What Stillwater Hospice does

Stillwater Hospice (legal entity Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home Inc., EIN 35-1687026) is a 501(c)(3) community-based nonprofit hospice, palliative, and grief support provider headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, founded in 1888 as the Ladies' Relief Union. The organization serves more than 3,000 patients and family members annually across a 5,000-square mile region covering 13 counties in northeast Indiana, with regional offices in Marion, Warsaw, and Berne, and a workforce of 101-250 employees supported by 150+ active volunteers.

The service portfolio centers on four integrated lines: hospice care delivered in patient homes, assisted living communities, and nursing facilities; a 14-bed free-standing inpatient hospice unit (Hospice Home) that is the only facility of its kind in northeast Indiana and has served over 10,000 patients since 2001; palliative care consultations offered at four clinic sites and area hospitals (1,500+ patients in 2022); and chronic disease management. The Peggy F. Murphy Community Grief Center provides individual counseling, support groups, and complementary programming (yoga, art therapy, drum circles, grief camps) free to any community adult regardless of prior hospice involvement. Specialty programs include We Honor Veterans veteran-to-volunteer matching and dementia care. The organization is CHAP-accredited, HIPAA-compliant, and was the third agency in Indiana to receive Medicare Hospice Benefit certification (1984).

Revenue is generated primarily through Medicare Hospice Benefit per diem reimbursements (daily rates covering all services, equipment, and medications related to the terminal diagnosis), supplemented by Medicaid and private insurance reimbursements and a diversified fundraising program (Josephine's Society planned giving, Ambassadors of Compassion monthly giving, memorial gifts, the Water Lily Women's Luncheon, and the Holiday Memorial Service). The go-to-market motion is sales-led via physician and hospital discharge-planner referrals into a 24/7 nursing and patient referral line, layered with a community-led model that uses free grief programming and long-standing partnerships with social service organizations (United Way, Brightpoint, Cancer Services of NE Indiana, Aging & In-Home Services) to build regional trust. In March 2023, Stillwater Hospice merged with Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice, expanding the service territory and combining 180+ years of regional care experience.

Name

Stillwater Hospice

Legal name

Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home Inc.

Website

https://stillwater-hospice.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Stillwater Hospice is a Fort Wayne-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing hospice, palliative, chronic disease management, and grief support services to more than 3,000 patients and families annually across 13 counties in northeast Indiana, operating the region's only free-standing inpatient hospice unit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospice and Palliative Care Services

NAICS

Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (62311), Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (6219), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Inpatient Hospice (General Inpatient Care) (HLADAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

In-Home Hospice Nursing Visits (RN/LPN) (HSABAFAL), In-Home Hospice Physician / Nurse Practitioner Visits (HSABAFAM), Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Family Aftercare) (HSABAFAI), Hospice Care in Assisted Living / Residential Care Facilities (HLADAHAE), Hospice Care in Nursing Facilities (SNF/NH Hospice) (HLADAHAD), Hospice & Palliative Respite Care (HSABAGAG), Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked) (HLAFAEAO)

Keywords

• Hospice care services
• Palliative care
• Community grief support
• Chronic disease management
• Home health hospice

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medicare Hospice Benefit: The primary revenue stream is the Medicare Hospice Benefit, which provides comprehensive coverage for hospice services under Medicare Part A for eligible terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of six months or less. Medicare reimburses through a daily per diem rate covering all services, equipment, and medications.
2. Medicaid and Private Insurance: Hospice care is covered by Medicaid, Medicare, and most private insurance plans. Revenue is generated through insurance reimbursements for covered hospice services.
3. Donor Contributions and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Stillwater Hospice relies on donations from individuals, families, and the community to support their mission. They have endowment funds, planned giving programs (Josephine's Society), memorial gifts, and corporate sponsorships.
4. Hospice Home Respite Care: Medicare covers respite care stays at Hospice Home for up to five consecutive days, providing temporary relief for family caregivers. Commercial insurance may also cover some respite stays.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Stillwater Hospice delivers hospice care, palliative care, chronic disease management, and bereavement/grief support to terminally ill patients and their families across northeast Indiana. Services are provided in patient homes, nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and the dedicated Hospice Home inpatient facility, with 24/7 nurse access, pain and symptom management, respite care, and free community grief counseling.

