What is a Death Doula?
Death doulas are professionals who support individuals in planning for, and transitioning through, their end-of-life journey. They are similar to birth doulas, who help with the birthing process. Death doulas help individuals and their loved ones go through the dying process.
What Does a Death Doula Do?
Death doulas help with a wide range of supports. We help healthy people make decisions about their healthcare and end-of-life decisions before they are facing an imminent situation, so their wishes are known should they become unable to speak for themselves.
We also help people with terminal diagnosis plan for the end of their lives – from logistical issues like referrals to getting a will written, to estate planners, to sitting by the bedside during a client’s final transition.
Where Do Death Doulas Work?
Death doulas are flexible and can work virtually, at a client’s home, or in a residential hospice or hospital as requested.
What is Death Doula Training?
Death doulas do not have a formal designation recognized in Canada, but it is standard to complete a 40-hour college certification course. Many death doulas come from a background in complementary areas, such as nursing or personal support work, and many have experience as hospice volunteers.
Can a Man be a Death Doula?
People of all gender identities can be death doulas, and clients can choose a death doula of whatever gender is comfortable for them.
Are Death Doulas in High Demand?
Death doulas are quite common in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California.
The work of death doulas is becoming more common in other parts of Canada and the U.S. and is expected to grow in demand as the profession becomes more well-known in other parts of North America.
How Much Does a Death Doula Cost?
Rates for death doulas are set by each individual. Many death doulas offer rates by the hour but prefer crafting packages that meet the needs of individual clients. Personally, my rates are $80.00/hour, but I prefer to arrange for packages with lower rates.
Does Insurance Pay for a Death Doula?
Insurance does not yet pay for death doula services, but our national alliance, the End-of-Life Doula Association of Canada, is working to advance this cause. We believe it is in everyone’s best interest for the services of death doulas to be covered by insurance.
How do I Find a Death Doula?
Search for a death doula in Love Lives On’s Business Directory.
You can search for a death doula through the End of Life Doula Association of Canada, but there are also regional listings, such as the Death Doula Network of British Columbia or the Ontario Death Doula Network.
About the Author
Heather Spratt is a certified Death Doula and has been a hospice volunteer since 2017. She is also a Certified Funeral Celebrant through Life Celebrants International.