Compassionate hospice care for any age
The mission of Sparrow 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. Sparrow 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 Sparrow 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 on the Sparrow Hospital St. Lawrence Campus.
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 Sparrow 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 the Sparrow Hospital St. Lawrence Campus.
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 Sparrow 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 contact Jen Scholes, LMSW, Bereavement Coordinator at 517.364.7223 or Jennifer.Scholes@sparrow.org.
Support Group Schedule
Lansing Area Grief Support
Lansing area groups meet in person at Sparrow St. Lawrence campus. Groups are also available virtually or by phone, via WebEx (similar to Zoom). If interested in virtual attendance, contact Jen (info above) to be provided with the link/number.
WEATHER POLICY: If Lansing Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, grief groups will be cancelled.
Sparrow St. Lawrence Campus/West Entrance
1210 W. Saginaw, Lansing
2nd Floor Conference Room
Monthly Support Groups
Any Loss: 1st & 3rd Thursday of each month | 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Loss of Spouse/Partner: 2nd Thursday of each month | 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Loss of Adult Child: 4th Thursday of each month | 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Loss Beyond One Year Mark: 1st Monday of each month | 10-11 a.m.
8-Week Education Series
This structured group meets weekly for eight weeks. Each session includes education and discussion on a specific topic related to grief and loss. Topics include grief overview, what to expect, and coping skills.
**RSVP required to Jen Scholes (contact info above).
Tuesdays 10-11:30 a.m.
- Fall Session, Sept. 7 – Oct. 26
Carson City Grief Support
St. Mary's Church, 404 N. Division St., Carson City
WEATHER POLICY: If Carson City-Crystal Area Schools are closed due to inclement weather, group will be cancelled.
Open support for any loss: 2nd Tuesday of the month 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Phone Number: 517.364.7200