Help Annanda Start An End Of Life Planner Practice

Hi my name is Annanda Barclay, and I am fundraising for my end of life planning and chaplaincy practice. End of life planning is something all deserve, but hardly ever receive. All too often people aren't aware of, and therefore are rarely given the full extent of care possible in the death and dying process.

When I served families as a chaplain in the hospital during the pandemic, I was present for an average of 6-8 deaths a day for almost a year. It was from that experience that I realized how few people do end of life planning. The difference of end of life care for patients who planned ahead, versus patients who did not was stark. For those who planned ahead they and their loved ones had no guilt, trauma, or distress in decisions that needed to be made. There was no confusion regarding next steps because it was all planned for. Since it was planned for, loved ones were able to be present to the dying patient and to one another for grief and bereavement support.

For patients who did not plan ahead, their loved ones often had feelings of guilt, doubt, distress, and even at times trauma over the decisions they were asked to make. They were anxious and fearful that their choice wouldn't be what the patient would want. Often times, as is common in the dying process the patient was unresponsive, and therefore not able to make and advocate for their own end of life preferences. It was also incredibly difficult for supporting medical and professional end of life staff to witness the painful decision-making loved ones had to make on behalf of the patient. I will never forget, all those family members who had to make major life decisions at the height of the death and dying process. Their grief was amplified by preventable stress. Their families experienced so much emotional, and often financial suffering because of it.

Death is a truly a once in a lifetime event. Our lives deserve the same care in the end as the beginning. I'm absolutely passionate that with advanced planning everyone wins. So, I combined my 13 years of professional expertise and experience as clergy, as a clinically trained advanced practice chaplain in moral injury, and an end of life planner/death doula to provide this important non-sectarian/non-religious service. I'm passionate about end of life and after death care. I have been moved deeply by those whom I have had the privilege to serve. Death has been one of the biggest teachers to me in life. Death care is also one of the greatest acts of service one can provide to another.

The way I am choosing to engage in my business is to partner with local end of life/death care professionals to support the specific and unique gifts we all bring to the table. An example of this would be to refer a client to an end of life doula that does Swedish Death Cleaning, a Swedish tradition of going through all your things so your family doesn't have to do this work after pass. Or an end of life doula who specializes at sitting vigils. This goes for funeral homes, life insurance, and so on. Being in business this way is a core value to me in terms of building and uplifting community, providing myself and clients a substantial network of support build and showing respect and celebrating my colleagues. This is my way of tempering nasty capitalist practices, and participating in healthier business practices.

As a first-time business owner, these lean startup funds will go directly to pay for 1/2 a highly reputable business accelerator program $6k, and incredibly lean marketing costs $2k. The other 1/2 of the business accelerator has come out of my own pocket. The processing fee GoFundMe charges per donation has been calculated and accounted for in this startup fundraising campaign. All funds will be withdrawn directly to the Livity bank account and immediately put to use as indicated.

Thank you for your belief and investment in this important service-providing practice. I have given truly everything to make this business launch successful. I'm beyond confident that Livity will deliver an unmatched standard of care and approach to end of life planning. I (and now angel, dog Wes) deeply appreciate your support!