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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:


1982Founded 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

1983Board 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

1984Public Health License Issued

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

1987Joined National Hospice Organization1990First Grief Support Group Held1993HKV 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

200220 Year Anniversary

  • Celebration of 20 years in service
  • New HKV website launched

2003First Children and Teen Bereavement Support Groups Held2008Larry Power Community Excellence Award

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

2010Memory Garden Opens2014Licensed Massage & Pet Therapy OfferedChristine-Lexi Animal 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

2016Sub LabelMusic TherapyMegan 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

2019Community Grief Center Beginning

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

2020Adopted New NameUpliftedCare logo blue background

  • Adopted a new name, UpliftedCare
  • Opened Grief Center

AREAS WE SERVE

UpliftedCare serves six counties:

Ford | Iroquois | Kankakee | Livingston | Grundy | Will

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MAKE A REFERRAL

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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