Dying and death are natural and the movement to return death care to individuals, families and communities fulfills an intrinsic human need. The corporately owned funeral home industry and its funeral process has become the standardized way for us to memorialize our loved one. The funeral home gathering made formal with bits of religiosity, a eulogy that is sometimes personalized and funeral-goers who are well dressed, expressionless or quietly shedding tears are standard elements of a funeral in north America. Often this is followed by a procession to a cemetery, then tea and pastries to share grief and reconnect. The funeral of today is highly corporately owned and organized and has become the preferred norm, opposed to the healing ritual of family-led after death body care and personalized period of mourning and celebration. The absence of this role within families and amongst professionals has reminded us that nurturance, compassion, and the highest regard for human life are imperative in dying and death care. The people involved in dying and death are then empowered to transform and heal and give back to humanity an element that has been missing for almost a century. Outstanding medical care provided by competent medical care providers who are nurturing and compassionate can make a world of difference when we are overwhelmed with end of life challenges. Medical care requires more “doing” than “being”, and so only our physical/medical needs are met. This causes a gap within a wholistic model of care. Family members aren’t skilled or are simply overwhelmed with emotion to be available to “be” with loved ones. A doula’s guidance and presence meets this need and allows other care providers to focus on the tasks they are assigned. Shifting our perspective will lead us to find the best level of medical involvement in our individual end of life transition. It makes room for us culturally, to remember that death is natural and human needs while dying, and following death, includes practical, emotional and spiritual support as well as medical care. The “gap” created by shifting dying and death care predominantly out of our reach in the past century, highlighted the absence of deep transformation and true healing, leaving humanity broken hearted. End of Life Doulas show us how to regain balance.

End of Life Doula Care will depend on the needs of each individual and their families. Family members and loved ones are often those who require support emotionally and spiritually. The potential loss of a loved one can cause us to face our own mortality and often we are unprepared for the onslaught of emotion and stress from the burden of caregiving. So sometimes, doulas are hired by a family member to provide support directly and/or with other family members as well. The plan of care is flexible and can change according to fluctuating needs, so it is negotiated and developed with the dying person and/or family members. An end of life doula provides non-medical personal services by way of companionship, practical, physical, social, emotional and spiritual care. They can facilitate rituals, ceremonies, celebrations, legacy projects and vigil services. They also will accompany individuals on errands however we they are not independent personal shoppers.

While doulas are non-medical supportive care workers, some may have professional training, certification and licensing in another area of practce however the knowledge and skills acquired in other such roles are not required and should not be relied on in a professional or contractual doula agreement. The scope of practice and ethics, guiding principles and values are specific to doulas when in the doula role.