Joliet Area Community Hospice responds to the COVID-19 outbreak

For the staff of Joliet Area Community Hospice, caring for seriously ill patients and their families during a pandemic has been a matter of adaptability and creativity.

“We are fully functional and serve patients in their private homes, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and at our hospice home inpatient unit in Joliet,” Mary K. Sheehan, Joliet Area Community Hospice CEO, said in a news release.

“In all cases, we are following or exceeding the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and Illinois Department of Heath guidelines to assure safety for our patients, their families and visitors and our staff,” Sheehan said in the release.

Joliet Area Community Hospice has expanded the use of telehealth for hospice and palliative patients. Using a platform compliant with privacy laws, case managers monitor patients for a contactless video visit when appropriate.

While avoiding any risk of exposure, staff check in regularly and provide support – for the patient and their family. If a smartphone is not accessible to the patient, Joliet Area Community Hospice can provide one to facilitate connection.

Each hospice and palliative care patient is assigned a team of health care professionals. Working together, they provide patients with relief from symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness.

Each contact – whether face-to-face or not – is a much-needed positive human connection. This is especially important when social distancing has resulted in social isolation.

Joliet Area Community Hospice grief counselors can help develop coping skills to work through the grief process. These licensed grief counselors and social workers connect by phone or video connection for one-on-one counseling.

Special online support groups and workshops for those affected by COVID-19 deaths are forming. Grief support groups for adults and teens continue to meet via Zoom video chats. Spanish translation is available.

While working to control pain and other symptoms of serious illness, hospice and palliative teams address mindfulness, stress management and spiritual health.

Complementary therapists provide art, music and other therapies via telehealth. Spiritual enrichment continues to be provided by chaplains.

One advantage of hospice and palliative care for seriously ill patients is that the need for hospital and doctor’s office visits is reduced or limited.

Individuals considering hospice or palliative care for themselves or a loved one are encouraged to call Joliet Area Community Hospice at 815-740-4104 to speak to a triage nurse who can help determine whether it is the right choice and how to get started.

Joliet Area Community Hospice’s admission team will reach out to the patient's doctors to coordinate care. Hospice and palliative services are covered under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurances.

Joliet Area Community Hospice has established teams working locally in communities in Will, Grundy, Kendall, Cook, DuPage, Kankakee, LaSalle and Livingston counties.