FAQs
What is a Death/End of Life Worker?
They can go by several names, (Death Doula, End of Life Companion, Death/End of Life Navigator) and come from varied backgrounds, experiences, and training methods. We provide non-medical, non-legal, and non-funeral holistic support to the dying person and their support circle. Each death worker has their own specialities and will refer you to another provider if the services you need are not part of their practice. Above all, death workers assist the dying in achieving an end of life experience that is meaningful, well-prepared, and most importantly the experience that as been thought out and planned to be what you want.
When is it time to find a Death Doula?
Anytime! We can help with pre-planning and the best time to do that is when you are well. Most clients start with us when they have received a terminal diagnosis and are given a prognosis of months to a year and need support in planning and legacy work.
What is the difference between a Death Doula and Hospice?
My services do not replace hospice, but instead compliment their services and offer others that they do not provide. Hospice cares for the medical parts of the end of life journey, I support the areas that are not covered, the gaps between the medical, legal, and funeral services.
What sort of things are in those gaps?
The details of coordination, transitions between one care team and another, care plans, organizing people and spaces, legacy work, and who is going to close out your digital life all exist in the gaps between medical, legal, and funeral.
How is what you provide different than medical, legal, and funeral services?
What I provide is tailored to you and your needs. It’s easy for what you and your support group want to get lost in the gaps between those groups. Working with me, we can get everyone on the same page, literally, because it will all be written down and easy to reference. You and your medical team will know what your care plan is and what is your goal in quality of life. The legal planning is great for your financial affairs and physical possessions, but if you’ve asked that cousin Bob take care of your beloved pet, I’ll make sure he has a document that outlines care, who the vet is, and other things that you as the owner just know. Pre-planning your funeral is a great idea, but more goes into that planning than paying for the disposition of your body. Who would you like to run it? Do you have certain readings you want done by certain people? What about music played? What about that picture that you need to be sure never sees the light of day because you look awful in it? I can help you outline exactly what you want, so that when the time comes, your support group doesn’t have to guess, they’ll know. Legacy is also something that needs to be considered. What do you want to leave behind for those close to you? We can work together to leave something behind that speaks of you and what you found important in life and a way to help other remember you.