Mayumi Purvis | End-of-Life Counselling and Support

In contemporary society, the term “Doula” has been adapted to describe a trained and informed caregiver who provides non-medical support to another person (and/or their family) who is preparing for a major life transition (typically birth or death).

An End-of-Life Doula is a person who provides emotional, social, spiritual and practical support to those who are planning for, or nearing the end of life.  They focus on a continuity of care throughout all stages of end-of-life, which typically begins with diagnosis and proceeds through to death, and then beyond into post-death bereavement support.  

As an End-of-Life Doula, I work with clients and their families to help them navigate the unchartered process of dying. My primary concern is to help clients feel at ease, in any way possible.

I tailor my services to each client so that their end-of-life journey is met with all possible dignity and respect at every step, from early diagnosis to follow-up support for loved ones. My End-of-Life Doula services typically include:

• Listening and preparation (seeking to understand needs, values, preferences and goals, and exploration of fears and anxieties)
• Companioning and emotional support (just being there, throughout all stages of end of life, from diagnosis to beyond the point of death, including bereavement support)
• Assisting with end-of-life planning (preparation of Advance Care Directives, appointment of medical treatment decision maker, vigil planning, co-ordination of informal support systems, after-death body care, and funeral planning)
• Legacy work (assistance with creating legacy documents such as birthday cards or the sourcing of gifts to be given now or in the future)
• Closure work (helping my clients to attend to “unfinished business” to facilitate contentment).
• Co-ordination of informal support systems to provide respite for carers and practical or domestic assistance (e.g. organizing pet care, garden care, cleaning, etc.)
• Co-ordination of access to information and other complementary services
• Bereavement support (visits to the bereaved and meaning-making activities)

The roles of palliative care nurses and End-of-Life Doulas differ greatly regarding nature of care, continuity of care, possible locations and the type of support.

While doctors and nurses provide support across physical, emotional, social and spiritual domains, their primary responsibility is medical. 

International research tells us that just 5% of a palliative person’s journey is spent in front of a doctor or nurse. This leaves an astounding 95% of their time in possible need of other support.

An End-of-Life Doula may be able to commit to a continuity of care for many hours over many months, as per a client’s wishes. Very few, if any, doctors or nurses can provide that level of contact, especially for clients who are not in hospital or hospice.

The vast majority of Australians wish to die at home, and staying at home until the end requires a great deal of coordinated care. Even for the most committed and willing family members, this may be difficult to manage while they’re also dealing with their own grief. 

An End-of-Life Doula will work wherever their client is. This may be in a client’s private home, an aged care facility, a hospice or a hospital.

I provide support at every step of the journey. A sliding scale of cost is available, based on the initial conversation we have. Here are some indicative prices:

*Travel costs may apply for extended travel outside of my two working bases: Melbourne and East Gippsland.

Feeling at ease with your Doula is so important that I offer a free 15-minute consultation. It’s a chance to see whether we’d be a good fit for a supportive relationship.