About Me
Angela’s Origin Story
I was introduced to the eldercare and hospice industry in 2014 when I took a job as a scheduler and recruiting manager for an Indianapolis non-medical home care company. I was drawn to the work of non-medical support because of my own experience as a young caregiver for my mother and my younger neuro-divergent and medically fragile brother.
Later, I was drawn to work in the hospice industry after personally navigating my mother’s cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy treatments, surgeries, ER visits and steady decline that eventually led me to advocating for her to receive access to hospice care.
My mother’s death was very difficult and I spent most of my 20’s navigating my own journey through complex feelings of grief, frustration and down right anger.
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Just a few months after my mother’s death I attended community college, with no idea of what I was passionate about doing. I took an elective yoga class where I slowly learned how to tap into and connect with my body and my inner voice. I was still caregiving for my brother and needed to find a healthy way to keep my focus on his needs while still honoring my own. It was at this time that I began receiving an occasional massage and that helped me get a better night’s sleep and reduced some of the stress and anxiety I was feeling.
Eventually, I discovered my role in the medical care system was based in profits over people. I personally witnessed where mainstream medical care was rife with gaps in care, to the point of causing more harm than good. Our western medical systems are often not equipped to support dying person’s, caregivers or medical providers in the ways that are needed. This is what led me to explore additional training in gentle touch massage therapy, death midwifery and grief care.
I am an activist for a “good death” for all, but the sad reality is many people are not afforded the privilege of good death, however I strive to empower the most vulnerable and at risk communities by providing education, skills and support that serves everyone.
The support you will receive from me includes education in navigating the deathcare system, holistic methods of caring for dying individuals, sacred ritual and ceremony facilitation, and gentle guidance through the unknowns.
It is an honor and privilege to companion you and your beloveds as you embark on this new and uncertain journey. I look forward to meeting you and learning how I can be of service.
Biography
Angela Dawn Geers she/her is a holistic death and grief practitioner, passionate about creating equitable and accessible death and grief care for ALL.
The primary vision for Angela’s work is to hold space for the moments in our lives that are often rushed through. She developed a deep passion for supporting others navigating life’s difficult transitions following her own journey of healing after death, loss and grief. Angela found refuge in self-care through modalities such as yoga, energy work and massage therapy which supported her throughout her personal healing process.
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Angela believes in providing a safe and nurturing space where her clients can slowly begin to integrate pieces of themselves back into wholeness. She believes we all have the ability to heal ourselves and to also be a respite to ourselves and our communities.
Angela Dawn Geers, LMT is a certified massage therapist with a focus on geriatric and hospice massage and gentle touch. She received her continuing education from the Daybreak Geriatric Massage Institute. Angela has received on-going training and mentorship from Irene Smith/Everflowing Hospice Massage training. Angela is Reiki Level I certified and has received training in massage for grief support from the Institute for Grief Massage. Angela is an Earth Traditions trained Death Midwife taught by reverend Angie Buchanan. Angela has worked professionally in the areas of hospice/palliative care, elder care, and geriatric mental health field for 10 years.
Memberships and Affiliations
National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) Approved Provider #1000970
Active member of the National Home Funeral Alliance
NEDA (National End-of-Life-Doula Alliance) member
Creator of the Holistic Death + Grief Collective facebook page and private group dedicated to accessible community end of life resources and education.
Certifications
End of Life Doula/Midwife Training
It is important to note that there are currently no national regulatory bodies for Death Doulas/ Midwives.
Successfully completed 30 hours of death midwifery training covering a multitude of aspects of the dying process, home funerals/community deathcare, body blessing, shrouding and alternatives to traditional deathcare and supporting grievers.
These trainings cover consulting with healthy adults, working specifically with the elderly, as well as non-medical skills that help support during the final phase of life.
48 hrs of Massage Therapist continuing education specifically designed for safely working with older adults from robust to frail trained by renowned trainer Sharon Puszko PhD, LMT.
Institute of Grief Massage, Massage Therapy for Grievers
24 hours of continuing education to learn how to support grievers by offering assisted relaxation techniques via safe and effective massage therapy.
NCBTMB Approved Provider #1000970
National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork approved continuing education provider of Palliative Bodywork(sm).