Frequently Asked Questions:
What is an End of Life Doula and Why Would I Want One?
The word "doula" means "one who serves", so an End of Life Doula is a person who serves the dying and their family. Typically, an End of Life Doula is a lay person who is comfortable with death and dying and is able to be both a healing presence and a source of practical help to people facing the end of life. They are a companion who assists the dying in both practical and intangible ways. That can be anything from explaining end of life options and choices, helping to organize care at home, being a source of emotional and spiritual support for both patient and caregiver, spending time with the dying person so the family can have time for themselves, helping plan a funeral or memorial service to sitting vigil with the family or anything in between. Perhaps a caregiver would like to spend all the time they can with their loved one, so a doula may be able to do errands or chores to make that time possible. It is all about helping in any way possible to make a difficult time a bit easier.
The word "doula" means "one who serves", so an End of Life Doula is a person who serves the dying and their family. Typically, an End of Life Doula is a lay person who is comfortable with death and dying and is able to be both a healing presence and a source of practical help to people facing the end of life. They are a companion who assists the dying in both practical and intangible ways. That can be anything from explaining end of life options and choices, helping to organize care at home, being a source of emotional and spiritual support for both patient and caregiver, spending time with the dying person so the family can have time for themselves, helping plan a funeral or memorial service to sitting vigil with the family or anything in between. Perhaps a caregiver would like to spend all the time they can with their loved one, so a doula may be able to do errands or chores to make that time possible. It is all about helping in any way possible to make a difficult time a bit easier.
I have Hospice Care, do I still need an End of Life Doula?
A better question is can I have both Hospice and an End of Life Doula, and the answer is yes! Hospice is an excellent and important service and makes a huge difference at the end of life. It is something I recommend to everyone. Sometimes, people want more care than Hospice is able to provide. One way to look at it is that Hospice cares for many patients at a time, while an End of Life Doula cares for one person at a time, allowing for more personalized care. An End of Life Doula cannot take the place of a good Hospice program, but they can fill in some of the gaps in Hospice care.
A better question is can I have both Hospice and an End of Life Doula, and the answer is yes! Hospice is an excellent and important service and makes a huge difference at the end of life. It is something I recommend to everyone. Sometimes, people want more care than Hospice is able to provide. One way to look at it is that Hospice cares for many patients at a time, while an End of Life Doula cares for one person at a time, allowing for more personalized care. An End of Life Doula cannot take the place of a good Hospice program, but they can fill in some of the gaps in Hospice care.
Does insurance cover the services of an End of Life Doula?
Unfortunately, insurance does not yet cover the cost of an End of Life Doula. Because everyone deserves compassionate end of life care, I have a sliding scale and I encourage you to discuss any financial concerns with me.