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Journey Know your risk Breast cancer in men
Not an “old folks� home: Creating vibrant residents and communities
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While you're celebrating your mom this Mother's Day,
toast to her health!pg. 8
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May 2012 The Journey
We want your junk!
CONTENTS
May 2012 Index: Through the Eyes of a Chaplain.............3 On the campaign trail Social Scene...................................................4 Welcome Dan Untch...................................5 A moment to remeber................................5
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Community All-Stars...............................6-7 Volunteer Services Team.......................8-9 Celebrate Mom’s Health this Mother’s Day.......................................10 National Nurses Week..............................11 Not an “old folks” home............................12 National Nursing Home Week. events near your.........................................13
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PARO gets a checkup..................................14 Did you sign your advance directives.....................................15 Going to the hospital isn’t (always) the answer.........................16
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We want your junk....................................17 Around the Town................................18-19 Employees of the Month..................20-21
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May 2012 The Journey
Through the eyes of a chaplain
The
Journey
By: Roger Carlson, Chaplain
Administrator Michael Gillman
Executive Medical Director Rajiv Kandala, MD
Social Services Roxxi Davis
Spiritual Care Joe Barefield
Clinical Services Carmen Valez
Physician Services Chris Doyle
Admissions Emily O’Malley
By: Roger Carlson, Chaplain
PR and Foundation Kansas Swain
Phone 1-888-741-8985 Toll-free
The joy on her face was great to see, but I would not see that until later. She was trying to feed her husband dinner when I walked in. I asked her if I could visit and she agreed. As we were talking, her husband (the patient) started talking, and talking, and talking. She smiled and told me that it was the most that she’d seen him talk in years. The joy on her face as the three of us talked made my week.
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The next time that I saw the two of them, he was no longer able to speak. But we all three communicated again. Through tears of joy, she asked me if I would conduct his funeral service. I told her that it would be my privilege. A short time later, as I had the opportunity to stand at that podium, I realized that together, we helped him (her husband and my patient) go through his “passage” to the next world. May 2012 The Journey
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Social Scene Passages Social Worker Wanda Rohl is running to represent her area in the United States House of Representatives. Wanda, who lost the use of her legs in an accident, considers herself a “social safety net success story.” She believes that social services, including Medicare and Medicaid, are critical to our country’s success. “I’m fighting to preserve that safety net for others who might need it in the future,” Wanda says. After being injured in an accident, Wanda used many of the “safety nets” she is so passionate about. Her temporary use of Medicare, social security, and Pell education grants enabled her to build a better life for herself and her family. So, she says, her candidacy is a natural extension of her role as a social worker. She became a social worker to improve the lives of people she serves and to advocate for those who don’t have a voice. “The decisions they make in Washington impact the lives of our patients and families,” she says. “I’ve seen the real life consequences of the decisions they make.”
As a social worker, she’s seen how difficult it is for people without resources to be successful, and she wants to help give people the resources they need. She says those resources include “upward mobility programs” like federal grants for education and “stability programs” like Medicaid and Medicare, which provide millions of people each year with care like hospice. “I want to protect those resources for the people who need them now, and those who will need them in the future.” Thank you for your interest in serving our country and helping educate others about the importance of hospice care!
“The decisions they make in Washington impact the lives of our patients and families,” she says. “I’ve seen the real life consequences of the decisions they make.”
Welcome Dan Untch We welcome Dan Untch to the role of Chief Compliance Officer for Passages Hospice! Dan brings with him 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry and 15 years of experience in the compliance field. Dan believes that a commitment to both compliance and integrity in all areas of a company will lead to the greatest success. It’s important to be compliant with all regulations and requirements, he says, but it’s also important to follow solid ethical guidelines. “You can follow the law and do the right thing at the same time,” he says. Dan hopes to increase the visibility of the Compliance Department in his first few months on the job. He has an open door policy, and encourages anyone with a question about compliance to ask for help. “Compliance is everyone’s job,” he says. “It starts at the top and every single person matters.” Dan also plans to make resources and guidelines more accessible for staff. He hopes that by doing his job to promote and maintain a compliant and ethical culture, it will enable our staff to do their jobs of bringing comfort to families during a difficult time. Dan can be reached at duntch@passageshospice.com.
