- Halcyon Crossing includes end-of-life doula services provided by Andrea St.Hilaire for individuals facing the final chapter of life, as well as their families and friends.
- Comfort, console, support, and education are provided for all ages, with focus on children, adolescents, and young adults.
- End-of-life planning, legacy and memorial creation, vigil design, holding vigil during active dying, family caretaker relief and respite, ritual and tradition observation, and post-death grieving and guidance are a selection of services provided.
- The natural farm environment is also provided for patients, families, and medical professionals for connection and decompression away from the medical, sterile, intense hospital environment.
By preparing early, we can provide the best transition with compassionate, dignified final chapter of life.
Phases of the end-of-life Timeline
The following are the basic phases of the end-of-life processes. Services can be provided in comprehensive packages, or tailored to the individual needs and preferences of the client.
- Planning: Begins as early as possible. Services may be provided at the client’s home, hospice, nursing home, the farm, or other locations.
- Engagement: From enrollment until vigil. Services may be provided at the client’s home, hospice, nursing home, or farm.
- Vigil: Final days (approximately ten days). Services may be provided at the client’s home, hospice, nursing home, or choice location.
- Memorial & Reprocessing: Hours, days, and weeks after an individual’s passing. Services may be provided to family and close friends at home, the farm, or other locations.
Comprehensive Packages
The comprehensive packages have the advantage of allowing you to plan for the final chapter at one time, without making step-by-step decisions during the dying process. As the client, you will not have to think about decisions during the dying phases, and you know exactly the cost for the entire end-of-life service phase.
The Standard Doula Package | Planning, Engagement, Vigil, Ritual, Reprocessing
This is a full-spectrum package that offers support and guidance throughout the entire end-of-life journey. In planning days pre-vigil, Andrea will work with the client to review the journey and create a remembrance project. As that work evolves, Andrea will help design a vigil plan tailored to one's wishes. During the last days of life, Andrea will provide presence at the bedside, emotional and psychological support, guidance on the dying process, assistance with practical care, and respite for the caregivers. After the passing, Andrea will help the surviving loved ones process their experiences, as well as facilitate early work towards a healthy return to a meaningful life.
The Enhanced Doula Package | Planning, Engagement, Vigil, Ritual, Memorial
The Enhanced Doula Package includes all the same services that are in The Standard Doula Package. The main difference is the time Andrea will spend in pre-, post-, and vigil activities, and the included use of the farm for a memorial evening.
The Standard Doula Package | Planning, Engagement, Vigil, Ritual, Reprocessing
This is a full-spectrum package that offers support and guidance throughout the entire end-of-life journey. In planning days pre-vigil, Andrea will work with the client to review the journey and create a remembrance project. As that work evolves, Andrea will help design a vigil plan tailored to one's wishes. During the last days of life, Andrea will provide presence at the bedside, emotional and psychological support, guidance on the dying process, assistance with practical care, and respite for the caregivers. After the passing, Andrea will help the surviving loved ones process their experiences, as well as facilitate early work towards a healthy return to a meaningful life.
The Enhanced Doula Package | Planning, Engagement, Vigil, Ritual, Memorial
The Enhanced Doula Package includes all the same services that are in The Standard Doula Package. The main difference is the time Andrea will spend in pre-, post-, and vigil activities, and the included use of the farm for a memorial evening.
Individual PACKAGES
Planning Phase Only
The Primer Package |Discussion about Planning, Basic Vigil Info, Educational focus
This package is for people who want to use a doula as a sounding board for some of the care decisions they need to make. The doula will also assist with an overall review of the environment, caregiver needs, and quality of life issues.
The Planning Package | Planning, Education, Vigil Preparation
Primer Package, and Andrea will also assess the dying person and caregiver needs, do some life review work, and make sure everything is in place for the start of a vigil.
The Planning Plus Legacy Package | Planning plus Legacy Project Creation
Planning Package, plus a full, structured life review with the dying person, and assistance in creating a legacy project.
The Primer Package |Discussion about Planning, Basic Vigil Info, Educational focus
This package is for people who want to use a doula as a sounding board for some of the care decisions they need to make. The doula will also assist with an overall review of the environment, caregiver needs, and quality of life issues.
The Planning Package | Planning, Education, Vigil Preparation
Primer Package, and Andrea will also assess the dying person and caregiver needs, do some life review work, and make sure everything is in place for the start of a vigil.
