End Of Life Doula
When most of us hear the term doula we automatically think about a woman who assists in the birthing process. The word ‘doula’ itself comes from the Greek word meaning “woman helping another woman.” Today, there is the emergence of a new health professional, a different type of doula who provides end of life care in a similar manner to birth doulas. They are called death doulas, doulas for the dying, end of life doulas, death midwives or spiritual midwives. Their purpose is to be with the dying until death. They are there to assist the passage from this world to the next.
Doulas provide a loving and nurturing support with their approach to death and the dying process. They are in service to both the dying and their family in many ways. Doulas provide support, spiritual care, education and friendship. Doulas are a hub of resources since the family can quickly become lost trying to tackle the endless end of life planning. They bring comforting energy and normalcy to the dying process, as well as ritual and ceremony to help open and also close the doors as the dying person makes their transition. End of life doulas reprocess the death with the friends and family of the departed, holding space for their grieving and lovingly guiding them though the process. A doula does not judge feelings, responses or behaviors. A doula opens the doors for moments of understanding, appreciation, healing and even transformation.
End of life doulas compliment care from hospitals, senior-care facilities and hospices, as well as fill in gaps that occur during the dying process. This work is quickly gaining popularity as we are understanding that the dying process holds so much more wisdom that we have been taught. People who are drawn to doulas at the end of life have a deep understanding that life and death have a place to be processed and witnessed with sacredness and compassion. They recognize that the dying process is not a medical event, but a spiritual transformation that has many ways to be honored more intentionally.
Doulas provide a loving and nurturing support with their approach to death and the dying process. They are in service to both the dying and their family in many ways. Doulas provide support, spiritual care, education and friendship. Doulas are a hub of resources since the family can quickly become lost trying to tackle the endless end of life planning. They bring comforting energy and normalcy to the dying process, as well as ritual and ceremony to help open and also close the doors as the dying person makes their transition. End of life doulas reprocess the death with the friends and family of the departed, holding space for their grieving and lovingly guiding them though the process. A doula does not judge feelings, responses or behaviors. A doula opens the doors for moments of understanding, appreciation, healing and even transformation.
End of life doulas compliment care from hospitals, senior-care facilities and hospices, as well as fill in gaps that occur during the dying process. This work is quickly gaining popularity as we are understanding that the dying process holds so much more wisdom that we have been taught. People who are drawn to doulas at the end of life have a deep understanding that life and death have a place to be processed and witnessed with sacredness and compassion. They recognize that the dying process is not a medical event, but a spiritual transformation that has many ways to be honored more intentionally.
End of Life Doula Offerings:
Vigil Planning—The Vision Of A Good Death
Vigil planning allows you to first fully know and understand all the options available to you during the dying process. Nurses and doctors are too busy (and it is not their job) to stop and set a unique and sacred space for the patient. The family can be overwhelmed trying to manage efforts to cope with the impending death that they might not be aware of how they could bring many comforts to the dying person. For example, the positioning of the bed, scent in the room, music, touch, reading, family mementos, photos, bedside manner even down to lighting can be enhanced and tailored to the dying person's wishes.
Respite Support: No One Should Die Alone
A doula's role is to provide support so families can rest during the vigil process and be more present for their loved one, and to also ensure that the person does not die alone.
Life Review Support—Your Legacy
The end of one's life can have beautiful moments where the dying person is able to look back on his/her life and see what kind of impact they have made both in their own life and on the lives of others. A doula's role is to hold space for this exploration and to guide the dying through the blockages and celebratory moments. During this work a life review project can be formed. This project has infinite ways of being created as it is always custom to the unique soul who has lived it. This life review project has a way of helping family and friends during their grieving process.
Reprocessing Grief: Lets Heal Together
After someone's passing, a family is usually supported in various ways with friends, family members and the community. There is a time when this support ceases and “normal” life returns. This is the time that a doula returns to meet with the family and be present during this pivotal time. At this meeting the doula will help the family process their grief. This can also be accompanied by a ritual or a ceremony. Creating a ritual provides a space for the transition of one reality to another in a ceremonial way. It allows for an order of things and room for reflection and review.
Reiki: Healing Energy
Reiki connects us to the universal life force; the energy and unconditional love that seems to be even more present during the end of ones life. Giving Reiki to someone as they end their life is a beautiful gift. Reiki is a very loving, gentle and self-guided energy.
