If your family already has a palliative care team, you might wonder what an end of life doula could possibly add. It is a fair question, and a common one.
The two roles are different, but they can work alongside each other. One provides clinical care for the illness, while the other offers non clinical support around the person, their family and the experience of dying.
Here is what each role covers, where they differ and how families can use them together.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is medical and clinical care for people living with a serious or life limiting illness. It focuses on managing symptoms, improving quality of life and supporting the person and their family. It can be provided during an illness rather than only in the final days or weeks.
Palliative Care Australia is the national peak body for palliative care in Australia and provides information about what palliative care teams can offer.
A palliative care team may include doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. Care can take place in different settings, including hospitals, hospices and at home.
If you are comparing the different forms of care available, our guide to end of life care options in Perth explains how different services fit into the wider picture. You can also read about hospice care in Perth if you are looking for more specific information about hospice services.
What is an end of life doula?
An end of life doula is a non medical, non clinical support person who works with someone approaching the end of their life and the people around them.
The role can involve practical, emotional, educational and personal support, depending on what the person and family need. Our guide to what an end of life doula is explains the role in more detail.
What does palliative care provide?
Palliative care sits within the clinical side of care. This can include:
- Managing pain and other symptoms
- Reviewing medications
- Providing medical assessment
- Coordinating with other healthcare professionals
- Supporting treatment and care decisions
- Helping manage the physical effects of a serious illness
If you have a medical concern or need advice about symptoms or treatment, your GP, specialist or palliative care team is the right place to start.
What does an end of life doula provide?
An end of life doula works outside that clinical role. Depending on the family, support might include:
- Spending time with the person and their family
- Helping with practical tasks and planning
- Providing information in plain language
- Supporting difficult conversations
- Helping someone think through their wishes and preferences
- Supporting family members as they navigate the experience
- Helping with preparation for a vigil, ceremony, funeral or memorial
- Continuing to support the family after death
The exact support can vary because the role is shaped around the individual and their circumstances.
End of life doula vs palliative care
| End of life doula | Palliative care |
| Non medical, non clinical support | Medical and clinical care |
| Shaped around the individual and family | Delivered by a multidisciplinary clinical team |
| Time, presence, education and practical support | Symptom management and medical assessment |
| Supports the person and those close to them | Primarily focused on the person with the illness |
| Can support different stages, including after death | Focuses on care during serious or life limiting illness |
| Complements existing clinical care | Works alongside GPs, specialists and other healthcare teams |
The distinction is not about one being more important than the other. They address different parts of the experience.
Can you have both?
Yes. A family can have an end of life doula while also receiving palliative care.
Palliative Care Australia describes end of life doulas as an emerging role in Australia and has developed resources to help palliative care services, health professionals, people with serious or life limiting illness and their families understand how the roles can work together.
You do not need to choose between the two simply because you already have a palliative care team.
How can they work together?
Imagine someone living with a life limiting illness who is receiving palliative care at home.
The palliative care team manages symptoms, medication and clinical concerns. An end of life doula might spend additional time with the person and their family, help them talk through what matters to them, support practical planning or help prepare for what is ahead.
The roles can sit alongside each other without duplicating the clinical care.
This can also give families a clearer place to take different questions. Medical concerns stay with the healthcare team, while questions about personal wishes, family conversations, practical preparation or what the dying process may look like can be explored with a doula.
When might a family consider both?
There is no single point when a doula has to become involved.
Some families make contact soon after a diagnosis. Others are already receiving palliative care and realise they would benefit from additional support. Some only consider a doula during the final stages of an illness.
Questions families often ask
Does an end of life doula replace palliative care?
No. A doula does not replace medical or clinical care. The two roles are different and can work alongside each other.
Can a doula give medical advice?
No. A doula is not a substitute for a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional. Medical questions about symptoms, medication or treatment should be directed to your healthcare team.
Can I have both a doula and palliative care?
Yes. Having a palliative care team does not prevent a family from engaging an end of life doula. The roles can provide different forms of support.
Who should I contact about symptoms or medical concerns?
Your GP, specialist or palliative care team. These are the professionals responsible for clinical assessment, treatment and symptom management.
Why might someone want a doula if they already have a healthcare team?
A healthcare team may not be able to provide all the time, practical support and personal conversations a family needs. A doula can provide support around those areas without taking over the clinical role.
How do I know what kind of support my family needs?
Start by looking at what feels missing from your current support. It might be more time to talk, help with practical preparation, support for family conversations or simply someone to help you think through what comes next.
If your family reaches the stage of planning a funeral or memorial, there are different ways to create a meaningful place of remembrance. You can learn more about types of memorial ceremonies in Australia or explore memorial tree packages at Wellington Dam.
