SERVICES


 Services

Sitting Vigil and Vigil Planning

In advance of the sitting vigil phase (the active dying phase). Your doula will meet with the person and/or family ahead of time to create a vigil plan. A vigil plan is an outline of how the dying person and/or family would like the last days of life to evolve.


This plan is a way to honor the dying person's wishes. It includes any special requests that they may have for the last days of life. These requests could consist of who they would like present and in the room when they take their final breaths, any special objects they may want in the room with them (including pets), certain readings they would like done, or anything that would make them feel comfortable and at peace.


Each persons vigil plan is customized and unique, and makes for a beautiful goodbye. When we sit vigil at the bedside of a person who is preparing to transition, it is not only to hold space for the person as they are coming to the end of their journey. It is to be a steadfast guide to the loved ones who are present and who are bearing witness to this private and precious time. I am there to keep you abreast of the phases that the transitioning individual will be going through and to make sure that they are comfortable, making this time as peaceful and calming as it can be. It is also a time for me to observe if there is anything that I should notice and let the medical team know about.


During the active dying stage vigil hours are changed to around-the-clock if needed so that the dying person and their family have full emotional and spiritual support.

Life Review

With this skill we explore who the person is and what they find important in their life through gentle conversations that jog the memory. These conversations open up many wonderful thoughts and memories for them, giving them an opportunity to express themselves and their wishes freely, and many times what they would desire at the end of their lives.


These conversations can also lead them to wanting to get things off of their chest or to make amends before they transition. Sometimes they share with us things that may be too difficult to share with people they are close to. This can be anything from regret, unfinished business, shame, or guilt.  It can also simply be a time to grieve.


A non-judgmental approach is always taken by the doula.


There is relief in freedom of expression. We share information with family and friends of the person if that is what they wish. There are several ways that this information can be shared. It can be through letter writing, dictation, or via video. This is all done with consent, of course.

Respite Care

Are you an exhausted caregiver who needs some time to themselves? We know how much energy, emotional labor, and time caregiving takes. It is one of the hardest jobs around! We are here to give you some time to regroup and recharge.


We would like to assist you and remind you that self-care is of utmost importance.


We cannot care for others if we do not take care of ourselves.


 Do you have a loved one who is at the end of life who is in need of visits or companionship in a private home, an assisted living facility, or a board and care while on hospice but you cannot provide them with that because of distance or time constraints?


Beautiful Goodbyes can make that time for your person with quality visits and meaningful conversation. We can also add in any of our other listed services with visitation if you wish.


Let us help you!

Resources

We are resource providers. We want to assist you in getting the information or any help that you may need.  Anything from cleaning services, memorial items, grief therapy referrals and more. We know that not everyone can make hard decisions in their grief. We are here to help ease that burden.


We can also explain to you the difference between hospice and palliative care if you or your person may be leaning in that direction because of illness.


Let us know what you are looking for and we'll do our best to help you find it and answer questions.

Advance Care Planning

Advance Care Planning is about making decisions about personal and medical issues. When a person is given a terminal diagnosis or ends up in a position where they lose their mental capacity, a chosen proxy or people around them will know what they want and what their final wishes should be in regard to their medical decisions such as resuscitation, forced eating and drinking, and other options.


These important documents can assist your family in knowing what procedures you or they want for end of life. This helps to ease the hardship on you and your  family. We can also explain what a POLST form is and the importance of that.


What many don't know is that these important documents can be filled out and filed as soon as you turn 18. Only 27% of the American population has an advanced directive. This is something to consider since it will help to keep complications out of your life when you may least expect them.

Green Burial & Eco Burial Options

 Would you like to learn about Green or Eco friendly burial options and practices?  These choices are becoming more popular and they are a wonderful way to lessen the burden on the environment. You can lesson the carbon footprint you leave behind, save on burial costs, conserve land, and more.


Ask us about them!

Thoughtful Rituals

We have rituals that we do everyday and we don't even think about them. We wash our hands, brush our teeth, feed the dog at a specific time, and many others.


 A ritual is not just tied to religious connotations. It is a series of actions, which should have a clear beginning, purpose in the middle, and a definite ending or closing. When Beautiful Goodbyes plans a ritual, we create a situation where we hold space for something of meaning to take place at special times. This could be for changes that take place in the persons health. There can be a ritual for going from seeking treatment to going onto hospice, as a person moves closer to transitioning, or for the final days to the final breath.


These situations are special and meaningful times that can be marked with thoughtfulness and intention.

   Death Education

In modern Western society death and conversations surrounding death are often ignored or feared. It's a difficult topic that brings feelings of fear, anxiety, sadness, and sometimes an awkwardness that many aren't prepared to face.


Many feel that if you talk about it you're bringing it near to you. This is not the case. Doulas believe individuals should talk about death and dying so that we may plan for it and discuss our wishes and desires to friends and family in the event that it does happen. This will help move the needle forward to assist in normalizing these conversations and help make society comfortable with the notion of death and dying.   


Death is not a medical event, it is a natural and emotional event. An inevitable part of life that will eventually happen to us all.


Death and dying in American society has been depersonalized. We are made to feel as if it will never happen to us so we carry on in life not planning for it, but moving forward as if it's many years away. 


If you need assistance in having difficult but gentle conversations surrounding end of life planning, conversations about death, or would like to understand how to be more comfortable with the ideas of death and dying, Beautiful Goodbyes is here for you.


You will realize the more you speak about it, the less fearful you will become in discussing your plans and wishes with the people you love.

Other Skills/Tools That We Use

  • Music
  • Reading
  • Light Touch - Hand, forearm, lower leg (we always ask first)
  • Electric candlelight
  • Guided Imagery
  • Grief Reprocessing



      Many of these elements assist with

      relaxation and calming.


Everyone deserves Grace and Compassion

Beautiful Goodbyes believes that people young and old, from every walk of life, regardless of orientation or beliefs deserve to receive our services. We believe in community and humanity.


We lead with our hearts.




Service Fees

We can create a custom plan for you or your family which can be a combination of services, or we can provide a specific service for you.


We also work on a sliding scale so fees are negotiable depending on the services that you need.


Send us a message in the Let's Talk section to inquire about a 30 minute free consultation. 


Let's work together to develop a plan of care that is a good fit for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask.


Payments are invoiced and can be made via check, cash, or Venmo






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