When is the right time for hospice care?

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1 Pathways Hospice Providing expert medical and comfort care for individuals navigating the last months of life and support for families, caregivers and those mourning the loss of a loved one

2 Pathways Hospice When facing the challenges of serious illness during the last months of life or grieving the loss of a loved one, having help from someone who understands, is knowledgeable and experienced can make all the difference. We at Pathways Hospice are here to help, providing expert medical and comfort care, extensive resources, and support for family members and caregivers, to allow the people in our care to live each moment as fully and comfortably as possible. We tailor our services to the needs and wishes of the individual and family. In 2008 we changed our name to Pathways Hospice from Hospice of Larimer County. We are the same local organization with the same commitment to excellence, but with a new name to better reflect our breadth of services and growing service area, which now includes Western Weld County. What is Hospice? Hospice is not a place or an organization; it is a philosophy and a defining model for compassionate medical and comfort care for people in their last months of life and support for their families, friends and caregivers. Hospice care focuses on comfort, dignity and symptom management, when cure is not possible, and provides physical, emotional and spiritual care based on the unique needs and preferences of each person. When is the right time for hospice care? Pathways Hospice focuses on improving quality of life toward the later stages of an advanced illness, not just the final days or weeks. Many families wish they had investigated hospice care months earlier, to benefit longer from emotional, medical, spiritual and care-giving assistance. Check with your physician or call us for more information on when is the right time to pursue hospice care.

3 How can we help? Our experienced care teams and Medical Directors, Board Certified in Hospice & Palliative Medicine, work with your physician to provide specialized comprehensive care: Expert medical care and symptom management On-call 24/7 assistance for families and medical professionals Medical equipment, supplies and medications related to the life-threatening diagnosis Personal care to support the activities of daily living Emotional and spiritual support tailored to each patient s and family s needs and wishes Connections to social service resources for assistance with financial, transportation, legal and other issues Art, music and other therapies as needed Caregiver support and counseling for family and friends Trained volunteer assistance, including companionship, pet care and respite for caregivers

4 Where is hospice care provided? Pathways Hospice provides care both in patients or caregivers homes and in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care facilities. When people require care for acute symptoms that cannot be managed elsewhere, we also offer inpatient care through the Pathways Hospice Care Center at McKee Medical Center in Loveland. Who provides care? Working closely with a patient s personal physician, our experienced staff provides the most comprehensive hospice care available. Our care teams include: Medical Directors Nurses Certified Nurse Aides Counselors and Social Workers Chaplains Music Therapists Trained Volunteers We take a primary role in providing hospice care, and we support other medical professionals and care facilities, offering specialized knowledge, on-call assistance and complementary services such as music therapy or caregiver respite. Who pays for hospice care? Most private insurance plans cover hospice care expenses related to the terminal diagnosis, as do Medicare and Medicaid. Funds gifted to Pathways Hospice by individuals, businesses and foundations enable every person in need to receive excellent medical and comfort care in the last months of life, regardless of insurance or financial status.

5 How do I learn more? For more information about our services, please call our main number, , us at info@pathways-care.org, or call our admissions and referrals office directly, Our website, includes a calendar of events and support groups, downloadable brochures, information on grief, loss and caregiving, and links to additional resources. Our library loans, at no cost, books, audio and video resources and other materials related to end-of-life care and grief support.

6 Why choose Pathways Hospice? If you or a loved one has an advanced illness, choosing the best hospice provider is a very important decision. Engaging the right people and resources can make all the difference during this difficult time. We believe these factors differentiate the excellent care provided by Pathways Hospice: Providing exceptional end-of-life care since 1978 to over 10,000 Northern Colorado residents Medical Directors, Board Certified in Hospice & Palliative Medicine, actively involved in directing patient care A comprehensive continuum of care, from in-home or nursing facility care to management of acute symptoms at our in-patient care center One of the leading grief support programs in the nation offering a broad range of services for adults, children and families Extensive working relationships with local physicians, nursing facilities and hospitals Complementary services such as art and music therapy Compassionate care provided by a team of over 130 professionals Extensive volunteer support enabling families and patients to receive respite care, companionship and household assistance Hospice care provided as a not-for-profit service to the community

7 Community support Donations Financial contributions from our donors enable us to provide much-needed hospice care and grief support to an everincreasing number of people in our community. Please consider contributing through memorial donations, estate plans, bequests, retirement plans, charitable gift annuities, trusts, life insurance and other deferred or planned giving options. Memorial donations can be made on-line, by phone, by mail or in person at our main office. Please call to arrange for planned giving. Volunteer your time and talents Truly at the heart of Pathways Hospice care, volunteers provide support to patients, families and Pathways Hospice staff. Over 200 volunteers work in almost every department of Pathways Hospice, providing patient companionship, event planning, office assistance, photography and many other services. Contact the Volunteer Services office for more information: or

8 Contact us Admissions & Referrals: Fort Collins/Loveland 305 Carpenter Road, Fort Collins, CO T: F: Windsor 1580 Main Street, Suite 2, Windsor, CO T: F: Pathways Hospice Care Center at McKee Medical Center 2000 N. Boise, 3rd Floor, Loveland, CO T: F: