Pathways Rolls Out Unique Family-friendly, Home-like Hospice Care at ManorCare

Ribbon cutting ceremony at ManorCare

SUNNYVALE, Calif.–Sunnyvale-based Pathways today announced it started delivering family-friendly, home-like hospice care in the quiet Williamsburg wing of ManorCare Health Services – Sunnyvale, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center. The new Pathways Hospice at ManorCare serves an unmet need in the care continuum and represents collaboration between Pathways, El Camino Hospital, and ManorCare, three leading, like-minded health care providers known for innovative, quality care. Pathways Hospice at ManorCare was developed to fill the gap that exists for hospice patients between acute care provided in hospitals and care at home.

Pathways Hospice at ManorCare is a new option for patients who need a transition in care and have serious symptoms that require stabilization. The dedicated area provides traditional nursing care and specialized hospice care in a setting tailored to the needs of patients and their loved ones. A private room is accessed through a separate entrance, and features home-like comforts, including leather recliners, electric candles, a sound system, flowers, lavender aromatherapy, a flat screen TV, books, and other items aimed to soothe, comfort and occupy patients and their families.

“We want our patients and their families to make the most of the time they have together and enable our patients to enjoy the best quality of life they can with comfort, compassion, and dignity,” said Pathways CEO Barbara Burgess. “Pathways Hospice at ManorCare is an environment that offers a high-level of specialized care when a patient’s symptoms are not stable, helping greatly reduce the stress on the patient, their family, and other caregivers. We encourage families to personalize the setting even more by bringing personal effects, including pictures, quilts, mementos, and other items that make them feel at home. It won’t be long before this becomes a benchmark and model for those who must deliver intense hospice care.”

“In order to provide patient-centered care, sometimes the best choice is neither the hospital nor the home for patients whose symptoms are not easily controlled—and until now those have been the only two choices at case managers’ disposal. Pathways Hospice at ManorCare is a win-win for patients, families, and caregivers, providing an intermediary option between home and hospital that was previously missing. There, symptoms can be stabilized and families comforted, involved and integrated into the care while they secure long-term plans,” said El Camino Hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer Cheryl Reinking.

In preparation for the opening, Pathways provided specialized hospice training to all ManorCare nurses and aides who will work with the patients at Pathways Hospice at ManorCare. Pathways Hospice nurses and pharmacists taught a comprehensive set of classes that included pain management, instruction on medications commonly used in hospice care, and nutrition for seriously ill patients.

Pathways Hospice at ManorCare is appropriate for patients experiencing uncontrolled pain or other symptoms that need ongoing medical management. When symptoms are successfully stabilized, patients may either go home or elect to stay at ManorCare for ongoing hospice care.

About Pathways Home Health & Hospice

Non-profit, community-based Pathways has been a pioneer in home health, hospice and palliative care since 1977 and has offices in Sunnyvale, South San Francisco, and Oakland. Pathways serves over 5000 families annually in five Bay Area counties ensuring patients receive the highest quality of patient and family-centered care, with kindness and respect, comfort, independence and dignity. Pathways can care for patients at home, or in a hospital, nursing home or assisted living facility.

Affiliated with El Camino Hospital and Sequoia Hospital since 1986, Pathways is accredited by The ACHC and is a member of the Visiting Nurses Association of America, California Hospice & Palliative Care Association, and the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization. Pathways was a 2015 recipient of the Pilot Pioneer Award by Aging2.0, a worldwide “start-up accelerator” with a mission to fast-track innovations for improving the lives of older people, at their Global Innovation Summit.

For more information about Pathways, call 1-888-755-7855 or visit www.pathwayshealth.org.