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Local nonprofit offers subsidized end-of-life doula care and urges families to plan ahead
Summary
Jennifer Turner, cofounder of the Evergreen End of Life Care Foundation of Michigan, described how the new Ann Arbor nonprofit connects residents with trained end-of-life doulas, runs a compassion fund to subsidize care (about 150 hours funded so far) and helps families with advance-care planning and referrals.
Jennifer Turner, cofounder of the Evergreen End of Life Care Foundation of Michigan, said the nonprofit has raised donations to provide about 150 hours of subsidized end-of-life doula care to local residents.
Turner described end-of-life doulas as nonmedical companions who "help support people at the end to, hopefully, leave this world in a peaceful, comfortable manner," offering emotional support, assisting families with advance-care directives and helping carry out patients' stated final wishes.
Turner told viewers that doulas are distinct from hospice: hospice typically serves patients with a physician's prognosis (commonly six months or less) and provides medical staff, while doulas provide nonmedical supports that can work alongside hospice teams to educate families, offer companionship and provide respite for caregivers.
Evergreen was created by local doulas who wanted to make care more accessible. Turner said the group formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, held its first board meeting in September 2024, and relies on donations, small fundraisers and ongoing grant-seeking. "We formed our nonprofit," Turner said, "so we could have a compassion fund to help people who can't afford a doula."
On how the compassion fund operates, Turner said clients contact the foundation for a registry of registered doulas; doulas then apply to Evergreen for funds on a client's behalf. "You could contact our organization, and what we will do is give you a list of people who've registered with us," she said, and the doula would be the one to apply for the funds.
Turner emphasized that services vary by need: many doula clients are still active but need occasional support; for others, care ramps up as mobility and daily functioning decline. She urged families to plan ahead: "The most generous gift you can give your family is to have as much planned as possible," Turner said, noting conversations about burial or cremation preferences (including green burial) and clear written directives make decisions easier for grieving relatives.
Turner said demand in the Ann Arbor area is strong, but doulas are not covered by insurance, making services an out-of-pocket cost for many. Evergreen seeks to address that gap for lower-income residents through its compassion fund and by pursuing grants, she said.
Program viewers will be shown Evergreen's website and an email contact on-screen; Turner encouraged anyone with questions about doulas, memory care or assisted-living options to reach out for guidance. The episode aired on CTN's Senior Moments; host Brigitte Marsan closed the segment and invited viewers to contact the organization for more information.