A moment to remember Calvin Bailey celebrates his last birthday
Calvin Bailey’s family invited us to share this story as part of their celebration of his life. We admitted Calvin on Friday night, April 13th, just a few days before his 61st birthday on April 16th. Calvin was living at a skilled nursing facility in Chicago and looking forward to celebrating his birthday with all of his family who had come in to visit. Because Calvin’s health had declined rapidly, he wasn’t able to travel to be at his party. Passages staff offered to stay well past their ‘official’ visiting time to help Calvin get to his birthday party. About 40 members of Calvin’s family crowded into a home to celebrate Calvin’s birthday. A cousin, niece and great-niece even flew in from Texas to be at the party. Passages staff helped keep Calvin comfortable and safe while he visited with family. It was an amazing opportunity to help this family spend one more day with their beloved uncle, father, brother, cousin and friend. Calvin passed away the next day, on his 61st birthday. Calvin’s niece, Toni, wrote him a poem. “It’s moments like this that we stand together, like the love of the Baileys that lasts forever. So while we’re saying our goodbyes as you enter through heaven’s door, we’re missing you right now - but you’ll be missed forever more!”
It’s moments like this that we stand together! May 2012 The Journey
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Community All-Stars! High school students open arms to hospice patients
ierstin Berggren, 17, remembers many visits to her grandmother’s nursing home. Her family would stop by to talk, share a meal, watch TV or play a game together. But on those visits, Berggren noticed that not every resident had the same frequent visitors.
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“Even a strong family can’t be there every second,” she said. “You still have to live your life.” So when her sociology class at West Aurora High School started their semester-long Service Learning Project, Berggren chose to spend her volunteer time with nursing home residents and hospice patients.
“I feel like I connect with people on an emotional level,” she says. 6
May 2012 The Journey
Berggren is one of five West Aurora students volunteering with us this semester. The students act as companions to hospice patients by assisting with activities, talking or sometimes simply sitting with patients as a comforting presence. Hospice patients are usually within the last six months of their life, and often have accompanying conditions like dementia that make building a relationship difficult. Although the challenges and emotional toll of working with hospice patients make many people shy away from task, Berggren and her classmates jumped into training and patient visits with open hearts. "I was really impressed with Kierstin," said Nicole Brokaw, one of our Volunteer Coordinators. "She was very gentle, and you can tell she's very compassionate." Berggren visits with 95-year-old Celeste Rio at Geneva Nursing and Rehabilitation Center once a week. The two women, young and young-at-heart, talk about little things: the signs of summer approaching, Berggren's school and Rio's grandchildren.
“How lovely,” Rio said of their time together. “I’m glad to have you.”. Berggren will complete at least 10 hours of volunteer time to fulfill the requirement for the Service Learning Project program. The Service Learning Project is new at the high school, and every Sociology student will complete it this semester. "I want them to see the realness of what we learn about in class," said Sociology teacher Sydney Neukirch. "I was touched and moved that they wanted to take hospice on as a project." Berggren plans to continue volunteering past her required hours and into the summer. "They're not going to be there forever," she says. "If I can help for a little bit, I should do it." See it live! Kiersten and her fellow students will talk about their volunteer work on WSPY-TV on May 29th.
Volunteer Services Team volunteer@passageshospice.com Please let the Volunteer Services Team know if you would like to request a volunteer for a patient, refer a friend or family member to volunteer or if you would like to be an employee volunteer. Trish Thein, Director of Volunteer Services Northern Chicago area and suburbs 630-945-2172 pthein@passageshospice.com Sue Cholewinski Southern Chicago area and suburbs 630-946-3327 scholewinski@passageshospice.com Nicole Brokaw Greater Rockford area 815-312-7741 nbrokaw@passageshospice.com Amy O’Dea Greater Bloomington area 309-660-4953 aodea@passageshospice.com Darla Rennegarbe Swansea Area dwatkins@passageshospice.com 618-570-7235
Passages Pooch “Cooper” visits with Don during a volunteer session.
