A phenomenological inquiry of the holistic nonmedical lived training experiences of end-of-life doulas (eolds)

A new generation of aging United States (U.S.) citizens seems to be challenging cultural attitudes toward death and dying. The members of the senior baby-boom cohort are demanding more nonmedical end-of-life (EOL) home care, the right to experience a dignified and peaceful death, and the option of environmentally friendly burials. Subsequently, the field of end-of-life doulas (EOLDs) or death doula care is also emerging. As these practitioners raise awareness and claim to contribute to a better quality of EOL care, they add a new dimension to the EOL field. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the lived training experiences of prospective EOLDs as they sought to aid the dying and their grieving families. Individual interviews with seven trained EOLDs who completed a training program were analyzed. The results showed that those who attended the EOLD training felt strongly "called" to do EOL work. After confronting and accepting their fears and anxieties about their future dying and death experiences, they reported feeling empowered to come alongside EOL individuals and offer genuine comfort on their dying journey and postmortem care to the family.