What is an End of Life Doula?

Written By Nancy Allison

INELDA defines an end-of-life doula as a non-medical person who accompanies, educates, and advocates for those who are planning for death, diagnosed with a terminal illness, or facing imminent death, and their circle of care. Doulas also support people and communities who have experienced a sudden death.

Doulas offer resources to help the dying person and their circle of care to make informed decisions in a supportive environment.

A doula can become involved any time in a person’s life. We offer support when people are impacted by a life changing illness, after a terminal diagnosis, when death is imminent, or even after a death—to help with light grief support. Sometimes family members or loved ones of the person dying seek support and guidance from end-of-life doulas.

Doulas normalize deathcare by creating spaces to hold conversations leading to increased communication and increased spiritual and emotional well being. When individuals plan for death, they have autonomy over their decisions and are able to clearly define their end-of-life wishes with family and loved ones. While there are alternative names for end-of-life doulas like death doula, death midwife, death coach, end-of-life coach—we all seek to provide compassionate deathcare.

HOW DOULAS SERVE

  • Provide the opportunity to speak openly and frankly about dying

  • Talk about creating an advance care directive

  • Explore the meaning of the dying person’s life and legacy

  • Discuss and support end-of-life care planning

  • Develop a plan for how the space looks, feels and sounds

  • Incorporate traditions or create new rituals to mark special moments

  • Encourage appropriate ways of touching the dying person

  • 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

  • Guide people through the early stages of grieving

Nancy Allison
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