Courage

Compassion

Community

Connection

Caring

Become a Volunteer!

Volunteers are the heart and essence of our programs. Offering their generous gift of time, volunteers provide respite care and emotional support to persons at the end-of-life and their caregivers.

We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities; there is something for everyone:

• Respite care - A break from caregiving services                                                      
  
• Visitations in facilities
  
• Adult, children and family bereavement support
  
• Special events
  
• Clerical and outreach support
  
• Speaker's bureau educates communities about hospice care benefits
  
• Camp Mighty Oaks summer camp
  
• Life review
• Pet therapy

Willamette Valley Hospice Pet Therapy Dog Provides Comfort

Dogs have an amazing ability to comfort us and make us smile. In a hospice situation, the true value of the Therapy Dog and her/his volunteer handler comes with that special companionship that may help reduce a patient’s anxiety and pain.  According to Therapy Dogs International, just holding or petting an animal will cause a lowering of blood pressure, the release of strain and tension, and can draw out a person from loneliness and depression.  Other benefits of a visit from a therapy dog include a reduction in isolation and boredom; a feeling of comfort, support and joy; a reduction in feelings of anxiety; and improved socialization and communication.  

"I really wondered if I could do this type of volunteering - interacting with terminally ill patients.  I made the right choice to do this special type of volunteering and I see the quality of life, which is better in final days and weeks.  Whatever I can do to make these days better for the caregivers and patients is important for me and for them." -Willamette Valley Hospice Patient Volunteer