The Central Coast branch of Dying with Dignity NSW, welcomed Australian Doula College’s Anna Pelle as their first guest speaker for 2020.
Pelle spoke to branch members and guests in attendance about the role of a Doula and gave insights into this unique and widely unknown career.
“Each of us has the right to a good death – to die with dignity and in control, in a chosen place, with full knowledge of how we will die and the timing, with good, comfort care and chosen companions alongside, but all too often it doesn’t work out like that,’ said Dying With Dignity Central Coast Secretary, Joy Shannon.
Doula is Greek for ‘Person of Service’.
An End of Life Doula is a person who is there at the end of life, to support, encourage and counsel the person dying and, if needed, the family.
Their role is strictly non-medical.
“In effect, the End of Life Douala acts a kind of personal assistant, handling calls, messages, enquiries and the like from friends and family.
“They also have the ability to respond, to be positive about death, to listen and observe and to be impartial but always empathetic,” Shannon said.
Source:
Media release, Feb 26
Joy Shannon, Dying With Dignity, Central Coast