Hospice
Spectrum Health Hospice is West Michigan’s largest hospice provider and the region’s first hospital-based hospice program. We provide compassionate, comforting care for individuals who are experiencing a life-limiting illness. Our services are provided in private homes, long-term care facilities, assisted living residences, adult foster care homes and hospitals.
Referrals
- Phone: 616.391.4250
Hospice Care Team
Our experienced hospice medical directors will consult with you to assess the care needs of the patient and provide any or all of the following services:
- Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to regularly assist with symptom management and pain control
- Medical social workers to offer emotional support and assist with financial and legal counseling, and other resources
- Chaplains to provide compassionate spiritual support
- Certified hospice aides to assist with personal care needs
- Trained volunteers to offer a wide array of support, including companionship, bedside music and practical assistance
- Local on-call services with quick response times, available 24/7
Additional Services
- Complementary alternative medicine, including massage, acupuncture, herbal teas and Reiki
- Medication and equipment
- Grief support for family, caregivers and staff
- Memorial services and support groups
- Music and art expression for both adults and children
- Visiting pets, photography, memory books
Referral Indicators
- Gradual decline in functioning
- Recurring hospitalizations and frequent visits to the emergency room
- Uncontrolled or increased pain
- Diminished ability to care for oneself
- Decreased energy and physical activity
- Exhaustion of family members serving as caregivers
- Persistent concerns that more help is needed in the home
- Poor appetite and progressive weight loss
- Increased difficulty breathing
- Dependence on portable oxygen
- Uncontrolled or recurring nausea/vomiting
- Recurrent infections
- Significant weakness and increased sleeping
- Uncertainty of how to best meet patient’s needs
Care Choices
Until recently, patients and families had to choose between hospice and curative treatment and now they may have both. Spectrum Health Care Choices is a model of care developed by CMS which allows patients to choose curative medical treatments while receiving hospice-like benefits at home. This combination ensures symptoms are well managed and family members are supported. Our care team works in collaboration with the patient’s physician and other health care providers. The customized care plan includes ongoing treatments, home visits, medications, physician oversight and may include:
- Continued treatment with primary care physician and/or specialists
- Coordination of services by a nurse navigator
- Pain and symptom management
- Social work services
- Personal care by home health aide
- 24/7 on-call services and nursing access
- Volunteer services
- Telehealth
- Advanced care planning
- Emergency department diversion and crisis management
- Spiritual care
Eligibility required.
Care Choices
Refer a patient to our care team.
View Our SHMG Physicians & Advanced Practice Providers
Our experienced doctors and specialists are ready to serve you, right in your community.