End of Life Doula Training

Train with NEDA co-founder, first President and co-creator of the NEDA Proficiency Exam. Merilynne Rush has trained 700 EOLDs since 2016. In addition to having been a hospice nurse, Merilynne has over 40 years' experience caring for families in transition as a home birth midwife and companion care provider. 
 
Class facilitators - Merilynne Rush, Olivia Hunter and Star Fallin
"Meet the Team"
21 hours of synchronous online class time (6 weeks, 3.5 hours/week)
100-page Study Guide chock full of resources and exercises
Full preparation to earn your NEDA Proficiency Badge
Ongoing mentoring and free weekly discussion group to stay connected!

Upcoming Trainings

 Upcoming End-of-Life Doula Trainings
LIVE classes, online via Zoom
$725 (scholarships and payment plans available)
Take it as a refresher (with any previous EOLD training) for $350

Fridays, January 19 - February 23, 2024
1:00pm - 4:30pm EDT/10:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
- OR -
Tuesdays, March 26 - April 30, 2024
4:00 - 7:30 pm EST/1:00 - 4:30 pm PST
​
Have questions?
Ready to register?
Receive our newsletter?

What you will learn

In each 3.5-hour 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 six classes. The Study Guide provides preparatory reading, viewing and journaling for each class (minimum prep time: 5 hours/week).

1. Introduction to EOL Doula Care
  • Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics
  • Self-awareness and Centering
  • Self-care
  • "Good Death" and intro to Bias
2. Living with Illness
  • Racism and Bias in Care Settings; Naming our Biases
  • Helping Discordant Families
  • Creating your Resource List and Caring for Low-income Families
  • Compassionate Communities
  • Assessment and Communication
3. End-stage Illness and Active Dying
  • Advance Care Planning
  • Understanding Palliative and Hospice Care
  • Companioning and Presence
  • Non-medical Comfort and Support
4. Bedside Vigil; Sudden Death
  • Life Review
  • Meeting the Needs of LGBTQ Older Adults
  • Special Needs Groups
5. Natural Death Care
  • Immediate care of the body
  • Funeral plans, including home funeral
  • Disposition, including green burial
  • Ritual and Ceremony
  • Grief and bereavement, including children's grief
6. Establishing Your Doula Business
  • Life Purpose and Skills Inventory
  • Continuing education and certification
  • Case Studies

Our Training Philosophy

  • ​We are all learners.
  • We all have wisdom and experience to share with each other.
  • A safe learning 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.
  • Our country was founded on white supremacy; systemic racism is inherent in our society and is not debatable.
  • Implicit bias is human and we all have it.
  • 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 doula 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. 
All class participants are expected to agree to, and uphold, these principles. There is no room during our class meetings for questioning or challenging these basic statements because it takes up valuable class time and causes harm to others. You will be asked to indicate your agreement to these beliefs in the registration process. 

Are these concepts new to you? Would you like to study or discuss this prior to registering for our class? Please let us know and we will arrange to speak with you, or check out the following resources which may help you to understand these principles:

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

Who will benefit from end-of-life doula training?
  • Anyone working with older adults or in a senior living care facility of any type
  • Hospice and palliative care volunteers and staff
  • Family members and friends of the dying
  • Nurses, doctors, and social workers
  • Clergy, chaplains, and celebrants
  • Healers and therapists
  • Home care and companion care providers
  • Life coaches
  • Birth midwives and doulas
 
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.

Watch this interview to see an alumnus of our training in action!
"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, 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 all the teachers brings creates a container for compassionate, embodied learning.  I highly recommend this course!"
-Jacqueline Rolandelli, 2021