What Sanctuary Hospice does

Sanctuary Hospice is a privately held, Medicare-certified hospice provider founded in 2013 and headquartered in Westchester, Illinois. The company delivers end-of-life care to patients with life-limiting illnesses through an interdisciplinary team model that includes physicians, registered nurses, certified nurse aides, medical social workers, chaplains, and volunteers. Care is delivered wherever patients call home, including private residences, nursing facilities, assisted living communities, hospitals, and retirement communities, across nine offices serving Northern Illinois and Northeast and Southwest Ohio.

The core offering is episodic hospice care reimbursed primarily through the Medicare and Medicaid hospice benefits, with additional coverage from a broad network of private insurers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, CIGNA, Humana, and United Healthcare. Under this benefit structure, patients pay nothing out of pocket for covered services, including all medications, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies related to the terminal diagnosis. Underlying technology is an electronic medical records system that supports same-day admission, care plan adherence, and 24/7 on-call response within 15 minutes, supplemented by a Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement program. The company also operates the Palliative Pathways program for patients not yet ready for hospice, the Sanctuary Tree memorial program in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, and the Journey Health Foundation 501(c)(3) for charitable donations.

The go-to-market model is referral-driven: patient acquisition depends on healthcare professional referrals (physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities), supplemented by self-referrals from families and community outreach. Sanctuary maintains accreditations from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and is a partner of We Honor Veterans and the National Alliance for Care at Home (NACH). No external funding rounds, ownership structure, or financial disclosures are publicly available.

Name

Sanctuary Hospice

Legal name

Sanctuary Hospice

Website

https://sanctuaryhospiceil.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sanctuary Hospice is a private, Medicare-certified hospice provider founded in 2013 that delivers end-of-life care across nine offices in Northern Illinois and Northeast and Southwest Ohio through an interdisciplinary clinical team, serving patients with life-limiting illnesses at home or in care facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospice and End-of-Life Care Services

NAICS

Home Health Care Services (62161), Home Health Care Services (621610), Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (62311), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Hospice Agencies (HLAFAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hospice Care in Nursing Facilities (SNF/NH Hospice) (HLADAHAD), Hospice Care in Assisted Living / Residential Care Facilities (HLADAHAE), In-Home Hospice Physician / Nurse Practitioner Visits (HSABAFAM), End-of-Life Emotional & Spiritual Support (Chaplaincy/Counseling) In-Home (HSABAFAH), Volunteer & Companion Support Services (Hospice Volunteer Programs) (HSABAFAO)

Keywords

• Hospice care services
• End-of-life care
• Palliative care support
• Bereavement services
• Home health hospice

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Medicare Hospice Benefit: Hospice care is typically fully covered by Medicare, including all medications, medical supplies, equipment, and interdisciplinary services. Patients pay nothing for covered services.
2. Medicaid Hospice Benefit: Most Medicaid services mirror Medicare benefits. If patients reside in nursing facilities, the facility continues to receive room and board reimbursements if hospice is chosen.
3. Private Insurance: Works with a large network of private insurers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, CIGNA, CountyCare, HealthSpring of Illinois, Humana, Meridian, NextLevel, Tricare and United Healthcare. Referrals require prior authorization.
4. Charitable Donations: Accepts donations through Journey Health Foundation (501(c)(3) nonprofit) to support programs including Last Wishes, Groceries and Utilities Bills for Families in Need, Clinical needs unrelated to hospice services, and Public Education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sanctuary Hospice provides comprehensive interdisciplinary end-of-life care to patients with life-limiting illnesses, delivered wherever the patient calls home. Services include physician oversight, expert nursing case management, certified nurse aides, medical social workers, chaplaincy, volunteer support, plus all medications, durable medical equipment, medical supplies, respite care, and 13 months of bereavement support, all at no cost to Medicare/Medicaid-eligible patients.

