Providing compassionate in-home and out-patient care in Plymouth, NH

Top 5 Misconceptions Regarding Hospice Care

There are many misconceptions around hospice care that often keep patients and caregivers from seeking it out when it could be of benefit and provide much-needed comfort to loved ones in their last days. Here are some of the top misconceptions patients and caregivers have:

Misconception 1: Hospice care is a death sentence.  Because it often comes at the end of life, it is a popular belief that hospice care means death is imminent. This can certainly be the case if hospice care is delayed until the very end, but waiting until the last minute is not an ideal situation for the patient or the hospice provider. The Medicare benefit has structured hospice benefits for the last six months of life. Patients may remain in hospice care longer if their illness continues to run its course and there is no cure.

Misconception 2: Hospice care means giving up.  Hospice care does mean giving up active treatment for your disease. This choice is made because treatments no longer work or the side effects of treatment are worse than the disease itself. However, hospice never gives up hope for the patient; hope just takes a different form. It might not be hope for a long life but hope for another year, or to make it to an event or milestone. End-of-life care focuses on making the remainder of one’s life as fulfilling as possible. Patients can still travel, enjoy family reunions and celebrate life events.

Misconception 3: Hospice care is expensive.  Medicare pays for hospice, and most insurances will have hospice benefits. Hospice covers medications, durable medical equipment and medical supplies related to terminal illnesses. This is a substantial help to families. For more information on what’s covered by Medicare, visit https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospice-care

Misconception 4: Hospice care ends with the passing of the patient.  Hospice continues to follow the bereaved family for 13 months beyond the life of the patient, understanding that those “left behind” continue to need support, people to confide in and sometimes just notes to say someone is there for them if they need to talk. Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health offers in-person and on line grief support groups and individual support with their chaplains, Guy Tillson and Salvatore Ippolito.

Misconception 5: Hospice care means 24-hour care.  It is important to know that hospice care does not mean somebody is there with your loved one all hours of the day. Our nurse, chaplain or social worker will visit according to your needs and preferences; the visit times and days are flexible. The bulk of hands-on care is provided by family or private caregivers throughout a patient’s time in hospice. Our hospice team will teach caregivers how to give medications, address symptom management and deliver the correct care.

I have questions, when should I reach out to get them answered? 

If you have questions about the stage of your loved one’s illness, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health will meet with you in-person or via a phone call to answer your questions. It’s never too early to start asking. It is best to reach out while your loved one is still undergoing treatment for their serious illness. Our Palliative care team helps those with Cancer, Diabetes, Stroke, COPD, ALS, Emphysema, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Congestive Heart Failure, Liver or Kidney Disease, Dementia or other serious progressive illness.

“Being involved with the patient soon after prognosis allows our nurses to help manage the symptoms, pain and stress that comes with their illness. We work with their primary care physician and family to make them as comfortable as possible and improve their quality of life,” said Tori Clark, MMHC, Hospice & Palliative Care Supervisor.

If you have questions about Palliative or Hospice care, call today: 603-536-2232.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is a trusted, nonprofit agency proudly serving 29 towns in central and northern NH since 1967. Expert services include at-home healthcare and physical therapies (VNA), hospice and palliative care, and community programs including: American Red Cross CPR/AED/FA, Caregiver and Bereavement Support Groups and Ask A Pemi-Baker Nurse days at your local senior centers. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals and also your neighbors.  In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

Pemi-Baker is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org  Like our Facebook Page: @pemibakerhospicehomehealth

~written by Anna Swanson

How to Manage Fatigue When Living with a Serious Illness

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health introduces newest Palliative Team member, Krissy Carr, APRN.

When living with a serious illness, it’s important to know that feeling easily and constantly tired—or fatigued—is a common symptom. In fact, many people experience fatigue, no matter if they are living with cancer, COPD, kidney disease, or another serious illness. Fatigue may make you or your loved one feel forgetful and unable to stay focused or have energy to do everyday things. This may include activities like seeing friends, pursuing hobbies, or even pursuing treatment for the serious illness.

While fatigue is not always easy to recognize, learning about its symptoms is a good place to start. Since fatigue can impact quality of life, it is important to get it under control so that you or your loved one can start to feel better. If you aren’t sure where to start or need support along the way, palliative care from Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health can help.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care is provided by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.

How Can Palliative Care Help?

