Welcome to The Dying Year
Comprehensive End of Life Doula Training and Resources

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. 

Merilynne Rush, MSHP, RN, BSN​

Since 1980 I have been working with families in transition. This work is closely related to a lifelong commitment to social justice activism. For many years I was a homebirth midwife. Since 2009 I have been a pioneer in the end-of-life doula movement. My awareness of caregiving began during childhood, when I was coming up in an all white suburb of Detroit and learning from friends, teachers, caregivers, extended family members, and eventually from extensive travel and work around the world. I strive to confront my privilege, bias, and participation in white supremacist culture.
That is why I do not turn anyone away for lack of ability to pay. I deeply respect the innate wisdom of each individual. In our classes we attempt to help us all tap into our cultural roots of compassion and caring for each other. Read more about Merilynne here.
In our classes we pay special attention to addressing systemic racism and health disparities endemic in our culture. Motivated by love, we make statements like, "If you're white, you're racist," and we don't shy away from difficult conversations. This can seem harsh to those for whom this is a new concept. We take seriously our role as leaders and are available to talk about this with our students. We firmly believe that we all, doulas included, have a responsibility to recognize and address our implicit bias and work to create an equitable and just society. The work begins within each of us and we invite you to join us.
View a five-minute video about my recent Doula Research.

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.

What's Happening?

End-of-Life Doulas
Wednesday Discussion Group
12 pm EDT, 9 am PDT​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​
  • May 25: Open Discussion with Star Fallin
  • June 1: POA, Guardianship and Conservatorship with Christina Wall
  • ​Link to Past Discussions​
End-of-Life Doula Online Training​​​​
  • Sept. 9 - Oct. 7, 
    Fridays. 12-3:30 PM EDT
Advance Care Planning
Respecting Choices® First Steps Facilitator training.​​​
  • Please check back for our next offering.
  • LIVE online via zoom
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 document."
Home Funeral
Become a Home Funeral Guide!
  • 12-week, self-guided course
  • Live office hours on the 4th Friday of every 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. 

​Please find me on Patreon and offer your support.

Merilynne hosts the Ann Arbor Death Cafe, which meets online 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. 

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Death Doula Profession featured in Time

For the first time in a while, Americans have been forced to consider their own mortality and the mortality of their loved ones. In this article, Merilynne Rush reflects on the increase in doula training interest and is quoted, saying “We’re seeing a huge flurry of interest.”. This article discusses what it takes to be an end of life doula and how COVID-19 has had an impact on the emerging death doula profession. Definitely worth a read for all aspiring and active doulas!
 
You can read the full article here: “Death Doulas Used to Be Rare, The COVID-19 Pandemic Changed That.”
"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