12/12/2024
Doulagiver Specialist Announcement:
After a year of intense online study with Suzanne O’Brien, RN of the Doulagivers Institute, I have completed all certifications in death doula and care consulting. Therefore, I am adding services to my business that reflect this education. The combination of being certified as a Doula and Care Consultant earns me the right to the title of Doulagiver Specialist. The goal of a Doulagiver Specialist is to assist in reducing stress for the client and family before, during and after end of life.
Doula is a Greek word that mean non-medical person that gives physical, emotional and spiritual help to someone else. Doulagivers Care Consultant is a professional that is specially trained to help another person through all aspects of Advanced Care Planning. Helping patients with subjective information to make informed choices.
Services:
❖Facilitate Family meetings.
❖ Advanced Directive planning
❖Provides support and care for those in the last phases of life-limiting illness
❖Recognizes dying as part of the normal process of living
❖Focuses on quality of life for individuals and their family caregivers.
❖ Attending to the emotional, psychosocial and spiritual aspects of dying and caregiving
❖ Advocating for the patient and family
❖ Providing additional support system to patients and families with no time limitations or time restrictions
❖ Serve as eyes and ears for the hospice program
❖ Assist in better coping skills and making family peace
❖ Longer and more frequent visits as needed
❖ Assistance with making memories (legacy projects), funeral arrangements, obituaries and memorials
❖ Holding space and helping family members cope
❖ Perform life review – validate sense of purpose
❖ Setting the sacred space – planning for smells, sounds, gentle touch during last days
❖Living Well Plans
❖Medical advocating, companion and navigating
Disclosures: At NO time will it be the responsibility of the Doula to give medication or do any personal cares such as changing diapers, bed baths or bathroom assistance. Assistance may be given in some situations, but it will never be the expectation.
SERVICE DESCRIPTIONS
Helping clients to create Living Well Aging Plans: As we age, we should have a Plan A, B and C in place to create the best living scenario for individuals as needs occur. Doing this as preparation for the future creates less stress during critical times. This would involve having a family/friend meeting to openly discuss options with those who would be involved.
Advocating as a Medical Companion and Navigator: The medical system can be a confusing and intimidating place for many. Doulagiver Specialist help their clients understand their options and they advocate the subjective wishes of the client to ensure they get the care and treatment they need, want and deserve.
Family Meeting Facilitator: From discussing Living Well Plans, doctor appointments and End of Life plans, a Doulagiver Specialist acts as a support person and liaison to help their client express their ideas and wishes to family and friends who are actively involved in their present and future care and allow time for family to ask questions. The goal of these meetings is for the client to express their wishes and family to ask questions without the pressure of a critical situation.
End of Life Planning with Healthy People: When most people learn of a pregnancy it is natural that planning begins to make space for the new life. We spend the months preparing a new room and collecting the necessities for the new life. However, when it comes to death, most people do not prepare and wait until they have been given a terminal diagnosis before they begin to accept their mortality and end up making decisions while in a crisis mode. By taking the time to plan while healthy, decisions for end of life can be made clear and understood with family and health care providers; thus, leading to a more peaceful death. Why choose to prepare to die while in crisis when we don’t have to? Death is not a medical experience; it is a human experience.
Companion to the dying and the dying person’s loved ones. The main goal of the EOLD (End of Life Doula) is to be a companion to the dying and their loved ones. The EOL doula is a supportive presence and is there to hold space for the dying patient and their loved ones to decrease as much stress as possible. This is done by serving as eyes and ears for the hospice program; advocating for the patient and family as planned; and focusing on the psychosocial and spiritual aspects of dying and caregiving.
Life Reviews: As we go through life, we create experiences that create happiness and regrets. By reviewing your life, you can decide to forgive yourself and others and/or make amends where needed, thus resolving unresolved issues to find peace and acceptance.
Remembrances Projects: Working on projects of meaningful life stories (videos, picture books, crafts, ect) gives you an opportunity to leave a tangible part of yourself with the future, if this is important to you.
Advanced Directive Preparation: By expressing YOUR wishes about how YOU want to be medically treated at the end of life, as well as expectations during active end of life time (vigil phase) and any arrangements after death (funerals, cremation, etc.) takes the stress off of your loved ones. By expressing your wishes for your end-of-life care and ceremonies (eulogies, obituaries, funeral arrangements, etc.) this gives your family and friends the time to grieve without the stress of wondering if they are doing things “right” by you.
All of these things can help alleviate personal stress when faced with mortality.
Disclosures: At NO time will it be the responsibility of the Doula to give medication or do any personal cares such as changing diapers, bed baths or bathroom assistance. Assistance may be given in some situations, but it will never be the expectation.
Tele-Doula is an option and is billed the same fee as In-Person support.
Packages must be paid when a contract is signed and BEFORE the first in person or Tele Doula Visit.
2-Hour minimum for all in-person visits.
30 Minutes of travel time each way is complimentary. If more than 30 minutes of travel time is needed each way, it will be applied toward the hourly rate
Prices:
Consulting- Advanced Directive preparation, Life Reviews, Remembrance Projects, End of Life Planning and Living Well Plans.
$125/hr or $1200 for up to 12hrs of service. What is included:
1) Anywhere from 4 to 6 two-hour meetings
2) All paperwork documented, checked and signed/notarized in their Peace of Mind Planner
3) Final Family Meeting
Death Doula and Medical Companion/Navigator-
$40 USD per hour
• 10-hour package: $360 (10% discount on $400)
• 20-hour package: $720 (10% discount on $800)
• 50-hour package: $1,800 (10% discount on $2000)
