UNITY HOSPICE OF NORTHWEST INDIANA LLC
Provider Information
- Address
- 3313 EAST 83RD PLACE
MERRILLVILLE, IN 46410 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- November 13, 2003
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CMS Quality Ratings
Composite score combining quality measures and patient survey results.
Based on the CMS Hospice Care Index — 10 operational quality indicators including visits near death, nursing minutes, and care transitions.
CAHPS Hospice Survey — family caregivers rate communication, symptom management, respect, and overall experience.
CMS scores as of May 2026. Quality of Care derived from CMS Hospice Care Index. Patient Satisfaction from the CMS CAHPS Hospice Survey. Overall is the equally-weighted average of both. All source data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Staffing & Capacity
| Role | Staff Count |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses (RN) | 8 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 2 |
| Physicians | 2 |
19
Total Employees
Staffing data as reported to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Inpatient Care and Medical Equipment
Hospices report these services to Medicare when they are certified. This is what UNITY HOSPICE OF NORTHWEST INDIANA LLC reported, not a check of what it offers today. Confirm current arrangements with the hospice.
- Short-term inpatient care
- Arranged through another hospital or nursing home
- Type of inpatient care
- Respite care (up to five days at a time, to give family caregivers a break)
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Brought in through an outside supplier
Short stays in a hospice inpatient unit, hospital, or nursing home for pain or symptoms that cannot be managed where the patient lives, or to give family caregivers a break.
Equipment and supplies tied to the terminal illness and the plan of care, such as a hospital bed, oxygen, wound supplies, or a wheelchair.
Medicare lets hospices provide these services through arrangements with other organizations. Either way, the hospice stays responsible for the covered care in the patient’s plan of care.
Reported by this hospice to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services when it was certified in 2020.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how UNITY HOSPICE OF NORTHWEST INDIANA LLC compares to hospices nationwide.
12.2 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 50th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
64
patients in care on an average day
A rough measure of size. Smaller can mean more personal. Larger can mean more resources.
How this hospice compares nationally
Bars show national standing on measures from the CMS Hospice Care Index. A fuller bar means this hospice does better than more of the hospices CMS tracks.
- Nurse care minutes per home care day12.2 min
Ranks better than about 50% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The average minutes of nursing care per day for patients getting routine care at home, based on Medicare claims. More nurse time usually means more hands-on support.
- Skilled nursing on weekends5.4%
Ranks better than about 19% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of skilled nursing time delivered on Saturdays and Sundays. Symptoms do not wait for weekdays, so weekend coverage matters.
- Nurse visits in the last days of life91.5%
Ranks better than about 38% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who got nurse visits in their final days of life. This is when families tend to need the most support.
- Gaps in nursing visits44.7%
Ranks better than about 61% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
How often patients went more than a week without a nursing visit. Fewer gaps mean steadier attention.
- Patients discharged alive early in care14.5%
Ranks better than about 10% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice alive within the first week of care. A rate of 0% means it did not happen to any of their patients.
- Patients discharged alive after 6 months25.8%
Ranks better than about 78% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients discharged alive after six months or more in hospice care.
- Hospital transfers near the end of care6.5%
Ranks better than about 54% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice, spent time in the hospital, then came back to hospice.
- Hospital stays that interrupt hospice4.8%
Ranks better than about 12% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice, went to the hospital, and died there soon after.
- Days at higher levels of care (CHC or GIP)90th percentile
What this measures
The share of care days delivered at higher levels, such as continuous home care or inpatient care. Shown only as a national rank because small percentages round to zero.
- Medicare spending per patient$9,220 · 8th percentile
What this measures
What Medicare paid per patient for this hospice's care. Higher or lower spending is not a quality judgment by itself.
Care steps completed at admissionShow detailsMedicare tracked 9 required care steps for new patients here, completed for 52% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening99.3%
- Pain assessment98.2%
- Breathing difficulty screening99.3%
- Breathing difficulty treatment99%
- Treatment preferences discussed99.3%
- Beliefs and values discussed99.1%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids100%
- Visits in the last days of life52%
- All care steps completed96.9%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer33%
- Dementia14%
- Heart and circulatory disease13%
- Lung and respiratory disease19%
- Stroke5%
- Other conditions18%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Unity Hospice of Northwest Indiana
Unity Hospice of Northwest Indiana LLC provides end-of-life care for families in Merrillville, Indiana. Located at 3313 East 83rd Place, this provider offers comfort-focused services to those in Lake County. They have served the community since becoming Medicare certified in 2003. Getting the right care at the right time changes everything for a family. This provider works to support patients through the challenges of a serious illness. They focus on keeping patients comfortable in their own homes or care settings. Choosing a hospice team is a deeply personal decision. It requires looking at both the care quality and how the team interacts with your loved ones. This team has been a part of the local healthcare landscape for over two decades. They bring years of experience to every home visit they perform.
About Unity Hospice of Northwest Indiana LLC
Unity Hospice operates as a for-profit hospice provider in Merrillville. They have held their Medicare certification since November 13, 2003. That is a long history of service to the people of Northwest Indiana. When you look for a hospice, you want to know about their track record. This provider holds an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from federal data. That is a strong score that reflects their dedication to the families they serve. Their quality of care rating is also 4.5 out of 5 stars. The thing is, numbers only tell part of the story. You should always talk to the staff to see if they feel like a good fit for your family. They manage pain and symptoms while providing emotional support for everyone involved. It is about helping you spend quality time together during a very difficult season of life.
Quality Performance Snapshot
Understanding Hospice Care in Merrillville
Hospice care in Lake County is designed to help patients live their final months to the fullest. It is not just about medical care. It is about dignity, peace, and spending time with the people you love. Most hospice care happens right where the patient lives. This could be a private home, an assisted living center, or a nursing home. The team usually includes a doctor, a nurse, a social worker, and a chaplain. They work together to create a plan that fits the patient's specific needs. But hospice is not just for the patient. It provides support for the whole family as well. This includes help with the emotional toll of saying goodbye. Many families in Merrillville find that this support makes a world of difference. It allows them to focus on being family members instead of caregivers. That shift in focus can bring a lot of peace to a very hard situation.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Choosing a partner for end-of-life care can feel overwhelming. Here are some simple questions to help you get the clarity you need. First, ask how quickly a nurse can get to your home if an urgent need arises at night. You need to know that help is available 24/7. Second, ask what their plan is for managing pain and other difficult symptoms. A good provider will have a clear, proactive approach to keeping your loved one comfortable. Third, ask how they help families with the emotional or spiritual side of this journey. Do they have volunteers or social workers available to talk? And finally, ask how they coordinate with the patient’s regular doctor. You want a team that works together to keep everyone on the same page. Do not be afraid to ask these questions. You deserve to feel confident in the team you choose to help your family.
Preserve Your Family's Story
Your loved one has a lifetime of wisdom and memories. We can help you capture those stories so they are never forgotten.
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