Frequently Asked Questions

Home health clinicians provide one-on-one care for patients in their homes. Home health care may involve assisting patients with basic needs such as bathing and dressing, as well as more specialized services such as physical therapy, wound care, medication management, and IV care.

The frequency of home health visits is based on the doctor’s order and the patient’s needs, and may vary, but most commonly are one to two times a week. Visits are usually an hour or less.

A patient who is homebound, meaning it is extremely difficult for the individual to leave the home setting. This patient needs to be followed by a medical doctor, and require skilled care on a part-time or intermittent basis to improve, maintain, prevent, or further slow your health condition.

Advance care planning means documenting your health care wishes now, in the event you cannot speak for yourself. Putting your wishes in writing and sharing them with your family and health care providers will help ensure they are honored.  We will help you with this planning.

Hospice care uses palliative treatments and medications to relieve pain and symptoms to keep patients comfortable and living life to its fullest.  We take advantage of a wide-range of treatments and have a team of therapists, nurses, medical social workers and physicians ready to help.  Each patient is unique. Please call us or have your physician call to discuss your individual situation.

We care for patients regardless of terminal illnesses, including (not limited to) congestive heart failure, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Alzheimer’s disease, end-stage dementia, kidney disease, liver disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, complications of AIDS, multiple sclerosis, as well as cancer.

Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans cover the majority of the costs for hospice services. As a nonprofit organization, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is committed to improving the quality-of-life experience for everyone in our service area and our care is provided regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.

We give you choices about how you want to live your life, decisions regarding the kind of care and treatments you do and do not want. Your plan of care is customized based on input from you, your family, your physician and the Pemi-Baker Hospice & Palliative Care team.

Palliative care is focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of any serious illness.

• Do you have symptoms that make it difficult to be as active as you would like to be, or impact your quality of life? (pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, fatigue, anxiety, depression, lack of appetite, nausea or constipation)
• Have you experienced difficult side effects from treatment, eating problems due to a serious illness, frequent emergency room visits, three or more admissions to the hospital within 12 months and with the same symptoms?
• Do you need help with knowing what to expect, knowing what programs and resources are available, making medical decisions about treatment choices/options, matching your goals and values to your medical care, understanding the pros and cons (benefits/burdens) of treatments (e.g., dialysis, additional cancer treatments, surgery, etc.)?
• Do you need help with coping with the stress of a serious illness, emotional support, spiritual or religious support, talking with your family about your illness and what is important to you?

If you said Yes to any of the above, please contact us for a free consultation! We can help.

No. Our goal is to work in conjunction with your provider to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Our palliative care team consists of a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner, specializing in palliative care, RNs, Social Workers and Chaplains.

For patients receiving care in the hospital, your attending physician can request a palliative consultation. One of our specially trained physicians or nurse practitioners will meet with you and your loved ones to help you make important choices about your care. Then they will work with your physician to develop the best treatment plan.

Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance cover the cost of Pemi-Baker Palliative Consultants services. A co-payment may apply. However, no one is ever denied care based on an inability to pay.