Overview

Northwestern Medicine Hospice Care

elderly man in wheelchair patting loved one's hand on his shoulder

Hospice care is for patients with a life-limiting illness. It focuses on your quality of life and comfort. It offers patients and loved ones the opportunity to spend time together and get their affairs in order.

We offer hospice care to patients with a prognosis of six months or less to live. We can provide it in your home, skilled nursing facility, assisted living facility or an inpatient unit.

At Northwestern Medicine Hospice, our team addresses symptoms and focuses on relieving pain and discomfort. Our team includes:

  • Medical director
  • Nurses
  • Certified nursing assistants
  • Social workers
  • Chaplains
  • Registered dietitians
  • Massage therapists
  • Physical, occupational and speech therapists
  • Specially trained volunteers for companionship

We offer

  • Grief support for 13 months after the death of a loved one
  • Support groups for caregivers
  • Medical equipment
  • Medications for pain relief and symptom management

Types of Hospice Care

  • Routine hospice care at home, in a skilled nursing facility or in an assisted living facility
  • Inpatient short-term care at Northwestern Medicine Inpatient Units for those who qualify
  • Respite care in a skilled nursing facility, which enables caregivers to take a break
  • Continuous care for patients who qualify

Our hospice program is state-licensed, Medicare- and Medicaid-certified, and accredited by The Joint Commission, the nation’s largest healthcare accrediting agency.

Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans cover hospice care. Review your health plan or call your insurance company to check if it is covered.

Learn More

Call 630.257.1111 to learn more about our hospice services. If you are considering hospice care, we can schedule a meeting for you to talk about questions and concerns with one of our team members.

Hospice Frequently Asked Questions

Learn More About the Hospice Team

Learn More About Bereavement Service

When It Is Time for Hospice

Hospice care can improve the quality of life for patients and their family members. If your loved one experiences any of the following, please contact their care team to discuss if hospice care is an option.

  • They make many visits to the emergency department or hospital for complications of disease.
  • They call their physician’s office frequently.
  • They have more pain and current pain medications seem less effective.
  • They have shortness of breath, even while resting.
  • They have significant, unintentional weight loss.
  • They spend most of their time in a chair or bed.
  • They need helps with most everyday activities.
  • They fall frequently.
  • They choose to focus on quality of life and comfort rather than curing a disease.

What to Expect

We will work with your physician to discuss and review your medical history, current symptoms, goals, preferences and life expectancy. Hospice care includes:

  • Delivery of home medical equipment you need, usually within the first 24 hours
  • Delivery of medications related to the life-limiting diagnosis
  • A visit with the hospice team’s chaplain and social worker, who will provide emotional, psychosocial and spiritual assessments to better inform your care plan
  • Regular visits coordinated and scheduled by hospice team members
  • Information about how to manage symptoms and how to contact us if you have questions or concerns, if there’s a crisis or if you need to see a member of the team
  • A hospice team that works with you, your loved ones, caregivers, physicians and staff at skilled nursing facilities to develop your plan of care
  • Nurse availability 24/7 to answer your call

Our team is dedicated to building relationships with our patients and their loved ones. Comfort and dignity are the anchors of hospice care. Our clinicians are highly skilled at recognizing and managing symptoms to help keep our patients comfortable at home.

Receiving Hospice Care as a Veteran

Northwestern Medicine Hospice aims to recognize the unique needs of veterans and their loved ones. We are proud to partner with the We Honor Veterans program.

We support veterans in the following ways:

  • We can help you with Veteran Affairs (VA) benefit questions.
  • Our medical social workers can help with psychological, emotional and social challenges.
  • We offer veteran-to-veteran volunteers (if available) who are trained to connect with veterans receiving hospice care.
  • We work to educate veterans in the communities we serve so they know how to access to resources and services near them.
  • We recognize veterans for their service with a pinning ceremony that their loved ones attend.

Become a Hospice Volunteer at Northwestern Medicine

The Volunteer Services team is vital to our mission of delivering patient-centered care and ensuring that every person we care for has an excellent experience.

Learn more about volunteering.