Hospice and palliative care are essential services for anyone who is entering the last phase of their life. Many senior caregivers may rightly wonder which hospice and palliative care facilities, companies and organizations are worth researching and what to consider when looking.
This article will review what makes hospice and palliative care good and list some of Illinois’ highly-rated senior care facilities.
What to consider when researching Illinois hospice and palliative care facilities
There are many things to consider when researching Illinois hospice and palliative care facilities. Thankfully, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) has a hospice questionnaire individuals can cross-reference when considering hospice and palliative care options.
A few of the notable questions featured in the NHPCO’s questionnaire are:
- Is the facility for-profit or not-for-profit?
- How many years has it operated?
- Are both palliative and hospice care available?
- Is there an inpatient unit as well as home care?
- Is it Medicare certified?
I used the above comparison points to develop this list to determine if the hospice and palliative care facilities were worth considering. In addition, I only researched places that received a rating between 4-5 stars on Google and checked to see if each provider also appeared on the NHPCO’s provider list. Note that these hospice and palliative care facilities are not rated in any particular order. As always, with lists such as this, I encourage you and your loved one to do unique online research and to ask a trusted doctor, and possibly a social worker, for their thoughts on hospice and palliative care facilities in your area, too. (Another helpful decision-making tool is Medicare.gov’s provider comparison service.)
Top Illinois hospice and palliative care facilities
1. OSF Hospice (OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home)
OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home, part of OSF HealthCare, serves terminally ill patients at its inpatient facility. This home, founded in 2013, serves 10 areas in the state. This Illinois hospice home has a state license, is Medicare certified and is accredited by The Joint Commission. They provide the following services:
- Hydrotherapy
- Interdisciplinary team
- Pain and symptom management
- Pet companions
- Social and volunteer services
In general, OSF HealthCare’s hospice services are standard (patients have a nurse, etc.). This hospice also provides:
- Diet and nutrition support
- Family and caregiver support
- Grief and counseling support
- Pain and symptom management
This hospice (outside of the inpatient center) serves patients wherever they call home. It does not appear that they have a specific palliative care program. OSF HealthCare is nonprofit.
2. Hospice of Southern Illinois
Hospice of Southern Illinois serves 27 counties in the state. It is Medicare certified but does not appear to be accredited or have a state license. This nonprofit hospice was founded in 1981. It provides standard hospice care and bereavement support (grief support groups and programs, memorial gatherings). It is also part of the We Honor Veterans program— the NHPCO, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, developed the “We Honor Veterans” program.
The following are the various levels of care that Hospice of Southern Illinois provides:
- Routine home care
- Continuous care
- Respite care
- General inpatient care
I could not determine if this hospice has a separate palliative care program.
3. JourneyCare
JourneyCare was formed in 2015 when three nonprofit organizations decided to work together as one (read more about the three agencies here). JourneyCare is Medicare certified and accredited by The Joint Commission but does not appear to have a state license. This hospice cares for people wherever they call home. It also operates four inpatient Hospice CareCenters for people who need around-the-clock care. This Illinois hospice also provides palliative care.
4. Safe Haven Hospice
Safe Haven Hospice serves multiple areas in Illinois. It has a state license, is Medicare certified, and is accredited by The Joint Commission. Safe Haven is a Christian, faith-based hospice that’s part of Christian Horizons – a nonprofit that has “over 50 years of experience providing senior living options and health care services.” Safe Haven provides standard hospice care in a patient’s home (a private residence, assisted living facility, etc.). It’s unclear if this organization has a separate palliative care program.
5. Peace Hospice and Palliative Care, a Three Oaks Hospice Company
Three Oaks Hospice, formerly known as Peace Hospice and Palliative Care, provides care to people wherever they live. It is Medicare certified, accredited by The Community Health Assessment Process (CHAP), but it does not appear to have a state license.
The following are the levels of care Three Oaks Hospice offers:
- Routine care
- Respite care
- Crisis care
- General inpatient care
Three Oaks provides standard hospice care, and it appears it also offers palliative care. This hospice is privately held, but I could not determine when it was founded.
6. CovenantCare at Home, Home Health and Hospice
Founded in 2011, CovenantCare at Home is a nonprofit hospice providing care for four areas in the state. It’s Medicare certified and accredited by CHAP, but it does not appear to have a state license. This hospice provides standard hospice care wherever a patient calls home. It does not appear to provide palliative care.
7. Serenity Hospice and Home
Serenity Hospice and Home serves eight areas in the state. It has a state license, is Medicare certified, and is accredited by The Joint Commission. This nonprofit Illinois hospice provides standard hospice care and uses “palliative medications” to help control patient pain. They provide care wherever a patient calls home. They also operate an eight-bed inpatient facility called Serenity Home. Serenity is part of the We Honor Veterans program. I could not determine when this hospice was founded.
8. Harbor Light Hospice
Harbor Light Hospice (specifically the Galesburg location) serves nine areas in the state. It has a state license and is Medicare certified, but it does not appear to be accredited. Harbor Light provides different levels of care depending on a patient’s needs:
- Care at home
- Care at nursing facilities
- Inpatient care
This hospice provides standard hospice care and has a palliative care program. It is privately held, but I could not determine when it was founded.
9. Lightways Hospice
Lightways Hospice, formerly known as Joliet Area Community, serves 11 counties in the state. It has a state license and is Medicare certified, but it does not appear to be accredited. Lightways (founded in 1982) is a nonprofit hospice that serves patients wherever they call home and at its 20-bed inpatient facility. It provides standard hospice care and grief support. Lightways does not appear to have a separate palliative care program.
10. Beacon of Hope Hospice
Beacon of Hope Hospice serves one area in the state. It’s Medicare certified but does not appear to be accredited or have a state license. It appears that this hospice serves patients wherever they call home. It refers to many of its professionals as palliative care specialists. It notes that the company offers “Specialty Palliative Care Physician Management,” however, I’m uncertain if this care is offered in Illinois. Beacon is privately held and was founded in 1996.