What is a Death Doula? The 5 Tiers of Death Doulaship

By Kerri Hays of @thesacreddeathproject

With life there is death. With joy there is grief. With welcoming there is saying goodbye. And with the blossoming death positive movement, we are getting better and better at thinking about, speaking of, and even planning for our death.

One soul centered profession adding to this movement is the work of Death Doulas. As defined by the The International End of Life Doula Association, a Death Doula is “a person who provides companionship, comfort, and guidance to those facing a terminal illness or death. This is non-medical holistic support encompassing emotional, spiritual, and practical care.”

This line of work is sacred and spirit filled. A practice that our society is not inventing, but rather relearning from our ancestors. Up until the mid to late 1800’s, the norm was to care for and keep our loved ones in their home through and after the dying process. Bringing planning, peace, and sacred ritual back into the dying process is not only a need today, but is a human right that a Death Doula can help navigate.

There are many ways in which one can work with a Death Doula. The common misconception is that a Death Doula sits bedside for hours or even days as a body labors into death. Although this is a branch of service a Death Doula could offer, there are many more. 5 to be exact. Let’s lay them out here:

Death Educator:

A Death Educator Doula covers a range of education types surrounding death, dying, and grief. This may include promoting and navigating conversations around death and dying or suggesting grief resources. A Doula specializing in Death Education could educate on the many stages of death and dying or even help create a death plan. They could also help navigate difficult conversations surrounding the dying process.

11th Hour Doula:

An 11th Hour Doula provides information, ideas, and support for caregivers in the weeks, days, and hours before death and just after. A Doula specializing in 11th Hour care may help plan for and accommodate the sensory needs of the dying person. They may be present during the actively dying phase offering suggestions, holding space, and reassuring caretakers what is normal.

M.A.i.D Doula:

A M.A.i.D Doula [Medical Aid in Dying], provides education on or administration of assisting an individual, at their request, to intentionally end their life. MAID is administered by a doctor or nurse practitioner with the aid of drugs that can be taken orally or administered intravenously. Note that this option is currently legal in only 11 of the 50 States.

Post Mortem Doula:

A Post Mortem Doula provides after death body care. A Doula specializing in Post Mortem may aid in icing, cleansing, or dressing the body. This type of Doula may also help execute ritual work such as anointing or body blessing. A Post Mortem Doula may be essential in the wish to carry out a home death and funeral.

Legacy Work Doula:

A Legacy Work Doula provides direction in creating and executing a project that honors the life of a loved one that has died. A doula specializing in Legacy Work may aid in the sharing of stories, diving into family history, or compiling photographs, letters, or words of wisdom. Legacy projects could include making a video, creating an art project, or planning an annual event in honor of a loved one.

In the broad scope of work that a Death Doula could offer, each Doula has their own area of expertise. Just as it is important to do your research when hiring any sort of professional service, it is important to have conversations with a few Death Doulas before making the decision to hire.

After all, we only get one death. A Death Doula can help make it beautiful and sacred.