loryslogoHospice at Home founded Lory's Place to fill an ongoing need in Southwestern Michigan, Northwest Indiana and beyond. We are a "Grief Healing and Education Center for Children and Families."

Losing a loved one to death is not easy no matter what your age. Lory's Place is here to provide life-affirming hope and guidance to children and adults during their time of grieving.

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Patient & Caregiver Education 

Right now you or family members may be feeling stressed, confused or worried about all the information you are getting and decisions you have to make. One of the best things you can do is to learn as much as you can so you can make informed decisions and feel confident about your choices. At Hospice at Home we offer two easy ways to learn more. Both will help enhance your quality of living.

The first is educational information available on a website that talks about issues you'll face when you have a serious illness. Whether you need tips on how to handle the medical and physical aspects of care (e.g., pain management, nutrition and eating) or are concerned about emotional or spiritual issues (e.g., grief, hope, family conflict) or simply want to know about important legal and financial decisions, www.seriousillness.org/swmichigan is the place to turn. We even have a listing of local, state and national programs that offer services and support.

The second educational resource is a series of classes and free presentations held in a community near you.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers

I don't know what I would have done on my own. I would not have been able to have my loved one at home with family!

Are you taking care of an aging parent? Does your spouse need help on a daily basis for activities of daily living? Are you overseeing needs of food, finances and more types of care for your mom? Is a loved one requiring care from you because of a serious illness?

"Powerful Tools for Caregivers" is an educational series designed to provide you with the tools you need to be the most effective caregiver you can be. It will help you and other family caregivers reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings better, balance your lives and increase your ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.

Classes consist of six, 2-½ hour sessions held twice a week for three weeks. Two certified facilitators, Terri Dotson and Debbie Hayes, conduct the series. Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming will help you take the "tools" you choose and put them into action for your life.

Participants will receive a book, The Caregiver Helpbook, developed specifically for the class. A suggested donation of $25 will help to defray the cost of the book.

Register today for a caregiver class near you.

The next series of classes will be held at:

  •  April 15 - May 2. Area Agency on Aging, 2900 Lakeview Ave. St. Joseph Classes: Monday and Thursdays, 12:30-3:00 p.m.

  •  June 3 - 20. Lakeland Community Hospital, Watervliet, 400 Medical Park Watervliet Classes: Monday and Thursdays, 12:30-3:00 p.m.

  •  August 12 - 29. Hospice at Home, 05055 Blue Star Highway South Haven Classes: Monday and Thursdays, 12:30-3:00 p.m.

Respite care and transportation are available if necessary. For more information or to register, call 269-429-7100 or 800-717-3811. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required.

This program is sponsored by Hospice At Home, in partnership with and funded by Area Agency on Aging.

Entering the Caregiver Zone – 2013

The role of a family caregiver is often unplanned and unavoidable. It can be both rewarding and stressful. This class will give you the tools to make caregiving more meaningful and efficient, and learn new ways to take care of yourself as well. This workshop is free and funded in part by Area Agency on Aging and consists of three sessions, two hours each.

Learn how to:

  • Obtain needed community resources
  • Manage caregiver stress
  • Organize important documents
  • Monitor safety and risk
  • Develop an increased sense of personal effectiveness
  • Decrease your sense of caregiver burden

Niles, Thursdays, May 2, 9 and 16 - 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Niles Senior Center, 1109 Bell Road

St. Joseph, Tuesdays, May 7, 14 and 21 - 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Caretel Inns of Lakeland, 3905 Lorraine Path

South Haven, Tuesdays, September 10, 17, and 24 - 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Peace Lutheran Church, 06321 Blue Star Memorial Hwy.

Pre-registration is required; to learn more, call (269) 429-7100.

Free Educational Presentations

You can also gain valuable insights and information at our free educational presentations on caregiving, planning for health care, pain management, grief healing and many other topics. These presentations are designed to give you or your organization the tools and resources you need to make educated decisions about your own care or that of a loved one. For a list of current presentation, click here.

If you have an interest area that is not covered in our topic list, we can develop a presentation to fit your needs. To discuss your topic ideas or to set up a workshop or presentation with your group, call Brenda Haueisen at 269-429-7100 or 800-717-3811, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .