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“Celebrate life, for it is the ultimate gift we have been given.”
Joel Osteen
An End of Life Doula is not a new concept. For thousands of years, many cultures have supported the practice of people staying in their homes to die, looked after by family and community. However, in the modern Western world, there has been a trend towards nursing homes and hospitalisation, which can lead to isolation, lack of choice and opportunity for all concerned. Death, which is inevitable, can become a lonely and sombre ‘medicalised’ experience.
An End-of-Life Doula is a non-medical role that provides support, options and education assisting the dying and those around them have their end of life unfold in alignment with their wishes, to preserve the quality of life, well being and self-worth up to and beyond the end of life as we know it. They are the “informed companion” bringing comfort, support, and compassion and assist a person and their family in feeling safe and supported during this critical transition.
As with all big events in our lives, it helps to make a plan, sort through options and choices, and move forward in your preferred direction. A Doula can guide the dying person and their family members and people close to them through the process. A Doula can inform them what to expect and advocate for their vision and choices with medical and nursing staff, the hospital or other care providers, funeral homes, and other personnel involved.
Having an end-of-life, Doula gives you support and assists you in walking through any choices, looking at all the pros and cons, thereby allowing you to make informed decisions. A Doula provides a shoulder to cry on, an empathetic ear and is resourceful and understanding of your journey as it unfolds. An End of Life Doula will assist in making the road ahead an intimate, sacred and rich experience for everyone involved, whether medical support is required or not, whether at home, in a hospice or hospital – creating a ‘home’ wherever you are.
A doula sits alongside the dying person as they take their last breath, knowing that the moment is cherished and awe-inspiring just as the first breath is with birth.
We have partnered with several end-of-life Douhlas in the Brisbane area. Please contact them directly to learn more about them and how they can support you through this life stage.
Jacqui Williams
Throughout the years, I have directly cared for the dying, supported grieving families and friends, and written and presented life stories and ceremonies. I have had the privilege of meeting some remarkable people, all who have been anything but ordinary.” It was with this background and passion that my business, End-of-Life Transitions, evolved.
After spending many years as a health professional working in aged and palliative care, I was aware that while community and hospital healthcare teams were providing the clinical expertise for end-of-life care, there were significant periods when the dying person and their loved ones had to negotiate, by themselves, the transition of dying and often felt quite ‘alone’, somewhat daunted, and sometimes ‘scared’. This was whether the person lived at home, was in the hospital, or was in a residential aged care facility.
Personally, I have experienced the loss of very close family members and friends — some who had expected deaths and some whose deaths were sudden and unplanned.
I have known the extreme pain felt in losing someone who was part of the very fabric of who I am as a person, and I acknowledge that the sadness, sense of loss and grief I have felt was a symbol of the love that I felt for the person who has died.
These losses have allowed me time to reflect and appreciate the uniqueness of each person. They have also influenced my evolution to becoming an end-of-life Doula. They have made me see how very important it is to have a ceremony.
And it is through ceremony and rituals that we can capture a loved one’s ‘story’ and pay tribute to the life that has been lost.
So it is with this in mind, if I am chosen as your Funeral Celebrant, I promise to co-create and craft a service that will resonate and depict the essence of the person who has died.
If you would like to know more, please contact - End of Life Transitions at email:jjacqui@endoflifetransitions.com.au
You can find me on Facebook or LinkedIn
Listen to me on the Honouring Life Podcast
Leah Keating
Leah Keating
Leah Keating - LK Dementia Doula Services
As a Dementia Doula, I provide non-clinical compassionate care to people living with dementia and their families, from pre-diagnosis through to end-of-life palliative care. I support the person in communicating and documenting their wishes and how they want to spend the end of their life when the time comes.
I educate and empower families with knowledge and tools to provide comfort-focused care and teach them how to be responsive to the changing needs of the person living with dementia. Help loved ones find meaningful ways to communicate and connect as needs evolve. Understanding how dementia affects the senses, for example, can make a world of difference in daily interactions, creating a more positive experience for everyone involved.
In the community, I run dementia awareness presentations, covering information on what normal ageing is in comparison to dementia, talking about modifiable risk factors, how our senses are affected by dementia, and some communication strategies.
I also offer workshops to organisations to help upskill and educate staff working with people with dementia or other cognitive impairments. It is more personalised to the needs of staff working with clients living with dementia.
If you would like to know more, please contact - Leah Keating at LK Dementia Doula Services email: leahkeating2019@gmail.com
You can find me on Facebook or LinkedIn
Listen to me on the Honouring Life Podcast
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