Washtenaw Medical Arts Building
3075 Clark Road, Suite 200
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

What is Hospice?

Hospice is a way of caring for people with a progressive, life-limiting illness. Hospice helps individuals live their final months of life to the fullest, as comfortable as possible, in the setting of their own homes. Hospice is an interdisciplinary team designed to address not only the physical needs of patients, but also the psychosocial and spiritual needs of patients, their families and loved ones. Hospice combines the best in pain control, symptom management and emotional and spiritual support.

Eligibility Requirements

Patients must be diagnosed with a life limiting illness by a physician and desire no further treatment.

Services Provided

Nurses, doctors and pharmacists work together to provide pain and symptom management and to teach families how to care for their loved one. Social Workers provide emotional support, grief and bereavement counseling and assistance with other supportive services. Chaplains provide spiritual counseling for people of all faiths, offer communion and serve as liaisons between families and community ministers. Volunteers offer companionship and provide respite to the caregiver. They will occasionally help with household tasks, such as cleaning or meal preparation.

Speakers Bureau

Our Speakers Bureau provides invaluable information to the community about hospice care and services. Staff members speak to large and small audiences during the daytime, evenings and weekends. We also provide information booths at health and wellness fairs, and answer questions about hospice. Speakers bring their passion and knowledge of hospice care and our philosophy to every engagement. Presentation topics include:

• What is hospice?
• Dealing with feelings
• Children's grief
• Volunteering
• Grief and bereavement
• The spiritual challenge of hospice care
• Advance directives

For additional information or to schedule a free presentation for your community group, agency, office, church, synagogue or school, please contact the client services liaison at 734-327-3200.

How to Support Hospice:

Volunteer

Hospice volunteers are a special group of people who are available to provide support services for patients and caregivers. Men, women, students, business people, retirees and homemakers all volunteer to help.

Volunteers are carefully interviewed and receive up to 20 hours of training from the hospice team and other professionals before their participation in hospice care.

Some specific ways a volunteer may help may include:

• Shopping
• Providing childcare
• Assisting with personal care
• Helping with light household tasks
• Visiting with patients
• Helping with personal correspondence
• Relieving caregiver for short periods of time
• Office duties

Please download our Volunteer Application, fill it out and send it to us at:

St. Joseph Mercy Hospice
Attn: Volunteer Coordinator
Washtenaw Medical Arts Building
3075 Clark Road, Suite 200
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

If you would like to learn more about our volunteer opportunities, please call the volunteer coordinator at 734-327-3200.

Make a Donation

St. Joseph Mercy Hospice is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. We accept monetary donations. Make checks payable to St. Joseph Mercy Hospice. Send your donation to:

St. Joseph Mercy Hospice
Attn: System Integration Leader
Washtenaw Medical Arts Building
3075 Clark Road, Suite 200
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

To contact us please call 734-327-3400 or 888-884-6569.