Death and dying are usually a difficult process for everyone involved. A doula provides extra support to you and your loved ones during this time. A death doula aims to 

• Meet your values, beliefs and wishes 

• Bring a focused and intuitive presence to the bedside. 

• Assist with physical and practical care to ease the burden on caregivers. 

• Provide respite for exhausted caregivers. 

• Explain the signs and symptoms of the dying process. 

• Process the emotions and experiences with loved ones. 

• Support the spiritual practices of all involved. 

Each dying person’s needs are unique to their specific situation, but the services offered by an end-of-life doula could include a mix of the following: 

Providing the opportunity to talk openly and honestly about the dying process. 

• Alleviating the anxiety, guilt and shame often associated with death and dying. 

• Developing a plan for how the person’s environment looks, feels, sounds and smells. 

• Coordinating with family and friends to evaluate visitation. 

• Overseeing 24/7 care alongside healthcare providers like hospice and palliative care. 

• Providing education and guidance related to other medical services like do-not-resuscitate orders and healthcare power of attorney. 

• Creating guided meditations and rituals specific to a person’s religious faith/spirituality. 

• Sitting vigil with a person as they near their final moments. 

• Assisting with obituaries and planning funeral services. 

• Providing supplemental grief counseling and companionship after someone has died. 

• Finding creative ways to honor the person after they’ve died, which can include the person who’s dying as a part of that process and exploring that person’s life and legacy. 

• Planning for the rest of your life       
• Creating a Life Review
• Advanced Care Planning               
• Medical Advocacy and Documentation
• Vigil Planning                   
• Companioning
• Vigil Respite                   
• Havening Training
• Creating a Legacy Project 
• After Death Care
• MAID Support                   
• Memorial Planning 

In an appointment with a death doula, they will sit with you, listen to what you are going through, talk and relate with you regarding the struggles that you are facing, ask informed questions to ensure that you have the support that you need for all areas of the process, and formulate a plan if needed.