Receiving a terminal diagnosis for yourself or your loved one can be devastating. A little more than 50% of patients will be provided end of life services by hospice.
The hospice model is a wonderful model to provide care, comfort, and quality of life for patients expected to live 6 months or less.
As with all of our health systems, the hospice system is spread very thin. Often hospice patients will see their hospice nurse 1-2 times per week, perhaps their CNA slightly more, and their social worker and chaplain even less.
The scarcity of these precious resources leave families needing more. Doulas are able to work as an adjunct to hospice services. I am also able to work as a stand alone resource when hospice services are either not available, or not desired. Specifically, I am able to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support to the patient.
I also provide much needed respite and support for caregivers.
Here are some examples of work that I have done with my beautiful end of life patients and their families:
- Read stories at the patient’s request. These readings led to wonderful life reviews.
- Write obituaries and plan final celebrations of life with the patient, while they are able.
- Explain the end of life process and what to expect to family members and patients.
- Assist families as an advocate with hospice, ensuring that families understand available services and how to request services. This includes assisting with the understanding of available end of life medications and the proper administration of these therapies.
- Recommend end of life interventions to provide comfort to patients.
- Discuss burial options with family.
- Plan sacred transition space with patients. Some space considerations include who will be present as the patient transitions, whether pets will be present, what sounds, if any, will be playing, what scents, if any, will be used.
- Sit vigil with patients as they transition. I work to ensure that the patient’s sacred space wishes are honored.
End of life can be a beautiful time. We will work together to ensure that anxiety and pain are minimized and the quality of this sacred time is maximized.