Guided Meditation: The Power of Our Mind
Guided meditation sessions during the end of one's life has the ability to sooth and comfort a vast variety of physical alignments as well as providing valuable emotional and spiritual support. Meditation allows the dying to experience a different perspective and use the technology of breath, visualization to affect the nervous system.
End of Life Planning: The Power of Many Hands
End of life planning is overwhelming, a doula's job is to be available for some of the tasks at hand. Doulas can be an asset to the family if they request their assistance. To have a loving being assist with the tidal wave of end of life work is a wonderful complement.
Ceremonies and Rituals
Ceremony and ritual has been a foundation of our human experience since the dawn of time. In our western culture we are beginning to remember these ways of honoring our transformative moments. These rituals and ceremonies provide safe and loving containers to love, honor and understand grief. A doula is equipped with the means to add value to the dying and the family's grieving processes with rituals and ceremonies that can be founded on culture and religion, or simply created and customized to what the dying and the family would like to experience.
Spiritual & Emotional Support: The Power of Love
A doula honors all sacred practices and will look for ways to help guide families to find the deep meaning within this most profound of transformative processes.
Vigil Planning—The Vision Of A Good Death
Vigil planning allows you to first fully know and understand all the options available to you during the dying process. Nurses and doctors are too busy (and it is not their job) to stop and set a unique and sacred space for the patient. The family can be overwhelmed trying to manage efforts to cope with the impending death that they might not be aware of how they could bring many comforts to the dying person. For example, the positioning of the bed, scent in the room, music, touch, reading, family mementos, photos, bedside manner even down to lighting can be enhanced and tailored to the dying person's wishes.
Respite Support: No One Should Die Alone
A doula's role is to provide support so families can rest during the vigil process and be more present for their loved one, and to also ensure that the person does not die alone.
Life Review Support—Your Legacy
The end of one's life can have beautiful moments where the dying person is able to look back on his/her life and see what kind of impact they have made both in their own life and on the lives of others. A doula's role is to hold space for this exploration and to guide the dying through the blockages and celebratory moments. During this work a life review project can be formed. This project has infinite ways of being created as it is always custom to the unique soul who has lived it. This life review project has a way of helping family and friends during their grieving process.
Reprocessing Grief: Lets Heal Together
After someone's passing, a family is usually supported in various ways with friends, family members and the community. There is a time when this support ceases and “normal” life returns. This is the time that a doula returns to meet with the family and be present during this pivotal time. At this meeting the doula will help the family process their grief. This can also be accompanied by a ritual or a ceremony. Creating a ritual provides a space for the transition of one reality to another in a ceremonial way. It allows for an order of things and room for reflection and review.
Reiki: Healing Energy
Reiki connects us to the universal life force; the energy and unconditional love that seems to be even more present during the end of ones life. Giving Reiki to someone as they end their life is a beautiful gift. Reiki is a very loving, gentle and self-guided energy.
Guided Meditation: The Power of Our Mind
Guided meditation sessions during the end of one's life has the ability to sooth and comfort a vast variety of physical alignments as well as providing valuable emotional and spiritual support. Meditation allows the dying to experience a different perspective and use the technology of breath, visualization to affect the nervous system.
End of Life Planning: The Power of Many Hands
End of life planning is overwhelming, a doula's job is to be available for some of the tasks at hand. Doulas can be an asset to the family if they request their assistance. To have a loving being assist with the tidal wave of end of life work is a wonderful complement.
Ceremonies and Rituals
Ceremony and ritual has been a foundation of our human experience since the dawn of time. In our western culture we are beginning to remember these ways of honoring our transformative moments. These rituals and ceremonies provide safe and loving containers to love, honor and understand grief. A doula is equipped with the means to add value to the dying and the family's grieving processes with rituals and ceremonies that can be founded on culture and religion, or simply created and customized to what the dying and the family would like to experience.
Spiritual & Emotional Support: The Power of Love
A doula honors all sacred practices and will look for ways to help guide families to find the deep meaning within this most profound of transformative processes.
"Your ability to love being alive is born in the enduring
and true gift of knowing the end of your life"
-Stephen Jenkinson-
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