The Planning Plus Legacy Package | Planning plus Legacy Project Creation
Planning Package, plus a full, structured life review with the dying person, and assistance in creating a legacy project.
Engagement Phase Only
For individuals and families who feel confident about the planning and vigil phases, who would like time to connect with loved ones. Sessions can be arranged on farm as possible, or in nursing home, or in hospice. Time can be spent with the horses, in meditation area, or throughout the farm, or at one's location engaging with creative “flow states.” In such sessions with end-of-life clients, guidance for creating audio/video recordings and interviews, work on keepsake items, and continual presence during sessions can be provided. Reading to the client, listening to stories, and recording memories are all possibilities.
For individuals and families who feel confident about the planning and vigil phases, who would like time to connect with loved ones. Sessions can be arranged on farm as possible, or in nursing home, or in hospice. Time can be spent with the horses, in meditation area, or throughout the farm, or at one's location engaging with creative “flow states.” In such sessions with end-of-life clients, guidance for creating audio/video recordings and interviews, work on keepsake items, and continual presence during sessions can be provided. Reading to the client, listening to stories, and recording memories are all possibilities.
On-farm "escapes" and sessions are also time for caregivers, family, friends, and medical professionals to have respite at the farm.
Vigil Phase Only
The Basic Vigil Package |Short Planning Phase, Vigil, Reprocessing
This package is for people who only need Andrea to provide light emotional and physical support during the vigil, because they have an involved circle of support. In addition to providing presence, Andrea will inform people about the signs and symptoms of imminent death.
The Full Vigil Package | Medium Planning Phase, Vigil, Reprocessing
This package is for people who want regular support and guidance through the last days of a dying person’s life. Andrea will do some abbreviated vigil planning in the first visit or two. She will ensure that the wishes expressed by loved ones on behalf of the dying person are followed as closely as possible. Andrea will provide emotional, physical, and informational support.
Events at Farm
Events can be hosted at the farm for individual, family, and friends to create a beautiful memory experience for years to come. This may include a “celebration of life” party, such as a get-together similar to a birthday party, or a memorial event after passing for poems, stories, and memories to be shared. Sunrise or sunset services, or an “Irish wake,” are possible options.
Sample Afternoon Memorial Service
12:30pm: Attendees arrive, sign guestbook at memorial table (pictures, slideshow), time with horses. Light snacks available.
1pm: Service begins. Andrea welcomes, followed by five speakers (poems and spiritual passages to be read). Others welcome to speak.
2pm: Plant rose bush in memorial garden. Say well-wishes grace. Time with horses.
2:30pm: Afternoon complete.
Sample Morning Child Celebration of Life
10am: Guests arrive, sign guestbook at celebration table, leave pictures and notes.
10:30am: Games, face-painting, arts-and-crafts, and pony rides begin.
11:30am: Snacks, pics with ponies, storytime – each guest writes out favorite memory or experience of the child. Collected to be combined for the child and family during vigil and hospice.
12pm: Afternoon complete.
Events can be hosted at the farm for individual, family, and friends to create a beautiful memory experience for years to come. This may include a “celebration of life” party, such as a get-together similar to a birthday party, or a memorial event after passing for poems, stories, and memories to be shared. Sunrise or sunset services, or an “Irish wake,” are possible options.
- Rate per 2-hour section, includes preparation before arrival, opening remarks and welcoming by Andrea, and as desired, any selections to be read by Andrea. Horse engagement/patting and animal involvement are included. Planting a tree or perennial in the memorial garden is invited.
- Additional offerings for visitors (meditation, yoga, painting): Tailored per service
- Pony involvement for children, arts and crafts for keepsakes and drawings: Tailored
Sample Afternoon Memorial Service
12:30pm: Attendees arrive, sign guestbook at memorial table (pictures, slideshow), time with horses. Light snacks available.
1pm: Service begins. Andrea welcomes, followed by five speakers (poems and spiritual passages to be read). Others welcome to speak.
2pm: Plant rose bush in memorial garden. Say well-wishes grace. Time with horses.
2:30pm: Afternoon complete.
Sample Morning Child Celebration of Life
10am: Guests arrive, sign guestbook at celebration table, leave pictures and notes.
10:30am: Games, face-painting, arts-and-crafts, and pony rides begin.
11:30am: Snacks, pics with ponies, storytime – each guest writes out favorite memory or experience of the child. Collected to be combined for the child and family during vigil and hospice.
12pm: Afternoon complete.