The word doula, Greek for “woman who serves,” is usually
associated with those who assist in childbirth. But increasingly, doulas are
helping people with leaving the world as well.
Death doulas (aka end-of-life
doulas, death midwives or simply companions) appear to have been functioning under the radar for some
time. A recent NYT’s article is a good introduction. The topic has been explored in other sources,
such as the
Guardian in May 2014.
“Birth doulas support women and their families through the
process of a child being born. And death doulas support people during that
other huge event – the one we don't like to talk about. The idea is hardly new,
but in the western world, death has become a medical matter, says Hermione
Elliott, director of the charity Living
Well Dying Well. The organization is pioneering the use of death doulas in
the UK. "In other cultures around the globe, and for thousands of years,
people have stayed in their homes to die, looked after by their family and
local community. We want to see a return to this."
Doulas,
Who Usher in New Life, Find Mission in Support for the Dying, NY Times,
January 24, 2015
Death
doulas: helping people face up to dying, The Guardian, May 4, 2014
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Rebecca
Green, UK death doula, from the Guardian
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