Palliative care provides relief from life-limiting symptoms while receiving curative treatment
DETROIT (Nov. 28, 2023) – The NorthStar Care Community was recently awarded with a $350,000 grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. This grant will support the NorthStar Palliative Care program expansion in the city of Detroit. Palliative care is an additional layer of support for people of all ages, especially those 65 and older, living with serious or terminal disease. Palliative care has been shown to improve quality of life for patients by focusing on symptom management and advanced care planning discussions.
Detroit is designated as a medically underserved area with limited access to home-based palliative care services for patients living with chronic and terminal illnesses. While acceptance of hospice services has been lower than average in Detroit, NorthStar Palliative Care will help ensure that residents are supported by addressing distressing symptoms, improving quality of life and helping patients access hospice services when they’re ready.
“Too often, patients and families say they wish they would have started hospice sooner. The resources and support of NorthStar Palliative Care will help patients and families accept an earlier and smoother transition to hospice care,” said Patrick Miller, NorthStar Care Community executive vice president and chief operating officer. “This grant will give patients access to enroll earlier, and patients and families can have a more meaningful time together and a better end-of-life experience.”
Since 2021, NorthStar Palliative Care has received 68 referrals from the Detroit area that could not be served. The Michigan Health Endowment Fund grant will enable the not-for-profit to serve an additional 80 to 100 palliative care patients in the city of Detroit daily. Last year, NorthStar Palliative Care served more than 1,000 patients statewide.
The Michigan Health Endowment Fund works to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents and reduce the cost of healthcare, with special focus on children and seniors. You can find more information about the Health Fund at mihealthfund.org.
For more information about NorthStar Palliative Care, please visit northstarpalliative.org.
About NorthStar Care Community
NorthStar Care Community (NSCC) was created to preserve and promote the mission of nonprofit hospice and palliative care – to deliver expert, compassionate care to patients of any age, no matter their diagnoses, complexity of care, place of residence or ability to pay. NorthStar Care Community was formed in 2017 by two legacy nonprofit hospice agencies – Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice – and also includes NorthStar Palliative Care, the NorthStar Institute and Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children. As members of the NSCC family, the organizations combine operational resources in order to maximize support at each patient’s bedside, delivering the highest standards of care to those who are seriously ill. In total, NorthStar Care Community members serve more than 6,100 patients annually across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. For more information about NorthStar Care Community, visit northstarcarecommunity.org.