Introduction to the Who, What, Where, When and How of Hospice

Who Hospice is:

  • Hospice team consists of: You, Your Family/Caregivers, Your Doctor, Registered Nurses, Home Health Aides, Medical Social Workers, Volunteers, Spiritual Advisors and Bereavement Coordinators.
  • Volunteers provide respite care, companionship and improved life quality.
  • Bereavement takes place through the entire care event and for the next 13 months after.
  • The hospice team is designed to support not only the patient, but the entire family as they go through the challenges of care giving and grieving.

What Hospice is:

  • For the patient and the family/caregivers.
  • It’s about letting go of treatments that aren’t helping. It is saying no to medical interventions that cause distress or discomfort. It is about relieving pain and uncomfortable symptoms.
  • Hospice is about comfort care. Comfort care is choosing quality of life as the priority. Comfort care is also about providing needed support so a person can do the things they want to do in the time remaining.
  • In most cases, hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance so there is no cost to the family. Any comfort or safety care needs not covered by insurance are paid for by the Hospice organization (if that is part of their mission).

What Hospice is not:

  • It is not about giving up or losing hope.
  • It is not about losing time.
  • You can graduate from Hospice - If you or your loved ones health improves so that hospice is no longer needed you can discontinue hospice at any time and come back onto the program at a later time. Services always remain open to you.

Where Hospice is:

  • Hospice of Northwest Michigan services Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and part of Otsego Counties.
  • Comes to you wherever you call home: Your home, Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Relatives Home, Hospital.

When is it time for Hospice:

  • Hospice specializes in care of those in the last 6 month of life but you do not want to wait. If you wait to get hospice until the last few days or weeks of your loved ones life, you will not get the full benefit of having a team help you through the process.
  • There is no set time limit to receiving hospice service once admitted to care.
  • A terminal diagnosis is required but does not have to be cancer related. Any terminal life limiting diagnosis is appropriate.

How to get on Hospice:

  • You have a choice!
  • You don’t have to choose a hospice just because it’s affiliated with your current hospital or physician. Research hospices and pick the one that best fits your needs, just as you would for any other life decision. Ask for referrals from friends and family. Know your needs and confirm your hospice can meet them. Do they have staff specially trained to assist veterans with their unique end-of-life needs? Can they reach you in 30 minutes or less, if needed? Are any costs transferred to the patient or family? A reputable hospice will gladly answer all of your questions before you make a decision.
  • You can discontinue services with a Hospice at any time if it is not a good fit for you and your family and enroll in another Hospice program to meet your needs.
  • Physicians are sometimes reluctant to tell families when it’s time for their loved one to enter hospice, even after a terminal diagnosis is given. By starting the conversation early with the doctor, you can enjoy the full benefit of having a team in place to help you through the process.
  • Just as there is no good time to find out about a terminal illness, there is no welcome time to wake up and find you are a full-time caregiver to a person who is dying. Very few are prepared to take on this role and yet we all rise to the challenge the best we can. There are no perfect caregivers we are all human. Hospice can help by providing training, information, encouragement and support.

Hospice of Northwest Michigan is Specialized because:

  • Out of the 9 Hospices serving our area, we are the 501 c3 non-profit hospice not owned, affiliated with or financially supported by a Hospital, Corporation, or for profit. This allows us to be more flexible in our ability to meet the quick timed response and immediate unfunded needs.
  • RN’s are locally based and are within 30 minutes response of clients needs. We are your friends & neighbors taking care of our friends and neighbors.
  • You keep all of your own Doctor(s) and we work with them.
  • We have a We Honor Veterans Program and we are a Level 3Partner. Veteran volunteers and volunteers uniquely trained to assist a veteran in the special challenges at the end of life.
  • Our staff is all cross-trained in Home Care and Hospice. If someone is not quite ready for Hospice for whatever reason, we can assist their needs in a Home Care service and seamlessly transition them into Hospice when they are ready with the same staff they are all used to.
  • We provide free, open to the community Grief and Bereavement Support to anyone(you do not have to be on Hospice) suffering a loss of any kind (ie: loss of a pet, a job, due to deployment, etc). Available in a group or individual setting.
  • We turn no one away for any reason, including lack of funds.
  • We run 365 days a year and 24/7 with both an RN and Supervisor available as you never know when you may need support or services.

If you would like more information or to contact Hospice of Northwest Michigan, call (800) 551-4140 or visit