Hospice & Serious Illness Care in Joliet & Northern Illinois
Hospice Care
Lightways Hospice care provides physical, emotional and spiritual support for patients with a terminal illness.
Pediatric Care
Lightways Pediatric Care Team is here to help enhance the quality of life for your child and family.
Serious Illness Care
Lightways helps people with advanced, chronic or life-limiting illnesses with clear-headed, practical and kind counsel to patients and family.
Hospice and Serious Illness Care
About Lightways
Founded in 1982 as Joliet Area Community Hospice, Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care is an independent, nonprofit healthcare provider licensed in 11 counties in Illinois. We provide exceptional serious illness care, hospice care and grief support for adults and children.
News & Educational Resources
Do Hospice Patients Need Hospital Care: A Caregiver’s Guide
One of the most frequent questions caregivers ask is whether a person receiving hospice care can still go to the hospital. The short answer is yes, it depends on the situation and what your goals of care are. Understanding how hospice works, and how Medicare and Medicaid coverage apply, can help caregivers feel more confident and prepared when unexpected situations arise.
Understanding Dementia Care: The Role of Palliative Care and When Hospice Is Needed
Dementia is a progressive, life-limiting condition that affects memory, thinking, communication, and eventually the body’s ability to function. As dementia advances, individuals often require increasing levels of support as the brain gradually loses its ability to coordinate everyday activities such as eating, walking, swallowing, and communicating.
The Grief Experience in the Beginning
After losing a loved one, many describe grief in similar ways: “My world stopped while everything else kept going,” or “It feels like the ground was pulled out from under me.” Some say it’s like losing a part of themselves. Grief affects every part of a person, emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual—often bringing intense feelings, racing thoughts, trouble concentrating, and changes in sleep or appetite. It can leave people feeling overwhelmed, disoriented, and exhausted.
