Holly Menard
End of Life Doula
Your Companion & Guide
in Navigating End of Life
What is an End of Life Doula?
An End of Life Doula, or Death Doula, is a trained non-medical, holistic practitioner who guides individuals and their families in planning, preparing. Doulas may provide support from time of diagnosis.
We collaborate with healthcare providers to create continuity of care throughout the most difficult time of one's life. We ensure a safe, steady presence during phases of the death and dying process through dedicated listening, companionship, education, and advocacy.
Our purpose is to create a safe, non-judgmental space for you. We support you in becoming your own advocate and empower you to make your wishes and desires known, honored, and respected.
Why Choose an End of Life Doula?
Our present healthcare system seldom allows time for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers to address their patient’s need to be fully listened to and heard. Doulas have time to listen for what matters. How do you wish to live out your life and what are your priorities?
Many doctors have not received specific training to have difficult conversations when their patient’s condition is terminal, and there is no further treatment to cure, that will improve quality of life. They aren’t prepared to sit with compassion and together, often with a family member, to discuss priorities and what makes life meaningful.
Doulas have time and are non-medical yet professionally trained to listen deeply and be a steady, safe space, to fill in the gaps, and provide support and continuity in planning and preparing. Doulas are a complement to the healthcare team, to hospice care. We provide resources.Many doulas are also nurses, hospice care workers, or volunteers.
Starting the conversation about death and dying isn't easy. Doulas understand that and are experienced in empowering people to make informed decisions, ask for what they desire. This is the desired outcome and ideally involved planning and preparing as early as possible. Living fully and dying prepared is possible.Everyone deserves to die well, gracefully snd peacefully. This is our vision for everyone.
How I Help
I offer you the compassionate, non-medical, personal care you deserve at end of life. Often my clients are primary caregives. My purpose is to lean in, be present, create a safe and calm space for you, your primary caregiver and family. I offer the added care to make the last months, days and hours comfortable, peaceful, and meaning-full. I collaborate with healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care.
Companionship
I offer time, personal attention, and listen deeply with compassion and without judgment for what matters most to you. I provide respite for your primary caregiver and family. healthcare providers. I respect your family and the care they provide. I walk with you in your grief and sit by you when you are transitioning from this life, I visit you in your home, hospital or facility and offer virtual support
Emotional &
Spiritual Support
I provide a safe space, create rapport, listen deeply, and ask open-ended questions. Wherever you are on your journey, I honor you and your family without judgment or expectation. I respect your belief system, what gives your life meaning and purpose. I create a safe space to express worries, fears, regrets or unfinished business. In addition I offer comfort measures: Reiki, gentle massage or simply a quiet presence.
Advocacy
I support you in becoming your own advocate, empower you to give informed consent, to initiate hard conversations with your family and to resolve conflicts. I'm by your side as you plan and prepare the way - your way. With your permission, I collaborate with healthcare providers. You'll learn to give informed consent regarding further
medical care and make choices in end-of-life and after death care.
Legacy
You matter. How do you wish to be remembered, to your family, friends, community? There are legacy projects to capture and memorialize your life story. Together we will consider possibilities. You decide according to what speaks to you. You may choose to write letters to send now or after. write a short memoir. make photobooks or, write your own eulogy, plan a live memorial service or a gift giving ceremony.
Planning
I assist you and your family with the multitude of tasks associated with end- of-life. There are forms including Advanced Directives that will help you control your end of life medical care. You'll gain confidence, to make decisions that honor your wishes
and values when you are no longer able to speak for yourself.. You may choose to explore burial options.
Holding a
Sacred Space
Grief and loss ask to be witnessed, acknowledged.. There are times when words and doing-ness are not needed. What serves you best may be rest. In times when pain, fear, restlessness or anxiety are present, meditation, being read to, music, or gentle massage may help. I provide a safe, steady presence for you to simply be, to experience whatever rises up.
Testimonials
This illness caught me by surprise. It's been really helpful for me psychologically to talk to Holly about my death. She's helped me stay open during the process.
Holly helped me with grace because I can grieve for the person who's not going to go on with their plans.
As you grieve you cry you get it together and cry again. It's just like music, you feel all the notes.
Maria H., Durham, NC
Holly provided the deep type of soul care that my Mom and I both needed.
Fiona K., Apex, NC
In early 2023 my husband became very ill from a fatal diagnosis. Holly Menard asked if she could be of support to him by having some conversations about his illness and the path forward. He did not want help from anyone other than me. This began a year-long process where Holly offered support to me as I supported my husband. In a sense, she was coaching me on how to be his end-of-life doula. There were many moments where her insight lifted my spirits and indirectly eased my husband's passage. Holly is a wonderful resource
for those who need support during life's final stages.
Dona M, Durham, NC
My vision is for my clients to live a rich, full, meaningful life up till the last breath, where they want to be and with those they love.
~ Holly Menard
