Our History

Our History

For over 40 years, Hospice of Kankakee Valley, now UpliftedCare, has delivered heartfelt care and comfort to individuals who struggle with serious illness. A lot has changed over our four decades of caring, and we’ll change more tomorrow. We’ve grown in reach to serve more individuals beyond Kankakee Valley and we’ve also grown in ability and breadth of care. Here are some of the significant milestones we’ve had along the way:

1982

Founded as Hospice of Kankakee Valley

Apr- First Organizational Task Force Meeting
Sept- Adopted name of program to be “Hospice of Kankakee Valley”
Oct- Received Illinois Articles of Incorporation
Dec- Sadye Stoltenberg appointed Volunteer Coordinator
Theresa Diepeveen appointed Asst. Volunteer Coordinator

1983

Board of Directors Appointed

Apr- First group of Board of Directors appointed
Became member of Illinois State Hospice Organization
Sept- Accepted first Hospice client
Dec- Received State of Illinois Non Profit Status

1984

Public Health License Issued

Moved office to 162 l/2 E. Court Street
July- Illinois Dept. of Public Health license received

1987

Joined National Hospice Organization

1990

First Grief Support Group Held

1993

HKV Receives Medicare Certification

Mar- Received full service license from State of Illinois
May- Medicare certification effective 5-26-93
July- Medicaid certification received
Nov- First Service of Remembrance held

2002

20 Year Anniversary

Celebration of 20 years in service
New HKV website launched

2003

First Children and Teen Bereavement Support Groups Held

2008

Larry Power Community Excellence Award

Mar- HKV receives “Larry Power Community Excellence Award” from Bradley-Bourbonnais Regional Chamber of Commerce

2010

Memory Garden Opens

2014

Licensed Massage & Pet Therapy Offered

Complementary Therapy Christine-Lexi pet Therapy

Licensed Massage Therapy offered as a service to our patients
Pet therapy (Tails of Joy) offered to patients

2015

Transitions Program

Transitions Program began
Respiratory Therapy offered to patients

2016

Sub Label

Music Therapy

Full-time Music Therapist offered
After 33 years on our Board of Directors; “Innovator in Social Services” Progress Award given by the Daily Journal given to HKV Social Workers
May – Hospice volunteer training presented at Stateville Prison, and later to Pontiac Correctional Center
June – 3rd full-time nurse practitioner added to our Palliative Care Program
Sept – HKV receives state contract to provide hospice care at Fox Developmental Center in Dwight, establishing the first contract of its kind in the state of Illinois

2019

Community Grief Center Beginning

Purchased building at 3115 N. 1000 W. Rd. Bourbonnais to open Illinois’ first Community Grief Center

2020

Adopted New Name

Adopted a new name, UpliftedCare
Opened Grief Center

AREAS WE SERVE

UpliftedCare serves six counties:

Details

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If you are living with a serious illness or caring for someone that is, we’re here for you, wherever you are, whenever you need us.

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