For Jennifer Voegtline, CEO and administrator of Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice, the work is about more than medicine; it’s about dignity, hope, and honoring life to the very end.
Recently, her team helped a patient fulfill a final wish: one last ride in his sports car with his daughter.
“People still have goals, dreams, and hopes,” Voegtline said. “Helping them reach those goals, even the small ones, means so much.”
She says hospice care is often misunderstood as only a few days of medication and support, but families may receive care for months or even years. Since 1982, hospice has been a Medicare benefit, yet many don’t realize its full scope.
A key piece in the process is the compassion of direct care workers, who provide personal support, from bathing and hair washing to companionship and light housekeeping.
“Their work is powerful,” Voegtline said. “They brighten the day and make sure people are cared for with dignity and respect right up until their last.”
But with Michigan facing a shortage of 36,000 direct care workers, Voegtline is concerned.
“Direct care workers are consistent, reliable, compassionate,” she said. “They know the nuances of families’ needs, they’re sensitive to changes, and they often become the voice for patients.”
Voegtline believes the solution starts with valuing caregivers through organizational culture, training, and support. “This is something we’re all going to need at some point in our lives,” she said.
For Voegtline and her team, hospice care isn’t about waiting for the end. It’s about making every day count.