New Volunteers in April! Andrea Beck Yvette Sitkowski Ivana Del Real Natalie Gronvold Patty Whisenant Kim Benzel Shannon Johnstone Nancy Potumuthu
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May 2012 The Journey
Mandy Steffen Karen Lyons Jennifer Fridlund Stefanie West Maleah Hanna Lisel Larson Teresa Gonzalez Rhonda DeLacy
April/May 2012
Volunteer Dementia Specialists Last month, our education department went out of their way to conduct the Passages Through Time Dementia Training for our volunteers. The volunteers had rave reviews about the training and gained a new understanding about how to respond to patients with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Thank you to the educators, Corey and Lauren!
Welcome New Volunteers! We are pleased to announce the following new Volunteer Dementia Specialists: North Chicagoland David Thein Marc Connolly Rockford-area Kim Benzel Jennifer Driscoll Pam Wayman Andrew Santiago Bloomington-area Amber Broad Megan Henry
ley
ak O y h Cat
South Chicagoland Maureen Heald Cathy Oakley
Mareen Heald
Here’s what they had to say:
“The Dementia Training that Passages provided for volunteers had a profound effect on my ability to provide meaningful and constructive care for my patients.” Marc Connolly
“The
training was great. I plan on passing on my training to my staff.” Andrew Santiago
“I thought the training was very helpful and informative. I like that Corey does this with CNAs and others that interact with the patients. Their (dementia patients) needs are so different. I really have a strong interest in all of this and her videos showing actual people are very touching.” Pam Wayman
“Remember that imagination and love of music remains to the very end.” Maureen Heald
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Mom's health this Mother's Day!
While you’re celebrating your mom this Mother’s Day, toast to her health! Flowers and candy might be more traditional gifts, but the gift of health is one your whole family can share. May is Women’s Health Month, and the perfect time to make sure Mom’s running smoothly. In addition to regular checkups, women receiving Medicare can take advantage of preventative services like screening mammograms, bone mass measurements, pap tests and pelvic exams. These tests are covered by Medicare according to a benefit schedule.
Raise your glass to Mom’s health!
For women over 65, some other tests are also recommended. Screenings for diabetes, colorectal cancer and cholesterol can help catch problems in their early stages. These tests aren’t covered by Medicare, but may be covered by private insurance. It’s especially important for Mom to take care of her heart. Heart disease is the #1 cause of death among women over 55. If she has other risk factors like high blood pressure or cholesterol or a family history of heart disease, see a doctor regularly to monitor these conditions.
It’s possible to stay health as we age! The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has a few recommendations:
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Take all your prescribed medicines and ask your doctor if a daily aspirin could help Get a flu shot every year, and if you’re over 65, get a pneumonia shot Get to a healthy weight and stay there by eating well and exercising regularly
Even though our bodies are changing, we can still maintain healthy habits. Staying in touch with your doctor is a great place to start. Learn about all the benefits from your Medicare enrollment at www.medicare.gov. For more information about staying healthy as you age, visit www.womenshealth.gov.
Hospice care is also a Medicare benefit. For more information, please visit us online at www.passageshospice.com.
National
Nurses Week We are proud to have more than 200 nurses in 60 counties across the Midwest caring for patients in a time of need. From May 6-12, we recognize the important work of these dedicated nurses during National Nurses Week. More than 3 million nurses across the country provide quality care and comfort to patients in all walks of life. From doctors’ offices to emergency rooms and beyond, nurses help navigate the sometimes confusing world of medical care.
