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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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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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.