Many people associate Doula’s with assisting the mother at birth. Indeed, the term Doula means to assist and support and comes from the Greek where its original meaning was also slave.

At Soul Companions, Doulas receive training to support people at the End of Life. They are not replacing the highly skilled professionals but support the family and patient to enable the dying person to die where they have chosen to be.

For over 70% of people this is their home. Sadly, despite peoples wishes to die at home, heath statistic informs us that less than 20% do so. A family or patient working with a Doula is less likely to have to leave their home due to the support, care, comfort and understanding being offered.

They are truly a soul companion to those facing death, but they are also companions for the grieving family left behind as their final farewell is made.

We know taking care of someone who is dying, no matter how much they are loved, and probably because they are loved so much is harrowing, fraught with uncertainty, emotionally disturbing and mentally and physically exhausting.

A doula can help ease this by providing guidance on how best to prepare for death, how to understand the signs of imminent death and offer support and traditional rituals that can ease the tension of death.  

For “How people die lives in the memory of those who live on” Dame Cecily Saunders.

Jane Depledge