In 2018, my husband and I moved to Colorado. Our first week in Estes Park, my father passed away. He had struggled for years with Parkinson’s Disease. Fortunately, the family had planned for his passing and made sure his affairs were in order. I started wondering about families that were not as planned as we were during this time. I searched the internet for organizations that focused on helping individuals and families prepare for death. My search led me to the concept of Death Doulas.

A Death Doula or End Of Life Doula is an individual who offers resources to help the dying person, along with their family and loved ones, to make informed decisions in a supportive environment.

Fast forward a few years….

My husband had a potentially life-altering accident. Thankfully, he has completely recovered. This experience made me question if we had our affairs in order. I remembered the services that End Of Life Doulas offered and I decided to take a deeper look. Just as Birth Doulas support mothers before, during and after a birth, End Of Life Doulas offer support to dying individuals before, during and after death. I decided to enroll in one of the first organizations to offer comprehensive training in deathcare. INELDA (International End Of Life Doula Association) offers training and certification in End Of Life care. March 2023, I finished my training. I am continuing my education in dementia, vicarious trauma and grief.