any medical license. I am not licensed as a funeral director or a financial planner, nor do I practice medicine, perform funeral director duties, or those of a financial advisor. I am not an attorney. However, my ties in the community afford me the ability to search valuable resources and service. My expertise comes from personal experience, training, and my education/certification as an end-of-life doula.
Do you provide any grief services?
You can view my profile on the Grief Support Center National Directory, a resource connecting people to grief support professionals nationwide, here: