End-of-Life Doulas From #1 Home Care Monterey CA

If you want to help people die peacefully, you might consider helping them create an experience that includes the things they cherish during their last moments.

That’s one reason some folks seek out end-of-life care providers. They can help someone plan for his or her own death and reflect on his or her life: his or her greatest joys and regrets; any fears or worries he or she has on his or her mind; and how he or she wants to be memorialized.

Many people don’t want to think about it.

“We live in a dying-denying society,” says Elizabeth Johnson, Executive Director of the Peaceful Presence project, a nonprofit end-of-life doulas collective in Bend, Oregon. Death Doulas can help open up conversations about dying and provide comfort and resources. Palliative care professionals also often play an important role in helping patients and families deal with the pain and suffering associated with serious illness.

Doulas and Hospice

A doula usually has no required medical background and doesn’t perform any clinical or medical duties. She might read aloud to a patient or clear away some of her personal belongings.

“Death Doulas are able to step into those unsupported spaces,” Johnson explains. “Where a hospice social worker, or chaplain, may come by once a week, doulas have more time and resources.”

Doulas can help patients outside of hospice too. Marilynne Rusch, RN, a doula in Ann Arbor, MI, and vice chairman of the End-of-life Doula Advisory Council (NHPCO) formerly the National Hospice and Palliative Home Care Organization, remembers a client who was overwhelmed following her husband home from the emergency room to pass away. She spoke to her about palliatives care, social work, hospice, and obtaining a bed in the ER. “She had no idea what any of those things were,” she said. “No one in the ER told me.”

When Cynthia Schauffler was approached by a woman who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, she did not know how to respond. She didn’t have the resources or contacts to help her.

A doula from the group began attending to her friend once a week. She would include Reiki, Art Therapy, and talking with a Chaplain. She would get her Hospice Home Care and talk to her friends about what to expect.

A doula has been called an “Elder Home Care advocate,” “elder companion,” “Elder Home Care coach,” “transition guide,” or “soul family.” Unlike hospice, which is usually free for seniors, a life doula service costs money.

Some doula companies don’t offer reimbursement for life doula services. However, they may be able to help you by providing free doula services through a charity or hospic­e.

Doulas usually charge either an hourly rate or a fixed price for their services. Depending on where they live, the cost of their services can range anywhere between $45 and $100 per hour. They may also charge a flat rate of $500. up to $5,000.

Similar to a birth coach, an end-of-life coach helps clients prepare for death. They help people make sense of what’s happening during the final stages of life. They can also help families plan funerals and memorial services.

There is no such concept as a “typical” case for a doula. Doulas come from all walks of life, and their cases vary widely.

Doulas visit clients every day, once per week, or for several years. They help with things like letter-sending, cleaning up, arranging funerals, or making legacies. Legacy projects might include photo-captioning, scrapbook-making, or recipe-organizing.

One of Johnson‘s patients had an extensive record collection, which he loved listening to. He was able to tell her about his life through these albums. They were able to hang them up in his room so that people could read and discuss them with him.

Someone to Talk to and Cry With

Sometimes, the family members need practical or emotional support more so than the person who‘s sick does – especially if that person isn’t conscious or alert.

Joanna H. described her doula as “a formidable advocate” who helped her weather the stress and emotional strain when her dad was dying in 2019. The doula was trained by Gilchrist, a hospice in Maryland that has offered volunteer doulas to their clients since 2010.

Schauffler says that her friend’s doula dropped everything to be there for her friend’s final hours and kept in touch with her husband afterward. “It made a huge difference,” she says.

Where to Find a Doula

To find an end-of-life doula, inquire at local hospices that may work with doula volunteers. Or start with the state-by-state directory of doulas from the National End-of-life Doula Alliance.

These end-of-life doula training programs can also link you to people who completed their coursework:

• International End of Life Doula Association
• The International Doulagivers Institute
• The University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine
• Lifespan Doula Association

Peggy’s Home Care Monterey CA provides compassionate care for people in the last phases of life so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible in their homes.

If You Choose a Doula

Ask prospective doulas about their training, experience, and fees, and also their availability and backup, suggests Rush, who also trains them as co-founder of The Dying Year. Also, check out whether they provide massage, meditation, meal prep, or any other service you’re interested in.

There is no licensing or credential required to be a death doula. However, there is no universally recognized local or national organization that monitors or regulates them.

You should get references from people who know them well, and also take into account whether they have any certifications.