Midland, Michigan, July 24, 2014 – Hospice of Michigan has received a grant from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation in Midland for its pediatric hospice
Michigan’s first – and largest – hospice has received $15,000 from the Gerstacker Foundation to benefit pediatric patients and their families in the Midland area who receive services from HOM. Last year, HOM provided support to nearly 200 pediatric patients and families across the Lower Peninsula, including the Midland area.
Pediatric programs focus on three primary areas:
- Perinatal: Providing support to expectant parents of an unborn child diagnosed with a potentially terminal or life-limiting illness to assist with birth planning, provide bereavement services and related issues
- Pediatric Early Care: The only one of its kind in Michigan, PEC works to connect seriously ill children and their families with the specialized community resources they need to deal with financial, emotional, social, legal, spiritual and other
- Hospice: Providing compassionate end-of-life care to terminally ill children and support for their
“We are grateful to the Gerstacker Foundation for its support of our pediatric programs, which provide compassionate support to families facing one of the toughest issues of all: the serious illness or death of a child,” said Marcie Hillary, vice president of community relations. “Our pediatric programs work with the entire family to ensure they have the necessary knowledge and resources needed to make informed decisions about treatment options.
“We also provide programs and opportunities that allow families to enjoy and maximize the time they have with their children. Many of these are unreimbursed through private insurance or Medicare. The support of the Gerstacker Foundation will allow us to continue this important work in the Midland area.”
The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation was founded in 1957 by Eda U. Gerstacker in memory of her husband. Over its nearly 60-year history, the Gerstacker Foundation has donated more than $200 million to charities of various types.
About Hospice of Michigan
A nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care, Hospice of Michigan is the original – and largest – hospice in the state. The non-profit cares for more than 1,400 patients each day in 56 counties across Michigan, raising more than $4 million each year to cover the cost of care for the uninsured and underinsured. HOM offers a broad range of services to enhance the quality of life at the end of life, including At Home Support™, our advanced illness management program, community-based palliative care and pediatric care programs. HOM provides grief support and counseling, caregiver education and support, and education programs for physicians and healthcare professionals through its research, training and education arm, the Hospice of Michigan Institute. For more information, call 888.247.5701 or visit www.hom.org.