End-of-life doulas assist dying patients, families
NEWTON. Quinlan Care Navigators program provides nonmedical support to individuals and their families preparing for end of life.
Newton /
| 15 Aug 2024 | 01:41
Recent graduates of the International Doula Life Movement (IDLM) certification program hold certificates at a recent graduation ceremony at the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice in Fredon. From left are Lisa O’Hara, president of Friends of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice; Mary Ellen Quinlan, chairwoman of the Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation; Barbara Steen, an end-of-life doula (EOLD); Anna Adams, founder of IDLM; EOLDs Dawn Harris, Debra Walck, Carol Cummins, Brian Cummins, Kim Germain, Dawn Bump, Barbara Palumbo and Lee Ellison; and Pamela Carter, executive director of IDLM. (Photo provided)
Quinlan Care Concepts, which includes the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice and Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center, has launched Quinlan Care Navigators.
The program is staffed by end-of-life doulas (EOLDs) who provide nonmedical support to individuals and their families preparing for end of life.
The EOLDs are graduates of International Doula Life Movement (IDLM).
Their services cost up to $25 an hour based on client needs.
Participants do not have to be enrolled in Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice or Quinlan Palliative Care programs to use the service - they are open to anyone.
The Karen Ann Quinlan Friends of Hospice, a philanthropic group, provided the funding for training and certification of participants in the program. The certification included more than 70 hours of specialized training.
After two cycles of training, the Navigators program will be staffed with more than 20 IDLM-trained EOLDs.
More training will be offered in 2025 for staff, volunteers and those in the community who are interested in the program.
“This is how we give back to the community that has supported us for more than 44 years,” said Lee Ellison, director of marketing and media at the organization and a Navigators EOLD.
“End-of-life doulas bridge gaps in care and can help create legacies, plan vigils, lead guided visualizations and lend a helping hand when needed.”
EOLDs also offer emotional support, which includes companionship and support to the dying person and their family and loved ones, helping them navigate their feelings and fears about death.
“We also assist with practical matters by providing resources about end-of-life options and facilitating communication between loved ones,” said Ellison.
“We can start as early as when anyone wants to talk about their death and figure out advanced directives or end-of-life wishes. We can also offer support when someone is no longer conscious to help their loved ones understand the process, educate them about what dying looks like, and then remain with them afterward to talk about the grieving process.”
The services provided by EOLDs may include legacy projects, such as helping create memory books, stories or recordings designed to preserve memories, reflect on life experiences, and leave a lasting impact message that honors the person’s life and values.
An EOLD is an advocate for the patient and family, providing education about the dying process and what to expect while providing empowerment to make informed decisions.
EOLDs in the Navigators program personalize support based on individual needs, beliefs and desires for how people wish to experience the end-of-life.
For information about the Quinlan Care Concepts Navigators EOLD Program, call 973-506-8233 or go online to QuinlanCare.org/Navigators
Quinlan Care Concepts/Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is a not-for-profit, organization that provides a full continuum of medical, emotional and spiritual services to hospice patients, their family members and the community.