Kim Somerville- End Of Life Doula

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Kim Somerville- End Of Life Doula

An End Of Life Doula is a non- medical role that provides support, options, education & presence, assisting the dying individual & their family/loved ones.

I am also an Enrolled Nurse and have worked for 15 years in a Palliative Care Hospital. Local business

18/08/2025

Thank you to and for having me yesterday to have some very important discussions. I was so pleased to see such great numbers despite the cold rainy weather. I spoke about the role of an End of life doula and choices available for end of life care and funeral options. This audience were so engaged and lots of interaction and questions- which I love, as it’s all about getting these conversations started and gaining comfort around doing so. A big thank you to Karen Buckley from - we have done many talks together over the years, sharing our passion and empowering people to have control over the care they receive.

11/08/2025

For this years DYING TO KNOW event, our team at Life Rites opened our doors and welcome a beautiful crowd of people who came for a tour and to listen to our team speak about all the components of the care we offer ~ including end of life doula support and how it actually helps you for aged care, serious illness, end of life care, dying at home, home vigils, voluntary assisted dying, essential paperwork and planning, the incredible depth of mortuary care received by our wonderful Vicki, shrouded cremations and a display of our organic, hand dyed shrouds & more. It filled my heart to have such warm, receptive and lovely people attend. And the feedback was that many initial fears were erased and replaced with a soft reassurance and acceptance. It’s a reminder that having these important
conversations can really make a huge difference.

05/08/2025

Exploring end of life choices!
For this years 'Dying To Know campaign we collaborated this event held at Bondi Junction ~ The Mill Hill Centre. Despite the rainy weather, we had a wonderful group of attendees show up and joined us for couple of hours of exploring grief, end of life care options, learning how an end of life doula can help you, Care for the carers and group activities planting the seeds for what is important to us when it comes to our end of life. The session was interactive, reflective and informative.

23/07/2025

Next month on August 18th, Myself and Karen Buckley will be holding this event with the aim to educate attendees of what is involved in end of life planning and what choices and options you have, as well as the importance of advocacy when ensuring your end of life wishes are upheld. We will welcome all questions and have gentle discussions in a safe and supportive environment. I hope to see you there or please share with anyone you think may be interested. lhttps://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/healthy-ageing-seminar-conversations-about-death-and-dying-tickets-1497803493569?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

20/07/2025

Creating a calm space for a loved one for their final days can be achieved by just a few simple steps; whether this be in hospital, aged care facility or at home.
Prioritise the persons comfort and dignity.
Keep the space quiet where possible.
Soft dim lighting/ bedside lamp or natural light.
Declutter the space, minimise medical equipment where possible.
Play gentle or favourite music-optional.
Ensure temperature in room is comfortable- not too hot or too cold.
Keep person comforted with any favourite items such as own pillow or blanket, photos etc
Use of aromatherapy/ room sprays if your person enjoys aromatherapy.
Use soft quiet voices, turn down or sound off mobile phones.
Gentle massage of your loved one’s hands or feet.
Reassure your loved one that they are not alone. You may wish to speak of your love and gratitude for them, reassuring them that you will always remember them, you will speak their name and that you will never forget them.
Create a space that is nurturing for your loved one and visitors.
This is also a good time to express all of the ~ thank you, i love you, i am sorry, please forgive me or anything else you feel.
Remembering to take care of yourself at this time too, keeping hydrated, eat, small breaks where possible and do whatever it is that nurtures you at this tender time.

01/07/2025

End of life doula support at home can begin at any time from a diagnosis, in between hospital/treatment appointments and all the way through to when end of life nears.
With this particular client photographed here, I supported this family over a period of 12months.
When someone has decided they would like to remain at home to die it is crucial to have good support- and sadly not all people have that. Some people have little to no family or they have complex family relationships and this is where an end of life doula can provide that steady, tailored support when and where you need it. Being that external support person to ensure communication is clear and calm and that everyone feels heard and their needs met. Dying at home can be a very beautiful experience and having an experienced doula on hand to provide the guidance you need and to prepare you for what is ahead really does ease fear and concerns. With this particular family I was called in on the final day and was able to be there in the background as reassurance and to guide the family through the next steps once death had occurred. A beautiful home vigil was had, family and friends came to the home to say their goodbyes and the experience was private, intimate and allowed the family all the time they needed before following into funeral care. (this photo shared with permission).

