Death Doula Q&A: What We Do, How We Help, and When to Call Us

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli sits down with veteran death doula Sarah Hill to answer the questions people are often too afraid, or too unsure, to ask. Together, they discuss what death doulas do, how they complement hospice care, and the deeply personal ways they support individuals and families through dying, grief, and legacy work. 

Whether you're navigating end-of-life decisions, supporting someone you love, or just curious about the doula role, this honest conversation offers guidance and real-life stories. 

Key takeaways include: 

• What end-of-life doulas do and how they differ from hospice staff 
• Why people hire doulas for advance planning, even when they’re not dying 
• How doulas hold space during medical aid in dying (MAiD) and voluntary stopping of eating and drinking (VSED) 
• The role doulas play in grief, life review, and legacy work 
• What it's like to be present at the moment of death 

Links/Resources 

• Guest: Sarah Hill, East Bay Doula for the Dying – https://www.eastbaydoulaforthedying.com 
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com 
• National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) – https://www.nedalliance.org 
• International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA) – https://www.inelda.org 
• Academy of Medical Aid in Dying – https://www.acamaid.org 
• David Kessler - https://grief.com

 
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