When the time comes, we believe no one should face a health care crisis or End of Life alone. We walk beside individuals and families through life’s most sacred passage — bringing compassion, understanding, dignity, presence, and peace for the elderly and their families throughout the North West Region of Michigan
Long-Term In-Home Care After Crisis:
We are specialists in long-term care in the home post-crisis. We provide care after rehab, post-accident or surgery, stroke or Dementia care, and/or in addition as soon as a Hospice designation is assigned. We collaborate with all Hospice agencies and Palliative Care in the Grand Traverse & Leelanau Region. We stay when others cannot.
Long-term or short-term care is available. Up to 24 hours a day-7 days per week.
The End of Life Doula Program now sweeping the U.S started approximately around the same time as the Maternal Doula Program that assists with mothers and infants through birthing process.
Both Maternal Doulas and End of Life Doulas training regimen and our agency requirements are similar. In terms of training requirements and RN attestation of completion of the programs skills, internship and duration.
With a required rigid protocol for completion of our customized program. We are setting the standard for training with hands on eyes and ears attesting to our skills and abilities. With full credentials from the online course, the internship course and final credential from our agency once graduated from our program.
A full and thorough training to begin work in the industry and how to run your own practice. Or if you wish join our pipeline for direct employment through our agency.
We are non-medical in nature in what we do. We do not compete, but accentuate care along side the clinical teams. Although many of our team members do come to us with a history of a Health Care Background such as Hospice, Nursing, CNA, Care-giving, Social Work, and more.
We are highly skilled with years of experience and the End of Life Doula Credential is an addition to our work life healthcare portfolio. We transfer within our agency between home care, heatlh care crisis hands on care, and through End of Life Care.
We Provide supportive End-of-Life Doula Care in the home or facility. We travel to assist you and your family so you can “age in place” through our Compassion & Grace: My Final Journey Home Program in collaboration with Munson Hospital and / or rehab facility and more.
Wherever you are: home, hospital, or facility, through partnership with the Discharge Planning Team or Social Work staff at your facility our team can meet with these teams with you to assist with making your health care planning goal complete.
Our credentialed End of Life Doulas provide expertise through compassionate, skilled presence during life’s final chapter. Through full collaboration with your Hospice team and funeral home.
Including allowing you to complete your repose in your home up to *72 hours- in collaboration with the funeral home, to give family members to arrive and loved ones to spend time with you.
While giving you final practical hands on care, respite for your family and more, we can stay by your side for up to 24 hours a day ensuring you and your family are never alone during the moments that matter most. We fully honor your final wish — and coordinate the full circle of ancillary supports you will need.
Including medical home equipment providers, funeral service agencies, and elder law attorneys, so you and your family can focus on what matters, not logistics. We believe everyone deserves to pass on their own terms, in the place they desire.
The CDC reports that 83% of older adults want to spend their final days at home — yet only 23% actually do. We exist to close that gap.
Workforce Development: Through our“Grow a Doula” Program We’re not just providing care — we’re building the future of the profession.
Our “Grow a Doula” program is a one-of-a-kind training path led by certified, experienced trainers with over 30 years of combined death-work experience.
Our End of Life Doula Program consists of two phases:
Phase One: a Comprehensive curriculum combining online with face-to-face instruction. Including field trips and speakers with expertise from the elder care community.
Phase two: an over 40 hr Hands-On Internship — Real-world experience alongside seasoned practitioners with oversight and coordination from our staff and monitored curriculum with required RN oversight and attestation of your acquired skills which align with the End of Life Doula Scope of Practice.
Scholarships are often available. If you feel the calling in this field of work— and you have had end of life experience or caring for the elderly or in the health care field, cost shouldn’t be a barrier to entering this vital field. We find creative fiscal supports whenever feasible to to ensure you can attend.
“Getting Your Ducks in a Row” Program is what happens before a health crisis occurs. Most families don’t find out until it’s too late — they have overlooked essential planning and even basic conversations with family members about “What If”. The result of this is what we call a family -wide “Fracture”: the chaos, confusion, and conflict that unfolds when a family isn’t prepared.
Our program leads to a peaceful end of life process for the entire family with experts guiding you through those difficult & complex conversations and decision making.
Our advisors provide education and necessary documentation through long-term healthcare planning, we help you get every piece in place before a heath care crisis hits. When it does, you and your family can face it with peace of mind, knowing your business, legal, and personal care wishes are prepared and ready to implement.
Advocacy & Community Outreach We see ourselves as change agents — committed to education and outreach that improves the quality of end-of-life experience for elders across our community.
When financial support isn’t there, we look for ways to provide care regardless-through our Angel Fund.
The Angel fund pays it forward for those who desire end of life care in the home but do not have the financial resources. This is funded through “In Memorium” donations driven by former patients in memory of a loved one-so others may utilize our services.
We are Change Agents: Beyond direct service, we engage as concerned citizens in conversations about how end-of-life care might one day become as available and recognized just as the Michigan’s Maternal Doula Program in terms of government support, reimbursement, and recognition.
Our hope is that this framework could one day serve as a model — extending the same level of support and access to one of society’s most vulnerable populations: the elderly and dying. With reimbursement through Medicare/Medicaid and others.
Ready to learn more about how we can support your family, or explore a career in End of Life Doula training & work?
