Douglas College has been a leader and innovator in End-of-Life Studies since 2016 when we created the End-of-Life Doula (EOLD) course. End-of-life doulas are non-medical professionals who focus on all aspects of a person's life as they journey through the end of their lives. EOLDs have emerged as key players and allies in the Canadian health and social care systems to meet increasing needs by empowering, educating, and encouraging people to become actively involved in end-of-life decisions.
Since its inception, over 3,000 students taken the course to gain a deeper understanding of the questions and issues that arise at end-of-life. Many have gone on to become practicing end-of-life doulas but others have used their new-found skills in family medicine, palliative care, hospice care, or even their own personal lives.
Other schools recognize Douglas College’s leadership
The University of Ottawa’s End-of-Life Studies Microprogram encourages students to take the EOLD course as one of the program’s electives. Students from the U of O can take the Douglas College course and get U of O credits.
Indigenous End-of-Life Guide
In 2018, Douglas College partnered with the First Nations Health Authority in British Columbia in creating an Indigenous End-of-Life Guide course that uses the Two-Eyed seeing approach to blend traditional and western end-of-life practices. This course material has been successfully rolled out in indigenous communities across Canada.
Metis End-of-Life Guide
Douglas College has partnered with the Metis Nation of British Columbia to create a Metis version of our EOLD course. Multiple consultations with elders and other community members allowed us to create a Metis End-of-Life Guide course that will be go live in British Columbia in 2025. We plan to roll the course out across Canada at a later date.
Grief and bereavement
In 2024, Douglas College created a follow-up course called End-of-Life Doula II: Grief and Bereavement. The goal of this course is to give graduates of the EOLD course some additional resources to when helping individuals experiencing grief.
Media
- New death doula program at Douglas College in Coquitlam (TriCity News, 2017)
- End of life doula course teaches students new outlook on death (CBC, 2019)
- The Waiting Room Revolution Podcast (S4:EP38:2022)
- End-of-life Doulas – guiding the journey to the Spirit World (YouTube, 2019)
- On living and dying well, with Jennifer Mallmes (CORE Podcast)