My host company through Challenge Detroit is Hospice of Michigan. I work mainly with the Advanced Illness Management program called At Home Support. This service provides patients with nurses, social workers, home aids, and volunteers that can assist them with their day-to-day lives. What truly makes the program amazing is that it provides improved and quality health care for the patients at lower costs. The volunteer program for At Home Support is in its infancy, but with an enthusiastic Volunteer Service Manager at the helm, I believe our volunteers will grow dramatically over the next year. Volunteers have long been an essential part of the Hospice of Michigan team, and we hope that they will soon play an equally important role for At Home Support.

This past week I was able to volunteer my time by delivering fruit baskets to some of our patients. I spent time wrapping gifts for some of the family members of the patients we serve, and I felt honored to deliver the fruit baskets to some of our patients in and around the city of Detroit.  What makes Detroit an amazing place is its amazing people, and I enjoy meeting our patients whenever I have a chance. I hope to become a physician one day, and I want to work in Metro-Detroit so I can give back to this community.

Here is a link to a video where Senator Debbie Stabenow uses At Home Support as an example of an innovative program that reduces costs and improves care. http://www.hom.org/about-2/home-support-gains-national-attention/

Great things are happening in Metro-Detroit, and At Home Support is one shining example.

We are looking for volunteers to do all kinds of work. Whether it is working with the patients directly, or working in the office, we can use your help. For more information on volunteering for At Home Support please call our Volunteer Service Manager Samantha Peck at 248-794-4416.