The Last Gift: End of life training for family caregivers
The Last Gift Training for Caregivers
(Non-Certification Program)
A self-paced, non-certification training designed for family members and friends who want clear, practical guidance on the end-of-life process.
Full access to the course content. No tests, no assignments, and no required order.
Welcome
Death touches every life — but nearly 30% of Americans will personally care for a dying loved one.
And when that time comes, most people discover something unexpected: hospice nurses aren’t always present in the final hours. Caregivers are often the ones holding the space, witnessing the changes, and navigating the final moments on their own.
This program exists to change that.
The Last Gift End-of-Life Caregiver Training demystifies the dying process so families can understand what’s happening, recognize the natural signs of decline, and feel prepared rather than fearful. It offers clarity, confidence, and calm presence during one of life’s most profound transitions.
The Last Gift Training for Caregivers provides a practical, evidence-based understanding of the end-of-life process for those supporting a loved one, friend, or community member. This non-certification option allows you to access the educational content of our End-of-Life Doula Program without the requirements of professional training.
This training is ideal for individuals who want clarity and confidence while caring for someone at the end of life. You may move through the lessons at your own pace and focus on the topics most relevant to your situation.
Who This Training Is For
Family caregivers
Friends supporting someone through decline
Individuals preparing for future caregiving
Community members, volunteers, clergy, or support workers
Anyone wanting a deeper understanding of end-of-life changes without seeking certification
What Is a Death Doula?
A death doula (also called a death companion or death midwife) is a trained, compassionate support person who helps individuals and families navigate the emotional, physical, and practical realities of dying.
While this caregiver training does not prepare you to work as a death doula, understanding the role can help you better support your loved one. Death doulas provide non-medical guidance, education, presence, legacy support, and practical assistance during the final stages of life and the early grief that follows.
Anchors
The dying person and their loved ones—offering steadiness, presence, and emotional grounding in life’s most tender moments.
Bridges
The space between life and death—supporting grief, legacy, and meaningful closure with care and intention.
Creates Companionship
Walking beside the dying and their families with empathy, respect, and unwavering presence.
This is not a surface-level course. DoulaVersity’s End-of-Life curriculum goes far beyond the basics—diving into the realities of the dying process with depth, honesty, and clinical insight.
Learners should be aware that this training includes medical illustrations, realistic explanations, and detailed content related to end-of-life changes, such as skin breakdown, terminal agitation, breathing changes, and the physical signs that occur in the final moments. This material is essential for understanding what loved ones may experience—and how to support them with steadiness and compassion.
A Note About Course Depth & Content
A Distinctive Approach
Unlike programs that provide only emotional or spiritual overviews, this training is grounded in clear understanding: body systems, disease progression, systemic shutdown, hospice systems, and practical comfort measures. You’ll learn what happens in the body, why it happens, and how to respond with calm and clarity.
Our goal is to help you approach this time with confidence, understanding, and a grounded presence as you support someone you care about.
The Last Gift Training for Caregivers provides access to the core educational material from our End-of-Life Doula curriculum—presented in a way that supports family members and friends who want a clear, practical understanding of the dying process. The focus is on real-world usefulness, clarity, and compassionate support for your loved one.
What You’ll Learn
• Comprehensive Educational Content
Clear explanations of body-system changes, the stages of decline, what’s normal, and what families commonly see and experience in the final weeks, days, and hours.
• Built from Real Experience
Created by an educator with years of firsthand hospice and home-health experience, this training reflects what truly happens at the bedside.
• Realistic and Honest Material
Includes straightforward descriptions, photos, and optional visual aids that help you recognize common physical changes without fear or confusion.
• Medical-to-Layperson Translation
Clinical concepts are explained in simple, accessible terms so you can understand what’s happening—and feel comfortable speaking with medical teams.
• Practical Comfort Tools
Gentle non-pharmacologic approaches, positioning ideas, sensory comfort measures, communication strategies, and ways to create calm and connection during difficult moments.
• Guidance for Family Dynamics & Emotional Support
Supportive frameworks adapted for personal use—helping caregivers navigate emotions, grief responses, family stress, and communication challenges.
• Real-Life Scenarios
Examples drawn from home and hospice settings showing how decline unfolds and how caregivers can respond with steadiness, clarity, and compassion.
This training is designed to give you understanding and confidence—not to prepare you for a professional role, but to help you care for a loved one with knowledge, presence, and reassurance.
🌿 WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE CAREGIVER TRAINING
THE LAST GIFT TRAINING FOR CAREGIVERS
Price: $299
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What’s Included
This training includes:
Full access to the course modules for our End-of-Life Doula course which includes topics such as:
Clear explanations of body-system changes
Stages and timelines of decline
Practical support strategies for home and hospice settings
Communication guidance for challenging or emotional moments
Non-pharmacologic comfort measures
Understanding sleep, breathing, appetite, and mobility changes
Pediatric considerations when applicable
Legacy, meaning-centered support, and memory-making options
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WHAT’S NOT REQUIRED
This training is designed for education, not certification. Caregivers are not required to complete any of the professional components of the doula program.
You may skip entirely:
Tests
Assignments
Book reports
Required readings
Required videos
Competency evaluations
The business and professional-practice sections
Any lesson marked for certification students
You are free to move through the course in any order, focusing only on the content that supports you and your loved one.
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COMPARE TRAINING OPTIONS
Here’s how the Caregiver Training differs from the full Certified End-of-Life Death Doula Program:
Both include full access to all educational modulesCaregiver Training has no required tests or assignments
Caregiver Training can be completed in any order
Certification Training includes professional requirements
Certification Training awards the CELDD credential
Both options include lifetime access
Caregiver Training is $299
Certification is $795 ($695 sale)
A detailed comparison appears below
“Death touches every life, and many of us will one day be the one supporting a loved one at the end.”
CAREGIVER TRAINING VS. CERTIFICATION TRAIning
| Caregiver Training | Certification (CELDD) | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to All Modules | Yes | Yes |
| Tests / Assignments | No | Yes |
| Required Order | No | Yes |
| Professional Requirements | Not included | Included |
| Certification Awarded | No | Yes |
| Lifetime Access | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $299 | $795 ($695 sale) |