If you notice that you or your loved one are constantly tired, unable to focus, withdrawn, or just not doing things you normally enjoy, let your doctor know. They will ask you questions and try to figure out what may be causing it.  This could mean anything from low blood count, pain, medications, anxiety and/or depression, and more. There are different ways to treat fatigue, depending on the cause. Either way, your doctor can refer you to palliative care, to help manage the fatigue and get back to doing what is most important to you.

During your first visit with the palliative care team, let your doctor, nurse, or social worker know that you’ve been feeling fatigued. They will continue to evaluate your fatigue by asking about sleep disturbances, pain, nutrition, emotional distress, and more. And they will work with you to come up with ways to start feeling better.

This may mean following a regular sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine, choosing relaxing activities before bed, and more. But it all depends on the root cause, and you will figure this out together.

Kristina Carr, RN, MSN, ANP-BC, APRN

Krissy Carr, APRN has recently joined the Pemi-Baker Palliative Care team. She brings over 27 years of Hospice and Palliative care experience to the Plymouth area and is eager to meet the community. For more information on how palliative care can help you or your loved one please call Pemi-Baker and ask for a free consultation.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is a trusted, nonprofit agency proudly serving 29 towns in central and northern NH since 1967. Expert services include at-home healthcare and physical therapies (VNA), hospice and palliative care, and community programs including: American Red Cross CPR/AED/FA, Caregiver and Bereavement Support Groups and Ask A Pemi-Baker Nurse days at your local senior centers. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals and also your neighbors.  In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

Pemi-Baker is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org  Like our Facebook Page: @pemibakerhospicehomehealth

Palliative Care for People Living With Parkinson’s Disease

April is National Parkinson’s Awareness Month!

April is National Parkinson’s Awareness month and Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health would like to shine the light on how a palliative care team can help those living with Parkinson’s Disease.

Understanding Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive illness of the central nervous system that affects muscles and movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in one hand. While hand tremors are the best-known sign of Parkinson’s disease, the disorder also causes muscle stiffness, slowing and jerking.

Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system. It damages the system of nerves that the brain uses to tell the body’s muscles what to do. Brain activity is also affected by the loss of dopamine, an important chemical messenger that helps the neurons in the brain do their work.

Parkinson’s disease symptoms get worse as the condition progresses over time. Although the disease cannot be cured, medications can improve the symptoms. So can palliative care.

Understanding Palliative Care

Palliative (pronounced “pal-lee-uh-tiv”) care is specialized medical care for people with serious illness. It focuses on providing you with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness like Parkinson’s disease. The goal is to improve quality of life for both you and your family.

Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses, social workers and other specialists who work alongside your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage of your illness. You can have it together with curative treatment.

Your palliative care team will help you to match your treatment choices to your personal needs and goals. That will allow you to have more control over your life. In all ways, the palliative care team helps you to better cope with the challenges of living with Parkinson’s disease.

Treating the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease–How Palliative Care Can Help

While there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, there are a growing number of treatments that can provide you with relief from its symptoms. People with Parkinson’s disease are often prescribed a combination of levodopa and carbidopa, which helps replenish the brain’s shrinking supply of dopamine.

A new therapy uses electrodes surgically implanted inside the brain, and a small electrical device called a pulse generator to provide electrical deep brain stimulation (DBS). Parkinson’s patients also benefit from the expertise of physical, occupational and speech therapists to help them manage practical issues in their daily lives.

Other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include a variety of motion-related issues, as well as sleep disturbances, fatigue (feeling weak or tired), constipation and other gastrointestinal problems, and low blood pressure.

Decisions about nutrition and feeding tubes eventually may become an issue, but the palliative care team will be able to provide guidance on this difficult subject. The social worker on your palliative care team can work closely with you to help you cope with the changes in your health. Sometimes just talking with an expert about what’s happening can be a great relief.

Another whole area of Parkinson’s symptoms is called cognitive decline, whereby ravages of the disease affect thinking and other uses of the brain. These include troubling mood disorders like depression and anxiety, unclear thinking, difficulty concentrating on a task and the potential emergence of dementia.

Some people become more disabled and dependent over time despite the best treatments. They may come to need so much help with the routine tasks of living that they require 24-hour care. This care may be provided at home or in a setting like assisted living, where they get the personal care they need.

Your palliative care team will talk with you about your hopes and preferences, and what may be possible for you to get the support you need to continue living life to the fullest. Because of the long course of Parkinson’s disease, the palliative care team can help you to clarify your goals and set up treatment plans far in advance. There are personal decisions you can make about how to live the life that remains, no matter what direction the disease takes-(Advance Care Planning).

