What Is a Death Doula?

A death doula is a non-medical guide who offers emotional, spiritual, and practical support before, during, and after death. Death is much more than a medical experience – it is a personal, emotional, spiritual, familial, societal experience that western societies have chosen to ignore for the past century. Most people at the end of life need far more than medical care alone can offer.

In many countries, Hospice programs have been created to help with the medical aspects of care along with social work and chaplain services. Here in Mexico, hospice programs are only beginning to come into being, and they are not readily available. Essentially, we need to create our own care-giving teams when we reach the end of our lives.

Death Doulas are not a substitute for end-of-life health caregivers, but they can help fill in the gaps during times of great need. Ideally, they work alongside the family, friends and care teams, helping the dying person find appropriate care for their situation as well as providing emotional and spiritual support.

The services offered by death doulas vary widely and some choose to specialize in one area or another. Some doulas sit at the bedside, some hold space in advance when illness is newly diagnosed, some serve the dying directly through the last breath, others assist families and caregivers with after-death plans.

What brings doulas together is a passion for changing how we care for people at the end of life. The people called to this work are devoted and excel at being present during times of suffering with love and compassion. Here is a list of some core services provided by death doulas:

  • Death education – helping people understand the dying process, physically and spiritually, including early in the process of illness
  • Advance directives & planning – guiding people through end-of-life paperwork with compassion
  • Ritual design – creating meaningful vigils, farewells, or legacy ceremonies
  • Family support – helping loved ones navigate grief, guilt, and decision-making
  • Health care/hospice augmentation – providing what other caregivers often can’t: time, touch, storytelling, bedside presence
  • After-death guidance – assisting with body care, home funerals, or grief rituals
  • Meaning-making – helping the dying reflect on life, purpose, forgiveness, and legacy

If you or someone you know has been given a terminal diagnosis, or you want to begin planning for the end of your life, you can contact our team for a free intake consultation.

To reach out to any of the team members listed below, please use our Contact Form.

The initial consultation is free, and then we will refer you to team members who are best able to help you or your loved one. It is up to each team member to set any fees for their work. Some team members work on a totally voluntary basis. Some ask clients to cover the cost of transportation and any supplies that they provide. Some doulas are open to “love donations” as you see fit, and some may have a per visit fee. Please have a conversation with your doula to ensure clear communication.

Lake Chapala Doula Team Members

The Lake Chapala End-of-Life Care Community is a group of local residents who offer end-of-life care and support to our English-speaking neighbors in the Lake Chapala area of Jalisco, Mexico. We believe that every person has the right to a good ending, dying in community rather than living out our last days in a medicalized environment.

We have come from many walks of life, and our common belief systems bring us together in this work. We are mentored by Loretta Downs, who has worked in the end-of-life space for 40 years. 

Doug Reid – Doula

Hi, I’m Doug. I live in Riberas Del Pilar. I’m available to work with clients anywhere from Chapala to West Ajijic. I offer my presence to both clients and their loved ones in this sacred time. I can also offer guided meditations or even gentle yoga stretches. I am happy to work on legacy projects, end of life planning as well as rituals and grief work for the family.

Debra Ricci – Doula

 I am here to listen “your wishes for a good death” into being. What does a “good death” mean to you? My time with you focuses on making sure your death happens the way you describe it. It would be my joy to read, pray, and sing with you, and take you on explorations by asking you provocative questions and listening to provocative answers. Example: What do you believe awaits you after you release yourself from your body? What would you say? I listen to your jokes, I laugh with and cry with you. I do not charge for the time I am with you beyond my transportation and out of pocket expenses for your supplies.

Loretta Downs – Advance Care Planning, Intake Interviews and Referrals

Since 1985 I have been companioning family, friends, AIDS patients, hospital and hospice patients, nursing home residents, and their loved ones through the end-of-life. I trained with leaders in the field of compassionate care, Roshi Joan Halifax and Frank Ostaseski, the International End-of-Life Doula Association, and the Chicago End-of-Life Care Coalition. 

I focus on advance care planning, preparing for the end of life with mindfulness and love, and understanding the options at the end of life. I am mentoring the death doulas and will refer you to the most suitable doula to meet your needs.

I also teach a class at Lake Chapala Society called Advanced Care Planning – Living Well and Dying Well at Lakeside. 

Tzivia Stein-Barrett – Educator and Grief Councilor

 Hello, my name is Tzivia pronounced C-V-Ya! I assist families with educational information on end-of-life/transitional paperwork and caretaking skills of a loved one. The classes I offer are both entertaining and helpful for those who desire to take charge of this part of their lives. I am also a ‘companion’ to those in the grief process and offer a Yoga for Grief support group series.

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