JourneyCare continues to accept referrals and is doing our part to care for the community.
Click here to request care for you or a loved one.
Our response to COVID-19
We understand that news of the coronavirus may be causing you concern, and want to do our part to ensure that the communities we serve are equipped with the best possible information. Please know that the health and well-being of our patients and families remains our top priority. We want to assure you we are taking the highest precautions to ensure your safety.
A letter to our patients
Click here to read a letter to our patients and families concerning the coronavirus (Spanish version here).
A letter to our partners
Click here to read a letter to our partners. We are continuing to accept referrals so we can serve patients in need of our care. JourneyCare remains a strong partner to our referral facilities, patients and community.
Screening protocols
JourneyCare will be monitoring all staff and patients on a daily basis for COVID-19 symptoms, as well as visitors to our CareCenters. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recommend screening for these symptoms as of March 12, 2020:
- Fever higher than 99.5 degrees
- New or worsening cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Sore throat
Visitor guidelines
Please click the “Read more” link to learn about our visitor guidelines. Protect yourself, our patients, and each other! Read more
If you or a loved one are receiving care at home, JourneyCare will be asking caregivers about any symptoms in the household. If symptoms are present, proper PPE is used – such as a mask and gloves – according to CDC guidelines. Please note that the CDC does not require masks or additional PPE for all patients. If a family member is experiencing symptoms, they may also be asked to remain in another room until our visit is over. This is part of an overall social distancing effort to remain at least six feet apart at all times.
Additional guidelines for our CareCenters:
1.) There is a one-visitor limit per patient room at one time. Visitors over this limit may be asked to wait outside and rotate as needed.
2.) Common areas will be closed.
3.) All visitors must practice hand hygiene guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and using alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
4.) Please cover your cough and sneeze into a tissue (or your elbow) and then discard the tissue, and wash your hands.
Grief counseling update
To observe social distancing in response to the coronavirus, the JourneyCare Grief Counselors will be conducting all individual and group grief sessions “virtually” (through phone or Skype). Read more
We recognize how valuable in-person counseling can be when working through your grief journey, and greatly appreciate your understanding and flexibility while our team puts these important safety measures into place. Our support groups are always open to hospice families and anyone in the community. To register for a virtual group or be connected with one of our Bereavement Counselors, contact griefsupport@journeycare.org or call our Bereavement Care Line at 224-770-2273.
Additional important reading
Below are some helpful links from the coronavirus.gov website published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
More ways you can help
We are also accepting donations of other medical equipment to compliment our inventory If you have medical equipment to donate to our clinical staff, please
contact us. We are accepting donations for surgical masks, N95 respirators, disposal gowns, face shields and medical gloves.
Make a gift, claim a greater deduction
Read more
The CARES Act allows donors and companies to claim a greater deduction for charitable donations made through December 31, 2020. JourneyCare is grateful for the philanthropists who have generously given to help offset additional costs for our response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Please contact JourneyCare Foundation Gift and Estate Planning Director Christine Post-Duncan or at (224) 645-0971 or your tax advisor for more information.
Do you sew? Click here!
