All Vietnam Veterans are invited to attend a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans celebration Wednesday, April 3 at the Wesley Center at United Methodist Church, 118 W. Jackson Street in Morris. The celebration will be organized by Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care’s We Honor Veterans program.

The celebration will include a buffet lunch for a Vietnam veteran and one guest, a service recognition pinning, a free gift and a musical performance from Lightways’ music therapists. Attendees can also learn about Lightways and Serious Illness Care’s services for veterans.

Registration for this event is required by March 30. The event is free for veterans with one guest. For more information, contact Laureen at 815-740-4104, ext. 257.

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Wide variety of meetings, workshops, and counseling services help individual grief process.

Just as everyone experiences grief in a unique way, Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care has worked to create a variety of free grief support services to help anyone in the community who has experienced the death of a loved one.

“Although most of our clients meet individually with a grief counselor, we also make sure to have group meetings, workshops, and events for those who don’t feel the need for individual grief counseling” said Patrice Martin, director of Grief Support. “A support group meeting works well for someone who is interested in meeting others who are grieving. Many people who attend realize they are not alone in their experience, and this helps them to become aware that what they are feeling is quite common. Group meetings are designed to allow people to participate as much as they want and are offered both online and in person.”

Martin said that in addition to a general loss support group, there are support groups for people who have experienced similar losses, including the loss of a spouse/partner, the loss of a child, and those who are parenting while grieving. She said the creation of the Grieving the Loss of a Child support group was created during the COVID pandemic, meeting online, and includes participants from all over the Chicagoland area. This group remains available online and now also meets in person at their Joliet office.

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The couple receives services from Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet

By Denise M. Baran-Unland

A Lemont resident is considering changing careers one day, thanks to the wonderful care a Joliet hospice is giving her parents.

Kathy Jenner cares for her parents in her home – and both have dementia. Jenner said her dad, Robert Jolly, 87, entered the serious illness care program at Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet two years ago.

Jenner said her mother, Carole Jolly, 84, entered the program several months ago.

Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care, formerly known as Joliet Area Community Hospice, offers serious illness care program for people experiencing advanced, chronic, or life-limiting illnesses, including dementia.

Services may include managing cancer-related pain, symptom management, understanding goals of care and medication choices and care coordination, said Lisa Heiy, director of Lightways’ serious illness care program.

“A lot of times his behavior was extremely concerning and distressing, even for him, let alone us living with him. And I think that, without that support, I would have gone to the ER at times.”

— Kathy Jenner of Lemont, whose father with dementia receives care from Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet

Jenner said when a doctor recommended she seek either hospice or palliative care for her father, she researched her options and asked friends and colleagues — Jenner works in health care — for recommendations. Lightways was the top recommendation, so Jenner reached out.

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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.

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Many people are familiar with hospice, but some do not know the meaning of serious illness care or palliative care. Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care is committed to educating the public about the importance of serious illness care.

Serious Illness Care, also known as palliative care, is offered to people who are experiencing advanced, chronic, or life-limiting illnesses, including cardiac serious illnesses. Services include pain related to malignancy and symptom management, care coordination, and support for family members.

“When Lightways changed its name to reflect our regional service area, we also changed the name of our palliative care program,” said Lisa Heiy, director. “We learned most people did not know what palliative care meant and we wanted to adopt a name that better described our program and its services.”

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Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care Chief Executive Officer Mary Kay Sheehan has named two new members to the leadership team, Steve Crockett, chief financial officer, and Kathy Peterson, senior director of marketing,

“Both Steve and Kathy bring a vast amount of knowledge and experience in their respective fields to Lightways,” Sheehan said. “It is a very exciting time for us as we are poised for large growth, expanding in the 11 counties of Illinois we serve.”

Crockett brings a robust background and a proven track record along with more than 30 years of experience and expertise to his new role. Most recently, he worked for IBM as the Business Development Principal. He also served as CFO in various divisions where he spearheaded initiatives resulting in significant revenue increases and played instrumental roles in strategic partnerships and acquisitions.

“I believe that serving others aligns with my faith,” Crockett said. “Accepting this job allows me to fulfill my desire to contribute to a meaningful mission that positively impacts the lives of others, which resonates deeply with my beliefs and values.”

Crockett said he has always been interested in finances, investing, and budgeting his money. He said he was the financial manager for his family, telling his parents they need to save their money. This is a trait he picked up from his grandparents who grew up in a time when one had to know how to stretch a dollar. His personal experiences brought hospice care to his attention and fueled his desire to work for a mission-driven organization.

Peterson brings 12 years of experience in healthcare to her role as senior director of marketing. Most recently, she served as executive director of program and community development with Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital in Joliet and Ascension Saint Mary Hospital in Kankakee where she was part of the administrative team for both hospitals. She is familiar with strategic planning, day to day operations of women’s health services, and program development in relation to community health needs assessment and health equity.

“I am excited to bring my knowledge of the healthcare industry to Lightways,” Peterson said. “The mission is what attracted me to Lightways – a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for persons affected by end-of-life care, serious illness, and grief support. I have a personal experience with hospice and wanted to use my experience to educate the public about our services.”

Peterson oversees the marketing and business development programs as well as communications for the organization. She said she is focused on using her background to strengthen local relationships.