Nau mai haere mai ki Sanctuary New Zealand

Kia hora te marino. Kia whakapapa pounamu te moana. Hei huarahi mā tatou I te rangi nei.

Aroha atu, aroha mai. Tātou i a tātou katoa.

May peace be widespread. May the sea glisten like greenstone, a pathway for all of us this day. Let us show respect for each other, for one another. Bind us all together.

What is aN end of life doula?

The term ‘Doula’ has a history that spans centuries with origins in ancient Greece. During ancient times, Doulas were women who provided essential support and assistance serving those around them.

End of Life Doulas now include both women and men who offer holistic support to gently guide individuals and their loved ones through the profound journey of dying, offering compassion, companionship and guidance.

I strive to provide emotional, spiritual, social and practical assistance, with the aim of creating a space of comfort and peace during life’s final chapters. Not only to ease the transition into death but also to honour the sacredness of each individual’s unique journey.

compassionate, practical and personalised end of life support.

At the heart of my work is the Māori verb word whakaahuru with the meaning of “to warm, cherish and comfort.”

Navigating your journey

I strive to create a transparent and nurturing environment where both you and your whānau feel cherished and at ease.

advocacy AND empowerment

Empowerment is central to my work collaborating closely with you to help you make informed decisions and advocating for your wishes. 

care and support for you and your whānau

I believe in helping you and your whānau to find the time and space to spend precious moments. Through personalised and practical support, I assist with end-of-life planning and support, allowing you to navigate this sensitive time with clarity, autonomy and peace of mind.

My goal is to alleviate stress and pressure by offering guidance and informed options. Together, we ensure compassionate support throughout this journey.

SOME WAYS I PROVIDE SUPPORT

  • Navigating the journey with a compassionate ear. Accompanying you through the journey with non-judgemental, respectful, client centered support. Providing calm assistance, ensuring you feel safe and well understood. Being there for discussions that you may want to explore but want to do privately within a safe environment.

  • Helping get your wishes appropriately respected, aligned and documented through Advance Care Planning. Facilitating Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA), Wills and Living Wills. Discussing and documenting your vigil and funeral or ceremony preferences. Ensuring your wishes are carefully and clearly documented.

  • Helping you and supporting you to prepare for medical appointments and discussions. Providing emotional and practical support during medical visits. Liaising with medical teams where appropriate.

  • Helping decision making through advocacy and empowerment. Supporting and demystifying conversations about death and the dying process with you and your chosen whānau. Discussing any fears and anxieties you may have. Advocacy for symptom and pain management if required, and facilitating access to further emotional and spiritual support if needed.

  • Helping you to be informed about all the options available; hospital care, palliative care, hospice care, aged care, home care, voluntary assisted dying (VAD) and natural death options.

    Exploring and organising complementary therapies where required.

  • Assisting to create a space that is comforting, safe and peaceful in line with your preferred options and wishes for end of life care. Assisting a preferred death full of legacy and love. Being there with you for the journey and facilitating who you would like to be involved. Vigiling can be both before and after, in line with your wishes.

  • Facilitating discussions on your preferred options for end of life support and working with you to help plan the funeral, ceremony or memorial options that reflect you as an individual.

    This can include creating meaningful rituals for before, during and after death, from traditional funeral ceremonies to natural death and burial options. The right send off can make a big difference in the grieving process for those remaining.

  • Helping to create and record your own meaningful and unique legacy story through letters, photo books, digital and video recordings or other mediums that resonate with you. Reflecting on your experiences, relationships and accomplishments, what you want to leave behind and going forward.

  • Developing a network of support and care through facilitating and coordinating assistance from whānau, friends and community. Promoting relationships that foster love, acknowledgment and connection through this time. Being there for whānau and community right up to and beyond the final breath.

  • Community education and information, sourcing equipment and physical resources. Organising care of whānau, children and pets. I have amazing people in my network who work within this space that can complement the support I offer.

  • Providing gentle comfort and assistance, including facilitating and assisting with respectful and holistic home based body care, and family led funerals and/or liaising with Funeral Directors to ensure preferred wishes are navigated appropriately.

    Providing and facilitating bereavement and grief information, resources and guidance.

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