Lightways history

1984 – The Joliet Area Community Hospice Guild Volunteer fundraising group is founded.

1985 – In this year over 480 patients receive hospice services.

1986 – Joliet Area Community Hospice receives full licensing from the State of Illinois Department of Health.

1987 – Over 820 patients receive services; average daily census is 27 patients.

1990 – In October, JACH becomes the first hospice in Will County to qualify as a provider of Medicare hospice benefits.

1992 – In December, Duane Krieger becomes the third Executive Director.

1999 – Identifying a patient need for hospice care outside of the home and the hospital, the Board of Directors begin pursuing a dream of building the first freestanding Hospice Home inpatient unit in Illinois.

2001 – A $3 million capital campaign begins to raise the funds to build the Hospice Home.

2002 – In September, a groundbreaking ceremony is held at the site of the Hospice Home at 250 Water Stone Circle, Joliet.

2003 – Over 10,000 patients have been served to date.

2004 – In May, the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home inpatient unit opens, becoming the first freestanding unit of its kind in Illinois.

2006 – JACH admits its first patients at Provena St Joseph Medical Center and Silver Cross Hospital.

2015 – Mary K. Sheehan is hired as Chief Executive Officer after a five-month period as Interim CEO.

2017 – Remembering from the Heart Campaign for the Hospice Home begins with a feasibility study to gauge community support for renovations and an addition to the Hospice Home inpatient unit.