Whether a person is healthy and not imminently facing death, has a terminal disease, or is otherwise near to the end of life, we guide them in creating a personalized End of Life Care Plan that realizes their wishes.

For coaching clients who are not immediately facing death, we guide them through a model that asks them to reflect on their priorities for end of life within the context of the physical, emotional, life review/legacy, spiritual, and practical (after-death care) domains of life.

If someone wishes to be remembered by loved ones in a special way, we can help to create a legacy project. Some examples include a video recording, an audio recording, a scrapbook of memories and photos, an ethical will, letters to relatives, a portrait, or a poem. A legacy gift can be a way to honor, thank, or express love to those who are dear to the dying person.

For those who wish to have their life celebrated and have the opportunity to express their gratitude and love to their family and friends before they die, we can create a beautiful celebration in their honor. This celebration might take the place of, or occur in addition to a traditional funeral service.

With the direction of the client, we create a plan that includes physical and spiritual care in their final days and hours. The plan may include how they want their body to be cared for, whether they want their favorite flowers in the room, a cherished prayer book on the bed, their pet nearby, who they want to be present, who they don’t wish to be present, any special music they’d like to hear, if they want someone to sing to them, read a poem, have special family stories recounted, and any meaningful ritual they might like to have performed at the moment of death. A Vigil Plan can be a beautiful gift to the dying person and their family, that honors the way they wish to leave this world.

As the dying person enters their final days and hours, we sit at the bedside offering whatever comfort care that person has chosen in their Vigil Plan. Whether it is holding their hand, lightly rubbing their legs, playing their favorite music, or having family members share special memories, we offer bedside support that is meaningful and healing. Being accompanied in this way, at the end of life, can be a source of great comfort and peace, not just for the dying person, but for their loved ones as well.

We can facilitate the creation of an after-death care plan, in advance. This may include what the person wants at the moment of death (maybe anointing of the body or a special prayer); whether they wish to lie-in-honor at home before the body is collected so that loved ones can pay their respects and say farewell in an intimate and relaxed environment; whether or not they wish to have a traditional funeral, a family-directed home funeral, or no funeral; help with designing a service; and whether they wish to have a traditional burial, a green burial, traditional fire cremation or water cremation, natural organic reduction (human composting), or forest burial. The plan for fulfilling these wishes is made in advance of the person’s death.