Joliet Area Community Hospice was dedicated to bringing the FIRST free-standing Hospice Home in the State of Illinois to our community...

What Is A Hospice Home?
The Hospice Home is a 16-bed, home-like facility designed to provide comfort care to terminally ill patients and their families at the end-of-life. The Hospice Home setting provides a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere for all those who enter. Families are encouraged to bring items from home to help make the patient's room feel like home for them.

A patient who meets criteria for hospice care is eligible for admission to the Hospice Home. The attending physician, Hospice Medical Director and hospice team must agree the admission is appropriate. Below are the three levels of care provided in the Hospice Home. Patients needing the inpatient level of care are given priority bed availability.

Inpatient Care:
This level of care provides short-term, 24-hour care for pain control or management of acute and severe clinical problems which cannot be managed in other settings.

Respite Care:
The family/caregiver can avail themselves of short-term (maximum of 5 days) relief from home care. Home care will be resumed after respite care.

Residential Care:
This level of care is dependent on bed availability. Room and board at this level are the responsibility of the patient/family.

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Patient & Guest Information
Visiting:
Visitors are expected and welcome at the Hospice Home. There are no restrictions on number of visitors, ages, or times of visiting. Although we encourage family members to go home and rest, a family member may stay overnight. Accommodations will be available in your loved one's room.

Food Service:
Meals are prepared in the Hospice Home kitchen and will be planned to accommodate the patient's preferences. Families are encouraged to bring any special treats or special dishes/meals for the patient to enjoy. The Hospice Home dining room is available to use for family get-togethers or special meals.

Pets:
We know that a patient's pet is very important, and many times considered a part of the family. Dogs and cats are considered special visitors in the Hospice Home. Please speak with a member of the Hospice Home staff about planning a visit with your furry family member.

Telephone And Computer Availbility:
We know how important keeping in touch with family members can be when you are away from home. Each patient room is equipped with a phonethat has it's own private phone number to allow family members to call direct to the room. Phone calls can also be transfered to the patient's room from the Hospice Home nurses desk. A computer with internet access is available for patient or visitor use in the Family Room.

Entertainment:
Each patient room is equipped with a TV, DVD, VCR, and Radio/CD Player. A variety of movies and CD's are available to choose from at the nurses desk. There is also a TV in the Family Room along with a selection of books, games and magazines for patients and visitors to enjoy. A children's playroom and outdoor play yard are available to entertain younger visitors.

Team Members:
The Medical Director is responsible for ensuring that appropriate medical care is provided in the Hospice Home. Registered Nurses and Certified Nurses Aides are on duty at all times to care for medical needs. Other team members include social workers, chaplains and trained volunteers.

All team members work together to provide the patient and family with compassionate and supportive care during this difficult time.

The Hospice Building:
The Hospice Home has 16 private patient bedrooms with sleeping accommodations for family members, a family room, living room, dining room, kitchen, spa room, children's playroom and a solace room for patient and family use.

Additional patient room security is maintained via 24/7 video monitoring from the nurse's desk.

The Administration building houses our "home" care team of professionals and volunteers. Our home care team serves approximately 165 patients daily in their home or nursing home. Administrative offices are also located in this area.

The Hospice Home Privacy Information:
Hospice maintains a current listing of patients, their room numbers and telephone extensions in the Hospice Home and may disclose this information to people who ask for you by name. If you do not want this basic information disclosed, you may request restrictions.

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