the evolution of the
End-of-life doula role
EOL DOULA EARLY ROOTS
1960s
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1990s
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2001
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2005
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2006
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Pictured from left to right: The hospice movement began in late 1960s --> A birth doula, Phyllis Farley, attended end of life seminar at Shira Ruskay Center 1997 --> led to development of Doula to Accompany and Support Program in 2001 --> Quality of Life Care was created in 2005 providing end of life doula services and education --> First hospice doula program developed in 2006 in NYC -->
So much has contributed to the widespread present day acceptance of the End-of-Life Doula role. Above, is pictured key beginnings. Before, during and after the times marked above are many people making things happen in their own communities, calling themselves various titles, all working towards the same thing: empowering people at the end of life in choice of medical treatments, dying and funeral options.
The Association for Death Education and Awareness (ADEC), the trailblazing work of Roshi Joan Halifax, Ram Dass, Sogyal Rinpoche and Frank Ostaseski since the 1970s, and the work of all the people bringing forth the option of home funerals and creating the National Home Funeral Alliance... all these people and organizations contributed in major ways to the choices and awareness we have today and to the development of the end-of-life doula role as we know it and as it continues to evolve. There are trailblazers in Canada and Australia that have tirelessly been in the forefront as well. It was Death Cafe though, begun in 2011, that really catapulted the conversation and began to weave all of us together and all of these initiatives.
Despite any differences in philosophy or approach, the heart and wisdom of death being a natural part of life and something to be acknowledged and engaged with is what we all have in common.
So many amazing people and authors and thought leaders have joined the scene since 2010. Now search death doula and you will find hundreds of private practice doulas, collectives, news articles, initiatives, organizations and trainings. We are on the map!
At this time, there is no International, National, or State Organization that represents end-of-life guides, doulas, midwives, or coaches with a Board Certification in the field in the US. Creation of this standardization would require a strict process that takes many people's hard work and years to form. It would involve components of a program not created by just one individual, but by a multi-disciplinary team of end of life professionals considering the best in end of life care. It would be an enormous undertaking. Most in the field are not sure this would be beneficial for anyone at this time.
However, we do have a nonprofit membership organization now that represents all doula trainers who would like to be recognized and all doula practitioners and supporters who want to be part of a unified professional community. The National End of Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) began in the fall of 2017 and has been busy creating professional standards and supporting doulas ever since. It was exciting to be a founding member of NEDA and their first Vice President.
Also The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization created the End-of-Life Doula Advisory Council for the purpose of educating hospices about end of life doulas and how to utilize us. Our inaugural meeting was in April 2018 and we have been going strong ever since. I am honored and grateful to be the first Chair of this Council.
Anyone can do this service as it is a human, loving witness and presence. Some feel inspired to be the go-to person for their circles of family, friends and colleagues and some feel inspired to volunteer and some to professional service. Regardless of how you want to be of service at the end of life, there is a place for you, a community for you and support for you.
You could do it on your own, but why would you want to? Lets join together and support our hospices in community. We are stronger together.
The Association for Death Education and Awareness (ADEC), the trailblazing work of Roshi Joan Halifax, Ram Dass, Sogyal Rinpoche and Frank Ostaseski since the 1970s, and the work of all the people bringing forth the option of home funerals and creating the National Home Funeral Alliance... all these people and organizations contributed in major ways to the choices and awareness we have today and to the development of the end-of-life doula role as we know it and as it continues to evolve. There are trailblazers in Canada and Australia that have tirelessly been in the forefront as well. It was Death Cafe though, begun in 2011, that really catapulted the conversation and began to weave all of us together and all of these initiatives.
Despite any differences in philosophy or approach, the heart and wisdom of death being a natural part of life and something to be acknowledged and engaged with is what we all have in common.
So many amazing people and authors and thought leaders have joined the scene since 2010. Now search death doula and you will find hundreds of private practice doulas, collectives, news articles, initiatives, organizations and trainings. We are on the map!
At this time, there is no International, National, or State Organization that represents end-of-life guides, doulas, midwives, or coaches with a Board Certification in the field in the US. Creation of this standardization would require a strict process that takes many people's hard work and years to form. It would involve components of a program not created by just one individual, but by a multi-disciplinary team of end of life professionals considering the best in end of life care. It would be an enormous undertaking. Most in the field are not sure this would be beneficial for anyone at this time.
However, we do have a nonprofit membership organization now that represents all doula trainers who would like to be recognized and all doula practitioners and supporters who want to be part of a unified professional community. The National End of Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) began in the fall of 2017 and has been busy creating professional standards and supporting doulas ever since. It was exciting to be a founding member of NEDA and their first Vice President.
Also The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization created the End-of-Life Doula Advisory Council for the purpose of educating hospices about end of life doulas and how to utilize us. Our inaugural meeting was in April 2018 and we have been going strong ever since. I am honored and grateful to be the first Chair of this Council.
Anyone can do this service as it is a human, loving witness and presence. Some feel inspired to be the go-to person for their circles of family, friends and colleagues and some feel inspired to volunteer and some to professional service. Regardless of how you want to be of service at the end of life, there is a place for you, a community for you and support for you.
You could do it on your own, but why would you want to? Lets join together and support our hospices in community. We are stronger together.
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