Death Doula Services in California

I'm Christy Braun, a death doula in Placer County, California. My death doula services give non-medical support to dying people and their families, from planning through the weeks after a death. I work in person and virtually, based on your family's needs.

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If you typed "death doula near me" into your phone at 2 a.m., you're probably exhausted, scared, or both. (Both are common.) Take a breath. You found a person who does this for a living, and you don't have to figure it out alone.

What Does a Death Doula Do?

When someone gets a diagnosis, the medical part gets most of the attention. A lot of my work is the other part: the emotional space that opens up when your life suddenly has a before the diagnosis and an after, and the people around you who are having their own feelings about it. And yes, I help with the practical paperwork too.

I'm not emotionally tangled up in your outcome, so you can tell me the truth. I can hold it.

When a baby's coming, we hire help and we plan, and nobody thinks twice about it. This is the same kind of care at the other end of life. If you want the longer explanation, read my guide, What Is a Death Doula?

Here's what I offer, one piece at a time.

My Death Doula Services

End-of-life planning

We work through your advance directive, the conversations about what you want and what you don't, and the practical things that have to get handled. We go at your pace, even when a diagnosis or a relative is trying to hurry things along.

Vigil planning and presence

The vigil is the last stretch, when a person sleeps more and talks less. We plan it before it starts: who's in the room, what music plays, what goes on the nightstand. I keep a little lamp in my car, plus battery tea lights, because overhead lighting is harsh. (I'm serious about the lamp.)

I'm there when I can be, and on the phone when I can't. Families hold the phone up close and ask me what they're hearing, and a lot of the time I can tell them it's normal.

Caregiver support and respite

Suzie taught me how exhausting it is to care for someone with dementia. I came on weekends so her daughter could get a break, and I told her daughter, if you can, leave the house. Respite isn't real if you spend it folding laundry within earshot. The patient needs a witness. The caregiver does too.

Caregivers tell me, "I just want this to be over." What I say most is, "Yes, that's normal." And when my schedule allows, I can stay with your person for a couple of hours so you can run errands or sit somewhere quiet.

MAiD support

If you're considering medical aid in dying, I give practical support: planning the day with you, setting up the room, guiding your family through the plan, and staying with you all. I don't give the medication. Going through a hospice for MAiD can take weeks. The concierge doctors I work with can shorten that to a few days. My MAiD support page walks through the whole process.

VSED support

VSED means voluntarily stopping eating and drinking. I've supported clients through VSED, and my VSED support page explains how I help before you start and while it's happening.

Grief support

After a death, I stay in touch with your family for the time we've agreed on, and I can help you find bereavement groups and other grief support near you.

After-death care and home funeral guidance

We plan the first hours after a death ahead of time: who to call first, who sits with your person, and whether your family wants time at home before the funeral home arrives. Once, after a death, I asked a family if they wanted me to turn off the oxygen machine. They said no, loudly. They had all agreed that the machine would stay on for 48 hours after the death. Why? None of my business. That's why I ask before I touch anything in the room.

Legacy work

Letters, recorded stories, and the things that need saying. One family texted estranged relatives to say their dad could still hear, and that they'd play him the messages people left. One relative called and asked to be put on speakerphone so everyone in the room could hear. That was meaningful.

Reiki and energy clearing

I'm a Reiki Master, and I offer Reiki and energy clearing for people who are dying and for the people caring for them. You can read more on my Reiki and energy healing page.

California Death Doula Services Near Sacramento and Beyond

In Placer, El Dorado, and Sacramento Counties, and anywhere within about 100 miles of Sacramento, I come to you in person when I can be there, and I'm on the phone when I can't. That area includes Sacramento, Elk Grove, Davis, Woodland, Roseville, Rocklin, Loomis, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Auburn, Placerville, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Yuba City, Lodi, Stockton, Vacaville, Napa, Vallejo, Oakland, and San Francisco. If you're nearby, see my pages on death doula support in Sacramento and Roseville death doula services.

Farther out, I work by phone and video, or we work out special arrangements case by case. I keep my caseload small, and I'd rather tell you that now than on a hard day. And if I'm not the right fit, I know doulas all over the nation, and I'll point you toward the right person. Nobody walks out of here empty-handed.

How Much Does a Death Doula Cost?

Death doula cost varies a lot from one doula to the next, so here's mine. I charge $125 an hour. I offer packages at a discounted rate, and with a package comes 24/7 access to me. I take this work very seriously, and I limit my caseload so I can be of the highest service to my clients. If you need me in person in the middle of the night, I'm there.

Does Insurance or Medicare Pay for a Death Doula?

I don't bill insurance or Medicare. Families pay me directly.

