Nestled in the tranquil woods of Marquette, Michigan, Trillium House serves as a comforting sanctuary for those needing hospice and respite care. The facility boasts beautifully appointed private rooms, homestyle meals, and a dedicated caregiving staff committed to providing peace of mind and quality care.
Trillium House is designed to be more than just a care facility; it’s a home where families can create meaningful moments together. Each room offers a private bath and a view of the surrounding woods, providing a tranquil environment for residents and their loved ones. The experienced staff provides personalized care tailored to an individual's needs, ensuring a comforting and supportive experience.
Trillium House was conceived by Dr. Dan Mazzuchi, who noticed the unsafe conditions hospice patients faced at home. Recognizing a need for better care, Dr. Mazzuchi, with community support, initiated a capital campaign to establish Trillium House. This endeavor culminated in the creation of a facility dedicated to providing high-quality hospice and respite care, addressing a significant gap in the community. Melissa Cavill, the Executive Director since May 2023, has been pivotal in advancing Trillium House’s mission. The facility provides residential hospice support regardless of a family’s financial situation, thanks to the philanthropic backing of the community. Melissa's role involves building relationships and ensuring that Trillium House serves as many families as possible while meeting its organizational goals.
Continue reading to hear more from Executive Director of the Trillium House, Melissa Cavill.
What is the history behind Trillium House? How was it established, and what is its significance in its community or region?
Trillium House began as a concept when Dr. Dan Mazzuchi recognized the at-home hospice patients he was volunteering to care for were living in unsafe and unsupported conditions. While “Hospice” is a Medicare-covered benefit, many people do not know that insurance does not pay for the custodial care of regular assistance with activities of daily living like bathing, eating, changing clothes, going to the bathroom, walking, or transferring from a bed to a wheelchair and back. It was in recognizing this need in our community that Trillium House was born, beginning as a concept and gaining acceptance and support through the efforts of Dr. Mazzuchi and many supportive friends. The community came together, through his guidance and the support of many others, to fund a capital campaign which raised the funds to build and launch the Trillium House.
Tell me about your work as the Executive Director of Trillium House. What services do you provide?
I was offered and accepted the role of Executive Director at Trillium House on May 1, 2023. I’d never worked in nonprofit work before, but I did have some experience with fundraising through my relationship with the Marquette Lions Club. We provide residential hospice support regardless of a family’s ability to pay, which meets our founders' intention of never turning anyone away for financial reasons. Trillium House services are made possible through the philanthropic support of our community. My primary responsibility is to build relationships with our supporters and the community in order to be sure that we are serving as many families as possible while meeting our financial and organizational obligations.
What drew you to working in a role within the area of hospice and respite care? What makes you so passionate about this work?
When I was the Director of Case Management at UP Health System Bell, a time when Trillium House was not available to those in our community, I rapidly learned that there were very few options available to folks who were dying at home and had no one to care for them. I had a lot of sleepless nights worrying about future discussions on discharge alternatives with hospice patients who did not have support or financial resources. Nursing homes, while able to provide skilled nursing care, are very limited in their availability and have many drawbacks for those who are dying: roommates, a minimum of privacy, caregivers who have many residents to care for, and probably most important of all–expensive. For me, seeing the thoughtful and personalized care provided to our residents and their families by the caregivers at Trillium House during a time of incredible vulnerability is incomparable.
When Trillium House reopened, and I could offer this option to our patients at Bell, I was so enraptured. Family members would find me to thank me for sending their loved ones to the Trillium House to live out their final days in comfort and dignity. What were they doing at Trillium House that affected people going through such a difficult experience to be so grateful that they sought me out to thank me for sending them there? When I discovered Trillium House was looking for a Director, I couldn't say no.
How can we improve hospice and respite care in our region and within the state?
As we see our population age, this is a timely and relevant question, one that more people should be asking! Referrals to hospice are often made late in the overall process, depriving the patient and their family of the ability to really take full advantage of the many different benefits that come with hospice.
It’s important to distinguish that Trillium House is not a hospice provider, but rather provides support for hospice patients in our residential setting. Lobbying for improved hospice and respite care is an important job of the hospice providers in our area and is best asked of them as experts in the field.
However, I do have some thoughts on how to improve hospice care...
- Earlier Referrals: Initiate hospice consultations as soon as a life-limiting diagnosis is identified, allowing patients and families to understand available options.
- Open Communication: Foster more open discussions between providers, patients, and families about care plans.
- Healthcare Education: Encourage educators to address the realities of life-limiting diagnoses and set realistic expectations. P
- Public Awareness: Educate the public and healthcare providers on the benefits of early hospice referrals. Insurance
- Advocacy: Lobby for insurance to cover more palliative interventions, minimizing reluctance to transition to hospice care.
What are some challenges or obstacles Trillium House has faced, and how have you overcome them?
