End-of-life doula services is one of the services Madison County Rural Health Council Inc. provides in Mohawk Valley, explains agency’s deputy director
By David Podos
Q: Your agency is located in Madison County, however, the services you offer go beyond this county. What other counties do you serve and what are the core programs you offer?
A: Well, we offer different services to different counties. We have some programs that are specific only to Madison County. For example, we have a transportation program that offers services to Madison County residents that are 60-plus. This service provides transportation to medical appointments as well as other necessary quality of life appointments. We have other programs like our mental health first aid program. Trainings for the mental health first aid program while generally held in person here in Madison County, through interactive technology, virtually anyone can attend. This also is the same for our diabetes prevention program.
Q: Let’s talk a bit about what services you provide for Oneida County, what would they be?
A: So, we serve Oneida County with our for birth Doula program and our end-of-life Doula program. The funding we receive for those services are earmarked for both Madison and Oneida county. For our end-of-life doula program we provide companionship, comfort and guidance to a dying person, their loved ones and family.
Q: Does this take place in the person’s home or other facilities?
A: The doula can meet in their home or if they are in a facility we can go to that facility.
Q: So, doula is an interesting word, I have to say, I never heard of it before, is it an acronym?
A: No, it is not an acronym. These are trained non medical professionals that provide educational, informational, physical and emotional support to a person with a terminal diagnosis. These services are an addition to whatever hospice might be providing for that person. We are not a substitute for what hospice does; rather, our services are an added complement to what hospice is already providing. In regards to the name, it derives from the Greek word doule, which translates to a female helper or maid servant. However, today those services have expanded as well as having both male and female trained doulas.
Q: What other services does the end-of-life doula provide?
A: We have conversations asking the client what do they want their end of days to be like. Do they want lots of family members and friends visiting them, perhaps they want only a select few. We do our best to help them get their affairs in order, for example, any paperwork they need to finalize, we even ask them if there is any special music they would like played. Everything we do points how we can assure they will pass in dignity.
Q: Let’s switch to the opposite spectrum. Talk about your for-birth doula program, what services do you provide?
A: The doula for birth is a partnership program with three other organizations. Herkimer County Public Health, Seven Valleys Health Coalition, Cayuga Community Health Network. We started our birth doula program two and half years ago. We initially offered this service to just Madison County residents, then we saw the need for Oneida County. So our agency sought out additional funding to bring the service there. We provide emotional and physical support to women who are pregnant. Our trained professionals actually will meet with the client and provide three prenatal visits. They will talk about their birth plan, for example, they will ask if you want an epidermal, who are you going to have in the room with you once you give birth, what positions you want to be in, etc.
Q: Will the doula actually be with the woman as she is giving birth?
A: Absolutely. Whether it is a home birth and or a hospital birth, they will be there providing any assistance that is needed.
Q: Are there any fees associated with these doula services.
A: No. Both the end-of-life and doula for birth services are completely free of charge.
Q: If these services were not available, what do you think would happen?
A: Without the doula the birth process could be more difficult. There certainly are benefits to people who receive these services. For instance, a birth doula can help to shorten the duration of labor, they can help decrease the risk of a caesarean birth, decrease the use of pain medications and it provides an overall positive experience. For the end-of-life doula program those services provide much needed communication between the dying person and their family and most importantly to help the family understand the stages of a dying person. It also gives the family members a respite for them to do some personal errands while they know their loved one is being comforted. Without these supports the death could be much harder on everyone.
Q: How long have you been the deputy director?
A: I have been the deputy director for the past two and half years, but with the agency for five years, starting off as a program assistant, then to program coordinator and eventually my current position as deputy director.
Q: What is your educational background?
A: I have a bachelor’s degree in sociology and my employment background before coming here has always been in the human services social services arena, working in the nonprofit sector for the past 20 years.
Q: What number can someone call if they are interested in your services and do you have a website?
A: Our number is 315-815-4141.