(805) 544-2266
STELLA’S END-OF-LIFE DOULA BROUGHT COMFORT AND PEACE
Stella* resided in an assisted living facility when her health issues worsened and became terminal. Her doctor prescribed hospice care. She remained at the facility in familiar surroundings, with medical hospice providing comfort-focused care, equipment, and supplies to address the hospice diagnosis. The assisted living facility continued to provide non-hospice-related services.
Stella had heard about end-of-life doulas who provide non-medical, holistic support and comfort. Her medical hospice referred Stella to Hospice SLO County, the only agency with an end-of-life doula program in our county. Stella learned that end-of-life doulas do not replace the services of a medical hospice; they enhance it by providing an additional layer of support and more hours of coverage to fill in gaps in services by other providers and agencies.
We connected Stella with one of our trained and experienced end-of-life doulas to visit her in her facility. They spent time working on a legacy and life review project. They discussed Stella’s ongoing experiences and our end-of-life doula explained the dying process with a calming influence and compassionate support.
Our end-of-life doula worked with Stella on a plan to help her family know what to do as she was dying. She listed what music and poetry she wanted to hear, and she even indicated what kind of lighting and scents she wanted in the room. All of this allowed Stella to have some control over her imminent death.
During the last hours of Stella's life, our end-of-life doulas sat vigil with Stella providing respite, guidance, and care for the family. Stella was able to craft a “good death” and her family knew that she was at peace during the last few months of her life.
*Name changed to respect client's privacy.
Hospice SLO County end-of-life doulas are trained through the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA).
All services are provided free of charge. Donations are gratefully accepted.
