What are the most important conversations we aren’t having?
Dying is not only a medical event.It is a human one.
An end of life diagnosis raises many questions that we are often too uncomfortable to ask. Most of us will care for someone who is dying at some point in our lives.
Yet when it happens, we can feel remarkably unprepared.
What do we say? What should we expect? What decisions need to be made? How do we know what someone wants? And how do we support the people we love without becoming completely overwhelmed ourselves?
Better Endings exists to make those conversations, and that experience, a little easier.
An end of life diagnosis raises many questions that we are often too uncomfortable to ask. Most of us will care for someone who is dying at some point in our lives.
Yet when it happens, we can feel remarkably unprepared.
What do we say? What should we expect? What decisions need to be made? How do we know what someone wants? And how do we support the people we love without becoming completely overwhelmed ourselves?
Better Endings exists to make those conversations, and that experience, a little easier.
What is an end of life Doula?
An end-of-life doula is someone who will be alongside you when life becomes uncertain. When someone is seriously ill or approaching the end of their life, healthcare can become extraordinarily busy. There may be consultants, GPs, district nurses, hospice teams, carers, appointments and decisions. All of these are enormously important, but dying is about much more than healthcare. It affects relationships, identities, family, home, work, finances, hopes and fears, and the meaning we make of our lives.
An doula works in this space. We are non-medical practitioners — we do not replace the medical team, but we work alongside them. Our role is to provide continuity and time, to support you in living according to your wishes, and to be your advocate. We listen, help with planning and practical needs, hold conversations about what matters to you, and support family and loved ones through the emotional, social and spiritual aspects of dying and bereavement.
There is no single way to die well.
A good end of life looks different for everyone. For one person it might mean being at home, surrounded by family. Fpr another excellent hospital or hospice care. Some people want to talk openely about dying; others don’t. Some want to plan, some want to take each day as it comes. Our role is not to tell you what a good death should look like. It is to help you work out what matters to you and to help that happen.
A doula can help with
conversations about dying and what matters
advance care planing and understanding your choices
navigating health and care services
practical preparation
supporting friends and family
understanding hwat to expect as someone becomes unwell
bedside support
what you want your legacy to be
guidance immediately following a death
early grief support
You dont need to know exactly what you need before contacting us. Often the first conversation. is simply about what is happening.
We believe that dying well is equally as important as living well.Our employee wellbeing workshops, seminars and individual End of Life Doula support programmes cover all end of life issues. Typically they range from end of life planning for the emotional, physical, legal and financial aspects of dying, to supporting psychological wellbeing in the workplace.
End of Life Workshops & Seminars as part of an Employee Wellbeing programme.
Access to our services gives employees who are juggling both work, and the daunting prospect of supporting family members approaching their end of life, an awareness of what it means to die well.
Individual End of Life Doula support and guidance.
We can support individuals and their families through our End of Life Doula Service. Modelled on the role of a Birth Doula , we are trained and informed companions, there to support at the end of life. Read our article on “What is an end of life Doula” to find out more about how we can help you.
We can support you if are living with dementia or supporting someone who has dementia.
We can support you to start the conversation with friends and family, to speak openly and honestly together about how dementia may progress.
“To die is human. Anything human is mentionable. Anything mentionable is manageable”
— Fred Rogers- A beautiful day in the neigbourhood
Case Studies
Whilst every need is individual, two scenarios discussed on our case studies page show the different ways we can work with you to help and support you.
FAQs
What is an End Of Life Doula?, What are Employee wellbeing programmes? Find answers to these and other commonly asked questions on our Frequently asked questions page.
Let’s talk
Everything about dying is being radically rethought, from making the experience more humane, having funerals which are more representative of who we are, and people coming to explore death as part of a mentally healthy life. Get in touch to see how we can help you.