Published in The Grand Rapids Press on Feb. 24, 2019

You needn’t enroll in a class to educate yourself about hospice care. And you shouldn’t be shy about making inquiries on behalf of yourself or a loved one.

What follows are some basics to consider, along with a little light to shed on some common misconceptions:

• Hospice is typically reserved for someone with a life-ending condition who has six or fewer months to live, as determined by a licensed physician. It focuses neither on prolonging nor ending life, but instead on delivering end-of-life care, maximizing comfort and reducing pain.
• A typical hospice team will be comprised of a medical director, primary physician, nurses, social worker, aides, volunteers, pastoral caregiver and therapists specializing in a wide variety of complementary therapies.
• Contrary to what you might have heard, hospice is not about giving up. Rather, it’s about providing a gift to your loved one so they’re able to enjoy their final days as pain-free as possible.
• Hospice is often provided in the patient’s home, wherever that might be. It relies on a host of caregivers. And in addition to traditional medicine, organizations like Emmanuel Hospice offer massage, music, pet and essential oil therapies; as well as acupressure and more. “We basically do whatever is needed to make the patient comfortable,” says Christina Sanders, a team lead certified nursing assistant for Emmanuel.
• Some hospices, such as Emmanuel, are non-profit. Some others are for-profit. You have a right to know, and should ask up front if that’s a concern. There is usually no direct cost to families for hospice care, as Medicaid and Medicare and most private insurers cover medicine, supplies, equipment and the team providing care.
• Hospice providers typically go out of their way to share information. “We provide a lot of options,” says Sanders, noting that Emanuel offers packets that outline available resources. Websites are also a good place to learn more. The more you ask, the more you know.
• “Palliative care” differs from hospice care in that it provides total care for patients with a progressive or advanced disease for whom the prognosis for survival is limited, but who may have longer than six months to live.
• Hospice organizations treat not only the patient, but caregivers and families. And if they’re like Emmanuel, they continue to provide services even after death, including grief support and other types of support groups.
• In some cases, patients in hospice become better to a point that they no longer need hospice and “graduate” from it.
• People sometimes wait too long before calling hospice in. “We hear that a lot,” says Sanders. “It’s perceived as a scary thing, but it doesn’t have to be, especially when people realize what a service we provide. We end up taking a lot of stress off the family.” When in doubt, Sanders says “sooner is usually better than later” to initiate contact.

For more information, give us a call or send us an email: 616.719.0919 / info@emmanuelhospice.org

Do you own a friendly kitty? Emmanuel Hospice is seeking a Volunteer Handler/Cat Team to visit our patients. Through a generous community grant, Emmanuel Hospice will cover the cost of your pet’s therapy certification. Step by step, we’ll walk you through the process – qualification begins with a friendly cat, aged one year or older, who has lived in your home for at least six months. Of course, kitty must be house-trained, vaccinated against rabies, with no history of aggressive behavior. The Patient and Family Support volunteer orientation program is self-paced and upon successful completion, you and your kitty will participate in the pet therapy certification process.

We’re very excited to add cats to our established Pet Visitor program and continue providing joy and increased quality of life to those in our care. Please give us a call if you’re interested in volunteering or learning more, 616.719.0919.

At Emmanuel Hospice, the first question we ask is, “How do you want to live?” Your quality of life is essential at all times but especially as you prepare for the final phase of life’s journey. Our goal is to enhance the time that remains by caring for you holistically. Together we’ll make a life plan to address your physical, spiritual and emotional needs. Our specially trained staff offer patients, family, friends, and colleagues a range of activities to put the mind at ease during this transition including counseling, keeping a journal of your life story, massage therapy, music therapy, and companionship from trained volunteers.

Recently, we ran across a Saturday Essay published in the Wall Street Journal. Adapted from a new book by author Katy Butler called, “The Art of Dying Well: A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life,” it addresses planning ahead in order to achieve a peaceful death. With over 200 years of experience doing just that, please know that we are here to help you start your life plan today. We understand the call for hospice is one of the hardest you’ll have to make. You don’t have to do it alone. Give us a call at 616.719.0919.

To view the Wall Street Journal essay, click here.