Pathways Hospice, Community Care for Northern Colorado
Support Through Life’s Journey
For kids who are often limited by
their illness or disability, coming to
the PH Counseling Center for support
is a chance for them to leave that
limitation at the door and participate
in music, art or play therapy.
Mary Koopman is a Music Therapist
for PH who provides therapy for
children receiving services through
the state-sponsored program. “Music
therapy for kids, sick or not, provides
them an opportunity to learn and
reach developmental goals without
even knowing they’re doing it,” says
Mary. “From their perspective it’s a
time that’s just for them, that has
nothing to do with nursing needs,
when they can have fun.” According
to Amanda Hillman, a PH Grief and
Art Therapy Counselor, “Art therapy
gives the children and teens an
opportunity to excel in something.
In art therapy, the combination of
stimulating art materials and the
freedom for creative exploration
supports building an identity
separate from their illness.”
In both our art studio and children’s
counseling room, children and teens
can choose which materials they use
for self-expression. For someone who
may be reliant on others for many of
their daily activities, coming to PH
offers a period of time when they can
experience a sense of independence
and direct their activities themselves.
Another way that the counseling
component of this program enhances
quality of life is by broadening the
available support system and giving
children and teens a place to explore
and express their feelings. One
mother described the benefits of the
program, saying that it has helped
her child be more open to other
activities and trying new things. We
are honored to add to the quality
of life of children and families who
are navigating such challenging
circumstances.
The other extra services being offered
by PH include palliative consultations
for individuals of all ages. These
Photo by Ray Coleman, Durango, CO
Pathways Hospice Calendar Photo Contest Winner, January, 2013
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consultations are available through
physician referral for those living at
home or in a residential care home
who would benefit from pain and
symptom management and emotional
support as they face the effects of
serious illness. This program is also
available to current hospice patients
whose condition improves and who
are no longer qualified for hospice
care, but would still benefit from the
guidance of experts in palliative care.
Kaiser Permanente is now providing
service in northern Colorado and
PH has been chosen as a preferred
provider for Kaiser hospice patients
and Kaiser Special Services. The
Special Services program is a pilot
program, offered only in Colorado,
which provides consultative, shortterm interventions related to endof-life issues. “This way we’re more
able to care for patients who aren’t
eligible for hospice care through
counseling and pain and symptom
management,” states Kelly Mincinski.
PH can provide medical support,
quality of life enhancements, and
spiritual and emotional comfort for
the patient and family members.
We will continue to develop
additional services as needed in
order to address the challenges faced
by members of our community with
long term illnesses. As those needs
evolve we will find appropriate ways
to expand this array of services. As
always, our goal is to support and
care for those who will benefit from
the compassion and knowledge of the
Pathways Hospice staff.