What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 4pm Tuesday 9am - 4pm Wednesday 9am - 4pm Thursday 9am - 4pm Friday 9am - 4pm

International End of Life Doula Association

Home
United States
Jersey City, NJ
International End of Life Doula Association

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

As of fall 2022, INELDA has trained over 5,000 doulas globally including staff at hospice organizations and medical care facilities.

Our mission is to encourage the presence of end-of-life doulas by normalizing death, dying, and grief through conscientious education and stewardship, and by fostering community and advocacy. The International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA), formed in 2015, is a member-based, non-profit working to meet the non-medical needs of the dying by raising awareness of the roles of end-of-life doulas and providing education to support compassionate deathcare. We are charged with our vision of ensuring that ‘all individuals have accessible, equitable, and compassionate deathcare that holistically affirms one’s humanity and supports end-of-life choices.’ These tenets guide our work and daily decision making. We acknowledge people die everywhere and end-of-life doulas can play a vital role for the dying individual. INELDA is committed to supporting doulas in residential homes, hospices, for those incarcerated, in centers for the unhoused, and on city streets. In order to meet the increasing needs and demands on our deathcare system, INELDA offers End-of-Life Doula Training for individuals around the world, Care Provider Doula training for facilities, and Caregiver Support Training for those seeking to support loved ones. For more information, visit https://www.inelda.org/.

11/10/2026

We are thrilled to announce a new collaborative learning opportunity from INELDA, co-created with the Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation: When Grief Is Present. Our first class runs from January 27 through February 8, 2027, with additional offerings scheduled throughout the year.

Over the past year, INELDA has immersed itself in the teachings and legacy of Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. Through this journey, we had the honor of listening to dedicated stewards of her work, including Dr. Katie Eastman, Jacob Watson, Liese Groot-Alberts, Larry Lincoln, Dr. Joanne Cacciatore, and Ken Ross.

Grief weaves deeply through the support and care end-of-life doulas provide. When Grief Is Present was born from exploring a central question: How can we learn to meet grief with greater presence, curiosity, and trust?

This six-session class bridges the core teachings of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross with the principles of the INELDA Doula Approach: self-awareness, autonomy, the dying process, and full-self listening.

Whether you are a doula, grief educator, caregiver, or individual seeking to expand your understanding of grief, this space is open to you. Together, we will explore practical tools to examine our relationship with our own grief and build the capacity to sit alongside others without needing to fix, change, or take away their experience.

Learn more and register for the January session by clicking here: inelda.org/learn/when-grief-is-present

©Lynn Gilbert CC BY-SA 4.0

11/06/2026

"Across every condition, every stage, and every journey, care connects us – to our loved ones, to vital information, to one another, and to a stronger, more supportive tomorrow."

November is National Family Caregivers Month. This year, the theme from the Caregiver Action Network for this month is Care Connects Us.

As end-of-life doulas, every day we witness the ways that families, both biological and chosen, show up to care for the dying, those living with chronic illness living, and people with disabilities. We acknowledge the care, love, joyous moments, and all of the challenges and hardships that go into being a family caregiver.

Caregiving is what humans have done for each other since time immemorial. Yet, in many of our societies, this caregiving is made challenging by issues of the rising cost of living, isolation, and lack of access to important resources. The Caregiver Action Network has identified many of these access gaps, and has shared resources on their website. You can learn more by clicking here: https://www.caregiveraction.org/nfc2026/

We would love to hear your reflections on being/supporting a family caregiver, and how care connects us. Please leave a comment sharing your experiences as a family caregiver, or in your doula practice.

11/05/2026

"As I have not worried to be born, I do not worry to die."

This powerful quote was said by Federico García Lorca a few months before his arrest and assassination during the Spanish Civil War.

One of the many beautiful parts of the human experience is reading and listening to the words of others as they navigate familiar terrain to our own. Perhaps many of us can not relate to the circumstances under which he spoke these words, but even so, the message itself is evergreen. A message of being at peace with the reality of death being a part of life, just as much as birth is.

How have words like this impacted your deathwork? Is there a quote that you've found uniquely speaks to you or the people you support? Feel free to share in the comments.

11/03/2026

Wondering what's coming up this month at INELDA?

Check our trainings, community offerings, and discovery calls for the month of November by clicking here: inelda.org/learn/inelda-events

11/02/2026

Expanding Access to End-of-Life Support: Introducing INELDA’s Community Doula Support

Navigating serious illness, caregiving, grief, and end-of-life planning does not need to be experienced alone.

We are proud to introduce Community Doula Support-a free initiative from our Doula Support Center designed to expand access to compassionate, non-medical care for the general public. This program is for individuals, families, and caregivers experiencing loss and grief.

Much of our work as doulas is empowering people through emotionally charged moments. Through this new program, dedicated INELDA-trained volunteer doulas offer a steady, compassionate presence to anyone in need.

Community Doula Support brings this care to anyone

"It is an honor as an End-of-Life Doula to volunteer for INELDA’s Community Doula Support Program. Serving in this way fulfills my soul’s calling as I sit present, listening from the heart and holding space for those needing support. No one should feel alone in their journey—we are here for you."
— Lynne-Anne McGrail, Program Volunteer

How the Program Works:

Free, Accessible Care: Up to three one-on-one sessions with an INELDA-trained end-of-life doula volunteer.

Get Matched: Participants complete a short request form and are paired with a volunteer based on availability and specific needs.

