Lightways Hospice And Serious Illness Care
Joliet, IL · Medicare-certified hospice (CCN 141539)
CMS process measure: 98.06 (state average 96.22 — above state average)
Serves: 206 ZIP codes (is yours included? →) · Phone: (815) 740-4104 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
Lightways Hospice And Serious Illness Care holds a 4-star CAHPS rating from family caregivers, with 93% saying they would definitely recommend it. Its CMS composite process score of 98.06 is above the Illinois state average of 96.22.
Lightways Hospice And Serious Illness Care serves 206 ZIP codes from its Joliet, Illinois office in Will County, according to CMS Care Compare data.
Yes, Lightways Hospice And Serious Illness Care is Medicare-certified (CCN 141539, since October 1990), so the Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies eligibility.
About this hospice
Lightways Hospice And Serious Illness Care is a non-profit hospice based in Joliet, Illinois, serving families in Will County and the surrounding region. It has been Medicare-certified since October 3, 1990 (CCN 141539), meaning the Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients whose doctor certifies eligibility.
According to CMS Care Compare data, family caregivers who responded to the CAHPS Hospice Survey gave Lightways a 4-star overall rating. Ninety-three percent said they would definitely recommend this hospice, and 89% rated their overall experience as 9 or 10 out of 10. On the CMS composite process measure — which reflects how consistently core care processes were delivered — Lightways scored 98.06, above the Illinois state average of 96.22. CMS also reports a care index score of 10 and notes that visits occurred in the last days of life for 80.4% of patients, based on the data CMS has published.
Lightways' service area is broad: CMS Care Compare data lists 206 ZIP codes served from its Joliet office, indicating this hospice reaches patients across a wide swath of northeastern Illinois.
All figures above come from CMS Care Compare data as published by Medicare; families should confirm current details directly with the hospice or on Care Compare before making decisions, as data can be updated between reporting periods.
Questions families ask
Does Medicare cover care from this hospice?
Yes. Lightways Hospice And Serious Illness Care is Medicare-certified under CCN 141539, effective October 3, 1990, and the Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for patients whose doctor certifies eligibility.
What do family caregivers say about this hospice in the CMS survey?
CMS's CAHPS survey data shows a 4-star rating, with 93% of family caregivers saying they would definitely recommend Lightways and 89% rating their experience 9 or 10 out of 10.
How does this hospice score on CMS quality measures compared to the state average?
Lightways' composite process score is 98.06, which CMS reports as above the Illinois state average of 96.22.
What areas and ZIP codes does this hospice serve?
CMS Care Compare data lists Lightways as serving 206 ZIP codes from its Joliet, Illinois office in Will County.
Tip: use our Search by ZIP Code feature to check instantly whether your ZIP is among the 206 this hospice reports serving.
Is this hospice for-profit, non-profit, or government-run — and does it matter?
Lightways is a non-profit hospice. Ownership type can be a factor families weigh, but CMS quality data such as CAHPS scores and process measures reflect actual care experiences regardless of ownership structure.
How long has this hospice been Medicare-certified?
Lightways has been Medicare-certified since October 3, 1990.
What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?
Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatment at any stage of a serious illness, while hospice focuses on comfort-centered care for people who have stopped pursuing curative treatment and typically have a life expectancy of six months or less as certified by a physician.
Does choosing hospice mean giving up treatment?
No. Hospice means shifting the focus of care to comfort, symptom relief, and quality of life rather than curative treatment; patients and families can still make choices about their care within that focus.
Where is hospice care provided — at home or in a facility?
This is not specified in the CMS data provided; please contact Lightways at (815) 740-4104 and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
How do I start hospice care with this provider?
The data provided does not describe the intake process; please contact Lightways at (815) 740-4104 for guidance and verify certification details on Medicare Care Compare.
What questions should I ask when choosing a hospice?
Families often ask about caregiver satisfaction scores, quality measure comparisons to state averages, service area coverage, and how to begin care — Lightways can be reached at (815) 740-4104 to discuss these directly.
How do I verify this hospice on Medicare Care Compare?
You can look up Lightways Hospice And Serious Illness Care (CCN 141539) at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/hospice/141539?state=IL to review current CMS data.
Data: CMS Care Compare (Jul2026 refresh). Survey results are reported by family caregivers through the official CAHPS Hospice Survey; CMS publishes them only above response-count thresholds. Always verify current details with the hospice and Medicare before arranging care.