Services
Advance Health Care Planning (Five Wishes) ~
I understand making end-of-life decisions is a very difficult, personal and sensitive task. Completing your advanced directives before a crisis occurs can help ensure your end-of-life wishes are made known to your healthcare provider, family and friends.
I provide a copy of "Five Wishes", an easy-to-use legal document written in everyday language that lets adults of all ages plan how they want to be cared for in case they become seriously ill.
Five Wishes helps you express how you want to be treated if you are seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself. It is unique among all other living will and health agent forms because it speaks to all a person's needs: medical, personal, emotional and spiritual. Five Wishes also helps structure discussions with your family and physician.
Sitting Vigil ~
No one wants to die alone, and with dedicated doula and vigil services, no one needs to. Vigils have been held for centuries. Historically, when a person was dying, the family, friends, and clergymen would gather around the person to offer their presence and support to the patient as well as to one another. In our modern times, patients may have little or no family members nearby to keep vigil. Another common scenario is that family and friends of a dying patient feel scared or overwhelmed when caring for a dying loved one and need support themselves.
I will sit vigil with you or your loved one as long as needed.
Conduct a life review: record stories, make a video or write letters to loved ones for future occasions ~
My time and attention for the dying may include recording memories or videos for friends and family members. Writing letters and cards for future special moments and milestones. Special 'Post it' notes that be shared...
Your life story and your life family’s life story are essential to future generations. We all want to know our family, understand where we came from, and be sure that we are remembered after we are gone. It’s a basic human instinct. That’s why recording your thoughts and maybe even a bit of your history is important.
Provide hands-on nonmedical comfort~
Guided imagery, breathing and relaxation techniques. Guided imagery, a technique doulas use to help individuals focus on mental images in order to evoke feelings of relaxation, is based on the concept of mind-body connection. In guided therapeutic imagery, a person can call on mental images to improve their state of mind, relax and relieve stress. Hand massage and essential oil therapy for relaxation.
Rates: Please Ask
Initial Consultation: 1-2 hours - No Charge
Plan for course of treatment
Educational materials - Next of Kin Documents
Weekly / Long Term Rates Open for Discussion