What's A Death Doula? Empty Nesters find out with Jill McClennen E151

Rick and Clancy started rewriting their wills this year, and that's what led them to Jill McClennen, a death doula, who says you don't have to be dying to use one.

"It's also that with a death doula, you don't actually have to be dying to use a death doula. We really actually are probably more effective if we would work with people earlier on." - Jill

In this episode:

-Why death doulas are non-medical and work alongside hospice, not in place of it

-How to know when it's actually time to bring in hospice or a death doula, and why most families wait too long

-What to look for when choosing a death doula, including the questions worth asking before you hire one

-How Jill helps families avoid the fighting and conflict that often show up around end-of-life decisions

-How faith and religion factor into her work with different families

-How she protects her own mental health doing this work full time

You can find Jill and her work at End of Life Clarity: https://www.endoflifeclarity.com/

Her podcast, Seeing Death Clearly, is here: https://www.endoflifeclarity.com/seeing-death-clearly-podcast/

📖 Our book, The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest, is here: https://www.theloudquiet.com

Redoing our own wills is what got us into this conversation in the first place, and we know a lot of you are somewhere in that same process. Come talk through it with us in the group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet

🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here: https://www.theloudquiet.com

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why we're talking about death doulas

01:52 What led Jill to become a death doula

05:06 What death doula training actually looks like

08:41 Why death doulas are becoming more mainstream

12:03 You don't have to be dying to call one

14:50 How to choose the right death doula

16:31 The hospice timing mistake, and gifting a doula

19:25 Navigating faith and religion at the end of life

21:35 How a death doula works alongside hospice

25:44 Protecting her own mental health in this work

30:10 Why she also hosts a death and dying podcast

Want to be a guest on The Loud Quiet - Empty Nest Living? Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethost

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).