End of Life Doula Services in Adelaide
There are times in life for all of us when we need a little help.
Often, this is because of a diagnosis, injury or major change in personal circumstances or lifestyle.
It is natural to experience grief, and possibly feel overwhelmed, by the significant changes that are occurring in your life at this time.
Navigating the medical, community and government systems that are providing support is not easy for anyone – limited resources, excessive bureaucracy, and a lack of continuity of care can sometimes feel very dehumanising.
I want people to be respected and treated as humans, and I want to keep it real.
Drawing on the wisdom of experience, tradition and common sense, it is my belief that during these difficult times, people need to be treated more tenderly - with kindness and compassion. In many situations, people simply need time and space, and to feel valued and listened to. I do this by offering the following services:
Life Story Sessions
I created this program for older people who are at risk of anxiety, depression, loneliness or social isolation. People who are in palliative care or approaching the end of life may also find it beneficial.
It is suitable for some people with early-stage dementia.
The program is designed to be flexible and adaptable but usually consists of four hour-long sessions over the course of a few weeks, in the person’s home or a comfortable environment. Each session focuses on a different stage of life, and people are guided to talk about life stories that are important to them.
The intention of the program is for participants to recognise that they have lived a meaningful life, and to be reminded of what has been important to them over the course of their life.
Living a meaningful life has been correlated with resilience and improved psychological well-being.
Other benefits of the program are reminiscence, or life review; and reminders of past interests, leisure and recreation activities that may be able to be incorporated back into the person’s life.
An audio recording of each session may be useful for the purposes of family history, creating reminiscence activities or legacy items, and eulogy.
$70 per one-hour session.
Recreational Therapy
I am qualified to provide consultation, assessment and advice about recreation and leisure for people, particularly those who are older, socially isolated, have dementia or are receiving palliative care services.
This may include recommendations about how the environment may be adapted; trialling or introducing alternative recreation and leisure activities or resources; and investigating options for participation within the local community.
I can provide ongoing support for people who may benefit from a regular visitor. My current focus is applying the principles of my Life Story Sessions program to reminiscence activities, working mostly with people with dementia.
$60 per hour.
End of Life Doula Support
To see the types of tasks that I can assist with, refer to ‘What is an End of Life Doula?’ in the FAQs.
My intention is to support you to live your best life. I work by empowering you and your supporters to have as much choice and control over your health and lifestyle as possible. I do this by identifying and removing barriers and providing access to resources, to help you live life your way as you approach the end of life.
And sometimes, I may simply be a spare pair of hands or a person who can sit with you and hold your hand if you need it.
An Advance Care Directive is usually the best way to commence End of Life Doula support because it is an official document outlining your preferences for medical treatment, health, lifestyle, and end of life care if you are unable to speak for yourself.
A stand-alone 90-minute session to assist you in completing an Advance Care Directive is $90. All adults should have an Advance Care Directive, it is not only for older people or those approaching end of life.
If you have a diagnosis or life-limiting illness, get in touch and we will have a short chat by phone, email or messaging. If you are considering engaging me, we would have a meeting where we can discuss your concerns, needs, preferences and current supports. There is no charge for this meeting. We will discuss how I would work with you and your supporters and come up with a plan of action to work together. You can then have some time to decide if you would like to engage me, and if so, we will sign a contract.
$60 per hour or $260 for a 5-hour package.
Groups and Community
One of the roles of an End of Life Doula is education and awareness.
If you would like a talk or presentation, workshop, or support at an event to increase the death literacy of people in your group or community, I am happy to chat with you about how we may work together.
If you are wanting to start important conversations with a social group, friends or family, speak to me about how I could support you to create an intimate gathering and create a safe space for deep discussions. An example of this is Death Over Dinner.
Funeral Celebrancy
I believe that funerals are a way of celebrating a person’s life and honouring the people and things that they loved in their lifetime.
I can design and present a meaningful service that aligns with a person’s beliefs and preferences.
Some people do not wish to have a standard funeral or do not want a funeral at all. I am happy to design and facilitate a memorial service or any type of ceremony or ritual that a person may like, including a living wake.
A standard funeral is $300.
Additional Pricing Information
Location of Service
An additional fee may sometimes apply for travel time and expenses.
Day and Time
Attendance outside of business hours or on public holidays may incur additional charges, but this will be discussed prior to arranging a contract.
Packages
Upfront purchase of multiple hours will be discounted. Conditions apply. Life Story Sessions and ongoing Recreational Therapy can be purchased as a series of 3 or 4 sessions. End of Life Doula support can be purchased as a package of 5 or 10 hours.
Funding through NDIS or My Aged Care
Please speak to me if you receive (or intend on receiving) funding as some of my services may be able to be funded or part funded by NDIS or My Aged Care.
Non-standard Funeral Ceremonies and Eulogy Writing
This service will be charged at a negotiated hourly rate of $40-$60.