There is increasing interest as to what death doulas (who are also called end-of-life doulas, soul midwives, death coaches, dying guides, death midwives, and palliative care doulas) do. For example, there's this article on the BBC website; Nicole Kidman and Ruby Wax are reportedly undergoing training for this role, whilst Davina McCall has announced that she is planning to do so when she retires from her television activities.
Like birth doulas, who support mothers during pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood, death doulas support people at the end of life. They help the dying person and their family in the final months and may be present at death, assist with funeral arrangements, and sometimes simply offer company.
They understand the dying process and can explain changes such as breathing and body temperature, which families may find distressing. Many people picture death like accidents on television dramas but will in fact die after a long terminal illness, so the physical changes will happen more gradually. Death doulas will explain that the dying person is not in pain.
Suicide: Let's talk about it
Please note: This article references suicide.Donna is a lively young support worker, and Andy was one of her clients. …