Above all, the doula listens deeply to the concerns, fears, hopes, and life stories of the dying person and their loved ones to bring them peace at the end of life.

“Doula” is a Greek word, which in ancient times referred to a woman of service. In the 1980s doula came into use again in reference to a person who guided a woman—and others she chose to be with her—through the birthing process. The end-of-life doula approach is based on that birth doula model. You may hear us identify as a death doula, death midwife, death coach, end-of-life coach—but no matter the name each of us is providing compassionate death care.

At its core, this model of care is about open-hearted service. The doula meets with the dying person and their loved ones where they are emotionally and spiritually. The doula assists all involved to find a way to live their dying in the best way possible for them. At the same time, the doula will utilize their experience and expertise to offer expanded view of dying that can bring greater meaning and comfort to this intense process. — INELDA

INELDA Model of Doula Care
involves three phases:

✦ Summing Up and Planning Phase

Sometimes referred to as Legacy Project, this phase explores a dying person’s life meaning including addressing unfinished business, any regrets, and wishes for working on a remembrance project to leave something behind for their loved ones to help them continue to connect with them long after their death.

The doula can also help the dying person and their loved ones express their wishes about the surroundings and interactions they would like to experience during the active dying time.

✦ Conducting a Vigil

Focuses on holding space for the dying person and their loved ones during the active dying process. The doula can help execute the plan that was worked out during the Planning phase.

Doula provides emotional, spiritual, and physical support using music, touch, guided imagery, ritual, and other modalities to help the dying person have the kind of death that honors who they are, how they lived their life, and how they hoped their final days and hours would unfold.

✦ Early Grief & Reprocessing

After the death, doula helps loved ones to review and process the feelings and experiences they had during, or even prior to, the vigil or active dying time. This is an opportunity for the loved ones to reflect and gain a different perspective on their experiences as well hear about the beautiful and touching moments the doula witnessed.

The doula can guide the loves ones through the early days of the grief process and help them navigate some tools that may be available to assist them in their journey of grief. This reprocessing work can take one long session or several sessions spread over week or months, however long the loved ones need the assistance.

OUR END-OF-LIFE DOULA PACKAGES

This package includes two 90 minute in-depth conversations about your personal wishes and end-of-life decisions. We will draft a detailed plan of your wishes and preferences that you may share with your loved ones.
This package includes six 90-minute meetings which will begin with a discussion of your goals, vision, and support that you want for your vigil. We will have thoughtful and detailed conversations to have a greater understanding of your life and legacy. These discussions will bring meaning and awareness to your life’s impact on others with the intention of finding resolution and inner peace We will work together to write a comprehensive plan for the final stage of your journey, the surroundings, and interactions you would like to experience during the vigil. Having a plan in place will help reduce the stress and bring peace and clarity to an often emotional and chaotic time.
This package includes all services listed on Package 2 plus three 90 min sessions dedicated to the development of a Legacy Project.
Legacy Projects are practical, physical memorial designed for loved ones to have something that helps them continue to connect and remember you long after your death. Legacy work presents an opportunity to celebrate your personal journey and leave a beautiful legacy to commemorate your life.
“Each human should die with the sight of a loving face.” - Mother Theresa
When death is imminent, I will be present at the bedside to provide loving and gentle support and comfort in one of the most important moments of our life.
The active dying phase can vary from a few days to a couple of weeks. Because there is no way to predict the length of the active dying period, a contemplation of three days is a reasonable starting point. A flat fee will be assessed with this period in mind and will be adjusted/prorated based on the actual time in service.
This package includes three 60-minute sessions which allow loved ones to reprocess and reflect on the meaningfulness of death and what events or moments they may have missed during the active dying process. The sessions are usually held shortly after the death, 3 days after, then after 3 weeks, and lastly at the 6-week mark to assess the early grieving process and what support may be needed.
There are many options for funeral, burial, and memorial services and the list can be overwhelming. These services are useful when help is needed to take care of logistics related to holding a service. These can include coordinating with service members (officiant, musicians, etc) and securing outside vendors (service venue, florist, caterers, printers, etc.)
Oftentimes caregivers need a break; care giving can be physically and emotionally exhausting.
These services are meant to provide companionship for the patient while the caregiver sleeps, works, does errands, exercises or does any other form of self-care.