Families navigating life’s final chapter with a loved one residing in a senior living community that already offers an array of supportive services may wonder: what more could hospice provide?
For Luke Reynolds, the answer becomes clear when hospice is viewed as an integral part of the broader continuum of care.
Reynolds has spent his career working with older adults across care settings before becoming a leader at Brio Living Services, a faith-based, not-for-profit senior living organization. His experiences have shaped his perspective on coordinated care for older adults and the role of hospice in it.
“In general, people tend to start hospice later than they should,” Reynolds said, noting that earlier involvement allows for stronger relationships, better care planning and more consistent support.
At Brio, he says the integration of hospice is seamless because of an established partnership rooted in shared values and longstanding relationships. The organization is part of the interfaith collaboration that formed Emmanuel Hospice in 2012, along with St. Ann’s, Clark and Sunset.
“Our organizations came together because we wanted to make sure our residents had a high-quality, faith-based, nonprofit hospice offering,” Reynolds said. “Emmanuel Hospice is our preferred partner to provide compassionate support through the end-of-life journey when our residents need it.”
Reynolds noted a top benefit of bringing in hospice for residents who qualify is the specialized care they receive from a dedicated team of health care professionals, social workers, aides and more.
That interdisciplinary support has become particularly important as older adults are transitioning into life plan communities later in life than previous generations, often with more complex health needs.
Unique hospice offerings that go beyond traditional medical care are also a big draw.
“Services like music therapy and massage therapy add so much to the hospice journey and enhance quality of life,” Reynolds said. “Even though Medicare does not pay for these complementary services, Emmanuel Hospice recognizes their role in a holistic approach and provides them free of charge.”
Family members also benefit from hospice. There is greater peace of mind from having extra eyes on their loved one. Reynolds acknowledged that in busy residential settings, staff often balance many responsibilities.
“Providing the best individualized support takes a team approach,” Reynolds said. “It is important to have partnerships like we do with Emmanuel Hospice in order to coordinate care much more intentionally. Hospice team members work alongside our staff to ensure residents remain comfortable and receive care that aligns with their goals.”
For families, that collaboration can ease a significant emotional burden.
“There’s sometimes guilt around making the decision to place a loved one in a residential setting,” Reynolds said. “Anything we can do to alleviate that concern and help reassure that their loved one is well taken care of is a strength of this collaborative partnership.”
Reynolds wants more people to know that support specifically for caregivers and other family members is built into the hospice care journey. With Emmanuel Hospice, that extends for months after a loved one has passed. The grief support services are also free and open to anyone in the community, regardless of whether they have a prior connection with the nonprofit or hospice care.
“Emmanuel Hospice’s bereavement services are critically important and valued by our team,” Reynolds said. “We’re grateful to be able to extend that emotional support to our residents, their loved ones and even our staff during difficult times.”
For more information, call 616.719.0919 or visit EmmanuelHospice.org.