West Michigan Harbor Hospice Muskegon, MI 1-800-497-9559

Choosing Hospice

Many people wait too long to seek hospice care and miss out on the joy and relief of providing the right care at the right time for the right reasons. For the sake of the patient and the caregiver, Harbor Hospice should be contacted immediately after the patient receives a terminal diagnosis. Even though hospice care may not be immediately required for the patient, Harbor Hospice has resources to help the patient and family plan and enjoy their final time together.

What? Hospice care is end of life care.  It is a focused medical expertise with dedicated, specially-trained caregivers that will ensure your loved one’s comfort at the end of life. Harbor Hospice provides comprehensive  health care focusing on pain control and symptom management  for terminally ill people at home or in home-like setting.  Hospice provides specialized health care with expertise in pain and symptom management, emotional support and spiritual  care, as well as grief support for family members  following the death of their loved one.

Why? Because you want your loved one to come to the end of their life without pain and with as much autonomy, dignity and respect as their disease will allow.  Harbor Hospice provides encouragement and in-home training to assist family caregivers care for a dying loved one.  Harbor Hospice also provides regular in-home visits of hospice workers to help people care for their dying loved ones.  And Harbor Hospice offers the beautiful Poppen residential hospice setting for patients whose needs exceed the capabilities of their loved ones, or for whom residential care is the best option.

When? Whenever a life-limiting illness is present, it is appropriate to discuss options such as hospice. This is a decision that is best made by the patient and family in consultation with the attending physician. Shifting the goal of treatment from curing the underlying disease to managing symptoms and promoting comfort, is often a difficult thing to do. Hospice is sensitive to this and is available to discuss options for care with patients and their caregivers. 

Many people wait too long to seek hospice care and miss out on the joy and relief of providing the right care at the right time for the right reasons. For the sake of the patient and the caregiver, Harbor Hospice should be contacted immediately after the patient receives a terminal diagnosis. Even though hospice care may not be immediately required for the patient, Harbor Hospice has resources to help the patient and family plan and enjoy their final time together.

Who do we serve?
Harbor Hospice provides care to residents throughout the region who have received a terminal diagnosis. Pediatric hospice care is also available.  The goal of hospice is to provide the opportunity for dignity, choices and control for each patient and family. The care provided by the family and other caregivers, with the support of hospice staff and volunteers, can usually meet the needs of the hospice patient who wishes to stay at home.

• Physical care including medical and nursing services.
• Pain and symptom management.
• Counseling to assist the patient and family in coping with advanced illness.
• Family education regarding procedures and what to expect as the illness progresses. 
• Practical care such as bathing and assistance with daily activities by certified home health aides.
• Assistance with locating community resources, understanding insurance paperwork and other matters of financial concern to the patient and family.
• Spiritual and emotional support for patients and families.
• Professional grief counseling and support.