Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Death Doula and what do they do?

Often is a non-medical person who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to those nearing death and their loved ones or for those who are curious about the death process. Death Doulas are able to help facilitate end-of-life planning, advocate for the dying, provide support and comfort to the dying and their loved ones.

To receive End-of-Life care through insurance, specifically hospice services, a person must have a diagnosis of 6 months or less to live, significant weight loss, increased infections, increased falls, ER visits, and overall health decline. The person's physician will use general guidelines/scales, to predict how near a person is to End-of-Life. These guidelines are similar to the guidelines hospice uses to track progression of decline for a person on hospice services. These scales take into consideration the progression of the person's disease, the person's nutrional status, and their ability to perform daily living activities.

What is a legacy project?

This is something that is left for loved ones to remember the person that has passed. This can take many different forms such as letters, scrapbooks, recipe books, videos, or audio recordings.

What is Vigil?

A gathering of loved ones around a person who is transitioning to end-of-life and close to death. A space around the person to provide support, comfort, and a dignified death. A gathering for loved ones to share their stories, memories, and to say final goodbyes. Each vigil is unique to each individual and their loved ones.

What is a living funeral?

Exactly what it sounds like! A funeral that you get to attend while you are still present. Can be done for those who are not terminal and just curious to play out their funeral.

What is caregiver relief?

Temporary care for an individual that allows the caregiver of the person, to take a break from caregiving while their loved ones continue to receive care needs in their absence.

What is a living will?

This is a legal document that states the wishes of a person for medical care and procedures when they are unable to make their wishes known. This is written out by the person it is for when they are still legally able to make these decisions on their own.

What is a DPOA?

DPOA stands for Durable Power of Attorney. This is a legal document that gives another person permission to make important decisions, such as financial and medical, on your behalf if unable to. This person is someone you can trust to complete your wishes when you are unable to make your wishes known.

What is a terminal illness?

A condition or disease that is incurable and is expected to result in a person's death. The time length of a terminal illness is short, often due to a rapid progression of the condition or disease. Examples of a terminal illness are cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or failure of organs.

What is a chronic illness?

A long-term health condition, that last for a long length of time or a lifetime. It requires continuous ongoing management and care. Chronic illnesses will vary in severity and, depending on this, it can impact a person's quality of life. Examples of chronic illnesses are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart diseases, or autoimmune disorders.

Hospice is a team with different roles that provide end-of-life care through medical needs, psychosocial support, or spiritual support. Hospice has medical staff such as nurses, certified nurse assistances, and a hospice medical director. Death Doulas can be a non-medical person who provides educational, physical, and emotional support to the dying and their loved ones. Hospice is often unable to provide a greater amount of time with families due to job requirements. Death Doula's are able to spend more time with the person at end-of-life and their loved ones.

You do not need to be on hospice to have a death doula.

What's the difference between hospice and a death doula?

Do you have to be on hospice to have a death doula?

What are the qualifications for hospice?