Hospice Volunteer

Hospice Volunteer
Abide Hospice | Portland, OR

Abide Hospice was founded on a simple belief:

Frailty is not the absence of strength, but the invitation to presence. 

We believe every person deserves to be witnessed, not silenced. Honored, not handled. That some of the most meaningful care cannot be measured, prescribed, or documented. Sometimes it looks like sitting quietly beside someone, listening to a story they’ve told a hundred times, holding their hand. 

At Abide, volunteers are an essential part of how we care.

We are seeking people who understand that showing up matters. People who are willing to offer their time, attention, and humanity to individuals and families navigating the final season of life.

Your Role
As an Abide Hospice volunteer, there are a myriad of ways to support hospice patients, their loved ones, and our team. Your role will be shaped by the unique gifts you bring and the needs of the people we serve. Meaningful services begin by understanding what our patients need and what each volunteer has to offer. 

Opportunities may include:

• Companionship & presence: Spend meaningful time with patients through conversation, reading, music, walks, shared hobbies, or simply sitting together.
• Support for families: Offer caregivers a moment to step away, rest, run errands, or engage in self-care while you remain with their loved one.
• Everyday acts of care: Help with light household tasks, grocery shopping, or other small gestures that make daily life a little easier.
• Bereavement support: Assist with remembrance activities, memorial events, or outreach to families following a loss. 
• Administrative support: Assist with office projects, community outreach, or other activities that support Abide’s mission.
• Special gifts & talents: Share your unique skills, whether through music, art, gardening, pet companionship, beauty care, or other appropriate services within your qualifications.

About You
You are dependable, compassionate, and respectful of the beliefs, choices, and autonomy of others.

You understand that volunteering in hospice is not about what you can give in a single moment. It is about the consistency of showing up.

Above all, you believe that presence is a form of care.

You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need to know exactly what to say when someone is dying. You need to be willing to stay. 

Volunteering in hospice is not always easy – it asks us to be present in moments of uncertainty, sadness, and profound meaning. But it also offers something rare: the opportunity to make another person's life a little less lonely, a little more supported, and a little more fully lived. 

Qualifications

• At least 18 years old.
• Successful completion of a background check.
• Previous hospice, healthcare, caregiving, or volunteer experience is welcome but not required.

All volunteers must complete required hospice training.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive hospice volunteer training and ongoing guidance.
• A supportive interdisciplinary team that values your contribution
• Opportunities to develop meaningful relationships with patients, families, and the community.
• Flexible volunteer opportunities based on your interests and availability.
• The opportunity to learn about end-of-life care, grief, and human connection.
• A place where your time, presence, and humanity genuinely matter.

At Abide Hospice, we believe extraordinary care is found in the simple act of being present. We’re looking for people willing to walk alongside patients and families, offering comfort, connection and compassionate support every step of the way.

If you feel drawn to this work, we would love to hear from you. Send your resume and a brief letter sharing what draws you to volunteering in hospice.