Emmanuel Hospice continues to experience expansive growth since serving its first patient in 2013, having achieved a record-year in a number of areas in 2019, including a more than 17% increase in patients served over last year.

“We are humbled by the incredible growth we’ve had throughout the years, and grateful for our strongest year yet in 2019,” said Sara Lowe, executive director for Emmanuel Hospice. “Growth is a sure sign our approach to end-of-life care is resonating with the West Michigan community. We aspire to continue to shape a community that embraces death as a meaningful transition through the care of mind, body and spirit.”

With the support of its board, employees and volunteers, Emmanuel Hospice was able to care for 535 patients last year, up from 455 in 2018. The record year brings the nonprofit’s total number of patients served to more than 2,100 patients across 10 counties in West Michigan since opening its doors.

Last year, Emmanuel Hospice also provided grief counseling and support services to more than 1,300 family members and 170 community members, in addition to providing education on end-of-life issues to approximately 190 individuals.

Since inception, Emmanuel’s team has gone from one part-time employee to more than 50 full- and part-timers. More than 10 employees joined the nonprofit in 2019, some who brought services, such as human resources, in-house to help manage continued growth.

The faith-based nonprofit provider of hospice care also received more than 2,500 volunteer hours from 30-plus volunteers for a cost savings of nearly $50,000. Volunteers made more than 1,000 bereavement calls, created approximately 500 handmade cards and donated hundreds of other homemade goods such as blankets, quilts and baked treats to bring comfort to patients and their families.

Last year also brought a new 5,400-square-foot office space, located just south of downtown Grand Rapids at 401 Hall St. SW. The expansion added 3,500 square feet compared to Emmanuel’s former office space at St. Ann’s Home, which allowed staff the space and resources needed to continue to provide quality and compassionate care to patients. Now more than eight months into living in the new headquarters, Emmanuel Hospice’s partnership remains strong with St. Ann’s and its other partners, Clark, Porter Hills and Sunset.

“We are truly grateful for the continued encouragement from our donors and board, and the dedication of our employees and volunteers,” Lowe said. “Our successes would not be possible without their support along the way, in addition to the strong foundation St. Ann’s and the Carmelite Sisters laid for us to flourish.”

In 2019, staff brought visions of launching a virtual reality program to existence, giving patients with limited mobility greater access to experiences beyond the four walls of their room or the confines of a bed. With this expansion of its complementary offerings, Emmanuel Hospice became the first hospice care provider in the Lower Peninsula to offer a virtual reality program.

The technology has been used to help patients visit places of emotional significance to relive fond memories and travel somewhere they have never been before. The capabilities gave another channel through which Emmanuel Hospice can put care back into the patient’s hands and has helped fulfill patient wishes.

As a person-centered provider, the Emmanuel Hospice team always starts the care process by asking patients how they want to live. Staff members then go to great lengths to help patients achieve wishes that will help create lasting memories for the patient and their family. In 2019, Emmanuel Hospice was able to fulfill seven wishes, one example being the use of music therapy and donated studio hours to help a patient record original songs that tell the tale of his journey through life.

“I’m proud of our team’s ability to be creative in a space where, despite rate cuts and deductions, we’ve found a way to grow both through philanthropic support and resourceful mission-based budgeting,” Lowe said. “That dedication has allowed us to expand programming we’re not required to provide, but feel is necessary and important.”

About Emmanuel Hospice

Emmanuel Hospice is a faith-based nonprofit provider of compassionate, person-centered hospice care to patients and families in West Michigan. Serving the community since 2013, the organization is a collaborative effort of St. Ann’s, Clark, Porter Hills and Sunset designed to complete the continuum by providing end-of-life care to those inside – and outside – the walls of these organizations. For more information, visit www.emmanuelhospice.org.

Emmanuel Hospice is looking for volunteers in the greater Grand Rapids area to provide support to patients and families, as well as assist its clinical teams.

The organization is in particular need of volunteers in the northern regions of the metropolitan area, specifically from Rockford, Sparta, Ionia and Cedar Springs.

Volunteers serve Emmanuel Hospice in many ways, including making bereavement calls, capturing patient’s life stories, supporting office needs and providing companionship with certified pet visitors. Other volunteer opportunities include assisting with community outreach, knitting, card-making and patient/family support.

“Volunteers are essential to our mission of providing exceptional end-of-life care for patients,” said Jackie Chandler, Emmanuel Hospice volunteer coordinator. “They help bring to life our philosophy of care that centers on providing comfort, dignity and tranquility to our patients and their loved ones.”

Emmanuel Hospice is dedicated to matching the unique skills and interests of prospective volunteers with the right opportunity, ensuring each volunteer receives a tailored area of assignment. Volunteers must first undergo a criminal background check and screening for TB. They will then complete a self-paced 12-hour course of online study to familiarize themselves with hospice care and end-of-life issues.

Headquartered in downtown Grand Rapids, the Medicare-certified and CHAP-accredited nonprofit provider serves patients and families across West Michigan.

Those who are interested in volunteering can submit an application form online at: emmanuelhospice.org/volunteer. Individuals may contact Chandler with questions and for more information at jchandler@emmanuelhospice.org.