Your palliative care team can help you with all this and more. The team will be your sounding board and your first line of defense against any symptoms of pain, discomfort, depression or anxiety.

The team specialists will help you and your loved ones to make both large and small decisions. They will enhance communication between you, your family and your other doctors, and help you to clarify your goals for care.

How to Get Palliative Care

If you or a loved one is facing Parkinson’s disease, ask your doctor about the benefits of a palliative care team or call Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health for a FREE consultation to help you make sense of the situation. PBH&HH also offers free Advance Directive help, helping you fill out your forms via Zoom. We hope you call or email us today for more information.

With over 55 years of experience, serving clients from 29 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Services include at-home healthcare (VNA), hospice and palliative care, and Community Programs including: American Red Cross CPR/AED/FA, Caregiver Support Groups and Grief and Loss Support Groups. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals in the business because of their hearts. In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

Pemi-Baker is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org  Like our Facebook Page: @pemibakerhospicehomehealth

Home Care: More Than Just a Visiting Nurse

When patients leave the hospital and return home, they go from highly supportive medical environments with physicians, nurses, aides, and other professionals, to non-medical environments with informal caregiver support. Patients and caregivers must struggle to absorb confusing medical information before leaving the hospital and often providers have incomplete understandings of home environments and caregiver capabilities. Patients are largely left to themselves, expected to manage their medical conditions on their own. It is a daunting task.

This is where Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health (PBH&HH), can assist; supplementing visits from home care nurses, physical therapists and licensed nursing assistants.

What is the Meaning of Home Health Care?

  • Home health care is a wide range of health care services that can be given in your home for an illness or injury.
  • Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as care you get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.

Patient safety at home is as important as patient safety in hospitals. Unsafe conditions in the home can lead to unnecessary or avoidable, expensive, re-hospitalizations. Your PBH&HH team will be a bridge of communication and care between you and your physician. Receiving home care decreases costs, improves health outcomes, and reduces hospital stays. PBH&HH helps support your family by teaching you to properly care for wounds, follow medication regimens correctly, manage durable medical equipment and keep your house free of hazards.

What Can I Expect From A Home Health Care Visit?

  • Checking your blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and breathing.
  • Making sure you understand the purpose of your medicines.
  • Teaching you or your caregiver to care for a wound or IV.
  • Creating an exercise plan to build your strength and improve balance/walking.
  • Helping you assess your pain and monitor your food intake.

PBH&HH’s primary goal is to discharge you to self or family care and avoid subsequent hospitalizations. We want you to feel confident and comfortable not only in your home but with the goal of returning back to your normal daily routines in your community. PBH&HH provides services to residents who reside in Grafton and Belknap counties, but we also accept referrals in other counties upon request. Call or contact us today to learn more.

With over 50 years of experience, serving clients from 29 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Services include at-home healthcare (VNA), hospice and palliative care, and Community Programs including: American Red Cross CPR/AED/FA, Caregiver Support Groups and Grief and Bereavement Support Groups. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals in the business because of their hearts. In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

Pemi-Baker is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org   visit online: www.pbhha.org

~written by Anna Swanson

New APRN, Jill Hunter, Joins Pemi-Baker Community Health

The term Hospice Care is widely known but many times people shrug their shoulders when asked about Palliative Care. Jill Hunter, APRN, ACHPN has recently joined Pemi-Baker Community Health (PBCH) as their Nurse Practitioner in Palliative and Hospice Care. PBCH is thrilled to have her join their mission to educate Central and Northern NH about Palliative Care and how a Palliative team can help families facing serious illnesses.

Jill Hunter has been a nurse practitioner for 23 years working in primary care, both family practice and internal medicine for the Indian Health Service in New Mexico, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic and Concord Hospital. Most recently she has focused on palliative care, after becoming very involved with a particular patient in his late 40s, just diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer). “I remained his PCP throughout his illness, managing his symptoms, coordinating with his specialists and educating his family. I celebrated his triumphs and supported him through disappointments. I eventually helped him to transition to hospice care 3 years after his initial diagnosis and remained involved in his care until he died. He taught me a lot about caring for seriously ill patients and their families. I feel that experience sparked a passion within me to become a palliative care provider,” said Hunter.

