There is a quietly-growing movement in the End-of-Life Sector – the rise of death doulas, also referred to as death midwives, or End-of-Life Doulas (EOLD). These EOL doulas are emerging as a potentially important new form of community-based caregiving to supplement clinical and institutional medical care services aimed at those approaching the end-of-life or facing a terminal prognosis.
Here, we examine 6 key reasons powering this increase and interest in death doula practice.
1. An Increased Awareness of End-of-Life Gaps in the End-of-Life Care Sector.
Many people feel conventional hospice or medical care focuses heavily on the physical or clinical aspects of dying—and less on emotional, spiritual, legacy, or practical needs. Death doulas fill this gap: helping with advance care planning, legacy projects, rituals, and helping families understand what’s happening in the dying process.
EOLDs operate at the edge of formal health care systems and, currently, on the margins of academic research.
National Library of Medicine: Describing the end-of-life doula role and practices of care
2. A Cultural Shift Towards “Death Positivity”: de-mystifying the Death Taboo, and the Emergence of Death Cafés & Workshops
Visit DFS Memorials Local Providers to find a location and cremation price.
There is now a growing cultural movement toward openness about mortality—talking about death more, normalizing it. Activities like Death Cafés, Death Without Debt Workshops, community discussions, and public storytelling are helping to reduce stigma,
This demystifying is, in turn, driving people to be more interested in having doulas involved in end-of-life care. Experiences such as the COVID pandemic brought the true reality of death to the forefront in society and encouraged people to acknowledge their mortality and be more prepared for how to face it.
3. Demographic Drivers: An Aging Population & Baby Boomers Seeking Affordable Death Care.
The U.S. population is getting older, and Baby Boomers in particular are seeking more control, more meaning, and less impersonal institutional care toward the end of life. That increases demand for personalized services like those doulas provide.
76.4 million Baby Boomers are currently living in the U.S.
U.S. Census Bureau
These seniors lean more towards a simple and holistic approach to the end-of-life process. They are less concerned with tradition and convention, believing that there is no reason to spend unnecessarily on funeral services.
They are driving the shift towards low-cost direct cremation services, followed by a family-led Celebration of Life.
Affordable direct cremation services, such as those provided by DFS Memorials, with basic ‘no fuss’ cremation services starting at between $795 and $995 (in most major metro areas), are offering these seniors what they want and need. Lowering the cost of end-of-life care and death expenses.
Visit the DFS Memorials website to find a cremation service provider near you and the best price for a simple cremation.
4. Availability of Death Doula Services: More People are Training & Pursuing a Career in EOL services
There are more programs, certificates, and organizations providing training for death doulas. This offers credibility and better standards, which helps both practitioners + clients trust the services.
Examples include university certificate programs and more widely available doula-education resources. This has helped increase the credibility of the role of a doula and bring a level of professionalism to the sector.
5. Practical Benefits of Doula Services: Reduced EOL Costs & Increased Emotional Support
Death doulas offer value in very practical ways: reducing family stress, providing emotional support, and helping you make choices that match values (which often means simpler, less expensive options).
For many, the ability to plan a meaningful, personalized end-of-life process is worth seeking out doulas.
6. Influence of Pandemic & Disruption of Healthcare Norms
COVID-19 exposed weaknesses in the system: isolation, rushed death, and lack of family presence. That made many people more aware of what’s missing in traditional care and more open to alternative supports. This helped accelerate interest in death doulas.
The pandemic can also be cited for driving an awareness of direct cremation services as a simple, no-contact, no-fuss, and genuinely affordable disposition option. Prior to this, the cremation trend was growing, but still leaned towards cremation funeral memorial options.
Implications for the Future
We already know society is facing a ‘grey’ wave. Medical services and hospice resources are going to be stretched thin, and more families will need to step up to become caregivers.
The role of a death doula is likely to become a supplemental and vital role within a community to support the burden of helping our older generation die with the peace, dignity, and comfort they deserve.
Consider these facts:
- By 2030, every single baby boomer will be 65 or older.
- By 2034, older adults will outnumber children for the first time in history.
- By 2060, nearly 100 million people will be aged 65+.
What Changes We are Likely to See / Need for the EOLD Sector
We will see more death doulas working in partnership with hospice and medical systems. An improved symbiotic relationship will evolve to meet the needs of end-of-life care.
I think that the death doula sector will experience more regulation, certification, and accreditation as demand grows. Regulation, licensing, and insurance may become necessary to help families and hospices ensure the delivery of quality and consistent EOLD services.
As the role of Doulas gains prominence in EOL care, we will continue to experience an increased growth of alternative funeral and memorial practices. Doulas will help clients prepare for a simple funeral or cremation, which are more often family-led, non-faith, or life celebration-oriented.
Finally, I believe we will see a growth in end-of-life planning becoming more common earlier in life (not just in crisis). Discussing death care preferences and ‘taking care of business’ will become a more practical aspect of mid-life transitions.
