patients were provided daily contact and attentive care with Remote Patient and Transition to Home Monitoring nurses
Continuing Care
Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Corewell Health Continuing Care Program provides personalized health care services that meet our patients wherever they are. This specialized care, often required after an initial hospital stay, surgery, or long-term illness, is enhanced by the philanthropic contributions that bring hope, care, and support to patients and families when it’s needed most.
Program Highlights
Expressive Arts
The Corewell Health Expressive Arts Program, supported by philanthropy, continues to provide residents at Rehabilitation and Nursing Centers (RNC) with opportunities to paint, create pottery, make jewelry and welcome special performers. In the Cedar RNC, a generous gift was made to create a beautiful new art room and gallery, which displays the artwork created by those who are living there. In addition to art therapist, RaNae Couture, the program is welcoming members of the community from Artists Creating Together, helping to build more connections and extend the reach of art therapy.
Music Therapy
The Kentridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (RNC) celebrated the power of music with the purchase of new instruments for the residents and a continued partnership with the Grand Rapids Symphony’s “Music for Health” program. The new instruments include harmonicas, a harp, chimes, xylophone, a recording microphone and more. Music therapy has been shown to decrease pain, increase, or support motor function and communication skills, and promote positive mood and autonomy.
Hospice Volunteers
Volunteers continue to stand alongside our patients and provide them with support in intentional and meaningful ways — sometimes for months or years; sometimes for just an hour. Philanthropy makes it possible to provide materials and supplies for things like Bereavement Bears, made with a patient’s clothing, and fingerprint pendants. These items are treasured by loved ones as they navigate their grief.
Events
Hospice Service of Remembrance
In April 2024, family members of patients who passed away in prior years gathered at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park for the annual Service of Remembrance. Guests were able to experience the cathartic and beautiful exhibit, Butterflies are Blooming, free of charge and took part in a program honoring the lives of their loved ones. The names of each of their loved ones were read aloud, giving them an opportunity to connect with others who had lost someone close to them. This event is a powerful reminder that our patients and the people who love them are not forgotten, and that while grief can feel isolating, the sheer size of the crowd demonstrates that many others are walking a similar path.
The Power of Music Therapy
“N” is 83 years old. He has lived his life with Cerebral Palsy and is quadriplegic. For many years he was institutionalized, leaving him with PTSD; now he lives in his own apartment with 24-hour caregivers. Before his decline and admission to hospice, he often said, “When I get to heaven, the first thing I’m going to do is walk.”
He always loved country music and was known to sing along with recordings, but as this became more difficult, music therapy was brought in. The music therapist was able to slow down the music so he could sing along with phrases of his favorite songs. His voice soared on the chorus of “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Though he is quadriplegic with hand contractures, he still has some movement and was able to isolate a finger and strum the music therapist’s guitar. They also helped him hold a maraca in each of his hands so he could play along with the music. The music therapist learned his favorite song, “Take This Job and Shove It,” and at the end of this song, he always laughed — leaving his caregivers tearful at seeing such an extremely meaningful moment at this stage of his life.
bereavement bears and 268 fingerprint pendants were created by volunteer artists for family members to remember their loved one
patients benefited from music therapy this year
visits were made to 150 patients by our massage therapist
patients were provided daily contact and attentive care with Remote Patient and Transition to Home Monitoring nurses
bereavement bears and 268 fingerprint pendants were created by volunteer artists for family members to remember their loved one
patients benefited from music therapy this year
visits were made to 150 patients by our massage therapist
patients were provided daily contact and attentive care with Remote Patient and Transition to Home Monitoring nurses
bereavement bears and 268 fingerprint pendants were created by volunteer artists for family members to remember their loved one
patients benefited from music therapy this year
visits were made to 150 patients by our massage therapist
patients were provided daily contact and attentive care with Remote Patient and Transition to Home Monitoring nurses
bereavement bears and 268 fingerprint pendants were created by volunteer artists for family members to remember their loved one
patients benefited from music therapy this year
visits were made to 150 patients by our massage therapist
Would you like to make an impact?
Give a gift to support the Continuing Care program at Corewell Health West.