The role of an End of Life Doula is ancient, and new, and always evolving.

Below are a menu of options that are customizable to best fit the needs of your specific situation:

Advanced Care Planning & End of Life Decisions

Together we will discuss all the options open to you to determine what is best for you and your situation. Your family is welcome to be a part of this conversation and can help ensure there is a clear understanding and appreciation for your wishes.

Companionship

There are many cases where this is a great option for families. Maybe the primary caretaker needs a break, maybe family lives away and wants someone to hold the hand of a loved one until they can get there, or maybe you just need to have someone else hold that space for a while. Whatever the reason, connection and companionship always has a place.

Death Meditation

Through death meditation we work together to contemplate death. Considering death and digging deeper to explore the emotions it brings up, and helps remind us what in the true focus of life. 

Death Preparations

Ensuring that loved ones left behind will have all the small details to help them manage the practicalities after you are gone. From your Facebook password, location of bank accounts, to the music you would like playing in your room. This exercise helps to gather all the information that we don’t always think of.

Ethical Will or Life Review

This is a will that goes far beyond physical possessions, it comes from the heart and is your very essence. This ‘will’ captures values, life lessons, future hopes and has the power to bring peace of mind to everyone involved, so everything has been said and thoughtfully passed on.

Legacy, and Meaning-Making

The sky is the limit. A quilt made of Dad’s shirts, to Grandma’s voice recorded reading her favourite children’s story, we can work together to find and create the treasures that you can hold onto for a lifetime.

Living Funerals

Sometimes called a pre-funeral, this is a celebration of the life of the person who is dying, but is able to participate in some capacity. This is a beautiful chance to share what they mean to you and presents the opportunity to say goodbye and offer love and well wishes. Often the tone is less somber than you would think and becomes a delightful and deeply meaningful memory.

Palliative Massage

Often with very ill people, we are unsure if or how we can help them. Specialized palliative massage can be performed and taught to loved ones to support the relaxation and comfort of the palliative patient. A hands-on and tangible way for loved ones to help be a part of the comfort journey, while also receiving the benefits of touch, creating comforting memories, and actively helping their loved ones.

Ritual

Rituals are a precious way to make meaning out of a painful situation. This area is rich and there are many possibilities on how to use ritual in support of healing, grief work, and comfort. Rituals are often simple but very powerful and can include all ages.

Swedish Death Cleaning

This ‘type’ of cleaning is less about death and more about downsizing and passing on items that have meaning to you but that you no longer need. A wonderful opportunity to express why you chose to give this gift to the person you did, passing on the memory and meaning to them.

Storytelling Sessions

This can be a large group, or just a close few, taking place before or after a loss, it is your choice. We will gather for a facilitated storytelling session, sharing memories, tears and laughter. This is a healing and honest event that brings us together and allows for a needed emotional release as family or community.

Vigiling

Vigiling with the dying is being present and holding space at the bedside during the final hours of a person's life, ensuring they are held through their transition. Sometimes vigiling this is done one on one and sometimes it is done with the loved ones present. Gentle guidance is provided to support as peaceful as possible transition experience.

Funeral options (including home funerals and personal touches) navigating MAID, VSED, or death discussions with children and supporting the dying person’s definition of a good death are all available.

Pricing starts at $40/hourly and I am happy to work with you to determine your needs, budget and how we can work within it.

If you are looking for a service that I do not provide, I will gladly make appropriate referrals.

Coming Soon

Specialized support for perinatel loss