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 Community 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.

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.