End-of-Life Doula
As a death doula, I am in service to the dying person and their loved ones, practically, emotionally, and spiritually. End-of-life doulas serve to fill the inevitable gaps left by the over challenged palliative health care and hospice systems. Working with you, the dying person, to ensure your advance care plan and/or life review has captured all that you want to say and provides clarity for your wishes, I will support your loved ones to understand and provide the support you need. Support can also come in the domain of vigil. Again, as a supportive facilitator and, participant in your last moments, I bring loved ones together to secure your best
circumstances in death. As someone who will have been with you and nurtured trusting relationships with your loved ones, I can also provide needed supports in the early stages of bereavement and grief support.
It is my highest priority to keep the voice of the dying person as the guiding force in their own death. Each person’s path to death is unique. My skills and lived experiences mean that you can be assured that your wishes are protected and honoured and that your loved ones will be able to support your wishes and provide the love and peace throughout your end-of-life journey.
A “best death” may seem like a contradiction, but it is an important consideration. It may be a complex list of experiences and circumstances, or it may be a simple request honoured. It is yours to control and mine to support. What does this look like to you? How can I be in service to you and those you love to ensure your end of life is your best?
End-of-Life Care Services
In order to achieve a 'best death', a dying person or their loved ones may engage a death doula in several areas. Fee structures can be on an hourly basis or per service basis and will be outlined in detail following an initial (free) consultation.
Advance Planning
This service tends to have impact shortly after you receive a diagnosis. You do not need to be in a palliative care stage but it can still be useful to you when you do enter into palliative care. This service may include the practical elements of your new reality including, but not limited to Funeral plans, family meetings, and advance care planning.
We can also work to support and create space for the emotional and spiritual needs that are natural when you begin to process and come to terms with your diagnosis. This is a time to voice your worries, fears and wishes and make sure that your loved ones are aware of and supporting your wishes.
For clients who have selected to engage with Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), I can assist with family and loved one circles to understand the process and honour your choices.
Finally, I can support you to create and record your death plan and, should you wish, your vigil plan. This is a time a death doula helps to secure the resources and practical aspects necessary to help you achieve your best death. We will discuss what sights and sounds you want at the end. Who is there? Are you in your favourite place? Who is with you? Death doulas help keep communication with your whole palliative team and loved ones open so you are able to remain in control of your death and your wishes always have an advocate.
Legacy Projects
Many people process relationships, life experiences and the reality of losing a loved ones through actions or projects. We want to keep our stories close to us and memorialize our dying loved one through meaningful artifacts. I can help you document and organize legacy projects that will keep you close to your dying loved one through the dying process, giving space to everyone to help actualize their best death.
Vigil planning
As an end of life doula, I can help to create a vigil plan to turn to during the active dying phase. Creating a vigil plan is an opportunity to make choices about those last moments and to participate in achieving the best death for your dying loved one. Vigil plans consider all the senses; the location, the sights (people, view from a window or within a healthcare environment), the sounds and scents and meaningful objects are all important in establishing the environment that the dying wants most.
Bereavement Support
In the first few weeks to follow the death of a loved one I can assist in the reprocessing of the dying experience and help to recapture some of the beautiful, joy filled moments. This is an important service as a death doula, and one I hold dear. Learning to live without a loved one after a death is difficult, let me begin this transition with you. Honouring your loved one who has died in your own way with a nonjudgemental witness of your journey will enable healing to begin. I can also assist you to find other, more formal supports in your community should you wish (counselling, grief groups etc.)
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
Medical assistance in dying refers to the procedure where an eligible person in Canada seeks and obtains medical help to end their life. This has been a legal option for qualifying Canadians since 2016. The decision to access MAiD is a highly personal one and can create additional emotions as well as practical considerations on your end-of-life path. As your
Death Doula, I can help you organize your questions, provide resources, and support you and your loved ones to navigate this process with peace, dignity, and care.