What is a Death Doula?
You might be familiar with a birth doula, which is a professional trained to assist someone during the process of childbirth. This can include moments before, during, and after the birth. A birth doula works with your medical team to provide you with all the physical and emotional supports necessary to ensure you have a positive birthing experience.
An end-of-life doula provides a similar service. A death doula (also called an end-of life doula or death coach) helps you and your family navigate the dying process from beginning to end.
While an end-of-life doula is not licensed to provide specific medical care, they can work with the your medical team to ensure that your medical wishes are granted and your end-of-life needs are met.
What Types of Services does an End-of-Life Doula Provide?
It’s important to remember that each end-of-life doula will have specific services that they provide.
Some of these services may include, but are not limited to:
– Navigating Critical/Terminal Illness
– Advanced Care Planning – Living Will, Healthcare Power of Attorney
– Respite Care
– Therapies – Touch, Music, Aromatherapy, Emotional Support Dog
– Vigil Planning & Legacy Work
– Final Hours – Signs & Symptoms
– Caring for the Body/Ritual
– Grief Support
Should I Choose Hospice Care or a Death Doula?
Both hospice care and death doulas can be an important part of your transition. They both offer nonmedical support services, spiritual guidance, and grief counseling. Although some death doulas are also physicians or nurses, many of them are not licensed to provide the medical services that hospice facilities or home health hospice agencies are able to provide.
Some hospices are beginning to employ in-house death doulas. If you choose a hospice and they do not have one, you may hire your own to supplement your hospice care. In that instance, the doula would work with your hospice team to help you through the dying process. A death doula can often advocate for you and your wishes in a way that a medical team would not. Both are important and should be considered as your final days approach.
Are Death Doulas Certified?
There are numerous certifications and accreditations available for someone that wants to become a death doula. Two of the most prominent and respected among them include the International End-of-Life Doula Association and the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance. Both organizations offer training and certifications that prepare a death doula to work with you and your family/friends.
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All other services paid per hour at rate negotiated with patient/family.
Service Area: Columbus, Ohio