One of the biggest misunderstandings people have is thinking Palliative Care is the same as Hospice Care. Although it is a part of Hospice Care, Palliative care is specialized medical care for anyone living with a serious illness. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage of the illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment. Pemi-Baker’s specially-trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists work with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support focusing on providing relief from pain, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety, shortness of breath and other stressors of the illness.

“Most of my experiences in palliative care have been in the hospital setting. Unfortunately, the patients I see are often far along in their journey with serious illness and could have benefited from symptom management and goals of care discussions much earlier. I think that there is a growing trend of trying to introduce palliative care earlier and one of the best ways to do so is in the home—meeting patients where they are and most often where they want to remain. Working with Pemi-Baker Community Health is going to allow me to do just that,” said Hunter.

With over 50 years of experience, serving clients from 28 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Community Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Palliative Care Services are just one of the home health services available to you through PBCH. We encourage you to talk to your doctor about getting palliative care and also encourage you to call PBCH with questions.  PBCH is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org   Visit our website: www.pbhha.org  and like our Facebook Page: @PBCH4

Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals

in the business because of their hearts.

In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

~written by Anna Swanson

If You Live With a Serious Illness, Learn How to Improve Your Quality of Life

If you have cancer, lung, heart or kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, or another serious illness, you should know about a medical team that can address your symptoms and stress.

The medical team is called palliative care and they’re available in a variety of medical settings. Pemi-Baker Community Health (PBCH) offers palliative care in your home, making it easy for you and your family members to ask questions and relay concerns. Their focus is on relieving the symptoms and stress of your illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. This is done by coordinating the patient’s care as well as providing support for the caregivers if they are experiencing caregiver burnout.

Pemi-Baker Community Health’s palliative care is provided by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. Palliative care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in your illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.

Is Palliative Care right for you?

Answer the following questions to determine whether palliative care might be right for you or someone close to you. Remember, you can receive palliative care at any point in your illness.

  1. Do you have one or more serious illnesses such as:
  • Cancer
  • Congestive heart failure (CHF)
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, lung disease
  • Kidney failure
  • Liver failure
  • Neurological diseases (e.g., ALS, Parkinson’s)
  • Dementia
  1. Do you have symptoms that make it difficult to be as active as you would like to be, or impact your quality of life? These symptoms might include:
  • Pain or discomfort
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Lack of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  1. Have you, or someone close to you, experienced the following:
  • 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
  1. Do you, or someone close to 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.)
  1. Do you, or someone close to 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 answered yes to any of the questions above, you can benefit from palliative care. Ask your doctor for a palliative care referral with Pemi-Baker Community Health. Once PBCH receives the referral from your doctor they will contact you via phone to answer and ask questions and set up a meeting with you at your home.

What happens at a first visit with a palliative care team?

The first step is for the palliative care team to get to know you as a person and find out who else is important in your care. They will want to hear your narrative – who you are, what you enjoy doing, and what is most important to you in your day-to-day life. They’ll review your medical information, ask what symptoms are of concern, and how much these affect your quality of life. They’ll ask questions to see if there are any care needs at home. They may also ask questions to learn what you know about your medical condition, and what concerns you about the future so they can plan how to help over time. The team will also ask questions about who you would want to help make decisions if you aren’t able to do so for yourself. This person is called a health care agent or proxy.

For more information on how Pemi-Baker Community Health can help please call 603-536-2232 or email us at info@pbhha.org.

With over 50 years of experience, serving clients from 22 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Community Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Services include at-home healthcare (VNA), hospice and palliative care, on-site physical and occupational therapy and aquatic therapy in their 90-degree therapy pool. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals in the business because of their hearts. In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

PBCH is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Plymouth, NH. Visit our website: www.pbhha.org  and like our Facebook Page: @PBCH4

~written by Anna Swanson

How Home-Based Palliative Care Can Help You or a Loved One

If you or a loved one are living with cancer, heart or lung disease, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney or liver diseases or another serious illness, you may need help managing symptoms, improving your quality of life, or reducing stress. Palliative care through Pemi-Baker Community Health can help.

Whether receiving palliative care at a hospital, outpatient clinic, or at home (home-based palliative care), there are options for getting the care that you or your loved one needs. In this article, we explore one of the options – home-based palliative care – with answers to some commonly asked questions.

What is Palliative Care? Is Home-Based Palliative Care Different?
Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care for people living with serious illnesses. This type of care is focused on relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care is provided by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists, who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.

