March Newsletter 2026 - Hospice of the Valleys

951-200-7800 / 877-889-0325

Hospice Care
About Us
Patients & Families
Volunteer
Donate
News
Contact

Hospice Honors

Press Enterprise Top Work Places 2014 - 2025

We Honor Veterans

March 2026

Request Information

Make a Donation

Volunteer Opportunities

Happy National Doctors' Day

Hospice of the Valleys Celebrates Social Work month The 2026 Social Work Month theme honors the prime mission of the Social Work profession - to enhance human well-being, meet the basic human needs of all people, and put special attention on the needs and empowerment of people are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty. At Hospice of the Valleys our social workers are an integral part of the interdisciplinary team. It is our sincere hope that our social workers know that their dedication, compassion and hard work do not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do! SOCIAL WORKERS UPLIFT. DEFEND. TRANSFORM.

Community Events Menifee Health Fair May 2nd, 2026 10:00-1:00 26850 Sun City Blvd. Menifee, CA 92586

NOTES FROM FRIENDS Hospice of the Valleys serves hundreds of patients every year. We honor them by sharing their stories. They remind us every day of the meaning and purpose of our work and that human connection is at the heart of the hospice experience. The following are notes Hospice of the Valleys has received from the families of patients that we have been privileged to provide hospice care. "I can't even begin to adequately express our deep appreciation for the compassionate, invaluable care that we received from Hospice of the Valleys. May God continue to bless you as you serve with kindness and wisdom." "To all of you who cared for my husband and who gave me the reassurance that he was in good hands, thank you from the bottom of my heart. During an extremely sad and difficult time you were there. Please accept this donation to help carry on your good work."

Celebrate the Heart of Volunteering Become a Hospice Volunteer Hospice is about family and community... And volunteers bring heart to hospice. Our team always had the need for volunteers in patient support, music, veteran to veteran support, fundraising, administrative support and more. Hold a Hand-Give a Hug-Touch a Heart. Becoming a hospice volunteers is a meaningful and rewarding experience. You can make a difference! *Seeking bi-lingual volunteers for patient support and music* Hospice of the Valleys: Canyon Lake, Fallbrook, Hemet, Homeland, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Murrieta, Nuevo, Perris, Quail Valley, Romoland, San Jacinto, Sun City, Temecula, Wildomar, Winchester Please contact Chrisy Lawless, Volunteer Manager 951-200-7800 or CLawless@hovsc.org for more information. You may also refer to our website page HospiceoftheValleys.org for new training updates.

Seeking Fundraising Volunteers - You can make a difference - Outgoing and Self-Motivated - Detail-Oriented and Good organization skills - Ability to Interact Positively with Guests and a Team. If this sounds like you, we'd love to talk with you about how you can help! Please contact: Chrisy Lawless 951-200-7800 | CLawless@Hovsc.org

JOIN US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE You can make a big impact with Hospice of the Valleys by supporting our Nurses' Fund - a vital resource dedicated to strengthening the compassionate care our nurses provide every single day. Our nurses are truly the heart of our mission. They bring calm in the hardest moments, comfort at 2:00 AM, and guidance for families facing their most sacred goodbyes. When you support them, you support every patient and family who turns to us in their time of need. Your gift to the Nurses' Fund helps us: - Support and retain exceptional hospice nurses - Provide ongoing training and professional development - Maintain low nurse caseloads that allow for more individualized, specialized care - Expand access to care for patients regardless of ability to pay YOUR MONTHLY GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE $10 'We Honor Veterans' Pinning for One Patient $25 Comfort Supplies for Ten Patients $50 Medication Copays for Ten Patients $100 Clinical Staff Transportation to Four Patient Visits DONATE