The research behind this page looked at Medicare's hospice benefit and Medi-Cal's doula benefit, and found that neither lists end-of-life doula care among the services it pays for. Medicare's hospice benefit pays for a set list of services from your hospice team, such as nursing, a social worker, counseling, aide visits, equipment, and medications for comfort. Hiring your own death doula isn't on that list. Hospices that take Medicare do have to use volunteers, which is one way some doulas work with hospice, unpaid. Medi-Cal's doula benefit covers pregnancy, birth, miscarriage, and abortion, and up to a year after a pregnancy ends.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or private insurance, call your plan and ask. If you hope to use an HSA or FSA, check with your plan administrator or a tax advisor before you count on it.

Death Doula vs. Hospice

Hospice is medical care focused on comfort at the end of life, from a team that includes nurses, aides, and a social worker. A death doula is non-medical. My time with you isn't tied to a visit schedule, and when I can't be there, I'm on the phone. You can have both.

I partner with local hospices, but I'm not a hospice contractor. I'm independent, so I work for you and your family, alongside whichever hospice you choose. Your hospice nurse knows your medications. I know what to look for in a family that's running on empty.

Meet Your Death Doula

There are no living experts on death, and I'm not going to pretend to be one. I spent two decades in corporate training and consulting before I came to this work. Since then, I've sat with a lot of families at the end.

I've been in the room through active dying, I've witnessed medical aid in dying, and I've supported clients through VSED.

I hold an M.S. in Instructional Design from Golden Gate University. I'm a Certified End-of-Life Doula and a Certified Advanced Care Consultant. I'm also a Reiki Master and a Member Trainer with the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA). I offer affirming care for LGBTQIA+ people and families. You can read more on my Meet Christy page.

How to Start

Start with a Guided Care Planning Call. It's free. We talk about what's going on and whether I'm the right fit. You don't need the right words. "I don't know where to start" is a fine place to start.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Death Doula Services

What is another name for a death doula?

Many people say end-of-life doula. You may also hear death midwife (in the US) or end-of-life practitioner. Each name describes the same non-medical role: support for a person who is dying, and for their family, around the time of a death. Whatever the title, ask about training and experience, and ask how that person works with hospice.

Does Medicare pay for a death doula?

The research behind this page found that Medicare's hospice benefit doesn't list death doula care among the services it pays for. The research also found that hospices taking Medicare have to use volunteers, and some doulas volunteer that way. I don't bill Medicare. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, ask your plan directly.

Do I need to be on hospice to hire a death doula?

No. A lot of my work happens before hospice, with people who are still in treatment, waiting on results, or deciding what comes next. Starting early gives us time for the planning and the conversations, so the last weeks can be about your people. If you're already on hospice, that's fine too. I work seamlessly alongside your hospice team.

Are death doulas licensed in California?

No. California doesn't license or regulate death doulas. A certificate usually means someone completed a training program, so it's worth asking any doula about their training, their experience at the bedside, and how they handle things outside their role. I'm happy to answer all of that on our first call.

Can you support us if we live far from Sacramento?

Yes. In Placer, El Dorado, and Sacramento Counties, and within about 100 miles of Sacramento, I come in person when I can be there, and I'm on the phone when I can't. Beyond that, I work as a tele-doula by phone and video, or we work out special arrangements case by case. If you need more hands at the bedside, I'll help you find local help.

Can a death doula help with MAiD or VSED?

Yes, with non-medical support. For medical aid in dying, I help you plan the day, set up the room, guide your family, and stay with you all, and I don't give the medication. I've also supported clients through VSED. My MAiD and VSED support pages explain each one in more detail.

How much does a death doula cost in California?

Prices vary from doula to doula, so ask each one you talk to. I charge $125 an hour, with discounts for multi-hour packages. I don't bill insurance or Medicare. Our first call costs nothing.

Talk with a Death Doula

Whether you're the one who's sick or the one keeping everything running, you don't have to plan this alone. Book a call, and bring every question you've been carrying around.

Book a Guided Care Planning Call

California End-of-Life Resources

The insurance and Medicare research behind this page used these sources.

Christy Braun, death doula

About Christy

Christy Braun is a death doula and educator in Placer County, California, and the host of the podcast Dying to Ask with Christy B. She holds an M.S. in Instructional Design from Golden Gate University. She is a Certified End-of-Life Doula and a Certified Advanced Care Consultant. She is also a Reiki Master and a Member Trainer with the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA). She completed MAiD bedside training through the American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying. She has been in the room through active dying, has witnessed medical aid in dying, and has supported clients through VSED.

Read more about Christy

Insurance and Medicare information current as of November 3, 2026. Last updated November 7, 2026.

This page is general information, not medical, legal, or tax advice.