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Hospice nurses manage not only the complex medical conditions of their patients but also help patients and families find comfort at the end of life. Without the frequent visits and compassionate care that our nurses provide, the end of life would be a more worrisome time. Passages Hospice recognizes its nurses in April and May with ceremonies and celebrations. As a special honor, nurses will participate in a butterfly release in their community, signifying the beauty and freedom of spirit they exhibit every day.
Detroit area
The Florence Nightengale pledge: I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.
Did you know? Florence Nightengale is considered the mother of modern nursing. In 1860, she
founded a nursing school at St. Thomas Hospital in London. She served as a nurse during the Crimean War and many believe she set the standard for compassionate, professional nursing care.
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Not an “old folks� home: Creating vibrant residents and communities Over the past 7 years, we've served patients in almost 400 nursing homes across the Midwest. Nursing home residents often have complicated health conditions that require frequent care and hospice care ensures this important and special group get even more attention and time. We've made it our mission to specialize our care to serve hospice patients in nursing homes. In those nursing homes, we've heard amazing personal stories and met some of the most generous, enthusiastic and witty people anywhere. From the 94-year-old woman who says, "Honey, I know I look good!" to the 91-year-old man who still tears up when he tells the story of how he met his wife, nursing home residents are living and thriving all over.
May 13-19th is National Nursing Home Week! The theme for 2012 is Celebrating the Journey - and celebrate we will! We’re helping nursing homes across the region recognize their staff and residents as the incredible people they are.
National Nursing Home Week Events 9th 13th 14th 14th 15th 17th
Cupcake Social at Alden of Wentworth Mother’s Day celebration at Niles Nursing and Rehabilitation Trivia day at Alden of Orland Park Live Indonesian dancer at Salem Village Sand sculptures during Beach Day at Frankling Grove Nursing Mini-makeovers at Smith Crossing Stop by any of these events to see for yourself how fun and engaging nursing homes are.
Thank you to the many volunteers that make these great events possible.
“Life is a journey, not a destination.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Education Department
Paro Two of our PARO robots, Pikatti and Shiro, are seeing the doctor! Each seal has sensors for touch, temperature, sight, sound and motion, and it takes a lot to keep them healthy. After their checkup, Pikatti and Shiro will be back to work, making visits to nursing homes all over. Join us in wishing them a speedy recovery!
See PARO in action! Watch as a patient interacts with PARO on our Youtube channel.
A Passages staffmember explains Advance Directives at Jackson Park on April 16th
Did you sign your advance directive? April 16th was National Healthcare Decisions Day! We held two public events at Jackson Park Hospital in Chicago and on the campus of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale to spread the word! Some of the most common questions that people asked were:
Who should I make my Power of Attorney for Health Care agent?
Your Health Care Power of Attorney agent will be asked to make healthcare decisions when you are unable to make the decision yourself. The person you name as your agent should be:
• someone you know well, and who knows you well • someone you trust to make decisions like you would • someone who will be available in an emergency
Your agent doesn’t have to be a family member. Anyone over the age 18 can be your agent.
When does a Power of Attorney for Health Care take effect?
The earlier you have the paperwork in place, the better. It’s a good idea for anyone over 18 to fill out the paperwork. No one expects to become ill or be in an accident, and advance directives ensure you get the care you want if something happens unexpectedly. As life changes over the years, the document can be changed as well. Remember to keep your advance directives up-to-date. In Illinois, for more information about available advance directives, please visit the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission. In Michigan, for more information about available advance directives, please visit the Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program.
absolutely some reasons for a hospice patient to go to the hospital. But being in a hospital is hard on the patient. Hospitalization has its own risks, too: emotional trauma, medication errors and outside infections. Considering these risks, some conditions are better managed at home or in the long-term care setting. And Medicare agrees. Beginning in October, hospitals will receive reduced reimbursement for patients who are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of the first visit. Unnecessary hospitalization can be avoided with clear and constant communication among everyone involved with patient care. In a long-term care facility, ‘everyone’ includes the hospice team, the facility staff, the facility or on-call doctor and the family. We need to put the patient first. Even though we want to do ‘everything we can’ for the patient, staying in the familiar setting is often best. The average floor nurse in a nursing home has 42 patients to look after. The hospice nurse cares for one patient at a time. In addition, the hospice nurse specializes in caring for patients at the end of life. When a patient has an acute condition, the hospice nurse provides an extra set of hands and eyes, and a second opinion.
