Northwest Michigan Hospice Assist
Helping those who need it most
Support and resources for terminally ill patients and their caregivers
Who we are and what we do
We help people who need it the most...
Facing death as a patient, family member, or caregiver is a difficult and heartbreaking journey. It is in these trying times that Northwest Michigan Hospice Assist answers the call to help those who need us.
Oftentimes, the patient's needs fall through the cracks when it comes to insurance company regulations or state assistance. One of our missions is to offer no repayment financial grants to help patients, families, and caregivers with the necessary things they may need during challenging times in their lives.
A few examples of how a grant from Northwest Michigan Hospice Assist financial can help are:
- Provide a gift card for fuel to help defray the cost of transporting patients
- Contribute to prescription costs
- Supply a patient with personal care items that enable cleanliness and dignity
Another important mission for us is recognizing and supporting those who care the most, the caregivers. We gift them with a NMHA Caregivers Care Package that is filled with items to promote self care and stress relief during challenging times
We also help refer qualified caregivers to work in a patient's home if they need it. We provide resource information as well that may help people find further assistance.
Please print an application and send it to us today.
Northwest Michigan Hospice Assist is here to help.
Financial Support
We offer grants up to $500 per patient based on our granting budget and the donations we receive from generous donors with a heart for those in hospice care.
These grants do not need to be repaid. We don't ask a patient or their family to take on a debt, we want to relieve stress not give a financial burden.
Donations to Northwest Michigan Hospice Assist are critical. The more donors who help us, the more people we are able to help.
We are grateful for every donation, no matter how great or how small, as it allows us to help in a way that truly matters to the terminally ill and their loved ones.
Referrals and Resources
As a hospice related service organization, we have developed a broad network of resources and a strong referral base that helps us provide patients and their families with information that can help them.
We partner with the Northwest Michigan Health Department, AdvisaCare Home Health & Hospice, medical care providers, hospitals, nursing home facilities, religious organizations, and other service oriented groups that can offer support to the terminally ill.
About us, caring for our communities
Serving Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet counties
Our dedicated board and staff are passionate about helping people. Each of them have experienced the grief of loss and their empathy and desire to help others during the end of life stages is strong and enduring. Their big hearts and experienced brains give our organization the strength and compassion it needs to be a true service in our communities.
We know what it's like to see our loved ones leave us, and we know what it's like to have unexpected financial issues that can cause so much more added stress.
We also know the stress and trials that caring for a terminally ill patient can bring to a caregiver as well. Our mission to help recognize them and support them with a self-care package brings a smile, relief, and some comfort of their own during trying times.
Together, with your help, our organizations strives to make a difference in our communities. We welcome and appreciate deeply the financial support that helps us make a positive impact in the lives of those who need us the most.
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
NMHA Board of Directors
Gretchen Stelter, Board President
Gretchen Stelter has her BS and Masters degree in education with certifications in Health Education through Northern Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University and Michigan State University. She taught Middle and High School in Oakland County and was a Principal in Oakland and Genesee County. She retired as a Health Educator from Michigan State University Extension and has always loved teaching, especially seniors in Health Education. She is a firm believer that people can change chronic conditions through exercise, sleep, nutrition and attitude and she wants to be the one to help them with positive change.
Gretchen loves the outdoors and the beautiful Boyne Falls area that she calls home. She is happy to swim, ski, walk, golf or ride a bike on any given day. She loves to be with family and friends and has been married for 49 years. She has one son and a daughter in law who live in Florida.
Working with hospice gives Gretchen the ability to help those families that are overwhelmed due to their love ones being so ill. NM Hospice Assist makes a difference in those lives as it's helped her family when their parents were so ill. Working with our board, Gretchen wants to help ease the stress and pain of others.
Mr. Bryan Smith, Vice President
Bryan Smith hails from the Bellaire area, born and raised there and a third generation Bellaire Eagles student. After college he worked as a banker in Lansing for over a decade until he moved into the real estate field for 30+ years. He has served as a county commissioner, board chairman, and active volunteer. As a retiree, his hobby as a horseman led to his current horse boarding business where he and his partner Shelley care for horses boarded by their owners from around the county. Bryan has one daughter in North Carolina and two grandchildren.
