END OF LIFE DOULA
“It is necessary to meditate early, and often, on the art of dying to succeed later in doing it properly just once.” - Umberto Eco, The Island of the Day Before.
End of Life Doula
Gentle Passages Collective
Navigating health care choices that are best for you and your family can be challenging. An end of life doula can assist you in preparing end of life documents and offer guidance for managing a life-limiting or life-ending illness.
Bonnie's Approach
Death is an inevitable experience for all living things. Yet, the thought of our own mortality is often met with feelings of avoidance or denial.
Bonnie walks with patients and families on their journey to and through natural death and bereavement. Having cared for her mother through the end of her life, and her youngest brother who died at age 34 of AIDS-related lymphoma, she knows first-hand what it is like to deal with decisions needing to be made along the journey to the end of life for a client, and through bereavement with families and friends.
As an Advance Care Plan Facilitator, Bonnie has helped many people imagine their best vision for the end of life experience they want, and to document that vision through preparation of Advance Directives.
Areas of Expertise
Assisting Clients & their Families with...
Advanced Care Planning
Review and assist clients/families in learning about and completing an Advance Directive. This document is important to ensure the client receives the kind of care they want even when they are unable to speak for themselves. Provides classes on completing Advance Directives as needed.
Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment
Review with clients/families what this form is intended to be used for and explain the options for care as outlined on the form. It is a physician’s order intended for use by first responders so you are given the kind of care you want in an emergent situation.
Physician Visits
Meets with clients before a physician visit to assist them to create a list of questions they want to discuss during the physician visit. May accompany clients to physician appointments as an extra set of ears and discuss results of visit.
For Private & Community Organizations
Advanced Care Planning & Education Opportunities
Provides end-of-life education to clients and families as needed or desired. Does guest speaking on Doula work in classrooms and community events to spread the word about the work of an End-of-life Doula.
