Compassionate Choices Alliance

You don’t have to face the end of life alone.

As End-of-Life Doulas, we provide calm, knowledgeable support for individuals and families considering Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) under Vermont’s Act 39.

We’re here to help you and your loved ones navigate this time with clarity, care, and peace — offering guidance, advocacy, and companionship every step of the way.

About Us

Rachel is a licensed social worker and End-of-Life Doula serving clients throughout Vermont. Her professional background includes supporting vulnerable populations such as abused and neglected children, immigrants, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness.

After accompanying several family members and friends through their dying process, Rachel was moved to shift her professional focus toward end-of-life care. These deeply personal experiences led her to reflect on what she considers essential to a “good death” — a sense of completion, peace, care that honors personal wishes, freedom from suffering, and the ability to make meaningful choices about one’s own end of life.

Guided by these values, Rachel helps clients and their families work toward an empowered death — one rooted in compassion, dignity, and personal choice. She is dedicated to ensuring that each person’s unique story, values, and preferences shape their end-of-life journey in a way that feels peaceful and true to who they are.

Licia has more than thirty years of experience in healthcare. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to advocating for at-risk older adults, supporting individuals with complex medical needs, leading patient experience and feedback initiatives, and accompanying patients and families through the end-of-life journey.

Licia is recognized for her ability to build trusting relationships and her deep understanding of the challenges people face when navigating the healthcare system or coping with changes in health. She is committed to bridging the gap between what patients hope for and what they actually experience, guided by the belief that open communication, compassion, and collaboration are essential to quality care.

Seeking a meaningful next step, Licia combined her expertise in healthcare with her deep compassion for end-of-life work to become an End-of-Life Doula. When Vermont lifted its residency requirement for MAID, she began practicing here and has since dedicated herself to helping patients and families—especially those accessing MAID—through a collaborative, respectful, and deeply supportive process.

Services & Packages

Our Services

We serve individuals who wish to access Medical Aid in Dying under Vermont’s Act 39.

Accessing Medical Aid in Dying can be complex. We provide guidance and support with:

Understanding the law and eligibility requirements
Finding Vermont-licensed physicians and caregivers
Organizing appointments and medical documentation
Coordinating hospice enrollment and transferring care (for out-of-state clients)
Planning for travel, lodging, and ingestion day
Working with pharmacists to obtain medication
Arranging after-death care
Providing emotional and practical support throughout the process

Emotional Support

End-of-life planning can bring up deep emotions — fear, sadness, anxiety, uncertainty, or family conflict. These feelings are completely natural.

As End-of-Life Doulas, we provide calm, steady presence for both the dying person and their loved ones. We help you navigate not only the logistics but also the emotional and relational aspects of this important journey.

We hope to make the process less overwhelming and help you move through it with clarity, compassion, and peace.

Where To Begin

Reaching out is the first step. When you contact us, we’ll schedule a time to connect and talk through your situation. We’ll listen to learn about you and your family, the diagnosis and your goals and needs. We’ll explain the Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) process in Vermont and answer all your questions.

After this initial call, we’ll share our service agreement. If we decide to move forward together, we collect partial payment and begin creating your personalized plan right away.

Most clients complete the process — from planning to the day of death — within 4 to 6 weeks, though timing can vary depending on:

How quickly documentation is gathered
Coordination with hospice, funeral services, and pharmacy
Availability of physicians and other service providers

Our role is to help keep things organized, reduce stress, and ensure each step is completed as smoothly as possible.

Guided Support Package

~$6,000

Approximately 40 hours of support
Ideal for those who prefer a self-directed process with professional guidance.

Includes:

Guidance and planning through all MAID requirements
Coordination with Vermont-licensed medical providers
Scheduling and family education
Coordination with hospice, pharmacist, and day-of-death location
Full presence and support on the day of death
Availability: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Concierge Support Package

~$8,000

Approximately 60 hours of support
For individuals and families who want comprehensive, hands-on care with full logistical management and continuous presence.

Includes everything in the Guided Support Package, plus:

Attendance at medical appointments
Lodging and day-of-death arrangements
Medication pickup from the pharmacist
Full facilitation and 24/7 availability throughout the process

If you’re unsure which option is right for you, we’re happy to talk through your situation and help determine the best fit.