Product overview

Stillwater Hospice is a community-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of hospice, palliative, and grief support services. The core offerings include Hospice Care (home-based and facility-based), Hospice Home (a 14-bed free-standing inpatient hospice unit), Palliative Care (with multiple clinic locations), and Chronic Disease Management. The organization operates the Peggy F. Murphy Community Grief Center, which provides individual counseling, support groups, and complementary grief programming including yoga, Tai Chi, and art therapy. Additional services include specialty programs for dementia and veteran patients, a volunteer program with over 150 active volunteers, and fundraising events such as the Water Lily Women's Luncheon and Holiday Memorial Service. In March 2023, Stillwater Hospice combined with Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice, expanding services to 12 counties in northern Indiana.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Peggy F. Murphy Community Grief Center: A grief support center providing individual grief counseling, support groups, and education to adults who have experienced the loss of a loved one, regardless of whether they previously received hospice services.
• Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice

Products and services

• Hospice Care Compassionate, patient-focused hospice care for terminally ill patients (typically with life expectancy of six months or less) and their families. Includes pain and symptom management, 24/7 nurse access, emotional and spiritual support, medical equipment, supplies, personal care, counseling, and respite care delivered in patient homes, nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and the Hospice Home inpatient unit.
• Hospice Home A 14-bed free-standing inpatient hospice facility in southwest Fort Wayne providing around-the-clock care for patients requiring inpatient symptom management or respite stays. Medicare covers respite care stays of up to five consecutive days. Since opening in 2001, it has served over 10,000 patients ranging from infancy to age 104.
• Palliative Care Specialized medical care for people living with serious illness, providing relief from symptoms and stress while patients continue curative treatment. Includes consultations at four sites across northeast Indiana and in area hospitals, with a Fort Wayne clinic on the Stillwater campus. Covered by Medicare and most insurance plans; more than 1,500 people received palliative care in 2022.
• Chronic Disease Management Specialized support services for individuals managing chronic or life-limiting illnesses such as cancer, COPD, stroke, Parkinson's, dementia, ALS, cardiac, lung, renal, or liver disease. Helps patients navigate treatment options and daily challenges while improving quality of life through symptom management, education on disease process, and goals-of-care determination.
• Peggy F. Murphy Community Grief Center A community resource center providing individual grief counseling, support groups, and grief programming for adults who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Services are free, available regardless of prior hospice involvement, and offered both in-person and via telehealth.
• Specialty Programs Specialized hospice care programs addressing specific patient populations, including dementia care and the Stillwater Salutes / We Honor Veterans veteran recognition program that pairs veteran patients with veteran volunteers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 3,000+ people annually across 13 counties in northeast Indiana
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative community partnership with AIHS, a social service organization serving seniors and persons with disabilities in northeast Indiana. AIHS provides resources and referrals for patients and families needing additional support services.
• Brightpoint (formerly CANI, Community Action of Northeast Indiana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership with Brightpoint, dedicated to removing causes and conditions of poverty in northeast Indiana. Provides social support resources for patients and families facing economic hardship.
• Cancer Services of Northeast IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative partnership providing resources, education, and support to individuals diagnosed with cancer, their families, and the community. Addresses the specific needs of oncology patients in hospice and palliative care.
• United Way of Allen CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with United Way of Allen County for community support services. United Way provides 2-1-1 referral hotline for housing, shelter, food, legal aid, clothing, education, counseling, utility assistance, healthcare, and transportation resources.
• Community Transportation Network (CTN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CTN to ease transportation burden for patients, helping people maintain life-sustaining and purposeful connections in the community. Addresses transportation barriers for hospice patients.
• We Honor Veterans ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud partner in the We Honor Veterans program, a national initiative helping hospice and palliative care teams understand and respond to unique veteran needs. Provides ongoing training in military culture, trauma-informed care, and veteran-specific care approaches.
• Kosciusko Home Care and HospicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCombined as one organization effective March 1, 2023. Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice was founded in 1976 by eight local nurses and added hospice services in 1982. This partnership ensures Kosciusko County residents continue to have local community members serving as hospice caregivers with nonprofit, community-based services.
• Compassionate Friends - Fort Wayne ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Compassionate Friends, a self-help organization supporting families after a child dies. Meets at First Presbyterian Church and Peggy F. Murphy Community Grief Center.
• Erin's House for Grieving ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partnership with Erin's House for Grieving Children, which provides support services for children, teens, and families who have suffered the death of a loved one. Provides resources for families needing child-specific grief support.
• Fort Wayne - Allen County Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local health department for community health initiatives, disease prevention, and public health coordination. Focuses on improving quality of life, preventing disease, protecting the environment, and preserving vital records.
• The League (formerly League for the Blind and Disabled)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The League, a center for independent living serving people with disabilities and communities in northeast Indiana. Provides resources for hospice patients with disabilities.
• St. Joseph Community Health FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with St. Joseph Community Health Foundation to strengthen, improve, and sustain long-term community health by improving physical, mental, and spiritual health of the poor and underserved in Allen County.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Compassus: A national hospice and palliative care provider operating across 30+ states with a comparable mix of home hospice, inpatient hospice, palliative care, and grief support — directly comparable in service breadth and referral-driven GTM motion.
• Heart to Heart Hospice: A multi-state hospice provider operating across the Midwest and southern U.S. with comparable home-based and inpatient hospice services, a volunteer-driven model, and similar reliance on Medicare per diem reimbursement — making it the closest direct comparable in scale and service mix.
• Visiting Nurse Association of Greater St. Louis: A nonprofit visiting nurse and hospice organization with a similar historical origin (community-based, founded in the late 1800s/early 1900s), comparable service mix spanning home health, hospice, and grief support, and a comparable regional nonprofit model.
• Visiting Nurse Health System (Atlanta): A nonprofit, community-based home health, hospice, and palliative care organization with an integrated grief program; structurally similar to Stillwater's nonprofit visiting-nurse-heritage model.

