Board Certified End of Life Doula

About the Role

The End of Life Doula is a non-medical professional trained to support individuals nearing the end of their lives with physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. This role works closely with patients and their families to ensure comfort and ease during the end-of-life process.

Responsibilities

• Provide non-medical, non-judgmental support and guidance to patients and families/caregivers in the hospice program through times of critical, transformative life change.
• Nurture, inform, support, guide, empower, and comfort patients and families/caregivers.
• Collaborate with other caregivers and members of the interdisciplinary group.
• Provide support tailored to the unique needs of each patient/family/caregiver.
• Offer education and research services to keep loved ones informed.
• Assist with handling arrangements and help the patient/family/caregiver align end-of-life wishes.
• Provide comfort, companionship, and support before, during, and after the patient’s passing.
• Support the family/caregiver after their loved one has passed, including grief support.
• Provide logistical support, such as scheduling shopping, errands, pet care, child care, transportation, meal preparation, and other household tasks.
• Help patients/families/caregivers organize affairs, say goodbye, and plan for final disposition (e.g., burial, cremation, organ donation).
• Organize important post-death information, including notifying key people and writing an obituary.
• Assist with life review/legacy work and memorial service planning.
• Advocate and mediate to ensure the dying person’s wishes are honored.
• Provide emotional, social, and spiritual support for the patient and family/caregivers.
• Offer non-medical comfort measures (e.g., stress reduction, music therapy, aromatherapy, reiki, healing touch).
• Provide respite, companionship, and sitting vigil.
• Guide after-death care of the body and communicate with funeral directors.
• Create rituals or ceremonies and offer grief support.
• Maintain records of services provided.

Requirements

• Possesses an End of Life Doula certificate from a training program.
• Hospice experience preferred.
• Understands hospice philosophy.
• Must be a licensed driver with an insured automobile in good working order.
• Ability to accept different lifestyles, cultures, beliefs, and values.