Death Doula Course

“Death is not the opposite of life, but part of it.”

~Haruki Murakami~

What do Death Doulas do?
Do you need a medical background to become a Death Doula?
Who becomes a Death Doula?
Does a Death Doula charge a fee?
Thinking of your own needs as a Death Doula
Caring for yourself while caring for others

The Bed
Clothing and useful extras
The Bathroom
Preventing injury to the Carer
Moving the Patient
Log-rolling the Patient
Working safely with the patient’s assistance
Helping the patient sit up in bed
Injury to the Carer

How can you avoid problems and speed up recovery?

Social
Psychological
Biological
Physical
Choosing the moment to go
How can a Death Doula help the dying person with social and psychological concerns?
Provide time and space for communication
Communicate respect and acceptance of the dying person
Avoid withdrawing prematurely from the dying person

Accept that dying may be extremely difficult for the person

Equality and human rights
Ethical principles
Ethical issues in end-of-life care
Autonomy
Beneficence and non-maleficence
Justice
Informed consent
Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders
Futile’ Treatments

Refusing and Halting Health Care
Is refusing treatment legal?
Truth-Telling
Killing vs Allowing to Die
Terminal Sedation
Sedatives
Pain relief

Dying Well – Opportunities and Adventures
Physical Care
Seven keys to a good death
What should professionals and providers do?

Exploring
Present reality
Voicing doubt
Suggesting collaboration & validating

End-of-Life planning: Decisions in late-stage care
Leaving a Legacy
Advance Directives for medical decisions
What else do I need to know?

The Environment
Entering the Space
Light and Smell
Sound
Readings
Touch and Holding
The Written Plan
Alleviating physical symptoms
Spiritual Distress & Rituals

Reflecting
Planning
The Vigil
Reprocessing

Your first Vigil
Create an atmosphere of unconditional presence
What is a Vigil?
Your presence
Creating the Space
Pain Management
Physical Comfort – The Mouth
Cleansing the Body while sitting Vigil
Peaceful Environment

Time Out
Fresh Air
Observe Religious or Spiritual values
Dying people saying they want to go home
Talk to them
The dying see dead people
Music
Common fears of the family
As Death Approaches & after death occurs

The Three reasons why we need professional boundaries:
 ~ To protect the Doula
~To protect the Patient
~ To protect the Agency
Boundary Guidelines
Prevention and Intervention

What is a Doula Bag?
Essential Doula Bag Checklist
The Bag
~ Personal Hygiene
~ Optional Items to Consider
~ Entertainment
~ Comfort Items
~ Essential Oils

Optional Items to Consider for your client
~ Personal hygiene and comfort items
~ Enrichment
Wrap-Up

Conclusion
What are your options?
~ Elder Care
~ Support and comfort for the terminally ill
~ Respite care for the family
~ Facilitating legacy and Life Review Projects
~ Conducting Living Funerals
~ Planning and conducting Vigils
~ Mourning and Post-Loss Support

~ Facilitating with Post-Death Home Organization
~ ‘Holding Space’ – Your most vital service
~ Home, Hospital or Hospice?
~ Discussing Advanced Care Directives

Consider culture, customs and beliefs
Why is culture important?
Social support
Cultural and spiritual needs
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people
Awareness
Support for family and Caregivers
Co-ordinated care

Traditional South African Funerals
~ Khosa
~ Zulu
~ Christian
~ Catholic
Funeral customs in South Africa
Jewish burial practices
Muslim burial practices
The African concept of death

The African concept of the afterlife
Burial and mourning customs
How to lead a guided meditation for a dying patient