Defining Palliative Care

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Living with a serious illness is challenging. Pathways Community Palliative Care provides education and support to help you and your family navigate these challenges to reduce stress and improve quality of life. Pathways participants actively learn more about their choices and ways to manage the issues that advanced illness sometimes brings.

Palliative Care is uniquely different from hospice and is a natural extension of our mission. It is

appropriate at any age and can be provided while seeking curative treatment.

 Individuals with any serious illness may benefit from Palliative Care. For example, conditions may include Heart Disease, Lung Disease, Neurologic Conditions, Dementia and Cancer. 

Common indications that a person may benefit from Palliative Care include complex care requirements, a decline in function, unintended weight loss, infections, emergency department visits and hospital admission.

 Pathways Community Palliative Care is an outreach of Hospice of Midland,

provided at no cost to the patient or family.

Our staff bring a high level of experience and expertise in community-based healthcare. We work in collaboration with your healthcare team, and medical care continues to be directed by your physician.

Our team of Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses and Spiritual Care Counselors are specially trained to empower you to make informed decisions. We work in collaboration with your healthcare team, and medical care continues to be directed by your physician. 

Together we will tailor a plan that best fits your wishes and needs, and may include:

• Guidance about managing your health at home
• Assistance with coordination of care between family members and healthcare providers
• Communication by phone, telehealth or in person at the patient’s home, facility, or another agree-upon location, depending on the patient and family preference
• Social, emotional and spiritual support
• Providing an avenue to reconnect or strengthen your spiritual beliefs
• Connections to community and caregiving resources
• Assistance with Advanced Planning. This may include Directive to the Physician (Living Will), Medical Power of Attorney, Do Not Resuscitate Orders and Organ Donation
• Discussions about anticipatory grief as well as interpersonal struggles
• Creation of a life story that you can share and plan to leave for future generations