Celebrating 25 Years
Pathways Hospice & Palliative Care was cofounded by Yvonne Schwandt, RN, BSN, in 1996. Yvonne brought thirteen years of hospice experience to her vision of a hospice designed to offer every kind of comfort-based care possible to patients and their families. Surrounding herself with like-minded hospice nurses, aides, chaplains, social workers and volunteers, Yvonne assembled and grew a team that believed deeply in her philosophy that the time of birth and the time of death - the coming into and leaving this world - are the most sacred and memorable events in our lives, and in the lives of our loved ones.
As Yvonne continues to tell our staff and volunteers...
Our patients and their families have entrusted us with keeping that space - and those moments - sacred. Therefore, we must provide the very best care possible, every single day.
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- Yvonne Schwandt, Co-Founder
Pathways Community Hospice opened its doors to the St. Louis area with a mission to provide comfort to patients who were suffering with serious illness, and to attend to their loved ones' needs with support and education. In 1998, we continued and expanded upon this mission by joining the Delmar Gardens family.
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The word spread quickly when family members shared with others their positive experiences of Pathways' dedication to end-of-life comfort and the focus every staff member placed on maintaining quality of life.
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In 2008, a new community-based palliative care program was added. Pathways Palliative Care is a nurse practitioner-based service which provides comfort to individuals who face chronic and/or life limiting illness but are not ready or do not choose hospice care.
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For over 25 years, Pathways Hospice & Palliative Care's reputation has been built on testimonials and referrals from families whose loved ones we are privileged to care for as they traverse and complete their life journeys. Yvonne's passion continues to guide us as we honor the sacredness that defines end-of-life by providing the highest possible levels of comfort and care each and every day.