New NEDA After-Death-Care Resources and Proficiency Badge

Although after-death care (ADC) is NOT considered part of the EOLD Scope of Practice, it is obviously a huge area of concern when preparing for and experiencing the death experience. But it's important for anyone choosing to practice either EOLD and/or ADC work, particularly for pay, to be aware of and understand the significant differences between the roles of end-of-life doulas and after-death care educators.

As part of NEDA's ongoing commitment to providing its members with accurate and timely information about myriad EOL topics that inform their work, we are proud to offer additional resources related to ADC, including a new ADCE proficiency assessment opportunity for NEDA members who do choose to incorporate this aspect of EOL care into their practice.

For details, pease visit the sub-menus on this website related to:

• ADCE core competencies, the ADCE proficiency badge,
• ADCE study guide, and
• ADCE code of ethics.

More information about ADC can also be found under the RESOURCES tab.

The process of developing a comprehensive list of ADCE Core Competencies is a dynamic one that relies on the knowledge and experience in the greater community of EOLDs and after-death-care educators. Therefore, the following list is in no way meant to be exhaustive of everything that goes into after-death work; rather, it is a starting point in identifying the most critical areas of knowledge and skill. We invite you to provide feedback to help us improve content as we find our way in this burgeoning and exciting field, with an eye to providing consistent, quality standards for all after-death care educators (ADCEs) now and in the future.

To help doulas and educators prepare for the After-Death Care Educator Proficiency Badge Assessment, we have developed a Study Guide for After-Death Care Educators — designed for doulas who also offer after-death care education and who wish to know what will be covered on the assessment. 

We suggest that after-death care educators explain NEDA's mission to their students and make the above and below documents available to them. There are many EOLD training organizations throughout the US that all have their individual strengths, philosophies, and teaching styles. No one organization is the definitive source. Students will want to know that they are well prepared to become an EOLD and/or an ADCE, and those already in practice may want to see if there are gaps in their understanding about what an EOLD or ADCE is and does. We anticipate that as more hospice and palliative care organizations become aware of what EOLDs and ADCEs are and do, they will want to know that EOLDs and ADCEs possess a certain body of knowledge and skills. The purpose of NEDA is to be a neutral group of doulas and educators who have come to consensus on the definition of an EOLD and ADCE. As a trainer, please help us by educating your students, spreading the word about the work of NEDA, and sharing your thoughts with us.