Welcome to The Dying Year
Comprehensive End-of-Life Doula Training and Resources
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With years of experience in advance care planning facilitation, end-of-life doula training and mentoring support, home funeral assistance and home funeral guide training, Merilynne Rush is prepared to provide training, mentoring, and consulting that spans the end-of-life continuum to individuals, families, groups and professionals alike. Her continuing interest in addressing social justice issues in the end-of-life space informs her personable and empathic style, balanced with an emphasis on straight-forward, practical detail, and provides a welcoming environment to all. 

What Are End-of-Life Doulas?

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by Eve Glickman

End of Life Doulas are now featured on WebMD! This article educates readers about the role of EOL Doulas, as well as where to find and how to choose one. Merilynne Rush is quoted and The Dying Year is mentioned. What a wonderful way to educate the public and promote EOL Doulas and their meaningful work! Read the full article here.

The End of Life Doula

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by Merilynne Rush

The American Society on Aging's monthly publication Gernerations took on end of life doulas in this piece by Merilynne Rush that includes how to work with doulas and how to find them, as well as an in-depth look at what this care looks like and why it is necessary in today's mosaic of health care choices and needs. Read the full article here. 

Join the Movement! 

End-of-Life Doulas
Wednesday Discussion Group
12 pm EDT, 9 am PDT​​​​​​​ ​​​​​ ​​​​
  • Sept. 27th: Open Discussion with Merilynne Rush
  • Oct. 4th: Working with Families of Dying Children with Mary Kraft
End-of-Life Doula Training​​​​​:
Our 6-week online training:​ 
  • 9/19 - 10/24, 4-7:30pm EST
     - OR - 
  • 11/1 - 12/13, 4-7:30 pm EST (minus 11/22)
Advance Care Planning
Respecting Choices® First Steps Facilitator training:
Monday, November 13, for ACP, from 8:30 - 5:00 pm EST.​​​
For all types of care providers. Learn to help others designate a healthcare advocate, discover and share their wishes with them, and complete an Advance Directive. This is an excellent skill for EOL Doulas, spiritual and healthcare providers, social workers. Emphasizes conversation rather than simply "filling out a form."
Home Funeral Guide Training
Caring for Our Own Dead
  • Self-paced online course
  • Live office hours once a month, 12-1pm EDT
Learn how to instruct families to care for their own dead at home, including body care, historical and cultural perspectives, legal aspects, safety precautions, ceremony and ritual, and creating a circle of support. 

​Looking to connect deeper? Join our Patreon Community!​

The Dying Year hosts the Ann Arbor Death Cafe, which meets online on the third Saturday of every month from 10:30am to 12:00pm EDT. If you would like to attend, please send us an email and let us know. 
"I first met Merilynne in person at the National Home Funeral Alliance conference in Raleigh in 2013.  However, MONTHS before she had reached out to me as "the local" to help with marketing, contacting vendors, and making necessary phone calls.  What a dynamo!!  This woman is in-charge, on-point, and top-rate in every aspect related to home funeral and after death home care.  I have so much respect for her and her abilities to organize and get us to where we need to be.  Thank you, Merilynne, for all you do!  It has been a real blessing to know and learn from you through the years."
                                                         ​—Sara Williams, Shrouding Sisters
Sign up for our newsletter and receive a free article, Compassionate Communities: A Public Health Approach to End-of-Life Care by Merilynne Rush, MSHP, RN, BSN