End of Life Care

The end-of-life journey can be emotional, complicated, confusing and scary for patients and their families. 

When you don’t have much knowledge and you don’t know your options, it’s easy to get swept away in the big wheel of medical institutional ways and corporate funeral care—whether or not that’s where you want to be.

But when you have adequate information, guidance, and advocacy, you have a better chance of achieving an end of life experience that is more meaningful to you and aligned with your values.

As a death doula and end-of-life consultant, I provide objective support, advocacy, guidance, and options to patients and families throughout the dying process and in the post death period.

“I have yet to do my own planning for when I depart. I am encouraged to get this done and to learn the options that are available for me at the end. I had a loss, and it was not till after the process I realized what was actually “allowed” for my family to do in the time after the passing. Personally, I would like to know the options that do exist for one at the end of life. 

I feel like I could keep talking to you about so many things Rayne. At the start of the interview I was really charged, as I had a lot going on and feeling stressed, almost to the point where I thought maybe I should not join the meeting. However, I felt such a calm from you, and I was able to gently settle in.  Thank you for that.” -Ashley

Following are some specific ways I help:

Death Doula Services

A death doula is an end-of-life transition guide…someone who accompanies a dying person and/or family and friends through a personal and meaningful dying process.

This can include

  • Helping individuals and families have the conversations so that health care is planned and spiritual wishes are known (personal healthcare directives). This could include helping you navigate the medical system, determining the main challenges, and coming up with a plan to make life easier for everyone.
  • Working with the caregivers and the dying person to
    • uncover their fears and phobias
    • respect traditions and rituals
    • offer contemplative practices
  • And more.

In the stressful times of illness or after a terminal diagnosis, I become the pillar so that the journey for the person dying and all involved can be peaceful and made with minimal regrets.

Comfort Touch (Palliative Massage)

Palliative massage helps ease pain and suffering and can help create a graceful passage at end of life. As a skilled massage therapist working in palliative care, I also love to teach families and caregivers easy massage techniques that they can use to bring comfort at the bedside. 

Palliative massage can include pain meditations which help to augment pain medications. Aromatherapy integrated with palliative massage can also play a part in improving the quality of life.

Rates for home visits are $120 to $140 per session.

Many health care plans will cover massage, partially or fully. (A sliding scale is available.)

Learn more about palliative massage

Pre-Funeral Consultations

When you know your options, you can make informed decisions aligned with your values. I provide guidance and education to help you choose your funeral home or organize a home funeral/vigil. And perhaps save money.

Advance Care Planning 

Advance Care Planning clarifies your future health care decisions and personal and spiritual wishes.

The strongest reason for planning your advance care is to reduce stress in the end. Having those conversations with your loved ones now will let them know how to help because they’ll know your wishes.

I can work with you to help ease the task of the conversation about your plans, whether it’s in a one-on-one consultation with your partner, or a gathering of your friends.

You provided us with tremendous knowledge and peace of mind at a very difficult time. It was a relief to be able to make informed decisions in such an emotional and time sensitive situation.

Jayme

What you provided us was supportive, sensitive and personable—and exactly what we needed at the time. Your compliment to the Home Care and Palliative Teams was what should be offered to everyone in our situation.

Shane

I recently had the pleasure of working with Rayne who taught me a number of meditation techniques to use when working with my terminally ill friend . She provided me with these tools as well as some deeper insight about my own insecurities and fears with the whole death and dying process. Rayne suggested some literature on this subject which has been very helpful. Her wealth of knowledge in this area has helped me to prepare for the aspects of this final transition, and her open and compassionate manner has given me comfort.

Fran

Doing Deathcare Differently, helping you to live your life fully

End of life matters are important for everyone. If you would like to receive news and updates about end of life topics, subscribe here

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