Ask a Death Doula Podcast - Meet Death Doula Jane Whitlock

Ask A Death Doula

Jane Whitlock is the new Integrative Care Specialist/End of Life Doula at Providence Place Senior Living (Minneapolis, MN)

Jane will be working with the folks on hospice as well as other residents in need of her services. As an end of life doula, she specializes in talking with people about their fears, and hopes as they face their deaths. In addition, she will be offering integrative therapies such as essential oils, hand and foot massage and guided imagery to all. Previously, she was a middle school teacher, hospice volunteer, CNA, and death educator. Welcome to the team, Jane!

Jane Whitlock BIO:

I am a trained end-of-life doula through Doulagivers out of NYC with Suzanne O’Brien. I am also a trained CNA (certified nursing assistant).I provide practical guidance and support for individuals and families during the end-of-life process. My work nicely dovetails with the work of hospice.

I became an end of life doula after taking care of my husband who died after a 4 month illness with kidney cancer. I learned first hand how I could have benefited from having someone who had been down this path before, to guide me. My husband spent the last 2 weeks of his life at a hospice house. He was fully supported medically for his physical ailments, but we both felt anxious spiritually.

BJ Miller (check out his Ted talk if you don't know who he is) says, "We spend our entire lives avoiding thinking about death, when it finally comes into view, there's a thicket of panic, denial, or disbelief to cut through before people can focus, more mindfully, on the experience and begin to make decisions to improve their last days. " This is the work of an end of life doula. Someone with experience who could create space for him to talk about his fears freely, without trying to "fix" them. On the more practical side I as the caregiver, would have loved having someone prepare me for what to expect as the experience unfolded.

I read the pamphlet that hospice gives you "When death draws near" about 100 times but it didn't quiet the panic inside me. I wished for the gentle, reassurance from someone that we had prepared and that I could handle what was coming, and would have welcomed blessings and poems to enrich the experience. ​

Death has many gifts to offer us. The gift of living our best lives while we face dying. The gift of finding meaning in our lives. The gift of having the opportunity to tell loved ones: I'm sorry, I forgive you, thank you, and goodbye.

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