Compassionate Connection: A private, dedicated space focused on deep listening, emotional support, reflection, and guidance to community resources.

"I know firsthand that grief needs to be gently tendered and witnessed in order for healing to occur. The compassionate space that heartfelt listening provides is a gift to both the sharer and the one holding space."
— Arlene S., Program Volunteer

Special thanks to Katina Perkins, Director of Community Engagement, for shepherding this vital resource with immense care and intention.

Get Involved & Learn More:

To learn more: Visit our Community Doula Support page by clicking here https://bit.ly/4efSi0O

Request Support: Complete our brief request form to connect with a volunteer doula by clicking here https://bit.ly/3WcC1DH

Volunteer Opportunities: If you are an INELDA-trained doula interested in giving back, contact us at [email protected].

Note: Community Doula Support provides non-medical, non-clinical emotional, informational, and practical support. It does not replace medical, hospice, or behavioral healthcare services. If you are experiencing an immediate crisis, please dial 988.

10/30/2026

INELDA Media of the Month Oct/Nov, 2026 | How Lucky Am I? by Christian Watson

From Myrtle Creek, Oregon, animator and designer Christian Watson has long lived by the creed that a person ought to remain a student of many things. In 2023, while residing in Tasmania with his wife, Elle-May, and their two children, he sketched the first likeness of Mr. Skelly—a small figure that, to Christian’s surprise, came to hold meaning for millions. Christian writes as he works: with plain earnestness, an eye for the unseen, and a belief that even the quietest life is extraordinary.

"As a society, mostly in the West, we have done this weird thing with death. Instead of seeing it as a natural part of life, we don’t like to talk about death, we avoid it, we rebel against it. We see the attributes of death—skeletons, the Grim Reaper—as symbols of rebellion, heavy metal music, Halloween.

Death used to scare me so much. In fact, when I was about eight years old I had this devastating nightmare about a skeleton chasing me. The concept of death was frightening, electrifying in a way I still can’t tangibly explain. It reminds me of the magic of being able to feel wind but not see it. You can see other objects moving in the wind— the trees, people’s coats, the grass—but wind itself is invisible."

Learn more about How Lucky Am I? by clicking here to read our most recent newsletter https://inelda.org/newsletter/october-november-2026/

10/28/2026

Sharing Sources | INELDA Newsletter October-November 2026
Remember This

Remember This helps families document and preserve the stories, memories, and moments that make them who they are—before they’re lost.

Founded by award-winning public radio veterans, Remember This turns thoughtful conversations into lasting family heirlooms—podcasts or videos built around your family’s needs, whether preserving a loved one’s voice or celebrating them after a loss. They offer a free 30-minute consultation.

Every other month, INELDA shares valuable resources with our community in our newsletter. To sign up to receive our bi-monthly newsletter in your inbox, click here: https://bit.ly/4yluYHo

10/27/2026

This past August, Karen M. Wyatt, MD | Author, Speaker hospice physician, educator, and podcast host of End-Of-Life University Podcast and INELDA's executive director, Douglas Simpson sat down for a conversation about doulas and deathcare systems. Listen to this dynamic conversation between Karen and Doug and learn what INELDA is doing in the field to support education, connection, and pathways to end-of-life doula care.

We are grateful for this heart-led interview by Karen and the ongoing work that she has done to educate and inform the field.

Listen here:
https://eolupodcast.com/

10/26/2026

What a beautiful weekend at Omega Institute with our newest cohort of end-of-life doulas!

Over four days, we connected deeply to mortality and to each other against a backdrop of changing leaves, perfectly reminding us of the impermanence of life.

A heartfelt thank you to our participants who showed up with open hearts, and who explored the INELDA Doula Approach with open minds.

Deep gratitude to our educators, team, and volunteer support for the care and depth of experience they brought to this training.

If you are considering End-of-Life Doula Training, you can view our open trainings here inelda.org/learn/inelda-events

10/22/2026

Doula Profile | Azusa Lymdraas

"What I hold most central is this: Grief care doesn’t begin with finding the right words. It begins with honoring both the person who is grieving and the person who is caring for them. Only when those who offer support have truly faced grief themselves—and begun to understand it—can something real emerge."

Azusa is based in Tokyo and works as a therapist and educator. She has experienced two early miscarriages, and in 2023, she lost her second son to stillbirth at 14 weeks. Nine years ago, her mother passed away from pancreatic cancer just nine days before her daughter was born. Three months after her son’s birth, she went through postpartum depression. These personal experiences of loss and grief are the foundation of everything Azusa does.

For three years, she worked at a close friend’s midwifery clinic, providing postpartum care and building community, supporting more than 2,000 mothers. She now runs her own program, Natural Grief Care, which she has brought to midwives, nurses, teachers, and bereaved individuals across Japan. Though still small, a community of Natural Grief Care practitioners is slowly growing nationwide. She also hosts regular gatherings for mothers and families who have lost babies.

Learn more about Azusa in our recent newsletter by clicking here: https://bit.ly/47xXlWB

To read in Japanese, click here:
https://bit.ly/3VZfzh9

Address

Jersey City, NJ

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4pm
Tuesday	9am - 4pm
Wednesday	9am - 4pm
Thursday	9am - 4pm
Friday	9am - 4pm

Telephone

+12015409049

Website

http://www.inelda.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when International End of Life Doula Association posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.