End of life matters are never comfortable, never tidy — a fact that isn’t lost on the staff and volunteers of Northern Arizona Healthcare’s Valley View Care assisted living facility in Cottonwood.
Opened in October 2014, the facility specializes in hospice care for individuals lacking the resources to stay in their own homes.
On Dec. 9, staff and volunteers gathered for a brief ceremony to announce a project intended to brighten the facility and boost the spirits of those at Valley View Care.
Beginning in the new year, a garden will be installed on the grounds. It will feature walking paths, flowers and ponds.
According to Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation’s Hannah Johnson, Valley View Care hopes to make the entire project possible through donor contributions.
“When all is said and done, we’re hoping that it will be a fully community-funded project,” she said.
Johnson added that one of the facility’s volunteers came up with the idea after seeing how it helped residents in Flagstaff, where he volunteered.
“He wanted to bring that same opportunity to the residents in Cottonwood,” Johnson said, adding that volunteer-led initiatives are an important way to contribute to the lives of the people they help.
“From the side of the donor, especially because a lot of them live in the region, it’s something they can take pride in,” Johnson said. “You can see people actually interacting with what you’ve helped build.”
Johnson admitted to the particular challenges of end-of-life care, but emphasized how much good can be done with a kind gesture from the community.
“Especially for people who are managing with end-of-life issues, to feel the beauty of nature — to have that type of experience is so important and impactful.”
Valley View Care invites applications for new volunteers. To begin the process, contact the staff at (928) 634-1700.
