What is a Death Doula?

“End-of-Life/Death Doula” is an umbrella term for individuals that provide non-medical care and support to people as they prepare for death and for families after a death.

This can look like:

• Providing emotional support for a dying person and their care circle 

• Exploring their options and supporting/advocating for their choices

• Finding resources and providing linkages to support

• End-of-life planning, paperwork, and other admin support

• Sitting bedside, offering presence

While many doulas do directly support folks in the death, dying, and grief experience– there are a lot of other ways that doulas carry out their work, such as:

• Community outreach and education 

• Hosting death cafes and other death-/grief-positive spaces 

• Body work and healing touch

• Grief counseling and coaching

• Ritual and ceremony offerings

• Creating containers for creative and artistic expression 

• Research, advocacy, and policy work
  

There’s no one way to be a death doula! And it’s so unique to each person and their medicine. 

Where can I find an EOL/death doula?

• Going with Grace Death Doula Directory

• National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) Directory 

• International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA) Directory 

• Durham / Triangle / NC-based doulas

  • NC Death Doula Association

  • Bella Ciao Doula Services

  • Peaceful Crossings Durham

  • Queer Death Club

If there’s an EOL/death doula you think we should know, please reach out to

PAUSE Program Manager, Stevie Luna Ibarra, at programs@timetopause.org!