End of Life and Palliative Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan

End of life and palliative care in Grand Rapids, MI focuses on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for people living with serious, life-limiting, or life‑threatening illnesses. This type of care supports not only physical symptoms, but also emotional, spiritual, and social needs—for both patients and their families.

In the Grand Rapids area, palliative and end of life services are available through major health systems such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, University of Michigan Health–West (Metro Health), Mercy Health, as well as community-based hospice and home care agencies.

What Is End of Life and Palliative Care?

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with serious illness. End of life care is palliative care focused on the final phase of life, often the last year, months, weeks, or days.

In Grand Rapids, end of life and palliative care aims to:

  • Manage symptoms such as pain, breathlessness, fatigue, nausea, or anxiety
  • Provide emotional and mental health support
  • Offer spiritual and cultural support based on your beliefs
  • Assist with social and practical needs, including daily tasks and planning
  • Support family members and caregivers before and after death

This care is based on your needs, not just your diagnosis. The goal is to help you live as comfortably and meaningfully as possible, according to your wishes.

Who Is Palliative and End of Life Care For?

Anyone in Grand Rapids with a life-limiting or life‑threatening illness can be referred for palliative care—at any age and at any stage of their illness.

Conditions that commonly benefit from palliative care include, but are not limited to:

  • Cancer
  • Heart failure and other serious heart disease
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and advanced lung disease
  • Kidney (renal) disease
  • Liver disease
  • Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
  • Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions
  • Advanced diabetes with complications
  • Stroke and its long‑term effects

Palliative care is not only for the last days of life. Many people in West Michigan receive palliative care:

  • Shortly after diagnosis of a serious illness
  • Off and on over several months or years
  • Alongside treatments like chemotherapy, dialysis, or heart procedures

You may be referred if you:

  • Need help managing difficult symptoms (such as pain, shortness of breath, or trouble sleeping)
  • Are struggling with anxiety, depression, or fear related to your condition
  • Need support making complex medical decisions
  • Want help talking with your family about your wishes

This type of support is sometimes called “supportive care.”

Support for Families and Caregivers in Grand Rapids

In many Grand Rapids households, family members or friends provide day‑to‑day care—especially during Michigan’s long, icy winters, when travel and appointments can be harder to manage.

End of life and palliative care services can support your caregivers by:

  • Teaching them how to safely provide care at home
  • Offering respite care so they can rest
  • Providing counseling and emotional support
  • Connecting them with local resources, such as the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health programs
  • Offering grief and bereavement support after death

Caregivers can ask to be included in discussions with the palliative care team and can seek support for themselves, not just for the patient.

Who Provides Palliative and End of Life Care in Grand Rapids?

End of life and palliative care in Grand Rapids is delivered by a team of professionals working together. Depending on your needs, your care team may include:

  • Primary care providers (PCPs) and family doctors – often your first contact, coordinating referrals
  • Specialist doctors – such as oncologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, nephrologists, or neurologists
  • Palliative care physicians and nurse practitioners – with advanced training in symptom management and end of life care
  • Nurses – in hospitals, clinics, home care, and hospice settings
  • Allied health professionals – including social workers, psychologists, counselors, dietitians, physical and occupational therapists
  • Spiritual care providers or chaplains – from local hospitals or faith communities
  • Home health and hospice aides – assisting with personal care and daily activities
  • Cultural and community organizations – supporting people from diverse backgrounds in the Grand Rapids area

As your condition changes, the mix of people involved in your care may change too. For example, you might start with your primary care doctor and a specialist at Corewell Health, then later work more closely with a hospice team providing care in your home.

Where Can You Receive Palliative and End of Life Care in Grand Rapids?

Depending on your situation and preferences, palliative and end of life care in Grand Rapids can be provided in:

  • Your home – community palliative care and hospice teams visit you where you live
  • Local hospitals – including Corewell Health hospitals, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Mercy Health, and University of Michigan Health–West
  • Inpatient palliative care units or hospices – for more complex symptom management or when home care is no longer possible
  • Outpatient palliative care clinics – where you attend scheduled appointments for symptom management and support
  • Skilled nursing or residential care facilities – with visiting palliative and hospice specialists

Many people in West Michigan choose home‑based care, especially during winter months, to reduce hospital visits and avoid driving in snow and ice. Your care team will discuss what is realistic and safest for you and your family.

How Palliative and End of Life Care Can Help You

Palliative and end of life care focuses on your overall quality of life. In Grand Rapids, your care team may help you with:

Symptom Management

  • Pain control
  • Shortness of breath (common in COPD and heart failure)
  • Nausea, constipation, or loss of appetite
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Anxiety, depression, or confusion

Emotional and Spiritual Support

  • Talking through fears and worries about illness and dying
  • Support for coping with changes in your independence and identity
  • Assistance with family communication and difficult conversations
  • Connection with chaplains or local faith communities that match your beliefs

Practical and Social Support

  • Planning for care during winter storms or power outages
  • Coordinating services like home health aides, meal delivery, or transportation
  • Linking you with local resources, such as the Kent County Health Department and community support groups
  • Helping with paperwork, benefits, and navigating the healthcare system

Support After Death

End of life and palliative care services in Grand Rapids typically extend support to families and caregivers after a loved one has died, including:

  • Grief and bereavement counseling
  • Support groups and referrals to local mental health resources
  • Guidance on practical steps after a death

Palliative Care Is Not the End of Active Treatment

A common myth is that accepting palliative care means “giving up.” This is not true.

