National Death Doula Day
April 2025
April 20th is National Death Doula Day, but… what is a Death Doula?
A death doula, or an end-of-life doula, is a non-medical person trained to care for someone holistically (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) for the dying and their loved ones before, during, and after death.
Doulas normalize deathcare by creating spaces to hold conversations leading to increased communication and increased spiritual & emotional well-being. They also help give individuals options for care, emphasizing the autonomy individuals have over their decisions & end-of-life wishes with family & loved ones.
What is the Purpose?
Trained in the various end-of-life stages, a doula is able to assist the family with understanding the natural processes while providing comfort & support.
A doula can become involved any time in a person’s life.
Services Doulas May Provide:
Companionship, comfort, & guidance to those planning for death, diagnosed with terminal illness, or facing imminent death
Offer resources to help the dying person & their circle of care to make informed decisions in a supportive environment
Write cards or letters for loved ones to be given for the next few years
Make scrapbooks or memory books
Work on “legacy projects,” exploring how individuals want to be remembered
How Else Do Doulas Serve?
Talk about creating an advance care directive
Explore the meaning of the dying person’s life & legacy
Develop a plan for how the space looks, feels and sounds
Incorporate traditions or create new rituals to mark special moments
Assist with physical and practical care to ease the burden on caregivers, providing respite
Process the emotions and experiences with loved ones
Support the spiritual practices of all involved
Guide people through the early stages of grieving
Did You Know?
Friends Village has our own certified Death Doula!
Olivia Lord, Senior Support Clerk, completed her certification course this past October from the University of Vermont. Through this program, Olivia learned how to approach these difficult conversations and provide comfort to individuals and their loved ones.
She is ready to support anybody wanting to prepare for this stage of life, reaching this stage, or needing light grief support for loss of loved ones.