An end-of-life doula is a non-medical professional who provides emotional, practical, and educational support to individuals who are approaching the end of life, as well as to their families and loved ones.

Unlike hospice nurses or physicians, end-of-life doulas do not provide medical care. Instead, they focus on helping people navigate the emotional, spiritual, social, and logistical aspects of dying in a way that aligns with the person's values, wishes, and beliefs.

Their role may include:

• Providing companionship and emotional support to the dying person and their loved ones.

• Facilitating conversations about goals, fears, legacy, and preferences for end-of-life care.

• Helping individuals create advanced care plans such as documenting wishes for comfort measures, environment, rituals, or personal priorities.

• Assisting with practical planning including organizing important information, discussing funeral or memorial preferences, and identifying community resources.

• Supporting legacy work such as writing letters, recording stories, creating memory books, or helping families preserve meaningful traditions.

• Offering comfort measures and presence, which may include guided relaxation, reading aloud, music, gentle touch (when appropriate), or simply sitting vigil.

• Advocating for the person's expressed wishes by helping families understand and honor those preferences within the healthcare system.

• Providing respite and guidance for caregivers, helping them understand what to expect during the dying process, and offering emotional support.

• Maintaining vigil during active dying, ensuring that the person is not alone if that is their wish and supporting family members through the experience.

• Offering bereavement support and referrals after death, including connecting families with grief counselors, support groups, or community resources.

End-of-life doulas often work alongside hospice teams, but they can also provide support before hospice is involved, in addition to hospice services, or for people who choose not to enroll in hospice.