VNA Hospice NWI Reopens Inpatient Unit, Continuing a Legacy of Compassionate Care

For families caring for a loved one at the end of life, access to compassionate, specialized care can make all the difference. On Thursday, November 5, VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana celebrated the reopening of its inpatient hospice unit in Valparaiso, welcoming community members, staff, and supporters to tour the refreshed space.

The six-bed unit at the Arthur B. and Ethel V. Horton Hospice Center provides around-the-clock care for patients whose symptoms cannot be comfortably managed at home. The center offers a peaceful, home-like setting where patients receive specialized care while families focus on spending meaningful time together.

Improvements include fresh paint, updated décor, and landscaping designed to create a more welcoming environment. But according to Holly Doherty, site administrator for VNA Hospice, the heart of the facility has always been its caregivers.

“Our staff is truly what makes this place special,” Doherty said. “They connect with families and go above and beyond to make sure patients are comfortable and loved ones feel supported.”

For more than five decades, VNA Hospice has served Northwest Indiana families through some of life’s most challenging moments. The Horton Hospice Center, which opened in 2002, is one of only seven dedicated inpatient hospice facilities in Indiana, making it an important resource for the region.

The reopening comes as VNA Hospice celebrates another significant achievement: earning a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), placing it among just 417 hospice providers nationwide to receive the highest rating.

“We’re really proud of that five-star rating because it comes from the families we’ve cared for,” said Maria Galka, director of development for VNA Hospice NWI. “It says a lot about our staff and how much they care about the people who come through our doors.”

Galka also emphasized the importance of having an inpatient hospice center close to home.

“Most people don’t think about needing a place like this until someone they love needs it,” Galka said. “And when that time comes, it means so much to have somewhere close to home where you know they’ll be well cared for.”

The reopening follows VNA Hospice’s recent strategic affiliation with Center for Hospice Care, a fellow nonprofit hospice organization based in Mishawaka. The affiliation is intended to strengthen services and preserve access to nonprofit hospice care throughout Northwest Indiana.

“We’ve been part of this community for a long time, and we want to be here for generations to come,” Galka said. “Our affiliation with Center for Hospice Care helps us do that. We’re still committed to the same mission, and the support we receive from our community will continue to help people right here at home.”

Beyond inpatient and at-home hospice care, VNA Hospice provides palliative care for individuals living with serious illness, grief support for children and adults, and other services that help families navigate changing healthcare needs. As a nonprofit, the organization relies on charitable contributions to help support care and services not fully covered by reimbursement.

The open house gave visitors an opportunity to meet the care team, explore the updated facility, and better understand hospice’s role in helping patients live as comfortably and fully as possible.

With the inpatient unit once again welcoming patients, VNA Hospice continues its mission of “Making Best Days Possible,” providing compassionate care that allows families to focus on what matters most: being together.

VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana serves Lake, Porter, La Porte, Jasper, Newton, and Starke counties. For more information, visit www.vnanwi.org.