What Is a Death Companion/Doula?

Death Companions or Doulas are non-medical professionals who provide support and companionship to the dying and their families. Their services can include assistance with advance directives, grief support, bedside vigils, and creating meaningful rituals. Death Doulas are known for their excellent listening skills, non-judgmental attitudes, and guidance, providing support on the end-of-life journey. Moreover, we believe that Death Doulas' work is founded on empathy and equity.

Doula Services Offered

We offer a variety of services, but the list is not exhaustive. If you can't find what you're looking for or have something else in mind, please let us know. We can work together to create a customized solution. It's never too early to start planning for your end-of-life needs, you don't have to wait until it's too late.

  • Caregiver support & respite

  • In-home, hospital, or hospice visits

  • Assistance with advanced directives and health care proxy discussions, estate planning, and planning final arrangements.

  • Life Review & Remembering Projects like memory boxes and or other projects that allow your loved ones to participate in leaving a lasting legacy.

  • Funeral Planning & Officiating

  • Obituary and Eulogy writing support

  • Creating rituals, spiritual practices, funerals, memorial services, and other ways to honor your beliefs are imagined and thoughtfully executed with you.

  • Vigil planning and continuous bedside support during the final stages of the dying process

  • Pregnancy, Infant, and Children Loss

  • And more

We believe that everyone deserves compassionate and equitable care. Therefore, we offer our services on a sliding scale. We’ve modified our scale based on “Embracing An Equitable Sliding Scale” by Britt Hawthorne.

Price update: September 15, 2023

Tier 1 $25-$75/per hour

“I often worry about meeting my basic needs” includes but is not limited to:

  • Some of my basic needs go unmet

  • Debt prevents me from meeting basic needs

  • I am unemployed or underemployed

  • I qualify for government assistance (food stamps/healthcare)

Tier 2 $76-$125/per hour

“I sometimes worry about meeting my basic needs, but regularly meet them” includes but is not limited to

  • I have access to reliable transportation (including I can afford public transportation)

  • My housing is stable

  • I have access to healthcare

  • I can travel annually without burden.

Tier 3 $126-$220/per hour

“I can meet all of my basic needs” includes but is not limited to:

  • I own or lease my car.

  • I own or rent my home.

  • I can afford time off for leisure, which will not impact my ability to care for my basic needs.

  • I have access to savings.

* We accept donations to our NPO, The Ratchet Grief Project. All donations go to support people and communities with limited resources in need of support.* DONATE HERE

We can help you make it through!