Understanding Hospice
For over 25 years, Pathways Hospice & Palliative Care has been enhancing the lives of patients and their loved ones by combining the most advanced medical care with a focus on compassion and comfort. Our holistic approach to care makes it possible to live in comfort during one's final weeks or months when a cure is no longer an option. Throughout this important time, a team of caring hospice professionals combines expert pain and symptom management with equal amounts of emotional support, to improve quality of life and provide comfort to all involved. Our team develops a customized plan of care with participation from the patient and loved ones to focus on comfort of mind, body and spirit.
Hospice Care is about Living...
Pathways' hospice care is about living in comfort
Hospice Care is provided wherever you call home
We offer our hospice services at whatever location you call home, which may be a private residence, a senior or assisted living community or a long-term care facility. Regardless of the setting, we continuously coordinate care with you, your family and loved ones, and all healthcare providers involved in your care.
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We offer different levels of care
Hospice provides four levels of care, depending on each patient's needs. These levels of care may be provided in different settings to help our patients with their goals at different points along their hospice journey. Level of care is determined based on your specific need and clinical eligibility, and our hospice care team continues to manage your hospice care regardless of level or place of care.
​Care Levels
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Routine hospice care is provided most often and is delivered in the comfort of your home, whatever setting that may be. Our hospice care team will make regular visits to determine your needs and provide care and support which includes treatments, education regarding specific care and what to expect, personal care, medical equipment, and medications and supplies related to your hospice diagnosis.
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Special circumstances may require a higher level of hospice care for a short period of time:
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Respite care is provided in a long-term care facility, if needed, to offer temporary relief for the primary caregiver.
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Inpatient hospice care is provided in the hospital or skilled nursing facility if pain and symptoms become more challenging. Once symptoms have decreased the patient can return home.
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Continuous crisis care is provided in the home setting for brief periods when continuous skilled nursing care is needed to control pain and symptoms that are difficult to manage.​
We're available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week
Our on-call staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer questions and make visits as needed. We are just a phone call away.
Our Team
Our dedicated and specially trained team of professionals will work with you, your family and physician to develop an individualized plan of care to support your unique needs and goals.
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You and your family remain at the center of our care.
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We work with your physician of choice.
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Our Hospice Medical Director oversees all of our patient care and is available to assume the role of your primary physician if desired.
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Registered nurses plan and provide care, coordinating communication with other members of your team.
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Certified Nurse Aides provide hands-on personal care and hygiene.
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Social Workers provide emotional support, counseling and assistance linking to community resources.
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Chaplains provide spiritual and emotional support, life review and connection with your family's own religious or spiritual practices.
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Trained volunteers offer presence and companionship, run errands, provide assistance with light household tasks or help with hobbies.
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Grief Specialists walk with you through your grief journey by providing one-on-one or group support, and written resources.
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Occupational, Speech or Physical Therapies, if needed, provide additional comfort care.
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Integrative Therapies, such as Massage Therapy and/or Healing Touch, for comfort are also available.
The right time for Hospice
A common misperception is that hospice helps only in the last few days of life, but we can help much earlier. When hospice care begins sooner, our team can help patients and loved ones come to terms with a diagnosis, get affairs in order, spend time reminiscing, and focus on living. But knowing when it's time for hospice care can be difficult. When quality of life has declined and symptoms may be escalating, and/or you have been diagnosed with a life limiting illness and cure is no longer the goal, it's appropriate to discuss hospice with your physician or call Pathways. We will work with you and your physician to determine eligibility at any time during your journey, but we encourage patients and families to call us any time. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have or arrange a visit for an evaluation.
I wish we had known about Pathways Hospice sooner.
Payment for Hospice
All of our services, medications and equipment are typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. We work closely with you and your insurance provider to determine if there may be potential out-of-pocket costs for unrelated items or services.