Q: Are there fees for your services? Do you take insurance?

A: Yes there is a charge. End-of-life Doula services are not covered under insurance policies. Services are private pay, similar to other companion/caregiver type services. Fees are affordable and are charged hourly. There are discounts available if you choose multiple services. Payment plans are available as well. I can work with all budgets. Please contact me today to schedule a free consultation. 

Q: Who regulates or organizes regulating standards for the End-of-life Doula profession?

A: National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA)* has set a national practicum with Core Competencies for the practice of professional End-of-life Doulas.  The End-of-Life Doulas who pass the proficiency exam receive the NEDA National Credential and will be listed as "NEDA Proficient" in the NEDA directory.

Q: Is there a governing body for End-of-life Doulas?

A: No, not at this time. End-of-life Doulas are non-medical professionals. Just like the establishment of Birth Doulas, though we are professionally trained, there is no government established regulatory body that provides guidance for licensing. There are certifying processes and micro-credentials that can be earned. 

Even though there are organizations that provide training and certification please understand that anyone can say he, she, or they are an End-of-life Doula, Elder Care Doula, Birth Doula, etc.  It’s up the client or consumer to thoroughly research a person before hiring them to help. Going with Grace, Doulagivers, NEDA and INELDA all have directories for End-of-life Doulas that have either completed training and/or competency exams. It is best to do your own research in order to find someone who will work best for you and the needs of your loved ones.  This is very intimate work; therefore trust is of great importance.

Q: What is the difference between a hospice volunteer and an End-of-life Doula?

A: Hospice volunteers are mandated by medicare law.  Volunteers can only spend about four hours a week at hospice.  Hospice are required to have at least 5%  volunteer hours.  The assistance that hospice volunteers are allowed to provide is strictly regulated by medicare.  

An End-of-Life Doula can spend as much time with a patient or family as they choose.  We can do almost everything to assist  with the care of your loved ones except give medication or any form of medical care as doulas are not medical personnel.  

Q: Can an End-of-Life Doula work with hospice, hospice staff , or Home Healthcare Aides in the care of a loved one?

A: Yes.  The Doula can be an extra set of eyes and ears and have no time constraints. An End-of-Life Doula can notify the hospice team of any changes in the patient’s so that the hospice staff can assess and update the care plan for maximum daily comfort of the patient.  It is important to remember end-of-life doulas are not employed by hospice.

Q: What’s the difference between an End-of-life Doula and a home healthcare aide?

A: The amount of time spent with a patient. Home healthcare aides are provided by hospice with a maximum of 2 hours a day 5 days a week with a patient. This is based on the needs of the patient and the availability of home healthcare aides at the time.  An End-of-life Doula can be there for as long as needed, according to the pre-negotiated terms and the needs of the terminal patient and/or the family.

Q: How does Death Doula support differ from the support provided by hospice? 

A: Hospice does offer grief and bereavement services for up to a year or 15 months depending on the state. The original hospice team may or may not be part of this service.  If not, then families can experience a second loss. End-of-life Doulas services are available before, during, and anytime after death.  We are here as long as the family needs us. 

Q: What about funeral assistance, vigils, and other arrangements?

A: An End-of-life Doula can help with many things from the beginning stages of the dying process to helping patients and families as death becomes more imminent.  We can also help with vigils at time of death, after death care, understanding and honoring grief and finally recovery of life after loss. 

We are not funeral professionals so there are things we cannot do like groom your loved one or officiate a funeral a home. In some states even if a funeral is held at home a funeral director or ordained minister is required to be present.