Ask a Death Doula

Death Doula Global Summit Speaker Spotlight: Felicity Warner, Founder of Soul Midwives UK

Can the final days of life be filled with dignity and grace?

Join us for an enlightening journey into the heart of end-of-life care as we welcome Felicity Warner, the pioneering founder of Soul Midwives. Felicity shares her deeply personal story of how her grandmother's painful hospital experience ignited her mission to transform end-of-life care into a compassionate, holistic practice. Her efforts have since blossomed into a widely respected organization, embraced by the NHS, and she has received multiple prestigious awards for her groundbreaking work. Listen in as Felicity's story emphasizes the profound impact of human connection and holistic support, inspiring us all to envision a world where people can die with dignity and grace.

In this episode, we also explore the transformative power of holistic approaches in hospice care, through the experiences of a journalist who transitioned into working with terminally ill young women. By highlighting the distinction between clinical interventions and the inherently human experience of dying, we underscore the significance of a 'good death' for both individuals and their loved ones. Additionally, we celebrate the growing global awareness of death through the success of the Soul Midwives conference, advocating for the integration of compassionate, non-medical care into mainstream healthcare. This conversation is a powerful reminder of how acknowledging our mortality can enrich our daily lives and the care we provide to those at the end of theirs.

We dive into:

(01:26 - 02:27) Creating Global Community Through Soul Connection
(05:55 - 07:04) Inspiring Journey From Tragedy to Triumph
(13:48 - 15:17) The Teachings of Dying Patients
(17:33 - 18:31) The Beauty of End of Life
(25:11 - 26:24) Embracing Life Through Awareness
(29:28 - 30:41) Power of Compassion and Love

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Doulagivers Institute
• The NEXT Free Level 1 End of Life Doula Training Registration LINK
• The NEXT Free Doulagivers Discovery Webinar
• The Soul Midwives Portal

80-90% of a positive end of life depends on these two things:

Knowing the basic skills on how to care for someone at the end of life and planning ahead - and BOTH Doulagivers Institute is giving you for FREE!

Access them Below!

• Making your wishes known is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your loved ones. Download The Doulagivers 9 Choice Advance Directive now! It's FREE!

More about what we do at Doulagivers Institute - Click here!

More about Felicity and her work - Click here!

How prepared are you to support a loved one at the end of life?

This is a question many avoid but is crucial for everyone to consider. In the Good Death Seminar Series, we equip you with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the journey of end-of-life care. We begin by sharing personal stories that illustrate the transformative power of being educated and empowered in this role. Together, we'll explore the history and purpose of hospice care, the impact of Medicare, and critical questions you should ask when selecting a hospice provider. Our goal is to make a meaningful difference, even if it helps just one person find peace and positivity in challenging times.

As we continue, we confront the challenges posed by the rising number of for-profit hospices, questioning how profit-driven motives might affect the quality of care. Through poignant narratives like Mr. Penn's, we expose systemic gaps and the urgent need for patient-centered care. By reflecting on the invaluable contributions of hospice workers, we advocate for a renewed focus on collaboration to ensure dignified and supportive end-of-life experiences. With discussions on pain management, advanced directive documents, and the essential role families play, we aim to empower you with the tools needed for informed decision-making.

Finally, we underscore the importance of seeing death not just as a medical event but as a profound human experience. Inspired by the wisdom of Cicely Saunders, we discuss how education, kindness, and support can restore the sacredness of both life and death. You'll discover resources like the Good Death, Good Life Masterclass and the Confident Caregiver Course, designed to equip you with essential skills for compassionate care. By preparing for the end of life, we not only enhance our daily experiences and relationships but also empower ourselves to live fully and without regrets.

SIGN UP FOR THE "GOOD DEATH" SEMINAR SERIES on January 29th at 7pm ET - Click here

The Good Death Seminar Series will be hosted LIVE on Zoom! Space is limited! Save your seat now!

We dive into:

(00:01) - Understanding Hospice Care Seminar Series

(11:49) - Challenges of for-Profit Hospice Care

(20:25) - Addressing Gaps in End-of-Life Care

(27:29) - Enhancing End-of-Life Care Support

(40:27) - Empowering Families in End-of-Life Care

(43:45) - Key Questions for Hospice Care

(47:50) - The Good Death Movement Opportunity

(52:52) - Promoting End-of-Life Care Movement

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Doulagivers Institute
• The NEXT Free Level 1 End of Life Doula Training Registration LINK
• The NEXT Free Doulagivers Discovery Webinar
• Buy The Good Death Book

80-90% of a positive end of life depends on these two things:

Knowing the basic skills on how to care for someone at the end of life and planning ahead - and BOTH Doulagivers Institute is giving you for FREE!

Access them Below!

• Making your wishes known is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your loved ones. Download The Doulagivers 9 Choice Advance Directive now! It's FREE!

More about what we do at Doulagivers Institute - Click here!

This week on "Ask a Death Doula" my guest is Deanna Cochran RN.

Deanna Cochran, is a hospice RN since 2000. She is Founder and CEO of Quality of Life Care since 2005 and has been a palliative care educator, end of life doula in private practice, and creator and trainer of her signature program: Accompanying the Dying: A Practical Guide and Awareness Training, the first Certificate program of its kind in 2010.

She is one of the earliest voices in the end of life doula movement and is presently honored to serve as Chair of the newly formed End of Life Doula Advisory Council within the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and is a founding member and was 1st Vice President of the National End of Life Doula Alliance. She believes in unity in this grassroots death positive movement and contributes all she can to special projects with others. Her latest is The National Certificate for End-of-Life Doula Hospice Programs (NCEHP) where she is a partner with Suzanne O’Brien, RN. Together they are presenting hospice organizations with an end-of-life doula program development template complete with all full training to create their own unique hospice doula program. She is the author of the book: Accompanying the Dying: Practical, Heart-Centered Wisdom for End-of-Life Doulas and Healthcare Advocates.

Her new book “Accompanying the Dying: Practical, Heart-Centered Wisdom for End-of-Life Doulas and Healthcare Advocates” is out TODAY. You can download it for free today, February 19th until 6pm ET. To Download the FREE book HERE: http://amzn.com/0989659356

“The book is ideal for the go-to person who is always the one helping everyone in illness, through dying, through crises of life. These people are the salt of the earth, they are the ones who are coming forward as the newly emerging role of the end-of-life doula, wanting to empower others through a serious illness. The book is meant to educate and inspire us to accompany each other through dying well in this modern age. It will save you countless hours of research and enhance your confidence and guide you through every stage of empowering your friends, family, and community.”

FREE DOULA TRAINING
If you're a family caregiver, community volunteer, or are interested in becoming a Certified End of Life Doula Practitioner, follow the link below to join Suzanne for her FREE Introductory End-of-Life Doula Training!

For More Information on this free Doula Training Click Here: http://freetraining.doulagivers.com/

OR

Learn how to give the gift of Peace of Mind at the End of Life to yourself and your family members by signing up for Suzanne's Peace of Mind Planner course! Follow the link below to learn about the five keys to achieving Peace of Mind at the End of Life.

For More Information on The Peace of Mind Planner Click Here: https://planner.doulagivers.com/about

In This episode of Ask a Death Doula, I will share what V.S.E.D. ( Voluntarily Stop Eating and Drinking ) is, why it's a viable option, and the checklist of things you need to go over before deciding if V.S.E.D. is right for you!

What is V.S.E.D.? [2:00] – V.S.E.D. stands for voluntarily stopping, eating, and drinking, and it is an intentional decision to stop drinking liquids and eating food for the specific purpose of causing death. It does not refer to stopping food or fluids provided by means of a feeding tube or to situations in which a patient has no appetite or is unable to eat or drink due to illness or disease. Time until death depends on a patient's underlying physical condition and disease state, but typically takes place within about 5 to 21 days with the median time of death occurring in 7 to 14 days after implementation - the cause of death is dehydration. The exact process of dying from V.S.E.D. will not be the same for every individual. Despite being intentionally used to cause death, the dying process experienced by V.S.E.D. is a natural one. In the first few days after ceasing intake of food and fluids, individuals may retain their energy levels for physical activity, but soon will become very weak. Once they begin to feel weak movement requires assistance in order to prevent falls or accidents, and weakness or dizziness may occur suddenly - which is why 24-hour support is recommended. Once the individual begins, the fasting causes mental alertness to be replaced by longer and longer periods of sleeping. In many cases, individuals eventually remain in a coma state during the final stages of death. The dehydration from V.S.E.D. affects the kidneys and the heart and each organ system in the body begins to shut down. One of the things that I want you to know about this is that it’s something that's naturally occurring in the end-of-life process already. One of the first tell-tale signs that somebody's headed into the transition phase is that they stop eating and drinking. This is naturally how the body starts to shut down to have its end of life. V.S.E.D. allows the person to have the intentional decision of speeding that up a bit when they have a terminal diagnosis.

