Finding Peace at the End of Life

“This brave, reassuring book succeeds at eliminating the negativity surrounding death, reframing what seems like a passive, painful experience as an active journey that ‘captures the concentrated fragrance of a person’s life, its sweetest flavor.’” -Foreword Reviews – “Foreword Reviews”“Warm stories of client experiences give permission to imagine a death experienced with as much humanity as the rest of life, with profound results for everyone affected by the event. Fersko-Weiss’s perspective is a desperately needed reminder of the value of facing life’s most difficult transitions with open eyes and hearts.” - Publishers Weekly Starred Review– “Publishers Weekly”“Written for families and caregivers, this book provides a clear overview of end-of-life doulas and a compelling case for their wider use in terminal care. It also supplies some wonderful ideas and techniques for all readers who want to have a more peaceful, meaningful death for themselves or their loved ones.” - Library Journal Starred Review– “Library Journal”“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 –Kenneth J. Doka“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–Frank Ostaseski“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–Amy Wright Glenn“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–Robert A. F. Thurman“Part guidebook, part memoir, Caring for the Dying introduces us to the path of end-of-life doulas who accompany people on their journey from this life. Doulas fulfill our collective commitment to care well for one another through the most difficult and vulnerable times and they bear witness to the inherent worth and dignity of every human being. This book shows us what death can be like in a healthy human society and by turns alleviates anxiety and lifts the spirit.” - Ira Byock, MD, founder & chief medical officer, Providence Institute for Human Caring, author of Dying Well, The Four Things That Matter Most, and The Best Care Possible–Ira Bycock, MD“This book describes an approach to end of life care that might best be described as witness. The doula program described here provides skilled, compassionate, mindful presence to people at the end of life and their loved ones, helping guide them to an experience of dying which affirms their lives and enriches the lives of those left behind. I wish all patients had access to this amazing program.” - Leslie Blackhall, Section Chief for Palliative Medicine and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Virginia School of Medicine–Leslie Blackhall“This is a pitch perfect, accessible book on an otherwise inaccessible subject. Just what the world needs right now. Mr. Fersko-Weiss points us to all sorts of ways to find meaning at the end of life, or ways to create it. His beautiful and poignant stories can be used as road-maps, not only for clinicians, but also for patients, family members, or caregivers who wish to stay connected through to the end of life.” - BJ Miller, MD, author of A Beginner’s Guide to the End–BJ Miller, MD

Henry Fersko-Weiss is executive director of the International End-of-Life Doula Association. In 2003, Henry created the very first End-of-Life Doula Programme in the US at a hospice in New York City and has built many other programmes based on his model. His work has been featured in the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and elsewhere.