Death Doula Services
Helping individuals, families, and loved ones navigate the end-of-life journey with dignity and care.
I know that supporting loved ones and maintaining self-care can feel overwhelming when faced with death. As a certified End-of-Life Doula, I offer compassionate care for families and individuals. My role is multifaceted: emotional support, navigating logistics, and honoring spiritual beliefs (if desired).
My hospice experience along with facilitating community grief circles in Nevada makes me a trusted guide for you and your loved ones. I’m honored to support you through this sacred transition.
Lovely to meet you.
How I Can Help
I am honored to help bridge the gap between medical care and emotional well-being during your end-of-life journey.
Planning for Yourself
Considering Death (5-Session Series):
This series helps you contemplate death and loss, both for yourself and others. It's a great first step for anyone struggling to begin end-of-life planning.
Communication Planning and Coaching:
Learn to have the difficult conversations that are essential when approaching the end of life.
End-of-Life Planning:
We'll work together to "reverse-engineer" your ideal end-of-life experience, ensuring your wishes are met. This service also includes reviewing important paperwork and planning for the distribution of your personal belongings.
Supporting Loved Ones
Grief and Bereavement Support:
Receive coaching and goal setting to help you manage daily tasks and restructure your life after loss. Create rituals and ceremonies to process your grief.
Preparatory Death Cleaning:
Reduce the burden on loved ones by sorting and clearing out your belongings beforehand.
End-of-Life Care Support:
Schedule in-home visits to assist with light housework, errands, and meal preparation for both the dying and their families. This service also offers grief processing and respite care.
Bereavement Care
Sitting Vigil:
I’ll provide a compassionate presence and support for the dying and loved ones during the final stages.
After Death Care:
Receive guidance with tasks like washing the body (if death occurs at home), spending time with the deceased, and cleansing the space energetically (if desired).
Wrapping Up Affairs:
Get project management help to navigate the legal and bureaucratic tasks involved in settling an estate, such as closing accounts, managing assets, and filing death certificates.
“We cannot change the outcome, but we can affect the journey.”
Anne Richardson, Hospice Volunteer
You’re in the right place if…
✦ You are concerned and curious about planning for the end-of-life for yourself or a loved one.
✦ You don’t know what you don’t know when it comes to death, dying, and the different considerations for you and your loved ones.
✦ You are afraid of dying. (I can’t promise you will conquer your fear, but I can tell you talking about death doesn’t make someone die. And fear only grows when it’s left in the dark and avoided.)
✦ You want to love your people to the end and beyond.
✦ You want to change our culture around death. Your death will set the table for your loved ones - leave them something beautiful.
What’s the investment?
I provide a free introductory 30-minute session by phone or Zoom. I believe death doula support should be accessible to all, regardless of financial constraints. This is why I offer a sliding-scale fee. Some services are offered hourly and some are within a package.
Services include in-person, in-home, or in-facility support and care within a 30-mile radius (travel fee may apply for distances greater than 30 miles). Online support and guidance via FaceTime or Zoom are available in addition to text, phone, and email support.
How to Begin
Step 1.
Please contact me so we can begin this journey together. You will be met with kindness and professionalism, always.
Book a free 30-minute consultation call. I’ll ask a few simple questions to see if we’re a good fit to work together. I will not provide direct guidance during this call but will assess if I can support you moving forward. If I can’t help, I’ll share referrals to other qualified death doulas.
Step 2.
Based on the outcome of our call. I’ll email you an invitation to work together along with a calendar invitation & payment link so we can begin the work. If I don’t feel I’m the best to support you, I’ll let you know that too and provide referrals as needed.
Step 3.
We kick off with our first call or in-person session. You will be treated with utmost care and I will provide the support you need to navigate your unique situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, I am a deeply spiritual person. I often use my Reiki training when my clients are transitioning. I believe in the Universe and a higher power. I use a variety of spiritual texts and poetry to attend to my clients. I honor and respect all faiths and will incorporate aspects you request if I am able or will gladly defer to your spiritual leader.
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In the state of Nevada, a Funeral Director supports the disposition of the body and manages formal funeral arrangements. As a death doula, I can support you in advocating for your wishes and catching any loose ends in the process. Death doulas offer support in the immediate aftermath of a death when a family may choose to spend a few hours with their loved one, wash their body, and be with the body before disposition.
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I facilitate conversations with family and loved ones to clearly communicate arrangements and wishes. I work with groups and families as the “project manager”. I work for the person who hires me and serve to remind the group of the overall goal and keep everyone focused on the task at hand, at the appropriate time.
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I offer bereavement coaching in the areas your family needs most. Sometimes this is in wrapping up affairs. Sometimes this is by providing regular check-ins to support progress on painful tasks like sorting through personal belongings or managing the first year of holidays, birthdays, and celebrations in your absence.
I work with loved ones through ritual and meaning-making to find ways to both grieve and celebrate those that have transitioned. I host a free, community grief circle where all are welcome, whatever the circumstances of their grief.
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The cost of my services vary based on the needs of the situation. I offer packages and an hourly rate depending on the task. To get a quote, please book a free consultation call and we’ll discuss your situation.
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I offer both a sliding scale and payment plans, dependent on the situation. I have three tiers of pricing for death work:
✦ Price when you need support from the community
✦ Price for a specific service
✦ Price plus more to support others in need in the community
Death care is community care is kin care. This work takes time, energy and focus. This is an energetic exchange of some kind. I seek to support as many people as I can, while meeting the needs of my safety and health as well.
“I would be lost without Melissa’s compassionate support through losing my loved one. She gave me space to process my feelings & tools to help me move forward.”
Carrie