Why People Choose V.S.E.D. [5:28] – It is critically important for me to discuss this topic because there is so much debate and discussion about Medical Aid in Dying (M.A.I.D.). The most common reasons that people want to choose medical aid in dying is that they don't want to suffer, and they don't want to be a burden to their family. V.S.E.D. is an alternative option that is not marred with controversy and does not require people to go through a lot of stressful legality issues. You don't have to wait for someone else's permission. You can decide if this is an option that you would like to take, but again, it must be an informed decision and done with the right support. I'm going to give you the checklist to make sure that you fully understand what's involved and if it's right for you. V.S.E.D. is a wonderful option and it gives power back to the person at the end of life. This is about empowering people with the information they need to make their own choices.

The V.S.E.D Checklist - The reason we have this checklist is because it really lays out everything involved and it needs to be a yes, across the whole entire board, before V.S.E.D. is implemented. The Doulagivers V.S.E.D. checklist also has a complete list of supplies and equipment needed to ensure that the patient is comfortable and safe during their V.S.E.D. journey.

This is YOUR Journey. You can choose whatever you want. Just make sure that you make educated, subjective decisions for you.

xo Suzanne

FREE End of Life Doula Training: REGISTER HERE: https://www.doulagivers.com

The Truth About Becoming a Certified Death Doula

There is a worldwide global movement going on and it is known as the Death Doula. Just like birthing doulas that care for and guide a baby into this world, there are now Death Doulas that are guiding people out of the world!

In this episode of Ask a Death Doula,

I will share with you the truth about becoming a Death Doula and what you need to know when deciding if this profession is the right path for you.

Death is having a rebirth! We have been dying for thousands of years. However, it is only in the last century that we have completely removed the natural life experience of death from our awareness. Death is not a medical experience - it is a human one. Hospice is a beautiful model of care, but unfortunately the present model of hospice has many “gaps” and is not working well for most patients and families. There is a need for additional support from trained and knowledgeable professionals in this space of end of life care.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

1. What is a Death Doula?
2. The Death Doula Movement
3. What do Death Doulas Do?
4. Why Do We Need Death Doulas if We Have Hospice Care?
5. Does Hospice Approve of Death Doulas?
6. What Type of Holistic Support do Death Doulas Provide?
7. How to Know if Being a Death Doula is Right for You?
8. How to Pick The Best Training for You When Becoming a Death Doula
9. Where Do Death Doulas Work? 10) How Much Do Death Doulas Get Paid?

Click Here to Listen and Spread the Word!

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

FREE DEATH DOULA TRAINING JUlY 20th 7pm ET Click here

Learn More About Hospice Care: Click here to get your copy of the The Doulagivers Hospice Handbook: https://training.doulagivers.com/offers/TELMrnSe/checkout

NHPCO’s End of Life Doula Council: Click here

NEDA National End of Life Doula Alliance Click here

Learn How to Care For Someone Who is Dying: Free 90 Minute Webinar Register here: Save Your seat here

Learn More: Doulagivers Institute Click here: https://www.doulagivers.com

P.S. I will be giving a FREE COPY of the Doulagivers Hospice Handbook to everyone that shows up LIVE to the FREE Doulagivers 90-Minute Level 1 End of Life Doula Live Webinar Training Thursday, July 20th at 7pm ET! Please make sure to share this podcast with at least three of your friends!

P.P.S. This will be the last webinar that we will be offering the CEOLD Certified End of Life Doula Training as a stand alone program. Join here

Please share this podcast with others and Spread the Word of this global community!

This is how we change the end of life- together. xo Suzanne