Holding Space
Las Vegas
...an end of life practice
Christine Ruggiero is a certified End-of-Life Doula (CEOLD), a non-medical practitioner who is trained to care for someone physically, emotionally and spiritually during the process of death. CEOLDs, otherwise known as Death Doulas, support, educate,
and uphold the wishes of the dying.
"What does it mean to hold space for someone else? It means that we are willing to walk alongside another person in whatever journey they’re on without judging them, making them feel inadequate, trying to fix them, or trying to impact the outcome. When we hold space for other people, we open our hearts, offer unconditional support, and let go of judgement and control." - Heather Plett
What Does an End-of-Life Doula Do?- Assistance in completing Advance Directives for health care
- Death education on the physical aspects of dying
- Connect patient with local resources
- Companion care and caregiver respite / support
- Emotional, physical, and spiritual support for the dying and caregiver- Encourage forgiveness dialogue for patient and loved ones
- Offer breath techniques for patient and caregiver
- Utilize guided imagery for presencing
- Offer personalized aromatherapy
- Life review and legacy projects- Advocate for the patient's final wishes
- Develope vigil plan and create a calm, sacred space during the vigil
- Lovingly care for the body before/after death
- Support at home, hospice, care facility, or hospital vigilsWhat Doesn't an End-of-Life Doula do?- Administer medications
- Medical care
- Wound care
- Mental health counseling
- Will preparation
- Legal advice
- Take overEach situation is unique, and working with a death doula ensures
individualized care at the end of a loved one's life.
Why Would I Choose a Death Doula?- Caregiving without support is difficult, we gently assist in the process
- Nine out of ten people prefer to die at home, we ease the transition
- Death is #1 leading fear, we bring presence and peace
When Would I Need a Death Doula?- At the initial diagnosis of a terminal disease
- At any time during the end of life process
- When considering the gift of an Advance DirectiveIt's never too early to start the conversation.
Christine has always had an intuitive connection the human body, energy work, and the death process. She takes a heart-centered, nonjudgmental, holistic approach to working with her clients. Diversity and inclusivity are core values and are of the utmost importance. Death is the commonality for us all."I believe it is possible to transform lives (and deaths) with the work we do."After graduating from the New York College of Health Professionals, she became a New York State Licensed and Nationally Certified Massage Therapist with an emphasis in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It was during this time she cared for her mother, and subsiquently her father, at their time of death."It was a beautiful experience to be able to share their respective journeys."It was during the pandemic that she decided to become an end-of-life doula."We've disassociated ourselves from aging and death to the point that we don't even discuss it. The pandemic emphasized our need for human connection more than ever."She currently facilitates multiple Death Cafés in the Las Vegas area to encourage and empower people to discuss their thoughts, fears, and concerns about life and death.She is also a proud member of International Doulagivers Membership Association (IDMA), is an Order of the Good Death (OotGD) volunteer, and a
National Home Funeral Association (NHFA) volunteer.To discuss end-of-life concerns, Christine can be reached at
HoldingSpaceLasVegas@gmail.com or text / call (702) 280-2743
or by completing the form below:
Additional Reading:
To begin the conversation, contact Christine:
2022 Holding Space Las Vegas LLC