End-of-Life Doulas

"It takes a village". This is especially true and often overlooked when considering caring for someone at the end of life.

Doulas have been around since the dawn of time. Doulas support people through difficult passages in life and death: through the birthing process, midlife, even menopause, retirement and dying. As the healthcare system becomes increasingly squeezed, gaps might begin to widen. A death doula provides nonclinical support to holistically address a client’s needs and enhance meaning at the end of life. They can step in to fill in some of the gaps not provided by systems in place, as well as meet needs that go beyond the healthcare system. A death doula can support with: education about death and dying, nonjudgemental support, a life review project, funeral planning, and the vigil process. What do you think about bringing someone into the end-of-life process in this capacity? How might you…