Doula: the woman who gently accompanies you to death

In Greek a doula means shiava, but in her current life, she's a woman who liberates. From the pain and fear of death. From the anguish of that question, which we continue to ask ourselves until we're clear-headed, about what awaits us afterward. Death is never good, but when it isn't sudden, it can be less traumatic and even less sad if we know how to accompany people on their final journey. If we don't leave them alone, or in the wrong place (70 percent of people now die far from their bed, in a hospital or a nursing home), if, in short, we know how to recognize the value and meaning of death, without wasting it and without worrying only about how we can prolong life. Mariam Ardati is a a doulaShe was a gymnastics and bodybuilding instructor in Sydney, until a car accident confronted her with the mystery of death, its imminent danger. And since then, Mariam has devoted herself, professionally, to a new activity: accompanying men and women at the end of their lives, along the last mile, in a sweet, empathetic, warm way. And so she too joined the association that brings together the a doula end-of-life care around the world.

What does a doula do?

La a doula She is a professional who assists pregnant women, as we'll see. But in recent years, her work has evolved, and now she also focuses on supporting those at the end of their lives.

Inelda

The International end of life doula association (International Association of a doula Inelda (End of Life Care), headquartered in New Jersey, has a presence in nine countries around the world, including the United States, Great Britain, and Mexico. Founded in 2015 by Henri Fersko-Weiss, a social worker who had worked in palliative care, Inelda supports the spread of this profession, which is increasingly in demand, especially after the pandemic and its catastrophic effects, and offers training courses and certifications. In the last two years alone, 500 doulas they were trained with Inelda's courses.

In Italy

The activities of a doula It has very deep roots, and was once limited to assisting women during childbirth and after pregnancy. On this basis, two associations were also founded in Italy: Doule Italia e Dula World, which brings together women specialized in this service. And it recalls some of its advantages for new mothers: for example, the use of caesarean section, with the assistance of the a doula, is reduced by 50 percent, and the length of labor is shortened by 25 percent.

Death Doula

La death doula, instead, as in Mariam's case, she must focus, in her words, "on helping people embrace death with dignity and in a way that is in line with their values." Mariam has had countless experiences along these lines, and each time there is something new, in the mysterious final passage of human life. An elderly woman, gifted with good lucidity until the end, asked her, when she could no longer eat, to be allowed to breathe in the scent of her favorite food: vine leaves stuffed with rice and meat. In other cases, very religious men and women, especially Muslims, have asked Mariam to listen to passages from the Gospel or the Quran. And their request was granted.

Female accabadora

Read also:

• Condemned by cancer, before dying he leaves the company to his employees. To ensure its continuity,
• Capsula mundi: When dying makes a tree grow
• Dying for a selfie, a massacre of wasted lives

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