25/06/2025

End of life guidance and doula support is available when someone is in hospital, in aged care or at home. We come to you wherever you are and wherever is needed. We can meet you outside in the garden area, at a cafe or in a quiet room so you don’t have to be far from your loved one. When end of life is approaching it can be a difficult time with overwhelming emotions and many questions. Doula support is there when & where you need it most.

24/06/2025

Today’s visit to an aged care home. Supporting families as they care for a parent’s end of life within an aged care home is an area deeply personal & important to me. Many families in this situation like to be as prepared as possible so that they know what is ahead of them in terms of what to expect when a loved one is in their final days, what the next steps are after death has occurred, what choices and pre- arrangements can be made for funeral care prior to death. Having all of these conversations and next steps discussed and put in place provides great peace of mind and a sense of relief knowing what to do when the time does come. Also knowing what questions to ask the Nursing home staff is another useful tool. Knowing what to ask so that when dying and death nears families can be informed and prepared as best possible. This is a gentle reminder to begin conversations early, even though these topics can be difficult to discuss the sense of relief and knowing what to do is extremely helpful and is a weight of your shoulders.

23/06/2025

A common misconception is that end of life doulas can only be of support at the very end stage of a persons life and that is definitely not the case.
Yes we work very closely with people at their final stages but we also provide support and guidance way before that. This can be when someone receives a diagnosis such as cancer or MND or when treatment changes/ends. When a person is given a diagnosis like this they are faced with many decisions, reflections and their own mortality.
Seeking support early on allows a person to consider and reflect upon their values, their care preferences, how they wish to live their life and most of all how to best prepare for a death that represents them and what matters most. How to not leave a mess behind for your loved ones to deal with amidst their grief. Doulas provide support at life’s greatest transitions and we help you approach this with a sense of control, peace and in whatever way is right for you.

09/06/2025

Advocacy , planning and support are essential when planning for a peaceful, meaningful death within an aged care home.
Many clients I see are unaware of their rites and possibilities when looking after a loved one’s end of life and final days.
Key things to remember:
Choice, control and care.
You get to choose what care your persons receives.
Nursing home staff are there to support your choices, not replace them. You can provide the hands-on care for your person, you can assist with their personal care, reposition them in bed, mouth care, massaging hands and feet, surround them with personal, meaningful items for comfort. You can close their bedroom door, you can request soft lighting and quietness from staff when they enter the room, you can refuse repositioning of your loved one if you feel it’s too disruptive for them especially in the final stages of life. You can stay with them after they have died. You can be involved in laying them out and creating a sacred space around them before the funeral director arrives. You can return them home for a vigil with the support of your end of life doula and funeral director. Remember this is your family member and you get to dictate what you need in this experience. What is it that you need from this experience in order to be able to look back and have no regrets and to have beautiful memories?

06/05/2025

It was eight years ago I completed my End of Life Doula training with .preparingtheway Wow! Reflecting back over the years from 2017 to now I have gained so much experience in this space in addition to my 20 years nursing in Palliative Care. Each person and family I meet I continue to learn more and understand that the learning never stops. Life and love and death teaches us so very much and it is a constant reminder on how to live well, to live with intention and gratitude. I am so proud to see the end of life doula profession growing and expanding and becoming part of important end of life care and conversations. My ultimate goal is to see end of life doulas integrate into the palliative care space and to empower others to seek the support to ensure their life and their death full-fills their values and wishes.

31/12/2024

Happy New Year from my family to yours. Feeling grateful to be on summer holidays with my family & friends after another year of highs, lows, love and lessons. 💗 Bring on 2025 🌟

Address

Lilli Pilli, Sutherland Shire
Sydney, NSW
2230

Website

http://www.kimsomerville.com.au/

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