Pathways Inpatient Care Center: Delivering the Right Care at the Right Time
Hospice is designed to meet patients wherever they live and wherever they feel most comfortable. But serious illness is not always predictable. There are moments when symptoms escalate quickly, caregivers become overwhelmed, or families simply need additional support to continue providing care at home.
During those moments, the inpatient care center at Pathways becomes a vital resource for patients and families throughout Larimer and Weld counties.
Pathways is uniquely positioned in Northern Colorado as the only hospice provider able to support patients under hospice care within a dedicated inpatient setting — including short-term respite care and General Inpatient (GIP) care for acute symptom management. This flexibility allows patients to receive the right level of care at the right time while remaining connected to their hospice team and personal goals for comfort and quality of life.
Keeping Patients Comfortable and Out of the Hospital
Serious illness can change quickly. Pain, breathing distress, medication complications, or anxiety may become too complex to manage safely at home or in a residential setting. The inpatient care center offers hospital-level clinical care in a peaceful, hospice-focused environment designed for comfort, stabilization, and dignity.
Staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by hospice and palliative care specialists, the center is equipped to respond immediately to patient and family needs. This approach supports timely symptom management and often prevents emergency room visits or hospitalizations that may not align with a patient’s goals of care.
“The inpatient care center strengthens the continuum of care across Northern Colorado by providing a specialized option when patients need short-term, higher-acuity hospice support outside of the hospital setting,” says Dr. Nate Chappelle, Medical Director at Pathways. “It allows healthcare teams, caregivers, and families to work together to stabilize symptoms quickly, support transitions of care, and help patients return to the place they most want to be — wherever they define as home.”
Supporting the People Providing the Care
Hospice care relies heavily on the dedication of family members, partners, and friends who step into caregiving roles out of love. While meaningful, caregiving can also be physically demanding and emotionally exhausting.
The inpatient care center offers short-term respite care when available, providing caregivers a safe opportunity to rest, manage personal responsibilities, or simply recharge while their loved one receives expert hospice care. Supporting caregivers is not secondary to hospice care — it is essential to sustaining the care patients receive when they return home.
A Temporary Stay with a Clear Goal
One of the most common misconceptions about inpatient hospice care is the concern that patients are being moved permanently away from their homes or care communities. In reality, most inpatient stays are intentionally brief and focused on stabilizing symptoms or supporting caregiver needs during a difficult moment.
Once symptoms are controlled or families feel prepared to resume care, patients return to wherever “home” feels most meaningful to them — whether that is a private residence, assisted living community, or skilled nursing environment. The inpatient care center exists to support patients in achieving that goal, not replacing it.
Thoughtfully Designed to Support Patients and Families
Located between Fort Collins and Loveland, the Pathways Inpatient Care Center was intentionally designed to balance advanced medical care with warmth and comfort. The 12-bed facility serves patients from across Larimer and Weld counties and offers a space that feels welcoming, peaceful, and family-centered.
The building includes comfortable gathering areas where loved ones can share meals, family lounges that allow connection and rest, and quiet reflection spaces including a non-denominational chapel. Large windows, natural light, and garden views help create a calming environment during an emotionally complex time. Patient rooms are designed to accommodate multiple visitors and allow loved ones to stay overnight, helping ensure patients remain surrounded by those who matter most.
Strengthening the Northern Colorado Healthcare Community
Beyond supporting individual patients and families, the inpatient care center also plays an important role within the broader healthcare landscape throughout Northern Colorado. By offering rapid symptom stabilization, caregiver support, and short-term higher-acuity hospice care, the center helps hospitals, physicians, senior living communities, and home health providers ensure patients receive the right level of care without unnecessary hospitalizations.
This collaboration supports smoother transitions between care settings and expands access to specialized end-of-life expertise across Larimer and Weld counties. It allows healthcare partners to focus on their strengths while knowing patients have an additional layer of compassionate support available when care needs intensify.
A Community Resource Built on Compassion
For decades, Pathways has served Northern Colorado as a community-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting patients and families through hospice, palliative care, and grief services. The inpatient care center expands that commitment by offering a safety net when care needs temporarily exceed what can be managed at home.
End-of-life care is deeply personal and rarely predictable. Needs change. Families need support in different ways at different times. The inpatient care center exists to meet those changing needs with expertise, compassion, and respect — helping patients remain comfortable, helping caregivers remain supported, and helping families focus on what matters most.
To learn more about Pathways’ inpatient hospice services, visit:
https://pathways-care.org/inpatient-care-center/