Coming to Grips with Grief Your Health Matters Leslee B. Cochrane, MD Executive Medical Director Understanding the Grief Response - Grief is a natural and deeply human response to loss. When someone we love dies, the pain can feel overwhelming, touching every part of our lives. Yet even in its heaviness, grief reflects the depth of our love and connection. While the experience can be intense, it's important to remember that grief is not something we are meant to "get over," but something we learn to live with. Grief can affect us emotionally, physically, and spiritually. You may notice waves of sadness, longing, or confusion, along with unexpected moments of calm or even joy. These shifts are normal. Healing does not move in a straight line, and each person's experience is unique. There is no single path and no correct way to grieve. There Is No Timeline for Grief - Grief does not follow a schedule. For many people, the sharpness of loss gradually softens, creating room for comfort, meaningful memories, and renewed connection to life. Sadness may still appear, but it often begins to exist alongside gratitude, love, and moments of peace. Over time, many find that remembering their loved one brings warmth as well as tears. This blending of emotions is a healthy sign of healing and growth. There will be good days and hard days, and both are part of the journey. With patience and self-compassion, it becomes possible to move forward while still honoring the bond that remains. Support Can Make a Difference - No one has to grieve alone. Support from family, friends, or others who understand loss can offer reassurance and comfort. Sharing your story can help lighten the weight and remind you that your feelings are valid. When grief feels overwhelming or begins to interfere with daily life it is time to speak with your healthcare provider about getting help and support. Although not intended to substitute for those who may require professional one-on-one counselling, Hospice of the Valleys is here to help patients and families deal with grief. We offer bereavement support to the families of the patients we serve for 13 months following a loss. We also offer community-based grief support groups open to everyone at no cost. To learn more, please visit https://hospiceofthevalleys.org or call 951-200-7800 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) and ask to speak with a member of our Bereavement Team. Your grief journey may be difficult; but it need not also be lonely- please ask for help.

Days to Remember Medal of Honor Day - March 25 We honor the courageous service members who have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration for valor in combat. Observed each year on March 25, Medal of Honor Day recognizes the extraordinary bravery, sacrifice and selfless service of recipients past and present. Vietnam War Veterans Day - March 29 We honor the service and sacrifice of the millions of U.S. service members who served during the Vietnam War. Observed each year on March 29, Vietnam War Veterans Day recognizes the courage, commitment and enduring legacy of those who answered the call during one of our nation's most challenging conflicts.

Volunteer Corner Hospice of the Valleys has the best volunteers! We never stop being amazed by the warmth and graciousness of our hospice volunteers. We appreciate all your efforts and so do the patients, families and staff. Thank you!

Grief Power Tool Mike Patton Bereavement Counselor/Spiritual Care For the past couple of years I have had the privilege of sharing "grief tools" at our monthly clinical staff meetings. I have shared many of the tools that are included in our bereavement folders that we give every person who attends one of our three bereavement groups. Things like normal manifestations of grief, William Worden's 'mourner's bill of rights', David Kessler's 'Six Needs of Grieving People', etc. Sometimes there is a special tool that one gets to add to their toolbox; an electric power tool, perhaps. I recently was meeting with a young widow who is raising her five-year-old daughter without her father. She said, “I am scheduling my grief" and described times when she was alone that she would play the music that she and her husband enjoyed, or flip through photos, and just sob. Then, she said, "and then I'm able to hold it together when I'm with my daughter or at work." As I sat with that widow and her revelation, I realized that she had just described a power tool in her grief toolbox! Self-awareness is such a powerful tool in the life of the bereaved. Identifying the deep feelings of grief, naming them and, by so doing, getting a handle on managing them, people are finding control that often feels very elusive. Vulnerability met with a strategy to give time and space for expressing deep sadness as well as the self-control of holding it together when the situation demands it. Of course, like any power tool that runs out of juice, there will be times that a wave of grief will overwhelm with an unexpected eruption of emotion, and the intended self- control sabotaged. Grief work is something that everyone gets to do since everyone experiences losses of one kind or another all the time. I learn from the experts in the field, those who have crossed the threshold of a bereavement group and courageously shared their stories. While it is true that everyone grieves their loss in their own unique way, since their relationship with their loved one was uniquely their own, it is also true that the shared wisdom of another's grief story can shed light on how to grieve. I appreciate the young widow who is working so hard to manage her deep emotions surrounding the loss of her husband and her child's father. Her self-awareness is a power tool in her grief toolbox. I trust that your self- awareness gives you the ability to schedule your own emotional needs, grief or otherwise. I encourage you to get curious about your own inner thoughts and feelings, and give yourself the dignity and powerful tool of self-awareness.

Sign Up For Our Monthly Newsletter

Name*
First Last
Email*

Δ

View our past newsletters

Hospice Care
Introduction to Hospice
Choosing Hospice
Paying for Hospice
Hospice Of The Valleys Service Areas

About Us
History & Mission
Types of Care
Meet The Team
Testimonials & Videos
Calendar
Community Supporters
Careers
Blog
Contact Us

Patients & Families
Grief Support
FAQs
Resource Library
Notice of Privacy Practices
Notice of Nondiscrimination
End of Life Option Act

Ways To Give
Donate Now
Planned Gifts
Vehicle Donation
Volunteer

© Copyright 2026, Hospice of the Valleys. All rights reserved.

We serve Southwest Riverside and Fallbrook communities.

Website by Stebbins Media