Trillium House has had its share of challenges since opening its doors in 2018. Beginning with COVID in early 2020, and followed by a catastrophic flood in late 2021, right as the fledgling service was growing into being known in the community. The flood caused the building to be shut down and required extensive repairs through mid-2022. Shortly following the flood, Trillium House was devastated to lose their beloved Executive Director Pat Bray, who had been involved from the outset and was instrumental in the capital campaign and relationship building within the community. Upon reopening, there was an interim director who left after a short period as well as a new agreement with the hospice providers to have an increased staff presence in the building at all times, essentially doubling labor hours. To add to these challenges, we find ourselves managing the post-COVID, ever-increasing cost of everything
from toilet paper to food to wages.
Through careful planning, an incredibly supportive and insightful Board of Directors, the addition of short-term respite services and an aggressive public awareness campaign, the Trillium House has worked to overcome our low census numbers and increased community support. In 2023, we served 57 individuals, and as of June 1, 2024, we have already served 48 individuals.
How does Trillium House contribute to the well-being of its community or the individuals it serves?
Trillium House is an 8-bedroom adult foster care facility with large, private rooms equipped with a hospital bed, their own handicap-accessible bathrooms, a pull-out couch without visitor restrictions, internet, and cable TV. Every room has a view of nature, and every resident receives individualized care. Meals are prepared and served on demand. There are two caregivers for every eight patients at most, and additional staff and volunteers are frequently present to give
our residents the extra comfort and care that truly makes a difference during such a critical time.
Hospice providers come in-house to treat their patients as though they were in their own homes while the pharmacy delivers medications as needed. Durable medical equipment is provided on-site or delivered to the site as needed.
Trillium House is a home away from home for those who can’t be at their own home any longer. All this is provided to our community’s residents, regardless of their ability to pay for these services. People who otherwise would be at home, dying alone without anyone to care for them have a place to go. A high quality, dignified and private place to spend their final moments with their loved ones.
In your experience, what are some common misconceptions or lack of information about the Trillium House?
We are working hard to inform the community about the service we provide through an aggressive public awareness campaign. The subtleties of the work are not always apparent, though. Family members caring for loved ones at home often find themselves gradually taking on increasing responsibilities. Without realizing it, their lives become consumed by various caregiving tasks, from ensuring their loved one is fed and clean, to administering the correct medication doses and managing appointment schedules. This constant juggling can become overwhelming for family members, and the full extent of their commitment only becomes apparent when their own lives are deeply intertwined with the care they provide. Oftentimes, family members end up neglecting their own health issues, struggling with guilt and anger, fear and anxiety.
Trillium House can give them the opportunity to be family again by giving over all those responsibilities to excellent caregivers and allowing loved ones to live and celebrate their lives together truly; returning to work, raising children, falling in love, remaining healthy, productive members of the community. No amount of money can give that peace of mind, that gift of living.
If someone is looking to get in contact with you, how can they do so?
There are many ways to reach Trillium House: through our website via email, me directly at Melissa.Cavill@trilliumhouse.org call the office (906) 264-5026, stop by or send us mail @ 1144 Northland Dr., Marquette, MI 49855. You can find us on Facebook as well.
Every Wednesday at noon, we hold Welcome Wednesday, during which we serve lunch and give tours. Anyone interested should RSVP by calling ahead so we can have lunch prepared. Welcome Wednesday is a great way to learn about the services we offer, how we work in partnership with the local hospice organizations, or where a contribution can be most impactful, whether by volunteering, making a donation, or exploring a legacy gift through estate planning or other means.
If someone in the community wanted to get involved with or support the Trillium House, how can they do so? Are there volunteer opportunities, donation drives, or other ways to contribute?
We have a database of individuals to whom we distribute our newsletter a few times a year, with updates on what’s going on at Trillium House. So, please reach out and ask to be put on our mailing list! Our house manager, Erin Besola, is available to talk to about employment opportunities, provide tours, or explain admission criteria and how the program operates. Pam Henriksen, our volunteer coordinator, can help with volunteer options. We are a United Way Community Partner and can accept directed gifts through their organization. Additionally, we work with the Community Foundation of Marquette County and can accept gifts through their organization as well.
What is your connection to the Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health? How does this partnership benefit your work, or how may it benefit in the future?
We have been collaborating on projects with Elise Bur since last year.
Over the years, we’ve had numerous student interns at Trillium House as well as student employees. We feel that developing a strong connection with NMU helps introduce students to philanthropy, volunteerism, end-of-life care/issues, community awareness and support and is generally good for both the students, NMU, Trillium House and the community.
Anything you would like to add?
I would love to have the opportunity to talk about the impact that Trillium House and the Dan Mazzuchi Care Fund have had on the lives of our residents and their families/loved ones. Storytelling is an integral part of what I do, and I think what you do, too! Please click this link to review some stories from Trillium House’s newsletter. The Dan Mazzuchi Care Fund exemplifies the impact of community support, enabling residents like Mr. H. and Mrs. A. to receive the care they need without financial burden. These stories highlight the profound difference Trillium House makes in the lives of residents and their families. For more information or to get involved, visit Trillium House, email info@trilliumhouse.org, or call (906) 264-5026. Join Trillium House in its mission to provide compassionate care and support during life's most vulnerable moments.
The Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health seeks to improve Upper Peninsula residents' and communities' health and well-being by developing collaborative partnerships that enhance the access and availability of affordable, quality healthcare services. For questions or comments related to this story, contact ruralhealth@nmu.edu.