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
Grieving Before a Loss: Anticipatory Grief
Many people are surprised to learn that we can feel symptoms of grief before our loved one dies. We have a name for it: anticipatory grief. Anticipatory grief can be felt as soon as someone learns of a life-threatening diagnosis. Although it is like grief that is felt after someone dies, it has some unique characteristics that often take people by surprise.
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.


