The Role of an End of Life Doula
What an End of Life Doula will do
- Be a source of understanding, knowledge & strength
- Offer the dying individual and their family non-medical, non-judgmental, holistic support, companionship, and comfort
- Focus on the dying person's life while living
- Create guided imagery sessions for relaxation & holistic pain relief
- Incorporate essential oils or candles for relaxation & stress relief
- Be present for their fears and anger
- Be the advocacy & voice for the dying person
- Give permission to feel the feelings and guide them through all grieving stages
- Encourage the dying person and affirm their safety
- Create self-care rituals for the individual
- Provide support in all ways to the dying person, their caregiver(s), families and friends
- Facilitate resources & conversations
- Light housekeeping to assist the caregiver(s)
- Provide respite care
- Acknowledge personal space to whomever needs it
- Promote self determination in my clients
- Normalize that anger, hurt, fright, anxiety & denial are all validated
- Witness the dying person to ensure they feel seen, heard & understood
- Hold space for each individual's feelings
- Assist in the facilitation of unresolved issues
- Ensues that dignity is focused on the dying individual
- Show and practice compassionate and empathetic care
- Assistance with simple physical care, such as mouth care, repositioning, or applying a cool/warm compress.
- Help with legacy projects & memory projects
- The client will be guided and helped to contact the medical staff if they have any queries, or require assistance concerning their medical care, such as pain or discomfort
- Provide the terminally ill person a chance to reflect on the significance of their life and how it has affected those around them
- Facilitate comfort & security with a vigil plan - such as the appearance and feel of the dying area, the music or sounds, the readings and rituals, and so much more
- Aid in after-planning, such as the funeral or celebration of life
- Sit vigil with the dying person
- Planning Commemorations
- After the death, an EOL Doula can assist with phone calls to family, friends, or the funeral home, writing of the eulogy and obituary, and post-death body care
- Offer & guide with bereavement support
What an End of Life Doula will not do
- Impose personal or individual beliefs & values
- Perform clinical responsibilities like checking blood pressure, bandaging wounds, caring for catheters, or administering breathing treatments because I'm not in a position to practice nursing legally
- Administer medication of any kind, including oral syringes that have been pre-filled and are on a doctor's orders
- Give any sort of legal advice
- Make any choices for customers that are related to medicine
- Speak with medical personnel or providers on the patient's behalf. I will urge the patient or family caregiver to express thoughts, queries, and concerns to their medical professionals through coaching, counseling, and support
- Perform deep housekeeping tasks and detailed errand running
- Tolerate any sort of belittling, hostility or aggression towards them
