About Horizons Hospice

Horizons Hospice & Palliative care strives to provide the very best comfort care to those requiring Hospice Care services. Hospice Care focuses on the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of those with a life limiting illness and is an option when a patient and family no longer wish to or are able to pursue curative treatments. This means a shifting of focus from curing to maximizing the comfort of the family member involved. The family is involved in making decisions with respect to patient comfort, safety and personal wishes.

Hospice Care centers on the emotional, physical, and spiritual requirements of individuals facing a life-limiting ailment and becomes an alternative when a patient and their family no longer desire or can pursue treatments aimed at healing. This entails a transition of emphasis from healing to enhancing the well-being of the family member in question. The family actively participates in determining the patient's comfort, security, and individual desires.

 Support and education are provided to the family by a compassionate and empathetic team of interdisciplinary professionals, which includes a Medical Director, Nursing staff, Social Worker, Chaplain, Home Health Aide, Volunteers, Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapist, and Music Therapist.

Our staff is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to support the family and patient, in the service areas of Will, Cook and DuPage Counties in Illinois.

Horizons Hospice & Palliative Care develop a care plan that meets each patients needs for comfort. Our team is physician backed, and comprised of: The Hospice Medical Director: who oversees the plan of care and will also make visits to re-certify the patient. The patient may choose their own attending or Medical Director as their Physician.

The Nurse completes ongoing assessments of the patient with the family, communicates with the Physician for updates and obtains any new orders as needed. The Nurse also provides continuing education and training for the family about care and symptom management.

Home Health Aide, also known as A Certified Nurse Assistant provides personal and care for the patient as directed by the Nurse managing the patient’s care. The home health Aide will make regular visits to the patient and family an provide help as need for bathing, dressing, eating and other personal care needs. The home health Aide will also check the patient’s vital signs and report immediately any significant changes in the patient’s condition to the managing Nurse.

Social Worker will make visits and assist the patient and family in accessing community services and will provide information about advanced directives. The Social Worker will also provide education and support to the family.

Chaplain will help the family manage spiritual issues and can contact a patient’s own Minister. The Chaplain also offers prayer and scripture readings to the patient and family as requested.

Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists are available per the plan of care.

Music Therapists offer services are designed for comfort and relaxation with opportunities for a life review.

Bereavement Counselor can offer support and preparation for rituals and follow up with the family after death of a patient.

Volunteers assist with office duties and may do visits with patients per the family wishes to offer companionship and respite care for the caregivers.

The physician would give an order for hospice services. If the patient is eligible for care, the patient or the Power of Attorney for Health Care would complete admission paperwork.

Patients and families have a choice in who becomes their provider.

Medicare and most insurances offer coverage for Hospice Care. Under that benefit Hospice provides equipment, supplies and medications that pertain to terminal illness, as well as the visits from the Hospice staff. The family will not receive any additional billing for Hospice care.

Hospice care takes place wherever the patient calls home. This could be in a home setting, a skilled facility, or an assisted living facility.

For an admission related to the patient’s terminal illness, the Hospice must coordinate with a contracted hospital under the in patient level of care covered by the Hospice benefit.

For an admission unrelated to the Hospice terminal diagnosis, the patient may receive care at the hospital and still be covered under Medicare.

Hospice will partner with the family to provide care. If you need additional care, our staff can assist in finding additional homemaker services through Department of Aging or through private staffing.

Hospice provides continuing contact and support for family and friends for 13 months following the death of a loved one. Our Bereavement Coordinator can refer to a support group and can make additional visits to offer support.

Hospice assesses your needs, recommend any equipment and help make arrangements to obtain any necessary equipment. Often the need for equipment is minimal at first and increases as the illness progresses.