HOSPICE CARE: HONORING LIFE’S FINAL JOURNEY
Facing a life-limiting illness is one of life’s most difficult challenges—for patients and for the families who love them. ALC Hospice Care is here to ensure that this journey is marked by comfort, dignity, and peace.
Hospice is not about giving up. It’s about living as fully and comfortably as possible.
For nearly two decades, ALC Hospice Care has provided compassionate, holistic end- of-life care that addresses not just physical symptoms, but emotional, spiritual, and practical needs as well. Our interdisciplinary team works alongside patients and families, honoring wishes, managing symptoms, and providing support every step of the way.
We believe in the power of presence, compassion, and expertise to transform the end-of-life experience.
WHAT IS HOSPICE CARE?
Hospice care is a patient- and family-centered approach that improves quality of life for individuals with life-limiting illnesses. Unlike curative treatment, hospice focuses on comfort, symptom management, and quality of life when cure is no longer the goal.
OUR SERVICES – COMPREHENSIVE CLINICAL CARE AT HOME
ALC Hospice Care provides a complete range of services designed to ensure comfort, dignity, and peace.
Click on headings to open details
Medical Services
Physician Oversight
- Our hospice medical director provides medical oversight, manages complex symptoms, certifies eligibility, and supports ethical decision-making
- Coordination with your primary physician
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Services
- Comprehensive assessment and ongoing symptom management
- Prescribing medications and treatments
- Education for families about disease progression
- Coordination of all medical care
Skilled Nursing Care
- Regular visits from experienced RN case managers
- Monitoring of symptoms and medication effectiveness
- Wound care and medical device management
- Education for caregivers on care techniques 24/7 on-call availability for urgent needs
Symptom Management
We specialize in managing the symptoms that affect quality of life:
- Pain Management: Through medications, positioning, and complementary therapies
- Breathing Difficulties: Oxygen therapy, medications, and breathing techniques
- Nausea and Digestive Issues: Medications and dietary modifications
- Anxiety and Restlessness: Medications, counseling, and comfort measures
- Skin Care: Wound care and pressure ulcer prevention
- Other Symptoms: Fatigue, insomnia, confusion, and more
Psychosocial Support
Medical Social Services
- Emotional support and counseling for patients and families
- Facilitation of family meetings and difficult conversations
- Coordination of community resources
- Advance care planning assistance
- Grief and bereavement counseling
Spiritual Care
Chaplain Services
- Spiritual assessments and counseling
- Life review and legacy work
- Facilitation of rituals or sacraments
- Support for existential concerns
- Available to all, regardless of religious affiliation
- Support for team members in processing grief and loss
Complementary Services
Music Therapy
Music therapy is a growing service in hospice care, providing comfort and emotional support to patients and their families. Benefits include:
- Improved mood and reduced anxiety
- Reduced pain and improved quality of life
- Enhanced relaxation and comfort
- Increased sense of calm and serenity
- Facilitates emotional expression and connection
- Creates meaningful moments with loved ones
Volunteer Services
Our dedicated volunteers provide:
- Companionship and respite for caregivers
- Assistance with errands and light tasks
- Reading, music, or simply sitting with patients
- Legacy and storytelling support
- Specialized support through our [We Honor Veterans program]
Medications & Equipment
Hospice provides all medications and equipment related to the terminal diagnosis:
- Pain and symptom management medications
- Hospital beds and comfort items
- Oxygen equipment
- Wheelchairs and walkers
- Incontinence supplies
- Other medical equipment as needed
Bereavement Support
Our care for families continues beyond the patient’s passing:
- Grief counseling for up to 13 months after death
- Support groups and educational resources
- Memorial services and remembrance events
- Individual counseling as needed
WE HONOR VETERANS PROGRAM
Special Recognition for Those Who Served
ALC Hospice Care proudly participates in the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s (NHPCO) We Honor Veterans Program in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Military service can profoundly affect how veterans face end-of-life issues. Our participation in We Honor Veterans allows ALC Hospice Care to:
- Streamline the referral/admission process for veterans
- Educate our staff and communities about the unique end-of-life needs of our veterans
- Coordinate care with VA and other healthcare organizations
- Provide veteran-to-veteran volunteer programs
- Connect veterans and their families with community resources
- Offer the services of staff and volunteers who are trained to meet the unique challenges faced by veterans and their families
We recognize the sacrifice veterans have made for our country, and we’re honored to serve those who served.
