Emmanuel Hospice

11/01/2025

November is National Care at Home Month!

At Emmanuel Hospice, we honor the dedicated nurses, social workers, aides, spiritual caregivers, complementary therapists, volunteers, and countless others who bring compassionate care into the homes of those we serve.

Care at home is more than a service - it's a calling. It's about meeting people where they are, both physically and emotionally, and walking with them through some of life’s most sacred moments. Whether it’s pain management, emotional support, or simply holding a hand, our team ensures that care is personal, dignified, and centered on what matters most to each individual and their family.

This month, we recognize and celebrate everyone across the country who provides care at home, and we thank our Emmanuel Hospice team for their unwavering commitment to comfort, peace, and presence.

10/30/2025

10/28/2025

Last week, our Vice President of Community Relations visited Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic School (Grand Rapids, MI) and spoke to the students in chapel about the many ways we respect and honor life through hospice care. 🩵

The students have been learning about Respect Life Month throughout October, and it was a wonderful opportunity to share how compassion, dignity, and love guide our care for others at every stage of life.

10/20/2025

As a result of the AWS (Amazon Web Services) outage, our donor software is experiencing issues.

We apologize for the inconvenience, and if you wish to make a donation to Emmanuel Hospice in the meantime, please:

📨Mail a check to us at
401 Hall St. SW Suite 263
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Call our main line at 616.719.0919, ask for a member of the Philanthropy team, and we'll be happy to assist you.

Thank you for your patience and continued support while we wait for services to be restored.

10/13/2025

Interested in volunteering? Consider joining us on October 21st! To learn more, call us at 616.719.0919 or email hsalas@emmanuelhospice.org

Some hospice volunteers have two legs and some have four. Hear about how Deb and Cocoa bring joy wherever they go.

10/08/2025

What are the signs that hospice care might be supportive?

🔍 If after looking at these indicators, you’re curious about what hospice looks like for you, give us a call! A real person answers the phone, 24/7, and our compassionate team of experts is ready to chat with you about your specific situation. There's never an obligation to begin care, and "knowing before you need" is always a positive!

10/02/2025

We were so pleased to be able to provide this patient wish experience for Tom and Pat. Thank you to Legacies Assisted Living for hosting this special moment, and to our friends at Bloom Credit Union who financially underwrite these incredible, joy-bringing opportunities.

Pat and Tom VanTol were reunited on Wednesday for a Culver's lunch date after being apart for more than half a year due to health complications.

09/26/2025

Alice graduated from the Mercy Central School of Nursing in Grand Rapids (which was open from 1898 to 1986) in 1953 as a Nurse Anesthetist. A reunion for Mercy graduates happened at Cascade Hills Country Club on September 11th this year, and the event coordinator said, "it wouldn't be the same without Alice".

Initially, Alice’s circle wasn’t sure it was time for hospice because they knew how much she wanted to attend this reunion, and didn't realize she could do both! We of course said absolutely she can definitely still attend if she starts care with us and furthermore let's help her get there! Her Emmanuel Hospice CNA, Alexis, attended the event along with Alice and her daughter Jo, so that they could focus on enjoying the event and Alexis could provide any support that Alice needed.

At the event, Alice was presented with a corsage as the oldest attending member, and was honored in the presence of her peers. Amazing!

09/26/2025

"I wish everyone with a wonderful dog could do this because it's so rewarding and brings so much joy"

Kelly and her pup Willow, pet visitor volunteers with Emmanuel Hospice talk about what it's like to visit patients together.

If you're interested in volunteering with Emmanuel Hospice in any way, our volunteer coordinator is passionate about matching people with the right opportunities. We're hosting an in-person orientation from 1-4pm on October 21st at our offices in Grand Rapids, and we invite you to join us! For more information, email Holly at hsalas@emmanuelhospice.org, or call us at 616.719.0919

All of the training and certifications for the therapy dogs are paid for by Emmanuel Hospice.

09/24/2025

Hospice and Palliative Care: Sisters, Not Twins.

Learn more about the difference by reading this piece featuring one of Emmanuel Hospice's own providers, Emily Page, MSN, NP-C.

Palliative care can be utilized for patients at any stage of a serious illness, including those who are still having active treatments to cure a disease

09/18/2025

What an incredible day. Our Annual Celebration Luncheon was a huge success, and thanks to you, our amazing community, we’ve already raised $108,549 toward our $135,000 goal.

These vital funds support the unique services that make Emmanuel Hospice so special: music and massage therapy, grief support, patient wishes, and other complementary therapies. These meaningful moments are not covered by insurance, but your generosity makes them possible.

You can hear directly from Tim Kraai about how Emmanuel Hospice made a difference for his wife, Christine, and their family in this short clip.

We’re so close to reaching our goal. Every share helps, so when you see this post, please help us spread the word, and please consider giving: https://emmanuelhospice.networkforgood.com/projects/255440-annual-celebration-giving-page

Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us provide compassionate, personalized care.

View the full video of Christine's Story here: https://youtu.be/SfZN7V4kCYI

09/17/2025

We are privileged to recognize our Visionary Level sponsor - Jeff and JoAnn Carter

Your generous support allows us to reimagine what hospice care can be, deepen our holistic approach, expand access, and offer creative therapies that bring peace and meaning. You are helping us create a future where every person is seen, known, and comforted at the end of life.

Thank you for investing in compassionate innovation.

Learn more about Annual Celebration: https://tinyurl.com/yc4vurcy