An End-of-Life Doula, also known as a death doula or a death midwife, is a new non-medical role that seeks to ease the transition at the end of life. An End-of-Life doula will spend hours with her clients to listen, help them find themes in their lives, identify any unfinished business or regrets and support their chosen family. She wil
An End-of-Life Doula, also known as a death doula or a death midwife, is a new non-medical role that seeks to ease the transition at the end of life. An End-of-Life doula will spend hours with her clients to listen, help them find themes in their lives, identify any unfinished business or regrets and support their chosen family. She will use this knowledge to work with the dying to define and create legacy projects (such as memory journals, boxes and quilts), plan a vigil around the last days of life and offer support to the loved ones after death. End-of-Life doulas may use a variety of tools and techniques to work with the dying including guided visualization, meditation and touch.
My name is Heather Lovvorn and I'm an INELDA (International End-of-Life Doula Association) doula.
Until the 1950s, death was often handled at home by family and friends who acted as funeral directors, counselors and caretakers. In the modern world, we have become very divorced from the death and dying process; so much so that we are almo
My name is Heather Lovvorn and I'm an INELDA (International End-of-Life Doula Association) doula.
Until the 1950s, death was often handled at home by family and friends who acted as funeral directors, counselors and caretakers. In the modern world, we have become very divorced from the death and dying process; so much so that we are almost afraid to speak the word 'death'. Our dying days most often take place in clinical settings which can be sterile, lonely and alienating for both ourselves and those we love. I believe this takes away from the sacredness surrounding death and that it is critically, vitally important to reclaim this process and actively walk alongside the dying and their loved ones during this transition.
I first heard about the End-of-Life doula role while living in London, England where I worked for a wonderful hospice organization called Hospice UK . During my time with HUK, I was fortunate to meet Dr. Mary Baines at St. Christopher's Hospice in London. Dr. Baines was a contemporary of Dame Cicely Saunders, also known as the Mother of the Hospice Movement. Dr. Baines described the early goals of the hospice movement, how it came to be and how it has evolved since the 1960s when the concept was new. She eloquently described how easing the pain and discomfort of the dying became its primary goal and I felt a deep sense or connection with her words. Creating a world in which death and dying are treated with deep respect and dignity became a personal goal.
In the summer of 2020, surrounded by a rising death count from COVID-19, I decided it was time to take the first step in becoming an End-of-Life doula. I enrolled with the International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA) and completed the course in October of 2020.
While open to all spiritual paths, I specialize in non-Christian faith traditions including Paganism, Buddhism and Unitarian Universalism. I believe that the dying process should reflect the person that you were in life and should not subscribe to rigid interpretations. I am LGBTQ+ friendly and feel that no one should have to go through this process alone.
My approach is a combination of practical planning and emotional and spiritual care to help my clients and their loved ones prepare for death.
This may take the form of advance care planning, memory and legacy projects, the use of comfort measures (such as sight, sound and scent) and actively teaching loved ones how to support and wal
My approach is a combination of practical planning and emotional and spiritual care to help my clients and their loved ones prepare for death.
This may take the form of advance care planning, memory and legacy projects, the use of comfort measures (such as sight, sound and scent) and actively teaching loved ones how to support and walk alongside the dying.
I offer a free hour-long consultation for anyone looking to work with an End-of-Life doula and I'm happy to work on a pro bono basis as needed.
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