Welcome to The Dying Year
Comprehensive End-of-Life Doula Training and
Natural Death Care Resources
With years of experience in advance care planning facilitation, end-of-life doula training and mentoring, home funerals and green burials, Merilynne Rush, MSHP, BSN, and her team are prepared to provide guidance that spans the end-of-life continuum to individuals, families, groups and professionals alike. Merilynne's continuing dedication to addressing social justice issues in the end-of-life space informs her personable and empathic style that is balanced with an emphasis on straight-forward, practical detail and provides a welcoming environment to all.
What Are End-of-Life Doulas?
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
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!
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End-of-Life Doulas
Wednesday Discussion Group 12 pm EDT, 9 am PDT
End-of-Life Doula Training Our 6-week online training: Wednesdays, 2/11 - 3/18/26 4:00 - 7:30 pm EST |
Advance Care Planning
Respecting Choices® First Steps Facilitator training: April 16, 2026 8:30 am - 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
Learn how to instruct families to care for their own dead at home, including body care, legalities, working with a funeral director, historical and cultural perspectives, safety precautions, ceremony and ritual, creating a circle of support, and payment for your services. On-line discussion forum included. |
Looking to connect deeper? Join our Patreon Community!
Our Philosophy:
Are these concepts new to you? Would you like to learn more? We recommend these resources:
- We are all learners.
- We all have wisdom and experience to share with each other.
- A safe learning and working environment requires respect and inclusion of everyone regardless of race, color, ability, age, gender identity and expression, national or ethnic origin, political belief, marital status, veteran status, immigration status, or religion.
- We must pay attention to the historical roots and inward and outward effects of white supremacy, homophobia, hetero-normative language and behavior, ethnocentricity, and other harmful biases.
- End-of-life work is inherently political.
- Structures of racism lead to disparities and inequities, especially in health and death care.
- Dismantling inequities and injustices, internally and externally, takes time.
- We all must work together for as long as it takes to achieve collective liberation.
Are these concepts new to you? Would you like to learn more? We recommend these resources:
- White Awake: Political education for people classified as white
- The Commonwealth Fund - scorecard for each state's health care system that examines equity and accessibility, multiple data hubs and info on system reform
- White Supremacy Culture - Tema Okun's website (racial justice educator and activist), accessible rundown of how white supremacy informs the overculture and individual experience. New world-building skills listed under the "more" tab in Racial Equity Principles
- Dismantling Racism Works - deep exploration and definitions of racism and how it is internalized; helpful graphics, free and accessible
- Racism and discrimination in healthcare: providers and patients article
- Reckoning with histories of medical racism and violence in the USA article
The Dying Year hosts the Virtual Ann Arbor Death Cafe, which meets online on the first Saturday of every month, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm EDT, and the In-person Death Cafe the third Saturday of every month, from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, at Crazy Wisdom Bookstore. If you would like to attend either, please send us an email stating your interest in Death Cafe.
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I was drawn to take The Dying Year end-of-life doula training because of the the course content and the out loud way white supremacy and racism are called out on the website. The course has been far and away the most comprehensive doula training I’ve received (and I’ve taken many). I feel more prepared to do this work because of the prep material, the ways in which we engaged with the material during class and the supportive environment. I almost never “rate” things but this program is so comprehensive and so well conducted that I want to express my gratitude for being included. So 5 stars! -Donna McClurkan, 2023
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Website designed by Lee Webster, Side Effects Publishing
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MAKE A DONATION to support the work of The Dying Year that helps other just starting out in the end of life doula field. Thank you!
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