Palliative care is available in various settings, so that the person living with a serious illness can receive it where they need it. Whether that’s at home or in a hospital, the goals are the same. And home-based palliative care can help you avoid unnecessary hospitalizations by managing complex symptoms before they get worse.

 

What can I expect from home-based palliative care?
You or your loved one would have a specially-trained team — which may include a doctor and a nurse — dedicated to helping improve your quality of life. They would work with you, your family, and other doctors to treat symptoms like pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, and more. The team would get to know you as a person and provide care tailored to your needs and what you would like in addressing your symptoms, emotional stress and spiritual needs. In many cases, they can help arrange for necessary medical tests to be done at your home, such as x-rays or blood work. And the palliative care team also communicates with your other doctors to make sure everyone is aware of your needs and care.

Will the home-based palliative care team listen to me as a patient?                                                           Pemi-Baker’s palliative care team will spend time listening to you, and getting to know you and your family. They want to learn what’s important to you; and based on that, they’ll develop a treatment plan.

How do I know if home-based palliative care is available where I live?
Originally, palliative care was only available to patients and families within the hospital. But now that doctors see the many ways that palliative care can help, and the Affordable Care Act was passed, it is becoming more widely available in other settings.

While availability is growing, it’s not yet an option everywhere. If you or a loved one are having difficulty with a serious illness, it’s important to talk to your doctor about palliative care to learn what services are available where you live. A referral is typically necessary.

How to Get Palliative Care with Pemi-Baker Community Health     Ask your doctor for a palliative care referral with Pemi-Baker Community Health (PBCH). PBCH services the following 22 towns: Alexandria, Bristol, Bridgewater, New Hampton, Meredith, Moultonborough, Sandwich, Center Harbor, Holderness, Ashland, Plymouth, Hebron, Groton, Campton, Rumney, Wentworth, Waterville Valley, Thornton, Ellsworth, Warren, Woodstock, Lincoln and other towns upon request. Once PBCH receives the referral from your doctor they will contact you via phone to answer and ask questions and set up a meeting with you at your home.

Covid-19 Guidelines                                                                                                  As members of your local community, we strive to act in the best interests of patient, employee and community by complying with CDC guidelines and taking precautions as necessary. Appropriate PPE are worn by our visiting nurses, doctors and social workers and our infection control team conducts daily screenings according to the CDC.

To learn more about Palliative Care and how it can help you, please contact Pemi-Baker Community Health.  We are located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Plymouth, NH. Please call:  603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org

~written by Anna Swanson

The Rewards of Being a Hospice Volunteer

While I was familiar with Hospice for many years, I only have been a hospice volunteer with Pemi Baker Hospice and Home Health (PBHHH) since October 2021.  When I retired, I began searching for volunteer work that would allow me to give back to my community.  A newsletter from PBHHH arrived in my email announcing training for hospice volunteers.  My family had experienced the need for hospice twice, once in Ohio and again in Florida.  The relief my family and I felt when the hospice volunteers arrived was beyond measure.  I want to bring the same kind of assistance to others.  PBHHH given me that opportunity by providing professional training with knowledgeable nurses, doctors, social workers and other health care professionals.  Their guidance has enabled me to meet the challenges of being s hospice volunteer, and I am very glad that I did it.

Connie C.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2022-06-27T12:20:25-04:00

Connie C.

While I was familiar with Hospice for many years, I only have been a hospice volunteer with Pemi Baker Hospice and Home Health (PBHHH) since October 2021.  When I retired, I began searching for volunteer work that would allow me to give back to my community.  A newsletter from PBHHH arrived in my email announcing training for hospice volunteers.  My family had experienced the need for hospice twice, once in Ohio and again in Florida.  The relief my family and I felt when the hospice volunteers arrived was beyond measure.  I want to bring the same kind of assistance to others.  PBHHH given me that opportunity by providing professional training with knowledgeable nurses, doctors, social workers and other health care professionals.  Their guidance has enabled me to meet the challenges of being s hospice volunteer, and I am very glad that I did it.

You give of yourselves day & night without end!

To the Pemi-Baker Hospice Team--Words really can't express my feelings-

Your help during one of the most difficult times of my life is SO appreciated.  I'm so grateful that because of you, Doug was able to get his wish not to spend the last of his days in a hospital, but at home with those of us who loved him.

And to be constantly reassured that if I needed anything you would be there-oh my gosh-ANYTIME!  Well, you people need to know how much you are appreciated.  You give of yourselves day & night without end!  God Bless you and thank you!