Product overview

Sanctuary Hospice provides a unified hospice care service focused on comfort and pain management for patients with life-limiting illnesses. The core offering is comprehensive interdisciplinary care including physicians, nursing staff, certified nurse aides, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers. The company also provides medications, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies at no cost. Supporting programs include Palliative Pathways (pre-hospice support), the Angel Program (end-of-life volunteer support), bereavement services (13 months post-death), companion and administrative volunteering, and the Sanctuary Tree memorial program. Services are delivered wherever patients call home, including private residences, nursing facilities, and assisted living communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Core Hospice Care Services Comprehensive interdisciplinary hospice care including physician services, expert nursing case management, certified nurse aides, medical social workers, chaplains, and volunteers providing 24/7 care for terminally ill patients wherever they call home.
• Medications and Medical Supplies All medications for symptom control and pain relief related to the terminal diagnosis, along with medical supplies such as oxygen and bandages, provided at no cost to eligible hospice patients.
• Durable Medical Equipment Medical equipment including wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and oxygen equipment provided and paid for by Sanctuary for hospice patients.
• Respite Care Short-term care through paid placement of the patient in a long-term care facility for up to 5 days, providing relief for family caregivers.
• Bereavement Services 13 months of bereavement care for family members following the death of a loved one, including support groups, counseling, and informational mailings.
• 24-Hour Emergency On-Call Services Round-the-clock emergency phone response with trained staff available to respond to urgent calls within 15 minutes at all times.
• Palliative Pathways A program designed to support individuals with serious illness who may not be ready for hospice (emotionally or medically) or who have been discharged from hospice, connecting them with education, support, and community resources.
• Volunteer Programs (Companion, Administrative, Bereavement, Student, and Angel) Volunteer-driven support offerings including the Angel Program for the last 24-48 hours of life, Companion Volunteers for home visits and caregiver relief, Administrative Volunteers for office support, Bereavement Support Volunteers for follow-up calls and memorial services, and the Student Program for life review projects and memorial services.
• Sanctuary Tree Program Partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees in American National Forests in memory of each patient, providing a lasting legacy for families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of care covered for Medicare/Medicaid patients with no deductibles, co-pays, or co-insurance
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• We Honor Veterans (WHV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanctuary Hospice is a proud partner of We Honor Veterans, an organization that provides resources and training to hospice providers to ensure veterans receive dignified and respectful care at end of life.
• National Alliance for Care at Home (NACH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanctuary Hospice partners with the National Alliance for Care at Home (formerly NAHC), the largest trade organization representing hospice and home care providers in the United States.
• Accreditation Commission for Health Care (AC HC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanctuary Hospice holds accreditation from AC HC, demonstrating commitment to quality standards and compliance with healthcare regulations.
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanctuary Hospice maintains accreditation through ANCC, which provides credentialing programs that recognize healthcare organizations for quality nursing care.
• Journey Health FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Journey Health Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that supports Sanctuary Hospice patients and families through programs including Last Wishes, Groceries and Utilities Bills for Families in Need, and Public Education. All donations are 100% tax deductible.
• OptumcoreTechnology or IntegrationOptum is Sanctuary's pharmacy provider - the nation's largest hospice provider of comprehensive hospice pharmacy services. They provide 24/7 pharmacist access for pain and symptom management consults, educational resources, and oversight of medication profiles including drug interaction checking.
• Arbor Day FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanctuary works with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees in memory of patients in American National Forests. Trees provide environmental legacy, beautifying surroundings, providing oxygen, cleansing groundwater, stabilizing soil, reducing pollution, and protecting wildlife.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Gentiva: One of the largest U.S. hospice and home health providers with national scale and recent PE sponsorship (Clayton, Dubilier & Rice). Direct comparable as a multi-state hospice operator serving patients in home, nursing facility, and assisted living settings - the same core delivery model Sanctuary executes in Illinois and Ohio.
• Compassus: Large national hospice, home health, and palliative care provider with both home-based and facility-based hospice delivery. Highly comparable given similar interdisciplinary care team model, payer mix centered on Medicare Hospice Benefit, and multi-state office footprint.
• VITAS Healthcare: Largest U.S. hospice provider and a subsidiary of Chemed Corporation. Operates home hospice programs across many states including Illinois and Ohio, making it a direct geographic and operational competitor to Sanctuary in the same end-of-life care category.
• Amedisys: Major home health and hospice operator (acquired by UnitedHealth/Optum) providing hospice services across the U.S. Competes with Sanctuary for referrals from the same physician, hospital, and SNF channels, with significantly greater scale and payor integration.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Public home and community-based health services platform with hospice, home health, and pharmacy offerings. Comparable as a multi-state hospice operator with similar patient population and payer mix, though at significantly larger scale than Sanctuary.

Direct peers

• Traditions Health: PE-backed (Centerbridge) hospice and home health provider operating across multiple states with a regional multi-office structure highly analogous to Sanctuary's 9-office Midwest platform. Direct comparable in scale, payer mix, and home-based delivery model.
• Bristol Hospice: Privately held multi-state hospice operator with a regional office structure and home-based delivery model closely aligned to Sanctuary. Direct comparable in patient population, payer mix, and facility/SNF partnerships.
• St. Croix Hospice: Privately held regional hospice provider operating in the upper Midwest with a multi-office home hospice model directly comparable to Sanctuary's geographic and operational footprint. Similar payer mix and patient population.
• Interim HealthCare: Franchised home health and hospice provider with offices across the U.S. including Illinois and Ohio. Directly competes with Sanctuary for physician referrals and home hospice patients in the same geographies, with a comparable interdisciplinary team care model.

Regional players

• Heartland Hospice (ProMedica): Part of the ProMedica health system, providing hospice services across multiple states including Illinois and Ohio. Comparable as a hospice provider with similar patient population, although system-affiliated rather than independent like Sanctuary.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hospiceil
• Facebookfacebook.com/SanctuaryHospiceIL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sanctuary-hospice-illinois

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sanctuary Hospice