WHY CHOOSE ALC FOR HOSPICE CARE
Since 2006, families have trusted ALC Hospice Care during life’s most difficult moments. This trust is earned through consistent excellence and genuine compassion.
- CHAP-Accredited Quality: Accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Partnership (CHAP), demonstrating our commitment to the highest standards of clinical excellence, patient safety, and ethical care delivery in hospice services.
- Exceptional Staff Stability: With a 95% staff retention rate, our team members dedicate years to the families we serve. This stability means experienced, familiar faces caring for you throughout your hospice journey.
- Outcomes That Speak Volumes: 100% of hospice families would recommend us to friends and family, 100% communication rating from families. These aren’t just numbers, they represent families who felt supported, patients who felt comfortable, and lives that ended with dignity and peace.
- Holistic, Interdisciplinary Approach: We don’t just manage symptoms, we care for the whole person and the whole family. Our comprehensive approach addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
- Part of a Complete Continuum: As part of ALC Health Care Services, we offer seamless integration with home health, primary care, palliative care, and private duty services. If a patient’s condition stabilizes or they no longer meet hospice criteria, transitions to other ALC services are smooth and coordinated.
What makes ALC the right hospice care partner:
- Responsive and Compassionate: We return calls promptly, admit patients quickly, and communicate proactively with your staff about care plans and any changes in status. Our compassionate professionals work closely with families to verify insurance and coordinate care quickly and effectively.
- Clinical Excellence You Can Trust: Our CHAP accreditation and outcomes that consistently achieve 100% family satisfaction mean you can be confident in the quality of care your residents and patients receive.
- Enhanced Resident and Family Satisfaction: Quality hospice care during life’s final chapter reflects positively on your community. Families remember how their loved one was cared for, and that memory extends to your organization.
- Seamless Communication: We coordinate closely with your staff, providing regular updates and collaborating on care plans to ensure everyone is aligned on the resident’s needs and goals.
- Complete Continuum Access: One relationship with ALC gives you access to home health, primary care, wound care, palliative care, hospice, and private duty—simplifying referrals across the entire spectrum of resident needs.
We’re an extension of your care team, committed to making you look good while delivering exceptional care to those you serve.
THE GIFT OF HOSPICE
Making the Most of the Time that Remains
- Say the things that need to be said
- Heal relationships
- Share stories and memories
- Complete important tasks
- Make peace spiritually
- Simply be together without the stress of medical crises
- Focus on comfort and connection rather than treatments and appointments
- Create final meaningful moments
Many families tell us that hospice care, while difficult, became a sacred time, a time when they were truly present with their loved one, unburdened by medical crises and empowered by our support.
HOW TO GET STARTED
Three Simple Steps
- Contact Us: Call us at 630-480-6887 or complete our online referral form. Your doctor can also make a referral on your behalf. We’re available to answer questions and discuss whether hospice is appropriate.
- Assessment and Admission: We’ll coordinate with your physician to obtain orders and certification. Our team will then conduct a comprehensive in-home assessment to understand your needs, goals, and wishes.
- Care Begins: Our interdisciplinary team creates a personalized care plan and begins providing the compassionate, skilled care that has made ALC a trusted name for nearly 20 years. Services typically begin within 24-48 hours of the initial call.
Most services are covered 100% by Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance plans. We’ll verify your benefits and handle all billing.