Pam O.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2020-06-11T07:31:14-04:00

Pam O.

To the Pemi-Baker Hospice Team--Words really can't express my feelings- Your help during one of the most difficult times of my life is SO appreciated.  I'm so grateful that because of you, Doug was able to get his wish not to spend the last of his days in a hospital, but at home with those of us who loved him. And to be constantly reassured that if I needed anything you would be there-oh my gosh-ANYTIME!  Well, you people need to know how much you are appreciated.  You give of yourselves day & night without end!  God Bless you and thank you!

“My home physical therapy was fantastic.”

Pemi-Baker provided very good home therapy. All their therapists were pleasant, helpful in offering suggestions for better functioning after surgery, and practiced good health protocols. They were also very prompt in showing up for scheduled appointments.

Elizabeth B.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2019-11-07T12:26:12-05:00

Elizabeth B.

Pemi-Baker provided very good home therapy. All their therapists were pleasant, helpful in offering suggestions for better functioning after surgery, and practiced good health protocols. They were also very prompt in showing up for scheduled appointments.

“Your generosity with your time and your loving care is appreciated more than you know.”

Thank you to everyone who played a role in taking care of my mother and giving her the freedom of remaining home while suffering from dementia. Your generosity with your time and your loving care is appreciated more than you know. A special thanks goes to Macayla and Colleen, who visited her on a regular basis, and to Lauren who was helpful in connecting us with state services.

Terry W.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2020-01-17T12:43:19-05:00

Terry W.

Thank you to everyone who played a role in taking care of my mother and giving her the freedom of remaining home while suffering from dementia. Your generosity with your time and your loving care is appreciated more than you know. A special thanks goes to Macayla and Colleen, who visited her on a regular basis, and to Lauren who was helpful in connecting us with state services.

“Pemi-Baker Hospice services provided kind, professional, competent services every step of the way-and even vaccinated us all for Covid/19!””

Our primary nurse, Fred, was outstanding, and others who filled in (Cathy, Penny, Colleen) were wonderful and a credit to your organization. Fred, you were amazing, not only for mom but for my husband and I as well. I will forever be grateful for your support, wisdom, humor and kindness, all along the end of life journey for mom. I am so deeply thankful that circumstances conspired such that mom was able to die at home, and your role made that time as seamless as it could be made.

Paula W.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2020-01-17T12:31:13-05:00

Paula W.

Our primary nurse, Fred, was outstanding, and others who filled in (Cathy, Penny, Colleen) were wonderful and a credit to your organization. Fred, you were amazing, not only for mom but for my husband and I as well. I will forever be grateful for your support, wisdom, humor and kindness, all along the end of life journey for mom. I am so deeply thankful that circumstances conspired such that mom was able to die at home, and your role made that time as seamless as it could be made.

“Everyone is so understanding supportive and kind.”

From the director to the nurses to the health care workers.  So cheerful, helpful and accommodating.  This is our second time receiving assistance from Pemi-Baker and we are very lucky to have found this amazing group!  Thank you for your excellent care and compassion.

Leila L.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2020-01-17T13:19:24-05:00

Leila L.

From the director to the nurses to the health care workers.  So cheerful, helpful and accommodating.  This is our second time receiving assistance from Pemi-Baker and we are very lucky to have found this amazing group!  Thank you for your excellent care and compassion.

Your courage during Covid-19 does not go unnoticed

Hello. We just wanted to take a moment and let you know how much we truly appreciate all that you do for us in these trying times. You're commitment to the health of our community is a special thing, and we know that you are working under stressful conditions due to the Covid 19 crisis. We realize that in order for you to treat those who may be ill, you are putting you're own lives and even you're own families lives in danger, and that is truly a courageous and honorable thing to do. We want you to know that it does not go unnoticed. Thank you all for all that you do!

Bryan and Renee C., and our mom Joan

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2020-06-11T06:27:43-04:00

Bryan and Renee C., and our mom Joan

Hello. We just wanted to take a moment and let you know how much we truly appreciate all that you do for us in these trying times. You're commitment to the health of our community is a special thing, and we know that you are working under stressful conditions due to the Covid 19 crisis. We realize that in order for you to treat those who may be ill, you are putting you're own lives and even you're own families lives in danger, and that is truly a courageous and honorable thing to do. We want you to know that it does not go unnoticed. Thank you all for all that you do!
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