LeAne Austin, RN, EOLD, NEDA Proficient
Winged Journey Life Care
and
End-of-Life Doula Care Services

Embracing the Journey Together

Each person, each family, each caregiver and each Community has their own Journey to take and their own amazing story to tell.

As a Doula, I am a non-medical holistic spiritual and emotional support, teacher and guide, listener, celebrant and communicator and, most of all, a presence that aids you as you celebrate the moments of meaning in your life, assist your loved ones walk through their grief, and help you prepare for your end-of-life Journey.

Let me be a supportive presence during your living Journey, as a guide for you and your loved ones, planning for your life, then walking with you through the dying process, grief, loss and death, serving you and your loving circle in positive, creative, collaborative and uplifting ways.

And let me provide your caregivers with with support, guidance and information that will empower them as they walk the end-of-life Journey with you.

Safety and Security

Feeling safe and secure in your home is important

There are things that your End-of-Life Doula can do to support your feelings of safety and security, so you can focus on the more important things - like your Life Journey Plan and your family.

Things such as knowing that your pets, home and plants are cared for if you are hospitalized brings peace of mind. Having ramps and grab bars installed improves safety, and getting emergency call devices can reduce your anxiety if you have to spend time alone.

Doulas can connect you with resources that can help you feel more safe and secure in your home.

Spiritual Care and Support

It may be a simple prayer, the creation of, and participation in, sacred rites will celebrate your spiritual beliefs and honor your traditions.

Reading from your spiritual texts, candle-lighting rituals, anointing, prayers and chants, ritual baths...these are a a few things that I may do to assist you to meet your spiritual needs.

And let me help you create a life-affirming and sacred space and to connect with spiritual and religious persons who are close to you.

As your Doula, I can assist you to find a Celebrant to help you create the perfect memorial service, before or after-life.

Care Collaboration

Collaboration is key. I have an an extensive connection of community resources to assist in meeting your needs from emotional and spritual needs to health and wellness.

Working with community resources such as complementary health

care providers, including massage therapy and Reiki, funeral

services providers, community assistance resources, cleaning, lawn care and other non-personal care services, and professional healthcare providers, such as your primary care team, Hospice and Palliative Care, promote your highest quality of life.

Relaxation and Stress Relief

While you walk your end-of-life journey, feelings of anxiety and loss of control walk with you.

Use of therapeutic touch techniques, guided meditation, breathing exercises, guided visualization, warmth, special lighting, aromatherapy, music, nature therapy, animal therapy, Havening, use of color and other methods soothes, relaxes, reduces feelings of anxiety, stress and promotes sleep, comfort and peacefulness.

Breathe. Relax. Rest.

Family Support

Your loved ones walk this road with you and carry their

own feelings, as well.

I support them, giving guidance on self-care, stress management, companioning and communications. I give them information to promote understanding of their roles in your Life,

Final Wishes and After Life Plans.

I am also supportive presence for respite and vigils, to allow them time for self care and to breathe.

Walking in the After Life

I can walk with you through your After Life.

Your After Life Plan tells your loved ones, your wishes for your after life period. I provide resources on alternatives to traditional funeral, burial and cremation, local funeral providers and for special remembrances. I can also help you find the words in the creation of your memorial service and obituary.

And I can be there After Life, providing support to your loved ones through and after the funeral and memorial.

"Holding Space"

Empathy has no secret script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It is simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of "you are not alone."

Brene' Brown

I will hold space for you

I will be physically, mentally and emotionally present for you during your special journey.

As your End-of-Life Doula, I will assist you and your loved ones to celebrate your life journey, prepare and plan for the journey itself and the time beyond, and "hold space" for you and your loved ones while you take those final steps, walking ... together.

And dying is a journey not limited to the aged. It can call upon us at any time.

COVID and other infections, gun-related deaths, suicide, trauma, car accidents and other types of life events may unexpectedly take people on their end-of-life journey.

And they leave loved ones -

and sometimes even the Community - needing emotional support and assistance while the person they love is at home, in the hospital or another care setting, or if they die.

They may leave you needing support.

Let me hold space for you.

End-of-life still contains the word "life."

Hearing the words "end-of-life" or "there is not much more we can do" or "we just want to keep you comfortable" are crushing blows. Add the words "Palliative Care" or "Hospice" and the world you once saw may seem to be a tunnel that appears to lead only into darkness.

But you still have LIFE to live and Life Journey Planning can help you remember the dreams you have yet to fulfill, the "bucket list" items you can still check off, the letters you want to write, stories you have yet to tell, family you want to bring together, the journey of the spirit you wish to make, and.....maybe private things you wish NOT to share with others, but that you wish to revisit as you find your way to stillness on your end-of-life journey.

End-of-life does NOT mean that you are destined

to die tomorrow or the next day or even the next

or the day after that.

It means you have a chance to look at your life more closely, now, and fill it with the things that are the most meaningful to you, the people that are most important to you, and to make your end-of-life Journey as filled with love, and joy and meaning and LIFE as it can possibly be.

Working with the Community

Agencies such as Hospice, Palliative Care, Home Health and Care Communities have special services that can promote your well-being and that of your loved ones during your Journey. As a Doula, we can work together to meet your physical, spiritual and emotional needs.

Advocating isn't just "for" someone; it can also be "with" someone.

As your End-of-Life Doula, standing with you as you share your thoughts,

wishes and needs with your loved ones, your social and care community is part of what I can do to advocate "with" you.

Sometimes, it is easier to share, and to be heard, when someone stands with you.

And then, when you are unable to share these words on your own, I will "stand" with you and share them "for" you.

Most of all, advocating with you means respecting your life choices.

I will also offer emotional support for you should you choose MAID or VSED.

Doula Services Can Begin Any Time

Doula services can start at any time. People engage EOLDs to assist with Advance Directive and life planning, support for acute and chronic illness, and home safety services, BEFORE end-of-life care is needed, however, frequently, initial consultations are completed when a diagnosis of life-limiting illness is received.

Services can begin at any point for you or your loved ones.

Even if actual services are not expected to start immediately for you, your loved ones may request assistance in preparing for what is to come.

Memorial Photographs

Remembering comes in many ways. Images captured after life, during home viewings , home funerals and traditionals memorials can be a beautiful remembrance.