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Fulfilling the Deeper Work of Hospice: Innovative End-of-Life Doula Volunteer

At Hospice of the Western Reserve, we strive to ensure our patients have the highest quality end-of-life care as defined by them. This ensures early and consistent communication and planning for each of our patients’ unique paths. 

End-of-Life Doula services are provided by specially trained volunteers. In building a relationship, end-of-life doulas meet the needs and desires of the patient and adapt their provision of care accordingly in collaboration with the clinical team.

End-of-Life Doulas focus on four key elements to serve the patient and their loved ones: 

Life Review: By facilitating conversations about the patient’s life and providing support, end-of-life doulas may help individuals move from despair to meaning through exploration
Legacy Work: A powerful way to ensure that the patient’s thoughts, hopes, and experiences are memorialized
Vigil Planning: A sacred component of ensuring that the patient is provided with the setting and environment that they desire for the final hours
Vigil Presence: Being present with the patient and supporting their loved ones during the final transition is a comforting and meaningful aspect of care available upon request

Hospice of The Western Reserve consulted with The Heart of Dying Project’s Adaire Petrichor CH, EOLD in the training of innovative Volunteer End-of-Life Doulas.

Please let your HWR team know about your interest in an End-of-Life Doula and they will be happy to coordinate.
You may also reach out directly to Lori Scotese, Volunteer Service Manager, at 216.287.8193 or lscotese@hospicewr.org

We Can Help

Speak with the referral team by contacting us seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Any first visit and admission can be made the first day.

Northern Ohio's Hospice of Choice

More than 1,000 Hospice of the Western Reserve employees and 3,000 volunteers live and work side-by-side in the same neighborhoods with our patients and families. We are privileged to have cared for more than 100,000 Northern Ohioans since our inception. 


"End-of-life doulas provide non-medical, holistic support and comfort to the dying person and their family, which may include education and guidance as well as emotional, spiritual or practical care."

- National End-of-Life Doula Alliance