My dads been moved to the ICU and were not allowed to see him.

When Sandra Brunner heard those words last week, the death doula a caretaking occupation that supports the end-of-life process realized the COVID-19 pandemic was going to make how her clients say goodbye and grieve their loved ones much more difficult.

Preparing for death during a pandemic comes with exceptional challenges, especially when gathering together is no longer an option. Hospitals around the country are tightening their visitation policies or forbidding them entirely . Funerals and memorial services are sources of comfort that are no longer accessible for many Canadians, as social distancing discourages public gatherings.

I think a lot of people find the ritual of a burial, a service, or the closing of a casket lid to represent an end, the Toronto-based doula practitioner told HuffPost Canada.