Bernadette Kenny

“End of Life Doulas’ help the dying and their loved ones say goodbye.”
As a Death Doula, I can provide practical and emotional (plus spiritual if needed) support to a person with a terminal diagnosis and their loved ones. I can work in the person’s home as well as hospices, hospitals and care homes and online if necessary. I offer support at any age or stage of illness.
My role is non-medical and aims to preserve the quality of wellbeing, sense of identity and self-worth from the first moment of contact. The person and their loved ones are at the very heart of all I do.
I see myself as a consistent and compassionate presence with knowledge, experience and understanding. This type of support allows a person to reflect on their choices about where and how they are cared for. My aim is to facilitate an end of life that it is as peaceful, meaningful and dignified as it can be.
End of life doula work can begin when a person has received the news they have a life limiting illness, or I may become involved during a person’s final months and weeks. There are options to continue support to loved ones after their death with bereavement and funeral arrangements.
Another important aspect of my role is to be available to people at any stage in their lives to share my knowledge and provide guidance on death and dying. My aim is to bring dying ‘home’ in our communities as I believe it is all of our business and not the sole task of experts and professionals. I want the conversations around death and dying to become more open and less frightening for everyone.
Death Doulas’ walk alongside, they do not lead.