‘Death Doulas’ Are Helping Americans Savor the Last Days of Their Lives

August 17, 2015

(Quartz) – The first moments of life can be filled with heightened emotions, confusing paperwork, and plentiful bodily fluids. Life’s final moments are often similar. And just as the past few decades have seen a growing number of doulas (the term is Greek for “woman who serves”) providing emotional and practical support for women during childbirth, the past few years have seen a growing number of individuals offering similar services at death. Birth doulas guide you into life; death doulas guide you out.