Hospice is not a building. Hospice is not one nationwide organization. Hospice is an organized way of providing care and support to an individual and his/her family during the later stages of life, typically the last six months.

Hospice is a holistic approach because it addresses emotional, social, spiritual and practical aspects of life, in addition to physical and medical issues. Hospice is available for people with any life-limiting illness or condition.

Hospice is a choice for:

• a person who has an illness or condition that is no longer responding to medical treatment, or
• a person whose physical conditions are unlikely to benefit from available medical care and continued treatment will prolong suffering or low quality of life.

The goal of hospice is to:

• relieve or control physical pain or symptoms
• promote maximum comfort and independence for the patient and family – focusing on quality of life
• assist the patient and family to reach their end-of-life goals and honor the patient’s need for meaning and dignity
• offer grief support to the family at the end-of-life

Hospice care is available regardless of disease diagnosis or condition. The time for hospice to begin is usually when a person decides to choose medical and physical care that focuses on comfort and symptom management and not on curing or reversing a disease or condition. The decision to choose hospice usually requires understanding what specific benefits hospice will provide. The best way to decide if hospice will support a patient and his or her family’s needs is to request an information visit. Ask your physician or contact us to arrange a consult. Information visits are free of charge and available seven days a week.

Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois promises patients and families a carefully coordinated, individualized plan of care and support by staff and volunteers who complete specific training to meet the needs of hospice patients and families.

Patients and families can expect professional, quality hospice care that enhances life. Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois meets and exceeds state and federal requirements and is recognized for its services by The Joint Commission (TJC), a national organization that surveys health care organizations.

Hospice provides physical, emotional and spiritual care, specifically tailored to meet the needs of patients and families.

Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois services are available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Hospice nurses and doctors are trained in the use of the latest medications and devices for pain and symptom relief. In addition, physical and occupational therapists assist patients to be as mobile and self-sufficient as possible. Specialists trained in music therapy, art therapy, massage therapy, spiritual guidance, diet counseling and other interventions that foster comfort and peace may be part of the patient’s individualized care plan. Hospice believes that emotional and spiritual pain are just as real and in need of attention as physical pain. Counselors, including professionally trained spiritual caregivers, are available to assist family members as well as patients.

There are national standards of care for all hospices, but hospices are not necessarily the same. A hospice can be associated with any number of organizations or facilities and may also be for-profit or not-for-profit. Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization governed by a community Board of Directors.

Hospice coverage is available through Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), the Medicaid system of Illinois, and most insurance policies. Commercial insurance for hospice coverage does vary, so families should of course check with the patient’s employer or insurance provider.

For patients and families in need, Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois provides care regardless of ability to pay.

Hospice care takes place in the home, or any place that a patient is calling home--a nursing home, long-term care community, or a hospital.

Yes, the patient's personal physician can still provide care while the patient is receiving hospice services. The hospice nurse will work with the physician on a regular basis regarding the patient's medical needs. The physician may request hospice care by calling 1-800-425-4444 or send a request for care online.

Our hospice care team is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On-call staff is available when you need us.

Every hospice patient is unique. Typically, a 24-hour caregiver in the home would not be required in the early phase of hospice care, but might be necessary as the patient's condition changes. When a patient is living in a long-term care facility or is hospitalized, staff from those facilities would be available around the clock. For patients living in a private home, a loved one would need to be available or a professional caregiver would need to be hired to come into the home.  If this were not possible, the patient might need to transition to a long-term care facility or hospital. Hospice does not provide a full-time caregiver. Our hospice care team helps you make these difficult decisions.

Answering questions and providing information is an integral part of hospice care. Hospice nurses provide support and education for caregivers. Patient caregivers can call hospice staff 24-hours a day, 7-days a week with any urgent questions they may have.

Hospice does not speed up or slow down the dying process. The hospice care team provides its presence and expertise during the dying process while also providing symptom and pain management.

Not alone. HPNI’s grief counselors will provide support for up to a year after your loss or longer if needed. Individual counseling, workshops and support groups are offered free of charge.

For over 25 years, Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois has been serving Lake, McHenry, northern Cook, Kane, DuPage and Boone counties. It is a not-for-profit, independent hospice provider who has cared for more than 16,000 patients at the end-of-life and their families.