Going to the hospital isn’t (always) the answer: Clear communication, better care
T
he hospice philosophy emphasizes symptom management and comfort above all, and in an effort to give the best care, we may be inadvertently hurting the patient. There are more than 2.2 million Americans in long-term care facilities, and about 1/3 (726,000) of them will be hospitalized each year. Of those patients, 41% will be hospitalized more than once. That’s nearly 300,000 people who go through the stress of being hospitalized multiple times. Hospice patients have chronic illnesses that are often complicated by other conditions. There are
Hospice nurses have the time and knowledge to give the patient an advanced assessment. They review all the information from each caregiver (physicians, facility nurses, etc.) and think about how the patient’s condition fits into his or her end-of-life wishes. The majority of Americans want to die at home, not at the hospital. We need to do everything we can do make that wish a reality. By notifying the hospice team as soon as the patient has a change in condition, we can improve care and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations.
More than 2.2 million Americans are in long-term care facilities
33% 41%
Of the patients will be hospitalized each year Of the hospitalized patients will be hospitalized more than once
We want your junk! Some forms of dementia cause a behavior called "rummaging". Patients are not sure what they are looking for, but they're sure they're looking for something! To help ease this behavior, we're creating 'rummage bags', that patients can keep as their own. The bags will contain common personal and household items that are familiar to patients and may fulfill their search. Many of the needed items are things you may have sitting around the house! We welcome donations of these items at any of our offices. By donating, you're helping bring comfort to someone with dementia. In about a month, we'll be holding a special event to pack the rummage bags and deliver them to nursing homes. We hope you can join us! For more information, contact Dementia Specialist Corey Tague at ctague@passageshospice.com
Needed Items Stackable items ( e.g. legos) Sorting items (large buttons, pipe cleaners, etc) Keys on a ring Old wallets (men’s and women’s) Purses Books & magazines (specific topics are welcome… cars, motorcycles, cooking, baking, animals, etc) Sport cards (e.g. baseball cards) Yarn Photo albums Beanie babies Baskets Fabric Spiral notebooks (all sizes) Clipboards Cooking timers Wrist watches Picture frames (glass removed) Small wipe off boards / markers Miniature cars
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Around the Town
“Hoppy” Easter! Admissions Coordinator Becky passed out candy at Rosewood Care of Swansea.
Congratulations on a job well done! RN Mary Vinyard, Volunteer Coordinator Amy O'Dea and Billing Specialist Celeste Babers celebrate a night out after being recognized by their coworkers for excellence!
PR Coordinator Cooper brought a furry friend to visit Watseka Rehab!
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Our Southfield, MI office is now located at: 38099 Schoolcraft Road
Phone: 734-744-5091
Livonia, MI 48150
Fax: 734-744-5092
Educating men about breast cancer men being diagnosed each year. While it’s much less prevalent in men than in women, it is still very possible for men to get breast cancer.
Congratulations to Hospital Liaison Sheldon Flowers on being named a Pink Tie Award winner by All About Pink, a breast cancer foundation. Sheldon is passionate about going into his community and speaking to men about their risk of breast cancer. In 2010, he noticed a lump in his right breast and had it examined by a doctor. The lump, the size of a grapefruit, was removed during a mastectomy. Approximately 1 in 1,000 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, with more than 2,000 new
“It can hit anybody,” Sheldon tells men. “We have breast tissue and we can get breast cancer.” Sheldon also encourages anyone who is diagnosed with breast cancer to ask for palliative care, which can help manage their symptoms. Palliative care includes medications to treat symptoms like nausea or pain as well as social, emotional and spiritual care from trained professionals. It also provides assistance to family members and other people close to the person with the illness. “You don’t have to do this alone,” he tells people. “You are more than just the breast cancer.”
