Joliet hospice cares for non-hospice patients with chronic illness
Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet has a serious illness care program for people with advanced, chronic or life-limiting illnesses. Nicole Hartley, lead nurse practitioner for Lightways’ serious illness care program (left) and Lisa Heiy, director of Lightways’ serious illness care (right) pose in front of the donor wall on Monday, March 4, 2024, at Lightways in Joliet. (Denise Unland)
Medicare and most insurance companies cover serious illness care through Lightways
A Joliet hospice provides more than just hospice care
Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet – formerly known as Joliet Area Community Hospice – also has a serious illness care program for people with advanced, chronic or life-limiting illnesses.
Lisa Heiy, director of Lightways’ serious illness care, said the independent nonprofit renamed its palliative care program to serious illness care at the time of its rebranding in 2021 to clearly describe the program and its services.
“Not many people really understood the term ‘palliative care’,” Heiy said. “It’s basically symptom management. If we have a patient diagnosed with cancer, we don’t treat the cancer. We treat the symptoms.”
Heiy said Lightways had 1,037 adults in its serious illness care program in 2023. Medicare and most insurance companies cover serious illness care through Lightways, according to the Lightways website.
Lightways cares for patients with a variety of serious illnesses. These include cancer, cardiac diseases — such as congestive heart failure — chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dementia, end-stage renal disease, liver disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and HIV/AIDS, according to Heiy and the Lightways website.
COVID-19 Statement from Joliet Area Community Hospice
As our communities address and manage the COVID-19 risk, please know that Joliet Area Community Hospice continues to provide hospice care, palliative care and bereavement services at the Hospice Home, at patient residences or in care facilities.
Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration
Joliet Area Community Hospice (JACH) will be celebrating and honoring Vietnam Era Veterans at their inaugural Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration to take place at American Legion Post 18, 15052 Archer Ave., Lockport, on Saturday evening, March 21, 2020.
Annual Dinner Fundraiser – Safari Sunset – A Journey of Life
Hakuna Matata! “No worries for the rest of your days,” state the lyrics from a song featured in Disney’s “The Lion King.” That is the goal of Joliet Area Community Hospice (JACH) – to allow our hospice patients to be comfortable and worry-free for the rest of their days.