Daily Inspiration: Meet Niki Staab

Today we’d like to introduce you to Niki Staab

Hi Niki, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Eight years ago, I found myself sitting in fear and anxiety at my grandmother’s bedside vigil as she lay unresponsive. I realized that if I let the fear take over, I would miss out on the precious time I had left with her. So I stood up and gently placed my ten-month-old son in her arms. To my astonishment, she wrapped her arm around him. For the next few days, my family and I sat with her, chatting, laughing, and sharing stories. That experience changed me. I felt a profound calling to become a death doula and advocate for those who, like me, may feel fear and uncertainty at the end of a loved one’s life.

As I walked alongside families in my doula work, I became increasingly aware of the immense struggles caregivers face. These individuals, who dedicate themselves to supporting their loved ones, often do so with little help, navigating physically and emotionally demanding journeys alone. I saw the urgent need for caregiver-specific support and began exploring ways to fill that gap. This led me to meet Rachel Blankenship, and together, we co-founded Rings of Care.

Rings of Care is dedicated to helping families build strong, supportive villages before crises arise and providing essential assistance when challenges emerge. We support caregivers of all kinds, offering a compassionate network that empowers and uplifts them during life’s most difficult moments.

At the same time, I also recognized a broader need for holistic end-of-life support, not just for caregivers but for individuals and families facing death itself. Alongside Allison Unruh, I co-founded KC End of Life, an organization that ensures doulas are available to everyone, regardless of financial means. KC End of Life provides respite care, vigil planning, advocacy, education, and practical support, filling critical gaps left by traditional hospice care.

Both Rings of Care and KC End of Life were born from my experiences sitting at the bedside, shaped by a desire to bring comfort, guidance, and community to those navigating caregiving and the end of life.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been many challenges along the way in building Rings of Care and KC End of Life, as well as in my work as a death doula and caregiver advocate. One of the biggest obstacles is the delicate balance or the tightrope walking that comes with working with families at the end of life. Emotions run high, relationships are complex, and grief affects everyone differently. Some families pull together, while others fall apart under the weight of it all. My role is to hold space for everyone, even when they’re in conflict, and to help caregivers who are at the end of their rope find moments of relief and support.

Then there are those we meet who have no one. People dying alone or don’t have anyone to care for them, feeling like they’re drowning with no lifeline. These situations are heartbreaking, and they reinforce why this work is so essential. No one should have to face caregiving, illness or death alone. That’s why we work to build community-based support systems, so that no one slips through the cracks.

Another major challenge has been the reality of building a nonprofit. It’s often said that it’s like trying to build the plane while flying it, and that couldn’t be more true. There’s no perfect roadmap, especially when you’re trying to fill a gap in services that many people don’t even realize exists until they’re in crisis. We knew we wanted to help caregivers, but we also knew that we had to help in ways that were actually useful, not just what we assumed would be helpful. That’s why we’ve spent so much time having conversations with caregivers and working with pilot families to test out programs, tweak resources, and truly understand what support looks like in real life.

Despite the challenges, every obstacle has reinforced why this work matters. The difficulties families face at the end of life, the exhaustion caregivers experience, and the isolation so many feel, these are the very reasons we keep pushing forward. The goal is always to create real, tangible support that makes a difference, even if that means learning as we go and adapting along the way.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am deeply committed to supporting individuals and families through the challenges of caregiving and end-of-life experiences. I specialize in death doula work and caregiver support, ensuring that no one has to navigate these difficult moments alone. As the co-founder, president, and now executive director of Rings of Care, I help build sustainable support systems for caregivers, providing them with resources, education, and practical assistance.

I am most proud of the work I’ve done to create free and accessible tools for caregivers, including the Rings of Care calendar tool, which allows families to organize support from their community, and our Community Health Worker (CHW) program, which provides trained professionals to assist caregivers with reducing burnout, providing self-care, financial assistance and navigating medical and social systems. At KC End of Life, I am proud of how we’ve removed financial barriers to end-of-life support, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their resources, can receive the dignity and presence they deserve in their final days.

What sets me apart is my holistic approach to caregiving and death care. I don’t just focus on the individual passing away; I focus on the entire village of support around them. My work bridges gaps in hospice and medical systems, ensuring that caregivers and loved ones receive as much care and attention as the person at the center of the experience. My goal is to change the way we view, talk about and experience both caregiving and death, making them more supported, communal, and compassionate.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Through my work with Rings of Care and KC End of Life, I’ve learned many powerful lessons, both expected and unexpected. One of the most important is the necessity of walking through every door without expectations. Every person’s journey through caregiving or the end of life is unique, and my role isn’t to impose a plan but to meet people exactly where they are. Holding space means truly listening, being present, and letting them lead the way in what they need, whether it’s emotional support, advocacy, or just a quiet presence.

Another lesson that surprised me is the tremendous need for advocacy. Not just within institutions like hospitals and hospices, but even within people’s own families and communities. I’ve witnessed firsthand how often caregivers and dying individuals struggle to have their voices heard. Whether it’s ensuring that a patient’s end-of-life wishes are respected in a medical setting or helping caregivers feel validated in asking for support from loved ones, advocacy has become a core part of my work.

Pricing:

• Calendar Tool – Free
• CHW Assistance – Free
• End of Life Doula Support – Free

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ringsofcare.org and www.kcendoflife.org
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ringsofcare and www.instagram.com/kcendoflife
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ringsofcare and www.facebook.com/kcendoflife