Emmanuel Hospice Fights for "Moments of Life" Public Service Announcement

We know their stories as we care for the families of West Michigan. We know the benefits of Hospice Care as we read study after study, week after week. But our challenge is reaching out to the nearly 1.4 million people in the greater Grand Rapids area to raise awareness on the Hospice philosophy of care.  Which is why we need your help.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization has launched a new campaign: “Moments of Life, Made Possible by Hospice”. In this campaign, NHPCO shows how Hospice Care can assist patients and families to live life to the fullest extent possible, even while diagnosed with a life limiting illness. We at Emmanuel Hospice feel that if 1 in 3 of American’s will need hospice care in our lives, everyone should know what it is.  Here is how you can help:

1.) Watch the “Moments of Life” PSA here.
2.) Read the Moments of Life website from NHPCO explaining why this is important in our community.  It provides key facts about hospice.
3.) Contact TV and Cable Stations – Email the PDF flier to the people below that handle Public Service Announcements for the local TV stations.  Tell them you wanted to reach out to them and raise awareness on a topic that needs to be heard by all of their viewing base.  Let them know they have a 1 in 3 chance of needing Hospice Care in THEIR life, so knowing the information in this PSA could change their lives as well.

  • WOOD TV8: weva@woodtv.com
  • FOX 17: jzissler@fox17online.com
  • WZZM 13: prankin@wzzm.gannett.com
  • WWMT Newschannel 3: sbabraham@sbgtv.com

By requesting that your local stations air the PSA, the hospice community is more likely to get broadcast time across the nation and reach Americans everywhere. Your outreach efforts WILL make a difference!  Thank you for your help and may God bless!

Emmanuel Hospice Invites You to Volunteer!

Compassionate and caring individuals are needed to help Emmanuel Hospice meet the needs of patients and families facing end-of-life issues. Giving your time to a family could positively impact their life more than you could imagine.

There is a place for everyone in the hospice family of volunteers ranging from respite care for a tired caregiver, to companionship for a lonely patient, or assisting our hospice ministry with outreach and fundraising efforts in an office setting.

Training begins with orientation to hospice care and the importance of our volunteers. We then dive into topics including the grieving process and comfort measures, communication skills during a life’s final chapter, spiritual care of the family, ethical issues and advanced directives, and understanding a patient’s journey while reaching their final days.

Our next volunteer training program will be held soon, so we encourage you to contact our Volunteer Coordinator-Heather O’Brien today. Call 616-719-0919 or email hobrien@emmanuelhospice.org for more information.

CHAP Accredited; We are Ready to Serve!

Emmanuel Hospice recently received CHAP accreditation recognizing us as an industry leader in quality, performance, and excellence.

CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Program) provides a non-biased third-party review to ensure a provider is not only compliant with current state and federal regulations and industry standards of practice, but demonstrates higher levels of performance, positioning it for growth and long term viability.

“The goal of Emmanuel Hospice is to treat the person instead of the disease, and focus on the family and caregivers, not just the individual.” said Sara Lowe, Executive Director of Emmanuel Hospice, “Our privilege is to support the goals of those we serve during what can be a very difficult time.”

Emmanuel Hospice care involves a team-oriented approach that includes expert medical care, pain-and-symptom management, and emotional and spiritual support. All care is expressly tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes.

“Emmanuel Hospice isn’t a place. We customize our care to best meet your needs by bringing our services to the place you consider home, wherever that may be,” Said Lowe.  “It’s a philosophy of care that focuses on living…living as fully as possible, up until the end of life.”

Emmanuel Hospice is an interfaith collaboration of four local, nonprofit organizations with over 200 years of combined experience providing quality health care services in West Michigan.  St. Ann’s, Clark, Porter Hills, and Sunset Retirement have joined together to deliver the highest level of holistic care to those who have reached end of life.

Paying for End-of-Life Care

How to pay for the rising costs of health care?  Concerns over these costs are shared not only by elected officials but by almost every family across the country. Many baby boomers are providing care for their aging parents just as they are facing their own health care issues.

Yet, for almost 30 years, the Medicare Hospice Benefit has provided a model for financing end-of-life care that can bring great relief and support to families during one of life’s most difficult times.

This benefit covers virtually all aspects of hospice care with little out-of-pocket expense to the patient or family. As a result, the financial burdens often associated with caring for a terminally-ill patient are lifted.

Hospice care also offers supports to the loved ones of the patient; this brings an added level of relief to the dying person, knowing their loved ones are being cared for as well.

Hospice is paid for through the Medicare Hospice Benefit, Medicaid Hospice Benefit, and most private insurers. In addition, most private health plans and Medicaid in 47 States and the District of Columbia cover hospice services. If a person does not have coverage through Medicare, Medicaid or a private insurance company, hospices will work with the person and their family to ensure needed services can be provided.

Medicare covers these hospice services and pays nearly all of their costs:

  • Doctor services
  • Nursing care
  • Medical equipment (like wheelchairs or walkers)
  • Medical supplies (like bandages and catheters)
  • Drugs for symptom control and pain relief
  • Short-term care in the hospital, including respite and inpatient for pain and symptom management
  • Home health aide and homemaker services
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Speech therapy
  • Social work services
  • Dietary counseling
  • Grief support

Medicare will still pay for covered benefits for any health problems that aren’t related to a terminal illness.

Hospice and palliative care involves a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes. Families making end-of-life decisions for a loved one need compassion and support, not financial worries. The Medicare Hospice Benefit helps alleviate these concerns.

To learn more, contact Emmanuel Hospice at 616-719-0919 or email us at info@emmanuelhospice.org visiting Caring Connections at http://www.caringinfo.org/ or call the Help Line at 1-800-658-8898.