An End-of-Life guide (a.k.a., End-of-Life doula) is a non-medical, holistic practitioner who guides individuals and their families through the end-of-life process by way of presence, support, advocacy, education, and companionship.

Any person receiving a terminal diagnosis or family members who would like physical, emotional, spiritual or logistical support with their end-of-life process can benefit greatly from this service. An End-of-Life Guide offers a variety of services, but first and foremost is a grounding, reliable, knowledgeable, and comforting presence to all involved during this difficult time.

The biggest difference is that an End-of-Life Guide does not provide medical care. I highly recommend to anyone receiving a prognosis of less than six months, that they seek support from a local hospice organization. As a complement to a hospice service, an End-of-Life Guide can offer more time, more personalized attention, more continuity at the bedside, and more availability beyond what hospice is normally able to provide due to Medicare guidelines. End-of-Life Guides can provide full-time presence and companionship during the vigil and at death, and our advocacy in hospitals or at home, and our end-of-life care plans for practical, spiritual, physical, and emotional needs reflect a scope of service unavailable through most hospice organizations.

End-of-Life Guides can engage at any time during the end-of-life process. The sooner the guide can enter into the process, the more time can be spent getting to know the individual and family, creating quality care plans, prioritizing end of life needs, and creating sacred space and meaning for the individual and family.

In essence, because it fills my heart. While I never press my own beliefs onto my clients, I find that my perspective on death, and belief in what happens after death enables me to be at peace with the dying. Through my work in this field, I have companioned hundreds of terminally ill patients during the end-of-life process and accompanied many of them at the time of their death. When I serve in this capacity, my primary objective is to be a channel of peace for my patients and their families. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to do the work I do and to help others transform what is commonly a scary, lonely, anxious time into an experience of profound meaning and peace.

As of now, End-of-Life Guide services are not covered by most insurance policies. However, I am willing to work with clients on a sliding scale as I believe everyone should have access to quality End-of-Life Guide services.