My VSED Support Services and Fees

Every VSED experience is unique. Some people have a strong network of family and friends who can provide caregiving support; others need help creating one. Some are already enrolled in hospice, while others need assistance identifying physicians, hospice providers, caregivers, or doulas who understand and support VSED.

My role is to help you create a thoughtful, well-coordinated plan so that everyone involved understands what to expect and how to support the person choosing VSED.

There are two ways to work with me, depending on how much support you need.

Individual VSED Consultations — Sliding Scale

For people who have a specific question, need help thinking through one aspect of VSED, or are not yet ready for comprehensive planning, I offer one-on-one consultations on a sliding scale of $25, $50, or $75 per hour.

You may choose the rate that best reflects your economic circumstances.

Individual consultations may be useful for questions about:

  • Whether VSED may be an appropriate option to explore

  • Hospice and physician involvement

  • Advance care planning

  • Caregiving needs

  • Family concerns or communication

  • What to expect during the VSED process

  • Planning for after-death care or final disposition

Some clients only need one or two consultations. Others begin with individual consultations and later decide they would like more comprehensive planning and coordination.

VSED Planning & Coordination

For clients who have decided to move forward with VSED and want ongoing guidance through the planning process, I offer a comprehensive VSED Planning & Coordination package for $2000.

Rather than approaching the process through a series of separate consultations, we work together through the steps needed to create an individualized VSED plan and build the support system around it.

This package includes up to 20 hours of consultation, planning, education, and care coordination prior to and during the early stages of VSED.

Depending on your circumstances, this may include:

  • An initial assessment of your situation, goals, support system, and potential challenges

  • Education about what to expect physically and emotionally during VSED

  • Development of an individualized VSED care plan

  • Coordination with physicians, hospice providers, caregivers, family members, and other members of the support team

  • Assistance identifying VSED-supportive physicians, hospices, caregivers, or doulas when needed

  • Review of healthcare powers of attorney and POLST/MOLST forms

  • Creation of a short video to self that can be used if confusion or uncertainty arises during the VSED process

  • Creation of a separate explanatory video that may be shared with emergency personnel or others responding to a welfare check

  • Planning for caregiving coverage, including identifying and preparing professional caregivers when family support is limited

  • Guidance in creating a comfortable physical environment for the VSED process

  • Planning for what happens after death, including funeral home care, home funeral, cremation, burial, aquamation, natural burial, or other disposition choices

  • Preparation of family members and caregivers for what they may see and experience as death approaches

Support During VSED

VSED requires continuous caregiving and supervision, but that does not necessarily mean continuous doula presence.

Care may be provided by family members, friends, professional caregivers, hospice staff, doulas, or a combination of these supports. I help families determine what level of coverage makes sense and create a schedule that provides continuity while using available resources thoughtfully.

Additional Support

If more than the 20 hours included in the VSED Planning & Coordination package are needed, additional consultation, coordination, and virtual or in-person support are available at my sliding-scale rate of $25, $50, or $75 per hour.

Clients may choose in advance the rate that best fits their individual circumstances.

Additional services may include:

  • Ongoing coordination with the physician, hospice, caregivers, and family

  • Troubleshooting changes in the care plan

  • Family education and emotional support

  • In-person doula presence when appropriate

  • Coordination and mentoring of a local doula when I am supporting a client in another part of the country

  • Guidance for caregivers as needs change

  • Support during the actively dying phase

  • Family-involved after-death care and home funeral guidance

  • Assistance coordinating final disposition

Professional Caregivers

When family or friends cannot provide all of the necessary hands-on care, I can help identify and vet professional caregivers who understand the VSED plan and are comfortable supporting it.

Caregiver fees are paid directly to the caregiver or caregiving agency and are separate from my fees.

Travel for VSED Support

I work with clients virtually throughout the United States and may travel when in-person support is needed.

For cases requiring travel, the client is responsible for travel expenses agreed upon in advance, which may include:

  • Airfare or mileage

  • Ground transportation

  • Safe, reasonably priced lodging near the client

  • Other necessary travel expenses discussed in advance

Whenever possible, I also help identify and mentor a local end-of-life doula or caregiver so that experienced VSED guidance can be combined with consistent local support.

A Note About VSED Support

Choosing VSED involves medical, caregiving, emotional, logistical, and family considerations. My role as an end-of-life doula is non-medical. I do not prescribe medications or replace the role of a physician, nurse, or hospice team.

Instead, I help bring the pieces together — helping the person choosing VSED and those supporting them understand the plan, anticipate challenges, communicate with one another, and create as much comfort, continuity, and coordination as possible.