Bryan has a heart for hospice having had family members in care, expressing to people that the care people receive in hospice is not just for the patient but also for the people who care for the patient. Bryan’s sense of compassion and concern for people and our environment has given the boards that he serves on valuable insight and experience that helps the communities he serves continue to move forward in growth and success.
Dr. Geralyn Doskoch, Board Treasurer
Geralyn was born and raised in Ann Arbor, is an undergrad from Kalamazoo College, and graduated from med school at the University of Michigan (Go Blue! she says). She began family practice residency in Seattle, then worked in the Indian Health Service in Sitka, Alaska for four years before moving back to Michigan in 1995. Her son was born in Sitka and it was just too far from extended family so they returned to Michigan.
Geralyn has been on staff at Charlevoix Hospital since then, currently working as a Hospitalist i.e. care of hospitalized patients. She retiried Dec 31, 2021 to spend more time traveling with her husband and babysitting their grandson. Family is everything to her - husband John, son Jacob, daughter Julia, grandson Bentley. Her favorite ways to spend time are with her family, running with friends, CrossFit, hiking in the woods, and spending time "off-line" at the cabin in the UP
She has always had a special spot in her heart for helping patients and their families make the transition from this life to the next. Geralyn finds it an honor and a privilege to be a part of that process, like attending a birth but at the other end of the spectrum. Both of her parents died in 2019 and were in hospice so she experienced it from the other side too, and her hope is that as a society we can get away from the medicalized dying process and focus more on the personal/family/loving part of it. It truly is a special experience.
Marna Roberson, RN,C, BSN, NHA
Marna's roots are in long term and end of life care. During her career as an RN, she has worked as a psychiatric, corrections, geriatric and hospice nurse. Currently, she is the Administrator for Antrim County’s skilled medical care facility, Meadow Brook MCF. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing, certification in gerontological nursing and am a licensed Nursing Home Administrator.
In her spare time, Marna loves to spend time with family, is deeply devoted to her community, and everyone who knows her will tell you that her baking skills are extraordinary. Her desire to help others is demonstrated every day in her career and through her community engagement. She says that helping people through life transitions, especially difficult ones, compels her to help and because of that it felt like a natural fit and an honor to be on the NM Hospice Assist board.
Beth Dole, Administrative Director
Beth is originally from Brutus, Michigan, where her father raised six children after the passing of her mother at a very early age. The assistance from the community to support him inspired her to to give back within her community.
Her career of exercise science and sports medicine has given her a multitude of experiences ranging from the athletic training rooms, emergency Medical Services, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, and working in physical therapy centers in balance and exercise training of seniors.
She has a passion to connect and educate. End of life decision making and planning is a part of the continuum of care discussion that is often avoided. Beth hopes to educate and assist others making these important decisions.
She currently resides in Central Lake with her husband, where she loves the outdoors, gardening, kayaking, xc skiing, and fiber arts. Two children followed in a love of adventures and currently reside in the western US.
Executive Director: Melissa Zelenak, BSc
Melissa served as the President of NMHA prior to becoming the Executive Director. She is a past county commissioner and well experienced in community service and continues to serve on health services boards throughout the region. She is working on an her Master's in Strategic Communications, holds a Bachelors of Science in Community Development, a minor in psychology (one class and research project to wrap up her psychology major), and an undergrad certification in social media management. Her career has led her to work for the State of Alaska, tribal nations, media corporations, and governmental organizations.
Melissa enjoys hiking, flowers, making art, and being with her family and loved ones. She believes that serving the patients, caregivers, and NMHA board is a great privilege. Having lost a parent suddenly, and a close friend who was fortunate to receive hospice care, she knows the value of having someone in the home who can care for those who need it most, when they need it the most. Her focus as executive director is to help and revere as many patients and caregivers as her days of service will allow.