End-of-Life Doula Services
For Starters
Before starting any contract, I offer the below:
Phone Conference call-First step to trust
This call will be about 20-30 minutes. I will only ask basic questions: Stage of terminal illness, general family status, areas of most need. I'll explain a bit about how I could be of service after you tell me your needs. If you would like to move forward I will schedule a Zoom meeting.
Zoom Call-Forming a Partnership
Forming a partnership: Prior to this call, I will email you a quick questionnaire regarding family decision makers, geographical details of family members involved, wishes of the loved one and more. It's simple, doesn't ask anything private but allows me to gain more insight. I will ask that this be returned prior to the call.
The Zoom Meeting will last 30 to 60 minutes. We will discuss the questionnaire with more detail and decide if you would like to schedule a home visit.
In home meeting- Full Disclosure
Pricing is based on visit within 45 miles. If further, mileage expense will be added.
This is a critical visit. I will ask intimate questions from the patient, his/her wishes, both living and dying, discuss family dynamics, detailed questions of the family members present and clarify expectations.
Upon this visit, you will be able to decide if an how I will make this journey easier for all involved.
Advanced Planning-Plan, Prepare, Legacy and Implement
These are services that are available when a patient first finds out they are terminal. This is the time to start
Advanced Planning-It's going to be a long road
Preparing for death is the first step of accepting death. When you hear the news, "terminal". That is when you work to accept death.
Services:
Advance emotional Planning-It's more than just paperwork to plan your wishes for death; it's emotional an emotional commitment from the family. This a private event for all critical family members and the executor of the directives.
Advanced Directives/Living Wills
https://deathandlove.net/videos-for-your-viewing
Legacy work-Memories, successes and loves
This is the time to document life. This looks back on your life, helps you remember and capture the important things that have happened. What was your biggest accomplishment? What do you wish for your loved ones to carry on? What stories do you want to carry on? What impact have you made? How were each of your family members special. This is anything you want to put down in writing that you can have carry on. This legacy project is how you want others to remember you when you are gone.
Vigil Planning- Who, what and where.
As a compassionate doula, my role will be to help create space for you or your terminal loved one. Where do you want to be? What do you want your surroundings to be? Do you have preferences for sounds, music, smells, food, clothes, and who do you want present during each stage of the dying process. This is just creating a pathway for ease of transitioning. This will require home visits and meetings with family members
The Beginning of the end-Multiple Services
Until we start to see the finish line, it's difficult to see the challenges
Creating the circle of love-The end on the horizon
This is the time to bring the family members together. I will listen to each of the primary family members, learn the fears for this journey, concerns about decisions and any other critical factors. We will work toward creating a circle of love and peace by creating comfort in communication of fears, requests, and meeting needs of others. This is a critical step to ensuring your loved one feels closure and passes in peace.
The Caregivers Guide
This binder is custom designed to help you and your hospice team during this transition. It includes medical details, medication logs, a family tree, meals, hygiene changes, bathing, a family tree of contacts, caretaker schedules and more. It will also include a list of local resources. This binder will be heavily used during the process. It will also help your hospice nurse during visits to track progression. This will become heavily relied upon.
Creating respite-Everyone needs a break
As a doula, my role is to help the loved one and the family. I will sit vigil so caretakers can take a break, I will run errands, do chores around the house and spend the night, if needed. I am there to provide not only emotional relief but provide an opportunity to step away and re-calibrate.
Escorting your loved one down the final path
This is the end. This is when we are in the final days of the dying process. I will continue to help sit vigil as needed, provide a shoulder and ear to the family members, aid in maintaining the space designed (scenery, scents, sounds, etc.) and help the family work together to provide the final peaceful passage. This is one of the most challenging times for a family. As a certified doula, I can help explain the body's changes during the process, minimize confusion and questions regarding decisi
Pricing will be adjusted based on services requested