Death Doulas Roundtable Website

Death DoulaS RoundtabLe

Serving

Southern Oregon

Make end of life part of life

About Us

No matter where you’re at in your life, you can understand the struggle that comes with accepting your own mortality and creating a realistic plan for the end, whenever that may be. Whether you are coming to terms with aging, with a terminal or chronic illness, or you are wanting to get your affairs in order, our death doulas are here to serve and support your needs and wishes.

Death doulas are known primarily for working with individuals that have received a terminal diagnosis. But, they also work with individuals who are consciously working with their end-of-life plan.

We are individuals with unique backgrounds, with a myriad of life experiences, with extensive knowledge about the issues leading up to and surrounding death. We are an integral part of an individual's support team and serve our clients in many ways as directed by the client's needs and wishes. This could include, but is not limited to:

End of Life Planning: Advanced Directive and POLST forms, ethical wills, legacy projects
Review of other documents to ensure they are in order and up to date (wills, trusts, other). We do not offer legal advice but can assist in finding estate attorneys if a client does not already have one and needs to get something in place
Client/Patient Advocacy: A patient advocate helps with communication with healthcare providers, may also help set up appointments for doctor visits and medical tests, and be a pillar of support in navigating the healthcare system
Funeral, burial, memorial plans and logistics
Emotional and spiritual support
Liaison with medical team, hospice and palliative care

~ A doula is a non-medical professional ~

Our Doulas

Debra lyn Johnson, MA

Gerontologist, Death Doula & Patient Advocate

My career and experience in serving older adults has covered the spectrum of all the colors in the rainbow over the last twenty years. I have worked with Zen Hospice, with Marin General Hospital as a spiritual care companion, and as a Geriatric Care Manager in private practice and with Sage ElderCare Solutions in the San Francisco Bay Area. I hold a Master's Degree in Gerontology from San Francisco State University with a Care Management speciality, a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of San Francisco. Currently, I work with End of Life Choices Oregon, and provide Advanced Directive counseling at the Ashland Senior Center. Working with clients in many aspects of the late life journey is a passion of mine to support an individual's quality of life, independence, and dignity in late life to the very end.

Michele Duncan King

Death Doula and Palliative Touch Massage Therapist (OBMT Lic. No. 15857)

I provide nonmedical holistic support to individuals and families, as well as practical planning and emotional and spiritual care to those facing serious illness. My passion is improving death and grief literacy and helping others consciously prepare for the future. Together we explore the universal experiences around aging, life-limiting illness, dying, and death. My working career spans over 20 years in legal administration, followed by over a decade in bodywork (specifically, massage therapy, yoga, reiki, and meditation). I’m also a life cycle celebrant providing ritual support through meaningful ceremonies and legacy projects. I serve on the spiritual care team of a local hospice house. There are many facets to end-of-life care that might intersect and overlap. Doulas and celebrants assume many helpful roles in the death care continuum.

Our Partners