Reaching Out to Address Racial Disparity in Hospice Use

The St. Francis Fund has announced it will award a grant to Angela Hospice of Livonia for a project designed to improve quality of life for African Americans in Metro Detroit who are coping with a terminal illness. Through this initiative, Angela Hospice is hoping to address some of the disparity in hospice use amongst African Americans – a trend seen nationwide – through a campaign of relationship building and education that will increase access to care.

In its latest edition of “Facts and Figures on Hospice Care in America,” the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) reported that just 8.2-percent of Medicare recipients who used hospice were African American, according to CMS data. NHPCO has cited long-held mistrust of the government and healthcare system as factors contributing to hospice’s underuse by the African American community, but hospice providers are hoping to counteract that trend.

“As an organization founded by the Felician Sisters, Angela Hospice has always been dedicated to meeting the needs of all,” said Angela Hospice President and CEO Margot Parr. “When we look at the statistics, both nationally, and right here at our own patient population, it’s clear that we are not meeting the needs of our whole community, and that is something that is important for us to change.”

Angela Hospice staff partnered with Second Baptist Church in 
Detroit last year, training six volunteers to be able to support 
fellow parishioners who are facing end-of-life issues. The course of

training included information about hospice’s benefit, developing

listening skills, understanding grief and how to support the

bereaved. From left are Angela Hospice Social Worker Amanda 

Davis, Director of Development Bob Alexander, from Second Baptist 

Alicia Deloach and Deaconess Malkeen Dawson, former Director of 

Social Work for Angela Hospice Dr. Rebecca DeRaud, and Second 

Baptist members Reverend Louise Beamon, Deacon Ervin Dawson, 

Margaret Ford, and Fred Williams.

Parr said Angela Hospice hopes to partner with local faith communities as a way of sharing information about what hospice care looks like, how it benefits patients and their loved ones, and how faith communities can support their members as they face end-of-life issues.

Angela Hospice conducted a feasibility study for this project through earlier funding by the St. Francis Fund, developing a framework for community outreach, and launching a pilot outreach program at Detroit’s Second Baptist Church last year.

“The parish graciously hosted the Angela Hospice team over the course of four training sessions as we worked toward the goal of empowering parish members to help peers through conversations revolving around end-of-life matters,” said Bob Alexander, Director of Development for Angela Hospice. “In addition to wonderful friendships which were formed, participants expressed overwhelming endorsement of the program.”

Funding for the current grant will be distributed in June. In the meantime, Angela Hospice has begun contacting faith communities, and is currently developing a program in partnership with Second Ebenezer Church in Detroit.

In addition to comprehensive, holistic care offered to patients, Angela Hospice offers a robust grief support program which is available free-of-charge to patients’ loved ones, and to the community at large.

For more information about hospice care, or to request a presentation at a place of worship or community group, call 734.464.7810 or visit AskForAngela.com.