Death Doula Julia

07/06/2025

So True 💗🕯💗

As a hospice nurse my first go-to is rarely medication. I think that our words, our touch, and our presence can often comfort someone in ways that medicine can’t possibly touch.

Being present at the bedside of someone who is dying can offer profound comfort, even without words.

Your presence can:
• Ease fear and loneliness: Simply sitting quietly, holding their hand, or maintaining eye contact can help them feel less alone.
• Provide emotional support: Hearing a familiar voice, even if they are unresponsive, can be deeply reassuring.
• Offer dignity: Just being there acknowledges their life and their importance, which helps uphold their dignity in their final moments.
• Facilitate peace: Your calm presence can create a peaceful environment, helping to ease the transition for both of you.

Sometimes, silence and presence speak louder than any words ever could.

Having said that, it is also very important that medication is available if needed to relieve suffering that cannot be calmed and comforted easily. As a hospice nurse one of the things that I focus on is teaching families and caregivers how to provide care by using verbal and tactile stimuli, assessing the room to see what might be causing discomfort, and understanding medication, the benefits, and making sure that those present are not afraid of it.

How we care for another human being when they are dying starts with understanding the value of our presence, being educated on what to expect, what could and might happen, what you can do personally for this person, and that you feel confident that your questions and curiosities have been answered. Education is key.

xo
Gabby
Hospice nurse/end-of-life doula
www.thehospiceheart.net

07/06/2025

🕯🤍🕯

The month of July is National Bereaved Parents Month. Although this has been set aside as a special month of remembrance, our children will always be remembered no matter what month it is.

06/15/2025

06/13/2025

Great Ideas

06/13/2025

Unfortunately I will not be able to make the Meet and Greet in Shediac tonight with The MBS Connection and I was so looking to connect with you.

Feel free to connect via email or dm

Juliamesinclair@gmail.com

Love and Light 💗

06/12/2025

Tomorrow 💗🦞💗

06/11/2025

I am delighted to participate in this event! A wonderful opportunity to support the community and learn about numerous holistic and wellness practitioners in our area 💗. I will be offering mini energy work sessions ( Reiki ) and sharing my expertise on the role of a Death Doula in supporting end-of-life journeys. 🌟💫🌈💖

Free Admission

See you there 🦞💗🦞

06/03/2025

Great Opportunity to participate in a research study 👏

What questions do you have around death, dying, and end-of-life care? This survey is part of a project that is exploring older Canadians' understandings of and experiences with death-related information needs. Professor Nicole Dalmer and team are interested in your experiences, lingering questions, and thoughts regarding how you look for, access, and engage with information about end-of-life planning and care.

To learn more about this study and to participate in the survey, please visit: https://loom.ly/x0MJTlk

06/03/2025

05/22/2025

So True!

Hospice care, which focuses on providing comfort and support to patients nearing the end of life, has been shown to improve quality of life, reduce pain and stress, and enhance the overall experience of dying for both patients and their families.

05/11/2025

From the blog:
“Food and water at the end of life.”

I was walking down the aisle of a grocery store when I heard a little girl say to her mother, “you know mom, if I don’t eat for three days, I will die.”

I wanted to walk over and let that little girl know that she was wrong. I want everyone who thinks this to know that is wrong. To be fair, maybe some people have died from not eating for a few days but from my experience at the bedside of people who are dying, it has helped me to understand that the body can go a very long time without food. The longest I have witnessed is 19 days. This woman was non-responsive, in a coma-like state, and from my perspective did not appear to be suffering physically.

I truly believe that the body does not need to have food and water at the end of life. I think food and water can often disrupt the dying process, causing physical discomfort and often suffering.

Most people equate food and water to love, especially when they have been providing this for many years. Family members and caregivers want to push food and water, hoping it will strengthen their person, and make them feel better. But I don’t think it does.

When we are aging, and dying, our throats tend to close and our ability to swallow is reduced, causing people to aspirate/choke, which increases their fear. Sometimes they can tell you verbally that they don’t want food, or they can let you know by shaking their head “no,” closing their mouth when they are being fed, pocketing it in their cheeks, or spitting it out. Listen to them, they are trying to tell you they do not want it. Our role is to honor and respect that.

When we are at the end of our life and dying, our bodies do not benefit from food and water the way a strong and healthy body does. It doesn’t need it, and it doesn’t want it. They will not die faster because they are not eating, and they will not die from starvation or dehydration. They are already dying from the diagnosis and disease process. Not forcing food and water at this time is actually incredibly kind and compassionate.

You are not hurting them, you are giving their body the peace and comfort it needs to go through the dying process however that will look for them uniquely, which can sometimes be many days. Trust that the body knows what to do, and sometimes it lets go quickly and other times longer, but you aren’t hurting them, please trust me on that.

What someone needs when they are dying is physical comfort, to be kept clean, and to be provided with dignity and respect. All human beings deserve this.

xo
Gabby

I have written nine books, each with the intention of providing tips and tools for anyone providing end-of-life care. You can find them all on my author page:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Gabrielle-Elise-Jimenez/author/B0CPFTDCKT/allbooks?

Find this blog here:
https://www.thehospiceheart.net/post/food-and-water-at-the-end-of-life

05/11/2025

🤍🕯🤍