Hospice Care

Compassionate hospice care for any age

The mission of Hospice Services is to provide physical, emotional, social, and spiritual support to terminally ill patients, as well as their families and loved ones, while assisting patients and families to live with dignity and comfort as they cope with end-of-life issues. Hospice Services is a non-profit hospice committed to providing compassionate care to everyone every time, regardless of the level of their insurance or their ability to pay.

At Hospice, we believe:

  • Hospice affirms life.
  • Hospice recognizes dying as a process, and so our care provides comfort rather than cure.
  • Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death.
  • Hospice helps the terminally ill person maintain their quality of life and helps family members through an extremely stressful time in their lives.

What is Hospice?

Hospice is a philosophy of care that focuses on providing comfort care, not curative treatment. The care provided is designed to help a person with a terminal illness live as well as possible for as long as possible, with the goal of improving quality of life. The hospice philosophy considers your entire family, not just you, as the “unit of care” and support and education are provided to all.

For more detailed information about hospice benefits, please read the Medicare Hospice Benefits PDF.  

​​​​​​​Where is Hospice provided?

Our comprehensive approach to hospice offers in-home care to residents in eight counties throughout mid-Michigan, as well as an inpatient residence located in Lansing at Hospice House of Mid-Michigan at UM Health-Sparrow St. Lawrence.

We also provide care in many nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the Mid-Michigan area. We recognize that family members also need care during these difficult times and we strive to offer them the help they need as well.

​​​​​​​Who pays for hospice?

Hospice care is covered 100% by Medicare Part A nationwide, by Medicaid in Michigan, and by most private health insurance policies. Patients and families are encouraged to check with their employer or insurance provider that hospice care is a covered benefit. If the patient resides at a facility (including Hospice House of Mid-Michigan), room & board charges from the facility are not a part of the covered hospice benefit. Those charges are the responsibility of the patient.

When is it time for hospice?

At any time during a life-limiting illness, it is appropriate to discuss all of the patient’s care and treatment options, including hospice. The earlier hospice is involved, the more it can do to make the patient’s final days, weeks, or months as comfortable and satisfying as possible. In order for a patient to be admitted to hospice, two (2) physicians must certify that the patient’s life expectancy six (6) months or less if curative treatment is stopped. The first certification is typically done by the patient’s primary or attending physician, including family physician, oncologist, or other specialist and the second by the admitting/attending hospice physician.

How to get started with Hospice Services

A physician referral is required for hospice admission. Patients or families can contact our intake office at 517.364.7200 to begin this process. Physicians can also call this number or fax a referral to 517.364.7054. Our intake office processes admissions for both our home hospice program as well as for the inpatient unit, Hospice House of Mid-Michigan at E.W. UM Health-Sparrow Hospital St. Lawrence.

When is it time for hospice?

At any time during a life-limiting illness, it is appropriate to discuss all of the patient’s care and treatment options, including hospice. The earlier hospice is involved, the more it can do to make the patient’s final days, weeks, or months as comfortable and satisfying as possible. In order for a patient to be admitted to hospice, two (2) physicians must certify that the patient’s life expectancy six (6) months or less if curative treatment is stopped. The first certification is typically done by the patient’s primary or attending physician, including family physician, oncologist, or other specialist and the second by the admitting/attending hospice physician.

How to get started with Hospice Services

A physician referral is required for hospice admission. Patients or families can contact our intake office at 517-364-7200 to begin this process. Physicians can also call this number or fax a referral to 517-364-7054. Our intake office processes admissions for both our home hospice program as well as for the inpatient unit, Hospice House of Mid-Michigan at UM Health-Sparrow St. Lawrence.

Hospice House

Hospice House of Mid-Michigan

The Hospice House of Mid-Michigan is an alternative to home hospice for patients unable to be cared for in a home setting. With 21 private rooms, the Hospice House
Holding hands

UM Health-Sparrow Home Hospice

Our Home Hospice teams partner with patients and their families to provide loving, high-quality care. Our three teams serve Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Gratiot

Services

Your hospice team will include a physician, nurse case manager, and social worker and you may elect to include a certified nurse’s aide, spiritual counselor, music therapist, and/or volunteers. Consultation may be provided for dietary counseling and speech, occupational, and/or physical therapy.

Services available to patients of Hospice include 24-hour on-call nurse support line, certain medical equipment and supplies, coverage of all medications related to the terminal diagnosis, and essential oils. We also participate in the We Honor Veterans program to thank our military veterans for their service. Following the patient’s death, bereavement services are available to provide grief support to the family.

Bereavement Services

Grief support is available to those grieving the death of a loved one. Services are free of charge and available to anyone in the community. Available grief supports include short-term counseling and support groups (see schedule below). We can also provide education and materials on grief and what to expect while grieving.

For more information, please call Hospice Services main number, 517-364-7200.

Support Group Schedule

Lansing Area Grief Support

Lansing area groups meet in person at UM Health-Sparrow Hospital at St. Lawrence campus. Groups are also available virtually or by phone, via WebEx (similar to Zoom). If interested in virtual attendance, contact Michelle Smith at 517-364-7275 or Michelle.Smith@UMHSparrow.org to be provided with the link/number.

WEATHER POLICY: If Lansing Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, grief groups will be cancelled.

Monthly Support Groups 

  • Loss of Spouse/Partner: 2nd/4th Thursday of each month | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
  • Child Loss: 3rd Thursday of each month | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
  • Loss Beyond One Year Mark: 1st Monday of each month | 10 - 11 a.m.*

Weekly Support Groups

Wednesdays
Any Loss Grief Support Group

Every Wednesday 6 - 8 p.m.
UM Health-Sparrow St. Lawrence Chapel
1210 W. Saginaw St.
Lansing, MI 48915

Thursdays
Any Loss Grief Support Group
1st and 3rd Thursday of each month
10: 30 – 11:30 a.m.
The Lutheran Church of St. Johns
511 Sturgis St.
St. Johns, MI 48879

Spouse Partner Loss Grief Support Group
2nd and 4th Thursday of each month
UM Health-Sparrow St. Lawrence Chapel
1210 Saginaw St.
Lansing, MI 48915

The Child Loss Group will resume in the Fall. Please contact Michelle Smith (517-364-7275) to register for any of the other groups.

Locations

St. Lawrence, West Entrance
2nd Floor Conference Room

1210 W. Saginaw
Lansing, MI 48915

Phone: 517-364-7200