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It's time to honor and recognize the important role of death doulas on National Death Doula Day on April 20! This day was created in 2019 by the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA) to bring awareness to the work of death doulas – compassionate and trained individuals who support dying individuals and their loved ones during the end-of-life process. Death doulas offer comfort, guidance, and advocacy during this difficult time, ensuring that every person has a peaceful and dignified transition. Let's take a moment to appreciate these amazing individuals and their valuable contributions to our society.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1970s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Hospice Movement Begins</div><div class='timeline-text'>The modern hospice movement, which influenced the development of the death doula role, began in the United States, integrating palliative care into various healthcare settings.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1990s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Birth of Death Doula Concept</div><div class='timeline-text'>The concept of doulas providing end-of-life care started to develop in the late 1990s, emerging from the growing death positivity movement.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2003</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Death Doula Program</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first formal death doula program in a hospital was initiated at New York-City based Continuum Health Partners, offering comprehensive end-of-life support services.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2015</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>INELDA Formation</div><div class='timeline-text'>The International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA) was formed in 2015, providing training, certification, and leadership in the death doula field.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2019</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First National Death Doula Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>INELDA established the first National Death Doula Day on April 20th, 2019, to bring awareness to the work of death doulas and honor their contributions to end-of-life care.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a death doula workshop</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Find a workshop or training event in your area to learn more about death doulas and their important role in end-of-life care. It's a great way to honor National Death Doula Day and educate yourself on this meaningful profession.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Volunteer at a hospice or nursing home</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Spend some time with patients near the end of life by volunteering at a hospice or nursing home. Bring joy and comfort to those in need and recognize the important work that death doulas do every day.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a discussion on end-of-life care</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather friends and family for a thoughtful discussion on end-of-life care and the role of death doulas. This can be a powerful way to raise awareness and celebrate National Death Doula Day.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create a memory book for a loved one</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Honor the memories and life of a loved one by creating a memory book filled with photos, stories, and mementos. This can be a healing and meaningful way to celebrate National Death Doula Day.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Share information on social media</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Spread awareness about National Death Doula Day by sharing articles, facts, and personal stories on social media. Use hashtags like #NationalDeathDoulaDay or #EndOfLifeCare to join the conversation and educate others.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It raises awareness about end-of-life care</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>National Death Doula Day shines a light on the important role of death doulas in providing support, comfort and guidance to individuals and their families during the end-of-life process. This helps to bring attention to an often overlooked aspect of healthcare and encourages conversations about end-of-life care planning.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It promotes empathy and compassion</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Death doulas are trained to provide emotional, spiritual and practical support for individuals and their families during one of life's most difficult journeys - death. By recognizing National Death Doula Day, we can help spread awareness about the importance of empathy, compassion and kindness towards those who are dying or grieving.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It honors the work of death doulas</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Through celebrating National Death Doula Day, we pay tribute to the dedication and hard work of death doulas, who often work tirelessly to provide comfort and support to those facing the end of life. It's an opportunity to show gratitude for their important role in making this difficult time a bit easier for individuals and their families.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Death Doulas are Also Known as Death Midwives or End of Life Doulas</h3><p class='facts-content'>In different cultures and practices, death doulas might be referred to as "death midwives", "end-of-life consultants", or "soul midwives", indicative of their role in assisting both the dying and their families in the transition process.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Each Death Doula Practice Can Differ Greatly</h3><p class='facts-content'>While the basic principles remain the same, each death doula can provide a diverse range of services based on personal philosophies, religious beliefs, and professional training. These can include guided visualization, active listening, legacy projects, vigil planning, and even reiki and aromatherapy.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Death Doulas are Embraced by Multiple Cultures</h3><p class='facts-content'>The role of a death doula is not limited to a specific culture or region. Social models for deathcare exist in various cultures all over the world. For instance, death midwives have been a part of Aboriginal communities in Australia for centuries.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Death Doulas Foster a More Natural View on Dying</h3><p class='facts-content'>Death doulas often help to normalize death and advocate for comprehensive end-of-life care that sees dying as a natural part of life, not as a medical event but rather a deeply human experience.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Death Doulas Serve Both the Living and the Dying</h3><p class='facts-content'>The work of a death doula extends not just to those who are dying but also to their families. They provide emotional support, help illuminate the process of dying, and guide loved ones in understanding their own grief.</p></div></div>
National Death Doula Day is celebrated on April 20th every year. In 2024, National Death Doula Day will occur on a Saturday.
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