Hospice of Michigan Hosts Exclusive Documentary Screening and Panel in Grand Rapids

Editor’s Note: Media are invited to attend the special documentary screening and expert panel on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at the Compass College of Film and Media in Grand Rapids. Interview opportunities will be available immediately following the panel discussion at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets available for “Hospice Care in America Today” documentary and expert panel discussion; proceeds support access to quality hospice care through the not-for-profit’s Open Access Program

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Aug. 15, 2023) Hospice of Michigan invites the community to attend an exclusive screening of “Hospice Care in America Today,” a documentary by Emmy award-winning filmmaker Keith Famie, on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at the Compass College of Film and Media in Grand Rapids. Immediately following the documentary, hospice professionals will lead a panel discussion to explore how hospice care plays an essential role in helping patients and their loved ones navigate end-of-life.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the special one-hour screening begins at 7 p.m. The panel will begin at 8 p.m. and feature:

  • Bradd Hemker, MD, section chief, Pain and Palliative Medicine at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; pediatric medical director at Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children; division chief, Comprehensive Care
  • Stuart Vander Heide, MD, medical director at Hospice of Michigan
  • Holly McKay, RN at Hospice of Michigan
  • Liz Barnett, outreach specialist at Area Agency on Aging Western Michigan

“Hospice Care in America Today” has been featured on Detroit Public Television, but this is the documentary’s premiere on the west side of the state. Told through deeply personal stories of hospice patients and their loved ones, the film helps viewers understand how early access can improve quality of life while dispelling common myths around hospice care.

“This documentary touches on the true nature behind hospice care – to improve quality of life for individuals at end-of-life,” said Marcie Hillary, senior vice president of community relations for Hospice of Michigan. “We invite the entire community to join us for an inspiring and eye-opening evening that addresses the sacred nature of this major life event.”

Tickets are $25 and include entry to the screening, panel discussion and dessert reception.

To learn more about this event, contact Stephanie Allaire at sallaire@hom.org. For more information about Hospice of Michigan, visit hom.org.

About Hospice of Michigan

A nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care, Hospice of Michigan (HOM) is the original – and largest – hospice in the state. A founding member of the NorthStar Care Community, the not-for-profit delivers the highest quality of care, raising more than $5 million each year to cover costs for the uninsured and underinsured. HOM offers a broad range of services to enhance the quality of life at the end of life. HOM also provides grief support and counseling, as well as caregiver education and support. A member of the NorthStar Care Community, HOM also provides palliative care through NorthStar Palliative Care, pediatric hospice care and compassionate support services through Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children, and education programs for physicians and health care professionals through the NorthStar Institute. The NorthStar Care Community also includes Arbor Hospice. In total, NorthStar Care Community members serve more than 6,100 patients annually across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. For more information, call 888-247-5701 or visit www.hom.org.