“Our worst fear isn’t the end of life but the end of memories” – Author Tom Rachman
Navigating end-of-life care can take an emotional toll on patients, families, and loved ones. When the decision is made to put a patient into hospice care, it can be important to have someone there who is trained to navigate the emotional and spiritual effects of such a decision.
This is where an end-of-life doula can be a great resource to add to your loved one’s hospice care team. Not many people are even aware of end-of-life doulas, but they can be a wonderful source of comfort for families and patients alike. In this article, we’ll look at what help end-of-life doulas can provide and how to access their help.
What is the role of an end-of-life doula?
At the most basic level, end-of-life doulas are non-medical companions to the dying and their families. They provide companionship, comfort, and guidance to those facing a terminal illness or death through emotional, spiritual, and practical care. The resources end-of-life doulas offer help everyone make informed decisions in a supportive environment. Overall, they aim to create a peaceful and meaningful end-of-life experience.
Benefits of end-of-life doula
What steps do end-of-life doulas take to create this peaceful and meaningful experience? One of their biggest roles is creating spaces necessary to hold the difficult conversations surrounding end-of-life. These spaces allow for increased communication and increased spiritual and emotional well-being. When patients and their families bring on doulas they help provide autonomy over decisions and clearly define end-of-life wishes.
By assisting with and participating in these conversations, doulas become an advocate for their patients. They can speak up on behalf of the patient, assist with writing letters to loved ones, record life stories, and any other important wishes for the patient in the final weeks.
These conversations also help doulas understand the patient’s spiritual needs and make sure a plan that speaks to these needs is in place. A lot of spiritual questions surrounding death and dying can arise as patients move through hospice care, and it can be helpful for patients and their families to have a safe space to discuss them. Doulas are great at facilitating such conversations, and they can provide guidance and closure.
Other important roles of end-of-life doulas include:
- Ensuring the patient’s home is set up for palliative care or hospice care
- Giving families and caregivers much-needed breaks to rest and recharge
- Assist with physical and practical care
- Providing guidance through the early stages of grief
- Bringing a focused and caring presence to the patient’s bedside.
Difference between hospice and end-of-life doulas
After reading all of the benefits of end-of-life doulas you may be wondering how they differ from standard hospice care. While there is a definite overlap with the level and type of care offered, doulas do not provide medical assistance. Rather, their purpose is meant to be a complement to hospice services. A doula’s focus is on preparing the patient and their loved ones for death in whatever way is needed, and hospice is focused on making the time the patient has left as comfortable as possible.
Hospice teams and doulas can and often do work hand in hand. Hospices can bring in doulas as part of their volunteer teams, refer families to doulas in the community for additional care, and collaborate with local doulas to bring greater spiritual care and support.
Learn if end-of-life doula is right for your family
End-of-life doulas can be a great addition to a patient’s care team while in hospice. However, it’s important to note that their services are not covered by Medicare or other insurance. Instead, end-of-life doulas are typically paid out-of-pocket with a few hospice services providing doula support through private donations, grants, or scholarships. A typical hourly rate for doulas ranges from $25—$75.
Ultimately the choice to include an end-of-life doula is up to the patient and their families and loved ones. Doulas can be a great support for families navigating grief and patients confronting the spiritual weight of a terminal illness. Speak to your hospice care team to see if financial support is provided if you wish you include a doula on your loved one’s team, and learn more from the International End-of-Life Doula Association.