Broad incumbents

• LHC Group: A large national home health, hospice, and palliative care provider now part of Optum/UnitedHealth Group; offers Medicare-reimbursed hospice services through joint ventures with hospitals and competes for the same referral relationships in Indiana.
• Amedisys: One of the largest U.S. home health and hospice operators with hospice as a core service line; competes for hospital referrals and hospice staff in Indiana and comparable Midwestern markets, though it operates at much greater scale.
• Enhabit: A publicly traded home health and hospice operator with hospice as a meaningful segment; competes for hospice referrals in Indiana and surrounding Midwest states and offers comparable Medicare-reimbursed hospice services.
• VITAS Healthcare: The largest U.S. hospice provider, operating inpatient hospice units, home hospice, and palliative care across dozens of markets — a broad incumbent comparable on service-line breadth though materially larger than Stillwater.
• Gentiva: A national hospice and palliative care provider formed from the Kindred at Hospice spin-out; offers home hospice and inpatient hospice services and competes for the same physician and hospital referral relationships in Indiana-adjacent markets.

Others

• Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care: The statewide industry association representing home health, hospice, and palliative care providers in Indiana — not a competitor, but a relevant peer organization given Stillwater's statewide regulatory engagement and peer-network standing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StillwaterHosp
• Facebookfacebook.com/StillwaterHospiceIN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stillwaterhospicein

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

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 Stillwater Hospice