What if your short-term rental could provide more than just a comfortable stay –what if it could offer peace, dignity, and compassion at the end of someone’s life?
We recently spoke with Marci Donaldson, a long time hospice nurse and the heart behind End of Life Advocacy and Care. Marci has worked in hospice care since 2000, serving as a nurse, case manager, and administrator. She’s known for making connections and finding much-needed services.
Her latest mission? Connecting individuals traveling to Oregon for end-of-life care and facilitating a unique opportunity for Portland hosts to make a meaningful difference.
Hosting with Heart
Thanks to Oregon’s progressive aid-in-dying laws, some people choose to spend their final days here. But many face a challenge: finding a place to stay to make their transition. That's where you -- Portland’s thoughtful, community-minded, compassionate hosts -- can come in.
Some guests are from out of state and can pay market rate. Others from Oregon may have more limited means. Stays could range from just one day to a couple of weeks depending upon circumstances. What they all need is a peaceful place and a host who is open to the experience.
Supporting the Space—and Yourself
Marci is quick to point out that hosting for end-of-life care isn’t about turning your home into a hospice center. It's about offering a supportive, respectful environment. Hosts are never alone. Marci and her team provide guidance and resources to prepare your space and to protect your peace of mind. That includes helping manage visitor expectations, sound levels, post-occupancy cleaning needs, and time for the space to "energetically clear" after such an experience. It’s important to set boundaries with kindness and intention.
Want to Understand More?
To see how this kind of care looks in practice, check out this story from NPR’s Here & Now about Vermont residents who are opening their homes to people seeking medical aid in dying.
This model—called The Wayfinders Network—offers logistical, spiritual, emotional, and caregiving support to people coming from out of state. It's very similar to what Marci is building right here in Oregon.
If you’re curious—Marci is hosting an information session with Host2Host on July 17th to answer questions and share more details. Register here.
