The spacious main room is furnished to accommodate end-of-life care guests and caregivers, but there are no beds. Hospice service agencies will provide a hospital bed for the end-of-life care guest. The Upper Room will provide the needed linens, pillows and blankets needed to accommodate guests and caregivers. Caregivers who are covering overnight hours may rest on the sofa or recliner chairs, which have been carefully picked out with rest for caregivers in mind. Adjoining the main room is a full bathroom and a kitchenette. The kitchenette is equipped with basic cooking accessories and eating utensils. The bathroom is stocked with basic hygiene necessities such as hand soap and towels. Any additional personal care items would need to be brought in by the guest or family. The main room has a television and WiFi service is available. Guests are welcome to explore the grounds and children may enjoy the neighboring play equipment.

The Upper Room does not provide hospice care or the services of a nursing home. Hospice care is available from a variety of agencies with costs usually covered by Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurance programs. Hospice services vary, but they generally include medical supervision from a qualified medical doctor or nurse practitioner and regular nursing visits, and they may also include support from other professionals such as a social worker, counselor, or physical therapist. Personal care for the end-of-life care guest, meeting their dietary needs and providing 24-hour coverage are not generally included in hospice services, and those supporting them must accept these responsibilities. The end-of-life care guest must be enrolled with a hospice agency to stay at The Upper Room and receive care and accommodations through The Upper Room.

Although these services are not automatically provided by The Upper Room, we do have several Care Angels. Our Care Angels are volunteers who can sometimes fill gaps in coverage and provide a loving presence for the end-of-life care guest during hours that family or friends cannot be with them. While many of our care angels have experience in the medical field or caring for people at the end of life, our Care Angels are not trained professionals.

In addition to our Care Angels, we have other volunteer groups who can support guests and their families.

• Our Prayer Angels are Christian volunteers who offer comfort to guests of The Upper Room, by leading them in prayer and sharing appropriate passages of Scripture. Although this support is available to all guests and families, there is no requirement or expectation that the involvement of Prayer Angels must be a part of a guest’s experience in The Upper Room. The decision to engage or not engage with them rests entirely with the guests.

• Our Hospitality Angels are volunteers who offer support to guests of The Upper Room, by assisting in the maintenance and upkeep of the space and providing meals as needed.

All of our volunteers have been carefully chosen through prayer and evaluation. They participate in an orientation and training program with one of our Upper Room team members to prepare them for the unique challenges of serving those nearing the end of life.

The Upper Room is designed to provide end-of-life care guests and their family with a temporary home during the last days of life. While it is impossible to predict exactly how many days an individual will live during their final weeks, hospice professionals can usually tell when passing is imminent. Guests are welcomed when there are indications that death is likely to occur within 7-10 days, versus weeks or months.

Through the grace of God and thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters, there is no charge for use of The Upper Room.

The Upper Room Ministry is a non-profit where donations are gratefully accepted, but not required.

An application for an end-of-life care guest may be submitted when they enter hospice care. The Intake Coordinator will arrange a meeting or conference call to brief the guest and their support team on what The Upper Room offers and answer their questions. Whenever possible, an advance visit by the end-of-life-care guest and members of their family is strongly encouraged. Once agreement is reached that The Upper Room is suitable for the end-of-life care guest’s use, and a document that defines the rules of engagement is signed, the Intake Coordinator will, with permission from the guest, maintain contact with their hospice service provider. When the hospice nurse determines that end of life is anticipated within 7-10 days, the Intake Coordinator will arrange with family members to have the end-of-life care guest transferred to The Upper Room.

God’s love embraces everyone, regardless of their beliefs, background or life story. So do we. Our invitation to visit or stay at the Upper Room is extended to all.