End of Life Doula Training

Merilynne has trained over 450 end-of-life doulas since 2016. In addition to having been a hospice nurse, she has 40 years of experience caring for families in transition as a home birth midwife and companion care provider. Our online zoom training is dynamic, personal, deeply moving, and comprehensive, and meets the National End-of-life Doula Alliance (NEDA) Core Competencies. Through class time and the prep work, you will be prepared to earn your Proficiency Badge through NEDA. An 86-page Study Guide accompanies the class.

Upcoming Trainings

End-of-Life Doula Training
LIVE, online via zoom; 5 weeks total
​
Saturdays, February 5-March 5
12:30-4:00 pm EST / 9:30 am-1:00 pm PST
Have questions?
Ready to register?

Meet the Teachers!

In addition to Merilynne, five dynamic women provide instruction for The Dying Year end-of-life doula training.
(Clockwise from upper left: Olivia Hunter, Baltimore, Jess Kilbourn, Ypsilanti, MI, Toula Saratsis, Ann Arbor, MI, Mystala Star Fallin, Milwaukee/Atlanta, and Robin Bow, Belleville, MI )

What you will learn

In each class we discuss the physical, emotional, spiritual, cognitive and social/cultural needs of the dying individual and their family, caregiver(s) and community, as well as the doula's role and non-medical, hands-on comfort measures. The class is divided into the following five sections. Three to five hours of preparatory reading, viewing and journaling per class is sent to students 1-2 weeks ahead of time.

Class 1: Initial Diagnosis
  • Centering and breathing
  • Self-awareness, bias, equity, and inclusion
  • The Doula Model of Care, Code of Ethics, Scope of Practice, and EOLD role
  • Communication
  • Documentation (intake, agreements, resources)
  • Creating a circle of support
​Class 2: Advancing Illness
  • Advance Care Planning (introduction)
  • Palliative care, including pediatric
  • Hospice care
  • Shifting roles and decision-making
  • Community resources and care settings
  • Dying is not a medical event
Class 3: End-stage Illness and Active Dying
  • Ceremony and ritual
  • Spiritual care
  • Presence and unknowing
  • Cultural appropriation
  • Bedside vigil
  • Advocacy and safety
Class 4: Death and After Death Care
  • Immediate care of the body
  • Funeral plans, including home funeral
  • Disposition, including green burial
  • Grief and bereavement, including children's grief
  • Life review and legacy work
Class 5: Summary and Next Steps
  • EOL doula care in the Black community
  • Caring for LGBTQ older adults
  • Establishing your EOL doula practice
  • What services to offer
  • Self care
  • Continuing education

Questions About The Dying Year End-of-Life Doula Training

Who will benefit from end-of-life doula training?
  • Anyone who wants to become a professional end-of-life doula
  • Hospice volunteers, staff and others wanting to serve
  • Family members and friends of the dying
  • Midwives and doulas
  • Nurses, doctors, and social workers
  • Clergy, chaplains, celebrants
  • Healers and therapists
  • Home care and companion care providers
  • Life coaches
 
Who should not take this training?
This training is designed for those who are preparing to care for others. Therefore, it is not recommended for the recently bereaved or those who are currently very ill. If you have concerns, please ask.
"Merilynne is knowledgeable, thorough, and the best around when it comes to end of life care, doula-ing, hospice, and palliative care. I have taken two courses with her and it has been an invaluable experience. Thank you, Merilynne!"
-Em Waugh, June 2020
"The End of Life Doula Training is a true gift and it brought more to my life than I could have imagined.  It is a rich body of work which takes you into a deeper inquiry of both death and life.  The curriculum is comprehensive and so easy to engage with.  The warmth and expertise Merilynne brings creates a container for compassionate, embodied learning.  I highly recommend this course!"
-Jacqueline, New York