Hospice Service Of Lake County

In 2024, our three thrift stores continued to provide valuable community resources and financial support, though experienced modest declines in sales and higher operational costs due to wage adjustments. Dedicated volunteers contributed a remarkable 11,782 hours across all programs, reflecting the communitys deep commitment to the mission of providing comfort, dignity, and quality care to lake county residents.

In 2024, hospice services of lake county expanded its reach and strengthened community impact through compassionate programs and volunteer engagement. The wings of hope program provided over 1,100 school-based counseling contacts, 546 group sessions, seventeen in-home visits, and two-family bereavement camps, supporting children and families coping with grief and loss. The organization also launched the enhanced care management (ecm) program, partially funded by a calaim grant, adding key staff and delivering case management services to fifteen families and individuals with complex medical, behavioral, and social needs.

Volunteers play a critical role in fulfilling the organization's mission, goals and objectives and are a required component of the organization's compliance with medicare reimbursement regulations. Volunteers provide patient support, bereavement camp assistance, clerical support, and process donations and work as cashiers in the three thrift stores, totaling 1,611.25 hours. New volunteers undergo 6 hours of hospice services orientation. Patient and family support/bereavement volunteers receive 12- 14 hours of patient and family support/bereavement training to provide companionship and emotional support for the patients and their families and caregivers. Volunteers are recognized with an annual appreciation luncheon. The community-based palliative care program, lake palliative care, provides multi-disciplinary support to patients not yet ready for hospice care.