You can receive palliative care at the same time as active treatment for your illness. For example:

  • A Grand Rapids resident receiving chemotherapy for cancer can also see a palliative care team for pain, nausea, and fatigue.
  • Someone with heart failure treated at Trinity Health Grand Rapids can receive palliative care at the same time to manage breathlessness and plan for the future.

You do not have to stop treatment like chemotherapy, dialysis, or surgery to receive palliative care. You may choose to stop or change treatments at some point, but that is your decision, made with your healthcare team and family.

Person-Centered Palliative Care in Grand Rapids

Palliative and end of life care in West Michigan follows a person‑centered approach. This means:

  • You are at the center of planning and decision‑making
  • Your values, preferences, and goals guide your care
  • Your individual, cultural, and religious needs are respected
  • You are treated with dignity, regardless of age, race, language, sexual orientation, or background

Grand Rapids is home to a diverse community, including long‑time residents, refugees, and immigrants. Local providers work to ensure that:

  • Interpreters are available when needed
  • Care is sensitive to different cultural beliefs about illness and death
  • Spiritual care can be tailored to your faith tradition or personal beliefs

If you have specific cultural or religious needs, let your care team know so they can connect you with appropriate local resources and community leaders.

Planning Ahead: The Last Year of Life

Palliative care teams in Grand Rapids often focus on planning when it seems likely you may be in the last year of life. This doesn’t mean your doctor can predict an exact timeline, but it allows time to:

  • Talk about what matters most to you (staying at home, avoiding certain treatments, being with family, etc.)
  • Discuss where you would prefer to receive care—at home, in hospital, or in a hospice
  • Prepare for possible changes in your condition, which may come in sudden ups and downs
  • Coordinate between multiple health and community services you may use

This planning often includes advance care planning, where you:

  • Talk with your loved ones and doctors about your wishes
  • Put your preferences in writing (for example, in an advance directive or durable power of attorney for healthcare)
  • Decide who can speak for you if you are unable to make decisions yourself

Planning ahead is especially important in Michigan, where winter weather can make last‑minute travel and hospital transfers more difficult.

Costs of Palliative and End of Life Care in Grand Rapids

In many cases, palliative and hospice care services are covered by insurance, including:

  • Medicare
  • Medicaid
  • Many private health insurance plans

However, there may be additional costs, such as:

  • Certain medications or dressings
  • Rental of specialized equipment (hospital beds, oxygen, wheelchairs)
  • Co‑pays or deductibles for hospital or clinic visits
  • Extra fees for private hospital or facility care

Always check with:

  • Your health insurance company
  • The billing department at your Grand Rapids hospital or hospice
  • Your social worker or case manager

They can help explain what is covered and what you may need to pay out of pocket.

How to Access Palliative and End of Life Care in Grand Rapids, MI

You can access palliative and end of life care in several ways:

  • Ask your doctor or nurse for a referral

    • Primary care providers and specialists at Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Mercy Health, and University of Michigan Health–West can refer you.

  • Contact local palliative care or hospice programs directly

    • Many Grand Rapids hospice agencies accept self‑referrals from patients or family members.

  • Talk to your local health provider or community clinic

    • Staff at community health centers and local clinics can guide you to appropriate services.

  • Reach out to local public health resources

    • The Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health can provide information and connect you with community support services.

If you are caring for a loved one at home and feel overwhelmed, you do not need to wait for a crisis. Ask about palliative or hospice support early—this often leads to better comfort and more time spent where you want to be.

Key Points About End of Life and Palliative Care in Grand Rapids

  • Focus on comfort and quality of life: Palliative care manages symptoms and provides emotional, spiritual, and practical support.
  • Available for many illnesses: You can receive palliative care for cancer, heart and lung disease, dementia, kidney disease, and other serious conditions.
  • Not the end of treatment: You can receive palliative care alongside active treatments like chemotherapy or dialysis.
  • Supports families and caregivers: Services help families cope, provide care at home, and receive grief support after a death.
  • Person‑centered and culturally respectful: Care in Grand Rapids is tailored to your values, culture, and beliefs.
  • Available in multiple settings: You can receive palliative care at home, in local hospitals, in hospices, and in residential care facilities across West Michigan.

If you live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and are facing a serious illness—either for yourself or a loved one—talk with your healthcare provider about palliative and end of life care options. Early support can help you make the most of each day, in the way that matters most to you.