The grant will fund an education project that will develop and deliver hospice and palliative care education and resources to meet the needs of four populations who care for those who are seriously or terminally ill. The populations include:
- Families of Northern Illinois Hospice patients;
- Northern Illinois Hospice staff and volunteers;
- Healthcare professionals who provide physical and emotional care and support to clients, patients, and families dealing with serious, chronic, and terminal illnesses and conditions; and
- Members of the community at-large who want to acquire caretaking skills, knowledge, and support to care for a family member or friend.
Northern Illinois Hospice was founded in Rockford in 1979, by the community and for the community. It was the first hospice provider in its region, and one of the first 50 hospices nationwide. The mission of the Northern Illinois Hospice is to provide “extraordinary and dignified care, comfort, and compassion to individuals and families at end of life,” as well as to remove barriers to care access for all eligible individuals, regardless of ability to pay and payment source.