Compassionate End-of-Life and Grief Support — When It Matters Most
Whether you are facing an immediate crisis or planning thoughtfully for the future, we provide steady guidance grounded in dignity and clarity.
We complement medical, legal, and therapeutic care. We do not replace it.
“When I was grieving, the alone-ness was profound. It was as though I was adrift on a stormy sea. I was terrified. You offered me a hand, then a lifeline, and held steady as I made my way back to shore.”
— Charles, Former One-on-One Grief Recovery Method Client
Support for Life’s Most Significant Transitions
Center for the Heart provides structured, non-clinical, end-of-life, grief, and caregiver support for individuals and families.
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End-of-Life Support
For individuals and families navigating:
• Serious or terminal illness
• Cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s and other dementias
• Advanced age and complex care transitions
• Proactive planning and legacy preparationIncludes:
• 1:1 End-of-Life Doula Support
• Intentional End-of-Life Planning
• Ethical Wills & legacy reflection -
Grief Support
For individuals experiencing:
• Grief following death
• Anticipatory grief from life-altering diagnoses
• Cumulative or general grief, and your relationship with loss and grief
• Major transitionsIncludes:
• Grief Recovery Method 1:1
• Facilitated GRM Group Workshops
• Help for adults supporting grieving children -
Caregiver Support
For individuals supporting loved ones through:
• Illness
• Cognitive change
• General Aging
• Dying
• Life-Altering DiagnosisIncludes:
• Compassionate Circle for Caregivers
• Structured guidance and education
• Burnout and anticipatory grief support
Why Families and Individuals Choose Center for the Heart
We are a nonprofit organization specializing in non-clinical end-of-life and grief support. Our approach is:
Structured and yet individualized approach
Clear about ethical boundaries
Grounded in dignity and emotional safety
While we serve those facing a wide range of serious illnesses, life transitions, and losses, we also have a cadre of doulas and grief specialists specially trained and experienced in supporting those affected by Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.
“We were not alone during this process. I was able to spend quality time with my mother in a way that I hadn’t in years. While the time in hospice was filled with tremendous grief and fear, it was also one of the most peaceful and healing experiences of our entire time together. This quality time was in no small part due to the support we received from our doula.”
— Ed K, Former End-of-Life Doula Client
Whether you are facing crisis or planning ahead…
Some clients reach out when:
• A diagnosis changes everything
• A loved one is nearing end of life
• Grief feels overwhelming
• Caregiving becomes unsustainable
Others reach out when:
They want clarity and agency before a crisis
• They value intentional planning
• They want to repair their relationship with grief
• They want to reduce future burden on loved ones
Both are appropriate times to begin.
Through grants and contributions, we expand access to non-clinical end-of-life and grief support for individuals and families who are unable to pay.
Through June 2026, Center for the Heart has already provided 90 hours of fully-funded support, representing $15,545 in estimated donated service value and reaching 15 unique individuals and families. This doesn't include our efforts to increase general awareness around death planning and options, grief and loss.
Our support has included grief guidance, caregiver support, end-of-life planning, family navigation, hospital visits, resource referrals, and support through diagnosis, death, and care transitions.
Expanding Access, Growing Awareness
Our fully-funded access pathways include:
Fully-funded End-of-Life Doula and Grief Support placements
To apply for fully-funded support or to learn more about it, click below.
You do not have to navigate this alone.
Words from the Heart Blog
Because of our inherent susceptibility due to the nature of our work, it's really important for end-of-life doulas and grief specialists to be able to recognize the signs of compassion fatigue and have some resourcing in place for how to recharge and process. It's also key that we have measures in place for when we may need to take extended periods off. Compassion fatigue is real. It's happened to me, caring for my husband Jonathan with Alzheimer's. It happens to people that I know who are working in the field. So what do we do about that?