Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be dying to work with a death doula?

You do not have to meet any particular criteria to collaborate with a death doula. In fact, we prefer to start earlier than later. If you (or someone you love) receives a life limiting or “terminal” diagnosis, even if the prognosis is years, we welcome you to reach out whenever you feel ready to start the conversations and planning, as well as forge our unique relationship. But folks without known diagnoses are also working with death doulas to create advance directives and facilitate challenging conversations, as well as to manage death anxiety. If you have an idea about how someone with our background might be of use to you … you’re probably correct. Reach out and let’s work together.

In an ableist society, it’s easy to imagine ourselves as “healthy” and “well” forever, but in actuality, our bodies are changing now as you read and I write — and we will face even more inevitable loss in the future. Not a single one of us has to do that alone if we don’t want to.

Do death doulas work with hospice?

Yes – doulas are supplementary and complementary support. Anyone who has had a loved one on hospice knows that the number of hours of care is often quite limited due to staffing, budgeting, needs assessment. Doulas often work alongside hospice.

When do I call a death doula?

Doulas work with individuals at all life stages, but can also be called at any stage of the end-of-life process. Sooner is better! We do not have the criteria that hospice does, and can begin vital discussions at any time in one's illness.

How much does this service cost? Who pays?

Doula services are sometimes free – many organizations do sliding scale pricing and some hospices offer doulas as part of their offerings. Doulas are usually volunteers when part of a hospice, though often it is social worker who coordinates and provides training. Doula services are not currently billable through insurance. Average cost for a family with means ranges from $1,500-$4,000 depending on number of services provided and how many hours are worked. You can see our sliding scale here — this helps us to serve as many people who want care as possible.

Where do death doulas practice?

Wherever we are welcomed. In terms of geographic area, the doulas of PDDC practice primarily in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties in Pennsylvania, as well as Southern New Jersey. We prefer to travel an hour or less because that keeps us accessible to you! Please note that we may charge for commute time, but this will be discussed in our consultation.

What if someone wants Medical Aid In Dying?

Doulas assist MAiD in states where it is currently legalized, including in New Jersey. We would be delighted to assist you with your MAiD process.

Who certifies or trains doulas?

There is no one certifying or governing body for doulas. There are MANY trainings and will likely only be more as the field grows. They cost $750 and up, can range from a weekend to several months long, and vary in what they teach. Some are more natural burial focused. Some are more spiritual. It depends on the doula and their areas of practice.

How do I find a doula? You all aren’t in my area.

Always feel free to ask for a consultation or intake conversation. Ensure doula’s values and ethics align with those of the client. And feel free to check references! You can also search for doulas on INELDA.org or NEDAlliance.org, both of which require their listed doulas to agree to a code of ethics and best practices.

If you don’t see your question here, please feel free to email us at the link below.