My name is Rachel Langenohl,  

 

Several years ago, a friend who had ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) was admitted to a hospice facility. I began to visit her weekly and quickly learned she needed much more than medical care. Her needs were ever changing as her disease progressed, and I did my best to help her through each stage. Her needs ranged from needing technical support with her computer so she could communicate with her caregivers and family, to having someone listen empathetically as she described her concerns and fears for herself and her family, to helping her find joy in the day-to-day through reading a book or listening to music. After she died, I was inspired to become a hospice volunteer at that same facility. I spent six years there providing companionship to those in their final season of life and sitting vigil with those who were actively dying. Following my volunteering, I spent one year as a hospice volunteer coordinator – training and matching volunteers with hospice patients.

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While my time as a volunteer coordinator was an important step in my journey, I realized how much I missed the one-on-one time with those at end of life and that began this journey of me becoming an end of life doula. 

 

I received my certificate as an End of Life Doula through The University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine and am a member of the Florida End of Life Doula Alliance and National End of Life Doula Alliance. I provide in person services to people in Brevard County, Florida but can assist remotely nationwide. My services include companionship and presence, advanced planning, spiritual support, coordination of assistance and sitting vigil when a person is near death. 

 

I truly believe this can be a sacred time of life and I am humbled and honored any time I am able to be a part of someone’s end of life journey.