About Emmanuel Hospice

Emmanuel Hospice is a faith-based nonprofit provider of compassionate, person-centered hospice care to patients and families in West Michigan. Serving the community since 2013, the organization is a collaborative effort of St. Ann’s, Clark, Porter Hills and Sunset designed to complete the continuum by providing end-of-life care to those inside – and outside – the walls of these organizations. For more information, visit www.emmanuelhospice.org.

As local fans filed into Fifth Third Ballpark on College Rivalry Night, baseball superfan Marge Neering was about to have her wish come true. Hundreds of passionate Michiganders began to sit down in their blue ad yellow University of Michigan jerseys while their rival fans sat adjacent to them, proudly showcasing their green and white Michigan State shirts. The players made their way to the dugouts as Marge watched on from the side of the field. She was getting to see her grandson throw the first pitch as the local West Michigan Whitecaps took on the Bowling Green Hot Rods in Grand Rapids.

Marge is a lifelong Michigander. She has been married to her husband, John, for 65 years. They have five children, six grandchildren and a dog named Julie. She was a stay-at-home mom before she worked at Jacobson’s in the shoe department. A devout Catholic, Marge and her husband loved traveling they’ve been all over the United States and Europe.

Marge and her family are avid baseball fans and enjoy traveling to different stadiums each year. this year, it was different. It was really special. Marge’s patient wish was to watch her West Michigan Whitecaps on College Rivalry Night with her family. The Neering family wore custom jerseys, with “Emmanuel” written on the back above the number 19 and “Emmanuel Hospice” branded on the front. It was a night to remember.

Emmanuel Hospice presented the Sister Gabriela Caring Spirit Award to Dr. John “Jack” Hartmann during a volunteer luncheon on Friday, Nov. 8 at Waterford Place in Jenison.

The award recognizes a volunteer who carries with them the mission and vision of Emmanuel Hospice and who goes above and beyond with their compassion for patients and their families. The award was named after Sister M. Gabriela Hilke, the founding visionary behind the creation of Emmanuel Hospice and the award’s first recipient. She is also a spiritual caregiver and active board member with the organization.

“Jack came to mind right away when our team was deliberating who should receive the award this year,” said Jackie Chandler, volunteer coordinator. “Jack has been incredibly engaged and passionate about Emmanuel Hospice from the very beginning. We have appreciated his continued dedication to our patients, and the many times he’s exceeded our volunteer expectations.”

A retired OB-GYN, Hartmann started volunteering with Emmanuel Hospice in the fall of 2018. He was first trained as patient/family support volunteer, helping to enhance patients’ quality of life through companionship, one-on-one time and prayer. When Emmanuel expressed a need for vigil volunteers, Hartmann was quick to sign up for the training.

Vigil volunteers must be compassionate listeners who recognize the transition that takes place at the end of life is both physical and spiritual. They are called on at all hours and any day of the week to be there for patients when no else can be to ensure no one dies alone. Vigil volunteers bring families some peace of mind knowing someone could be there with their loved one.

“Jack has been called to serve in this capacity multiple instances. Time and time again, no matter the hour, he’d be there – and he has sat bedside with patients for hours,” Chandler said. “I’ll never forget when I asked Jack why he was interested in volunteering, and he simply replied, ‘there is dignity in listening.’

“That really struck me. That’s exactly the mindset we look for in volunteers.”

Hartmann is also known for being an advocate for patients. He has developed meaningful and close relationships with the patients he has worked with, paying special attention to their needs. He has sought out trainings to learn how he can better support individuals with different conditions, such as those with dementia.

When he recognized one patient in particular was really struggling emotionally, Hartmann reached out to the interdisciplinary team to inquire about whether it would be OK for him to visit that patient more often than what is asked of volunteers. Emmanuel Hospice commended Hartman for his collaboration with the interdisciplinary team to ensure that patient received the additional support needed.

“People facing end-of-life issues experience some of the most important days of their lives,” Hartmann said. “For me, to be a possible source of kindness, even for a few hours, for such individuals is a privilege.

“I am very grateful for Emmanuel Hospice for giving me the opportunity to serve.”

Volunteers serve Emmanuel Hospice in many ways, including making bereavement calls, capturing patient’s life stories, supporting office needs and providing companionship with certified pet visitors. Other volunteer opportunities include assisting with art therapy, community outreach, knitting, card-making and patient/family support. So far this year, 35 volunteers have donated more than 2,100 hours to the organization, a cost savings of more than $38,000.

Emmanuel Hospice currently has a need for patient/family support and pet visitor volunteers. Pet visitor volunteers are trained as patient/family support volunteers in addition to having their pet certified as a companion animal.

The organization is also expanding its veterans program and is seeking individuals who have served to volunteer. A person does not need to be retired from the military to be considered for the volunteer position.

Those who are interested in volunteering can submit an application form online at: emmanuelhospice.org/volunteer. Individuals may contact Volunteer Coordinator Jackie Chandler for more information at jchandler@emmanuelhospice.org.