Caring for the Dying: The Doula Approach to a Meaningful Death

"An extraordinary contribution to the care of the dying. Through story and instruction, Henry Fersko-Weiss offers his great wisdom on how we can offer meaningful care that can not only ease an individual's dying but provide consolation to family and friends as they cope with grief and loss." --Kenneth J. Doka, author of Grief is a Journey--Reviews

"Henry's calm, practical, and pioneering book is an excellent guide for those wishing to learn how to be a doula for the dying, whether formal or informal, which will certainly also make them an inspiration for the consciously living. This book should be taken up with great relief to guide us from now, while vibrantly alive, and certainly at the time of transition." --Robert A. F. Thurman, Jey Tsong Khapa professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University and author of Infinite Life and Man of Peace--Reviews

"An inspiring and moving collection of end-of-life scenarios illustrating how we can face life's final passage with dignity and thoughtfulness. Fersko-Weiss provides a glimpse at the true meaning of a good death. Essential reading for anyone who wants to create a meaningful experience for themselves or someone they care about." -Fredda Wasserman, co-author with Norine Dresser of Saying Goodbye to Someone You Love: Your Emotional Journey Through End of Life and Grief--Reviews

"What inspires Henry's eminently practical book is his well-informed insight that we can live and die knowing that we are part of a larger inclusivity. In vigiling, in legacy work, in his guidance on deep listening, Henry teaches us that our living and our dying weave us to one another." --Marco Mascarin, PhD, RP, co-founder of the Contemplative End of Life Care program at the Institute of Traditional Medicine--Reviews

"An inspired and practical guide on accompanying those on the precipice of death. Henry reaches into his years of experience in leading doula trainings to provide the reader with invaluable tools. He focuses in on the essential non-medical elements that really matter like deep listening, sitting vigil, establishing a calm and receptive environment and facilitating meaningful rituals. Lots of wisdom in these pages." --Frank Ostaseski, author Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully, founder of the Metta Institute and co-founder of the Zen Hospice Project--Reviews

"As a pioneer in the work of improving end-of-life care, Henry Fersko-Weiss has written a remarkable book. Drawing from decades of work with the dying, Fersko-Weiss offers up stories and insights as he humbly chronicles his own journey of crafting a much-needed and innovative approach to end-of-life care. Caring for the Dying is medicine for a world where far too many of us experience 'unfortunate' deaths. A must read." --Amy Wright Glenn, author of Birth, Breath, and Death: Meditations on Motherhood, Chaplaincy, and Life as a Doula--Reviews

"In Caring for the Dying, Henry Fersko-Weiss brings the reader into his personal journey in supporting a meaningful way of death and dying and his evolving work in the end-of-life-doula movement. The principles and techniques of an end-of-life doula are interwoven with Henry's experiences in a way that makes this book inspirational and helps lessen the mystery and fear of death for any reader who wishes to face their own death with less fear and a focus on meaning." --Kris Kington-Barker, executive director of Hospice of San Luis Obispo County--Reviews

"This title, the first of its kind, makes a compelling case for end-of-life doula care for the dying and their loved ones. Long-time practitioner Fersko-Weiss also discusses techniques and practices for readers who want to have a more peaceful, meaningful death experience." --Library Journal, December 2017 issue: BEST BOOKS OF 2017--Reviews

"There is an abundance of literature on death and dying, but there is little that can compare with the poignancy, compassion and wisdom that Henry Fersko-Weiss brings to the subject. Drawing on his vast experience as a death doula, he offers practical information and inspirational anecdotes that serve to guide others in the art of being present and caring for the person who is dying. Midwifing death in this way honors the dying person, their life and their legacy. A godsend for anyone who wishes to prepare for their own death or midwife the death of someone they love." --Michael Barbato, MD, retired palliative care physician, researcher, teacher, and author of Midwifing Death--Reviews

"A thoughtful and instructive text on how doulas can help people die as they would wish and a guide for families as they cope with what may be the most stressful period of their lives. Illustrated by his actual cases and those of fellow doulas, Fersko-Weiss has created a useful resource for consumers and professionals dealing with the complicated topic of death and dying." --Don Pendley, director of hospice and palliative care at the Home Care and Hospice Association of NJ--Reviews