Contact us at 231-534-5491 We Welcome you input and questions.
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Who We Are
We are RN’s, CNA’s, Doulas, grief counselors, caregivers, document specialists, volunteers, and other care providers with extensive training, long-term experience & highly recognized in the area of their specialty.
We are licensed, certified, & insured with complete background checks.
We provide support for regional End-of-life Doulas with ongoing training, in-services, advertising, employment, and advocacy.
We care for you in your home, in the hospital or other inpatient care facility.
We stay when others cannot. (Due to business practice, hours, billing, funding etc.)
Our teams are consistent with your care.
Announcing:
Compassion and Grace My Final Journey Home ©
When you or a loved one has been given the message of “compassionate care only” (Hospice measures) or a terminal diagnosis-we are here to provide care and walk beside you.
Navigating this tender stage of life can feel overwhelming, and our “Final Journey Home” team specializes in navigating the complex decision- making process offering comfort and assurance during this profound transition.
We specialize in building bridges to resources and answers to vital questions then ensure you feel supported every step of the way.
We fully embrace and endorse your final wish of going home.
Testimonials
~Despite my career in the health care Industry, I would not have been able to spend the precious last 3 months- time with my mom without the team of Final Journey Home. It took the burden off my shoulders so we could focus on loving my mom while you facilitated the coordinating of funeral home appointments, hall and food vendors. Mom passed in peace in the hospital knowing all our “ducks are in a row”. Such a special Program. C.P. Traverse City, MI Ashley G, Kalkaska 2023
~Your program was a godsend after dad had his fall, back surgery and went into rehab. Your long term crisis care team did a great job in his home so I didn’t have to leave work. Doing his exercises, getting him up off the chair he has been glued to for years, taking walks, and engaging in life again made such a difference. And lets not talk about getting in the shower! Another miracle. He is a tough old grumpy bird and your staff found special ways to bring him back. Your team is amazing with critical care of the elderly who have given up. Words cannot express. M.J Empire. 2026
~A round of applause for getting my parents to plan our their healthcare and have those very hard discussions about the future. Bills, wills and trusts, staying home forever vs nursing home. Having a plan gave us all peace of mind knowing the money is there to allow them to stay home with professional help that can stay through the end of life and support us.
Your providing names for your team of attorneys and simplifying the long term strategic plan with your staff, documents for Advanced Directives and for what life could look like without them – was an eye opener. Now they can have peace of mind we know-what they know, and its great.
“Getting your Ducks in a Row” Program, old time saying says it best. Now we can just focus on loving them with peace of mind knowing we now have a plan. And we are all on the same page. Sue & Dan, Omena 2026
Testimonials
~A big thank you to Sue & the Final Journey Home team. Our family was able to comfort each other knowing the coordination was taken care of through the team. Mom was able to come home with us and be with her beloved terrier blackie Vs in the Hospital. She felt comfort and peace at the end. What a gift to her. We cannot thank you enough. Phil & Janice Benzie County, MI 2024
~Thank you for meeting with us at Munson Hospital with the Discharge Planner Social Worker-Angela. Your program made it a easy decision to bring my wife home after three years of health issues & dementia after being told we need hospice care.
You understood how to partner greatly with hospice, flexed your schedule to ours, our culture, and reminded me to take my medication and rest/eat, along with my sons. The morning coffee was an added touch. And Im so happy she liked you to and asked for you to come back every day.
I will never forget her last days of complete seemingly recovered from severe dementia and her face and eyes glowing talking just like when we were young and courting. Just before quietly slipping away.
Your assistance with coordinating the funeral home director, allowing my wife to remain home for 3 days after death, and going to the funeral planing meeting was great- because I am deaf.
Your gentle preparation of the body with hands on care and shrouding her with her favorite blanket, outfit and roses around her head made her so beautiful.
We never expected someone to understand our culture, respect and providing a gift of tobacco for prayers while finding ways to make this time meaningful.
Knowing what would happen next made all the difference. You are special. We are honored to have experienced your services. I will tell others of your gifts. Migwetch. P& C W. Traverse City 2026
Testimonials
~I was surprised to find the program- Final Journey Home in this community. What an invaluable service to the families that are in crisis and shock. Your support and making connections made all the difference for our family- since we don’t live here. So grateful we found you. Jack E. Suttons Bay, MI 2025
~I cant begin to tell how thankful we are to have been able to partake of your services during our mothers last days. Despite being discharged from rehab and your short term crisis care post surgery- with a sigh of relief & all of us thinking she was all set to go. Life had other choices for us.
It was wonderful having our celebration of life when mom was alive with all her loved ones drinking champagne, favorite music and her “understanding” what it would be like to pass away.
Your insight knowing what was happening to her health, signs and symptoms, while facilitating Hospice, hospital bed, staffing, & the other items/necessary, the connections you made for us was magical. A spiritual Journey for sure.
Mom fully accepted the journey through your guidance, and allowed us to open the discussion and be honest about her condition and imminent death. Her decisions and wishes.
She accepted the next adventure of life & was joyful she had time to share her life surrounded by loved ones in the nick of time. Such a gift and we will never forget the memories made those last days. Thank You. Anonymous~ Lake Leelanau, MI 2023
Fees are private-pay based on sliding scale, specific to services and ability to pay