THE ROLE OF A DOULA

  • Also referred to as end of life doulas as well as death midwives, coaches, and guides, we are companions who can provide holistic, non-judgmental, emotional, social, and practical support for those navigating their end of life journey along with those in their circle of care and love.

  • Doulas provide education and support so that clients can make informed choices about their end of life journey. We also act as liaisons between different components of the care team and advocate for clients’ choices.


  • Doulas support clients in advanced planning and as they are actively dying. We also support our clients’ circles of care and love before, during, and after the dying process.  

  • Doulas can work with hospice as well as hospital and residential living care teams. We serve as a point of contact for the care team, help coordinate services, and advocate for the dying person’s wishes.

  • Though doulas cannot give legal advice, we can offer emotional and logistical support to clients in drafting legal documents such as Living Wills, Powers of Attorney, Advanced Directives, and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders.

  • Though doulas may have personal religious affiliations, we are trained to work respectfully with dying individuals of every faith and communicate with religious and spiritual leaders about end of life matters, body disposition, and memorial ritual arrangements.

  • While doula services are not intended to diagnose or treat physical or emotional conditions, we work with medical and psychological professionals to support clients and their circles of care.

  • At this time, death doula services are not covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or most private insurance plans. The doula community is working to have our work acknowledged as an essential part of quality end of life care.

    I offer a sliding payment scale to make my services more accessible.