Our Mission & History

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As a community-based 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization, Pathways has been in our community since 1985 providing compassionate care and services to those in need.  From frail and chronically ill older adults to hospice patients experiencing terminal illness, to children and families overwhelmed with grief, Pathways has always been a ray of hope in a sea of confusion, heartache, and healthcare red tape. 

 

Pathways’ mission is "to provide compassionate care to families living with illness and loss."  We achieve our mission through three core programs that comprise our "Circle of Care:” (1) Volunteer Caregiving for the frail-elderly and chronically ill, (2) Hospice Care for patients and their families experiencing a terminal illness, and (3) Bereavement Counseling and Support for children, adults, and families in grief.

 

Pathways’ programs have come about at the request of the community, in response to a tragedy, or to fill a gap in existing services. The CHANGES Program, our Children’s Grief Education and Counseling Program was developed in 1992 in direct response to the lack of bereavement services for children in the Long Beach community.  In 1997, Pathways expanded our services to include the Volunteer Caregiving Program that provides in-home supportive services for frail and chronically ill older adults.  Evolving from this program came the 2017 Care Navigation Program (CNP), a high-touch model of care designed to enable vulnerable homebound older adults to live as safely and independently as possible in their own home by providing direct, in-home assistance, companionship, and access to appropriate healthcare and community resources.

 

Pathways has continually been at the forefront of community healing.  We are called upon to be comforters and healers in the aftermath of crisis and loss.   We are looked upon as first responders and essential frontline workers providing immediate "at the scene" triage and intervention when traumatic death situations affect our school campuses throughout the Long Beach, ABC, Paramount, Bellflower and Norwalk/La Mirada Unified School Districts.

All of Pathways’ services are provided at no cost to our clients and/families which eliminates barriers to our service.   We continue to be a reassuring presence for numerous cities in the Greater Long Beach area including Lakewood, Long Beach, Cerritos, Bellflower, Paramount, Artesia, Downey, Cypress, Los Alamitos, Carson, Hawaiian Gardens, and parts of West Orange County helping hundreds of thousands endure the worst times of their lives. We are just a phone call away.

 

Mission Statement

Pathways provides compassionate care to families living with illness and loss.

 

Vision  Statement

Pathways provides comprehensive care navigation for the frail-elderly and chronically ill wishing to remain independent in their home for as long as possible, for the terminally ill seeking dignity and quality of life and for children, adults and families suffering from grief and loss.

 

Values Statement

Pathways believes:

• In promoting independence and self-esteem for the frail/elderly

• In enhancing the quality of life of terminally ill patients

• In assisting family members in their grief before and after death

• In special programs for children who have experienced the death of a loved one