Navigating the end of life with compassion and dignity is at the heart of Morgan Everitt’s work as an end-of-life doula.
In her recent interview with MysticMag, Morgan shared how her personal experience with her mother’s passing inspired her to ensure that no one feels unseen or unheard during their final days. Her services go beyond traditional hospice care, offering emotional support, seamless communication, and meaningful legacy projects to help clients and their families find peace and closure.
Through her thoughtful and individualized approach, Morgan provides a calm presence and a guiding hand during life’s most challenging transitions.
What inspired you to become an end-of-life doula?
I was inspired to become an end-of-life doula after my mother passed away when I was 26. I had worked for many years in companion care with people of all different types of physical and mental disabilities, and when I moved home to help care for my mother I became absolutely fascinated by the dying process and how it is handled in our medical system and culture. There was one particular moment that sparked the idea of working with people throughout this time.
My mom was in her hospice bed, she was very weak and her speech was slow and quiet. The hospice nurse, who was lovely but also stretched quite thin, didn’t have the time to sit with my mom and decipher what she was trying to communicate. Instead, the nurse was talking over my mom, to my dad who was standing on the other side of the bed. This struck me as incredibly tragic. No one should be overlooked like that, especially in their last few months. I wanted to find a way to help everyone at the end of their life feel seen and heard.
How do your services complement traditional hospice care?
I have always advocated for hospice and think it is a fantastic program. I find that the help of a doula goes a long way in the care that hospices are able to provide. Since I have the gift of time, I am able to debrief with the nurses and keep them up to date on any changes the client is going through, or concerns that they or their family have.
I help with the communication between hospice and families and take notes for the caregiver on the medications and protocols. The nurse will often have my number and we can text about any issues that come up. Collaborating has been a really positive and smooth experience!
Can you explain the significance of legacy projects in your practice?
Legacy Projects bring so much meaning to the end of life. I have worked with clients on filmed interviews, voice recordings, writing letters, and collecting important possessions to pass along. These projects bring a lot of peace and comfort to both the client and their families and allow people to share their advice, stories, and messages in a tangible way.
A particularly powerful project is when my client writes letters to their family members and has me distribute them after their death. These messages have served as an incredible gift as people navigate their grief.
What role does emotional support play in your work with clients and their families?
Emotional support is woven into everything I do as a doula. Being a calm and objective presence provides people with the space to get a lot off their chest. I often end up supporting not only my primary client but their family and loved ones as well. Being able to take my time in my practice allows me to really get to know everyone, which leads to an easy relationship. Once that is established, I often spend a lot of time listening to their anxieties, joys, worries, and hopes.
How do you assist clients in documenting their end-of-life wishes?
I have created a booklet that I use to document end-of-life wishes. It is crucial to me that my client’s wishes are always advocated for and facilitated. We go through this booklet over time, documenting many things such as what music they want to hear, how many visitors they want at a time, memorial ideas, etc.
I also help people work through their advance directives and medical power of attorney. While I am not a lawyer or doctor, I help facilitate conversations and aid families in finding resources.
What is your approach to providing caregiver respite and support?
Caregiver support is a hugely important part of what I do, and I always aim to help the caregiver avoid burnout and navigate this incredibly challenging time. My goal is to create an environment where the caregiver is able to be mentally present with the person they are caring for. To do this, I help them with errands, organizing, taking notes, communicating with others, and being a supportive and calming presence.
I will often provide respite for caregivers as well so that they can regain their energy and peace of mind. Additionally, I offer weekly visits for up to two months after someone dies in order to help the caregiver reintegrate back into their lives. After that, I am always available if they need to reach out for any reason to talk or just check-in.
Find out more at: www.heronsflightdoula.com
