The National End-of-Life Doula Alliance is the only membership organization for all End-of-life Doulas and trainers, regardless of background or level of experience.
Welcome! We are thrilled to launch our first NEDA newsletter and hope you find it to be a helpful resource. In this issue, we’ll begin laying some groundwork that will help to serve us all as we grow in our field. We look forward to receiving your feedback and encourage you to send us ideas, questions, comments—and stories to share, so that we can better serve you, and those you serve.
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From the President
Merilynne Rush, President
The role of the end-of-life doula is new and evolving. NEDA's goal is to foster good communication, networking, professional development, and old-fashioned storytelling, so that together we can spread the word about who doulas are and what they do. We believe that there is no one right way to work as, or train, EOL doulas. The more trainers and doulas there are, the more families there will be having EOL doulas!
But we at NEDA do believe that standards and consistency will help us all do a better job in achieving our goals. For that reason, we have created core competencies that everyone can access and understand.
We want to hear from all who are working in the field as we define ourselves, discover our commonalities, discuss our differences, and promote the EOL doula model of care to the public and to other EOL caregivers. All new professions go through growing pains. Collaborate with us to help us shape the future of end-of-life doulas and compassionate end-of-life care in our communities!
If you know someone who you think should be a member, please personally invite them and let them know that their involvement will help to strengthen our collective cause and our individual effectiveness. We are here to support YOU!
— Warmly, Merilynne Rush
But we at NEDA do believe that standards and consistency will help us all do a better job in achieving our goals. For that reason, we have created core competencies that everyone can access and understand.
We want to hear from all who are working in the field as we define ourselves, discover our commonalities, discuss our differences, and promote the EOL doula model of care to the public and to other EOL caregivers. All new professions go through growing pains. Collaborate with us to help us shape the future of end-of-life doulas and compassionate end-of-life care in our communities!
If you know someone who you think should be a member, please personally invite them and let them know that their involvement will help to strengthen our collective cause and our individual effectiveness. We are here to support YOU!
— Warmly, Merilynne Rush
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Join a Committee!
Although the board is responsible for leading the charge, much of the work of NEDA is done through committees that involve other members like you. The following committees are seeking new members:
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Titles |
Definitions |
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We have chosen to use the term End-of-Life Doula, or EOLD. Some of you may choose other titles, such as Death Doula, Death Midwife, or End-of-Life Guide. That's ok. We support you and won't ask you to change it. But if you use the term EOLD, we ask you to adhere to our definition of EOLD.
This makes it less confusing for families and for other EOL care providers, such as hospice and palliative care folks. If you have thoughts or comments about this, please let us know! |
End-of-life doulas provide non-medical, holistic support and comfort to the dying person and their family, which may include education and guidance as well as emotional, spiritual or practical care, from as early as initial diagnosis through bereavement.
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Why NEDA, Why Now?
 Suzanne O'Brien, Vice President
The US is facing the largest elder care crisis we've ever seen. Our elderly population is increasing while the number of nurses and physicians is decreasing. This projection is estimated to continue for the next several decades.
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Alarming Statistics
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The Answer: The Future of Healthcare Will Be Non-Medical and End-of-Life Doulas Will Help
Many End-of-Life Care experts agree that over the course of the next decade it will be necessary to expand alternative care services in order to accommodate the aging Baby Boomer generation and keep people at home during the end of life (rather than in residential care facilities). End-of-Life Doulas, sometimes known as Death Doulas, Death Midwives and Soul-midwives, are non-medical professionals that provide physical, emotional and spiritual support to the dying and their loved ones. There is no government credentialing body that oversees the End-of-Life Doula profession; however, scope of practice, standards of care and core competencies have been requested by mainstream medical systems and NEDA has responded! Your membership and voice will help the movement grow, so that all families will know about end-of-life doulas and have access to their services.
Please join us! We, and the families we serve, need you!
Many End-of-Life Care experts agree that over the course of the next decade it will be necessary to expand alternative care services in order to accommodate the aging Baby Boomer generation and keep people at home during the end of life (rather than in residential care facilities). End-of-Life Doulas, sometimes known as Death Doulas, Death Midwives and Soul-midwives, are non-medical professionals that provide physical, emotional and spiritual support to the dying and their loved ones. There is no government credentialing body that oversees the End-of-Life Doula profession; however, scope of practice, standards of care and core competencies have been requested by mainstream medical systems and NEDA has responded! Your membership and voice will help the movement grow, so that all families will know about end-of-life doulas and have access to their services.
Please join us! We, and the families we serve, need you!
Did you know?
Patty Brennan, author
The word Doula has Greek origins and means “woman who serves.” Service is at the heart of doula work. Throughout time and in cultures all over the world, there have always been those individuals—usually women—who tend to the needs of the mother in labor, nurture the family in the early weeks postpartum, and care for the sick and dying. The concept of the modern-day doula began in 1969, but the word did not come into widespread use until 1992 when Doulas of North America (now known as DONA International) was founded. Standards of practice and a code of ethics for doulas were thoughtfully articulated to define the doula’s scope of practice, thereby professionalizing the time-honored, informal role of the doula.
The emergence of the end-of-life doula is a 21st century development, and more men are being drawn into the field. With the “silver tsunami” of aging baby boomers upon us—many of whom are proponents of natural lifestyles and holistic approaches to health care—it makes sense that we are seeking new models of care to meet unmet needs at the end of life. Everyone benefits from dedicated support when major life transitions are underway.
-Patty Brennan, The Doula Business Guide: How to Succeed as a Birth, Postpartum or End-of-life Doula,
3rd Ed.(forthcoming January 2019
The emergence of the end-of-life doula is a 21st century development, and more men are being drawn into the field. With the “silver tsunami” of aging baby boomers upon us—many of whom are proponents of natural lifestyles and holistic approaches to health care—it makes sense that we are seeking new models of care to meet unmet needs at the end of life. Everyone benefits from dedicated support when major life transitions are underway.
-Patty Brennan, The Doula Business Guide: How to Succeed as a Birth, Postpartum or End-of-life Doula,
3rd Ed.(forthcoming January 2019
How NEDA Works
As a 501c6 non-profit business league, NEDA is governed by a volunteer board of directors that includes 12 dynamic and skillful people who are dedicated to moving us forward to achieve our goals. We encourage you to become familiar with our Mission, Vision and Values.
Our Board of Directors
Note: Board Terms are annual, October - September
You can read all about NEDA Board Members here.
Merilynne Rush, President
Suzanne O’Brien, Vice-President
Angela Shook, Secretary
Lee Webster, Treasurer
Kim Adams, Membership Secretary
Alua Arthur
Beth Aungier
Nada Frazier
Joseph Knight
Lisa Patterson
Karen Reppen
Leann Thrapp
Our Board of Directors
Note: Board Terms are annual, October - September
You can read all about NEDA Board Members here.
Merilynne Rush, President
Suzanne O’Brien, Vice-President
Angela Shook, Secretary
Lee Webster, Treasurer
Kim Adams, Membership Secretary
Alua Arthur
Beth Aungier
Nada Frazier
Joseph Knight
Lisa Patterson
Karen Reppen
Leann Thrapp
Check out our page Doulas in the News and send us your articles of interest!