“You don’t have to do this alone,” he tells people. “You are more than just the breast cancer.”
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Pink Tie Award
“Pass”ing It On
ospice Educator Jennifer Gibb is organizing a Passages Hospice team for the 2012 Warrior Dash Obstacle Course in Channahon on June 16th at 1:00pm or 6:30pm. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital! If you would like to help out a great cause and participate in the event, contact Jennifer Gibb at jgibb@passageshospice.com or (309) 660-3056.
Employee of
Employees of the month are chosen by their co-workers for going a staff members for their efficiency, excellence, creativity, positive atti
Kristine Borcz: Kristine was nominated for working extra hours to ensure a new brochure was perfect and ready to publish.
Cindy Pippin: Cindy was nominated for volunteering to work at an event on very short notice, which helped an entire team meet their deadline.
Abby Jackson: Abby was nominated for her thorough charting, which supports a higher level of care.
Laura Leonard: Laura was nominated for being very resourceful and playing a key role in meeting a deadline for an important event.
Shaun Johnson: Shaun was nominated by one of the families he works with for his sweet personality and listening ear.
Diane Krukowski: Diane was nominated for going above and beyond by serving as a mentor to new nurses and volunteering to let them shadow her!
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above-and-beyond in their work. Join us in celebrating these dedicated itude and team work. You are what makes Passages Hospice great!
Melissa Kline: Melissa was nominated by one of the families she works with for going aboveand-beyond in helping them fill out DNR paperwork so their loved one could pass with comfort.
Kevin Williams: Kevin was nominated for his great work on the Michigan office’s open house and talent show.
Nikki Wallarab: Nikki was nominated for her quick work in putting together an important event. Her coworkers say her positive attitude “rubs off on others”.
Seema Chackunkal: Seema was nominated for being a driving force behind the physician liaison department and for her constant encouragement to her coworkers.
Franshell Buckley: Franshell was nominated for her positive attitude, and she welcomes new assignments and extra responsibilities.”
Kara Danko Smith: Kara was nominated for her exceptional charting and dedication to her patients.
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Your passage to care and comfort. We are dedicated to enhancing quality of life by promoting superior end of life care, easing the suffering, and providing continued compassion for the sick and dying in a way that ensures dignity and respect. We are dedicated to promoting realistic outcomes. We are dedicated to working with professionals who follow the highest values of excellence to establish an individualized plan of care offering personal choices and decisions while still maintaining each patient’s uniqueness. We are dedicated to being receptive to each patient and family’s social, emotional, intellectual, safety and physical needs. We are dedicated to a level of care that encourages the safe and cost-effective delivery of hospice care.
We are dedicated to the human spirit.
Providing Quality Care In: Bloomington, IL 404 N. Hershey Road, Ste. A Bloomington, IL 61704 Phone: 309.828.8139 Fax: 309.827.4878
Lisle, IL 515 Warrenville Road Lisle, IL 60532 Phone: 630.824.0400 Fax: 630.395.9235
Carbondale, IL 120 North Tower Rd., Ste. A Carbondale, IL 62901 Phone: 618.490.1040
Rockford, IL 929 S. Alpine Road, Ste. 202 Rockford, IL 61108 Phone: 815.226.7785 Fax: 815.226.7786
New loca t comi ng s ions oon! Swansea, IL 16 Bronze Pointe Blvd. Swansea, IL 62226 Phone: 618.234.7078 Fax: 618.257.7266
Livonia, MI 38099 Schoolcraft Road Livonia, MI 48150 Phone: 734-744-5091 Fax: 734-744-5092
Anonymous Compliance Hotline (866) 842-7093 As part of our continuing commitment to compliance we are encouraging facilities and other partners to use this number if they have a concern.
Passages Hospice
www.passageshospice.com
info@passageshospice.com