Care at Home

Home Care is total wellness. We do more than just assess your physical status and carry out doctor’s orders. We listen carefully to what you have to say. We listen to your concerns and realize that you are a unique person with individualized needs.

Home Care is quality care. We are fortunate to have highly qualified and experienced employees, whose primary goal is to make the patient and family as independent as possible as soon as possible, and to achieve a maximum level of wellness.

Home Care is peace of mind and comfort. Our patients, clients, and their families appreciate the caring competence of our team approach in providing services. Consistently over 95% of our patients say they would recommend our services to their friends, family, and neighbors.

Our professional referral sources (doctors, hospital discharge planners, insurance companies) appreciate the accountability and responsiveness that comes with local ownership. One call, 24 hours per day, will lead to a decision-maker who can address your needs.

Home Care

Testimonials

• Serving all of Fulton County and its surrounding communities
  
  
• Licensed by the State of Illinois
  
  
• Medicare and Medicaid Certified
  
  
• Contracted provider for many private insurance companies
  
  
• Accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

Since 1979, Graham’s Home Care Agency has been providing high-quality health care services for patients who are recovering at home from illness, injury or surgery.  Using state-of-the-art equipment and specialized procedures for the home setting, Home Care’s caring, supportive staff works as an extension of the patient’s physician.  We develop a plan of care for each patient and a Home Care registered nurse oversees the care and recovery process.  A nurse is available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  If a problem arises between scheduled visits, the nurse is available over the phone and, if necessary, comes to the home.

We center our program on a team approach, involving the patient’s physician, the patient and family, a registered nurse and other Home Care staff.  During each visit, the nurse assesses the patient’s condition, provides treatments, and monitors compliance with medication routines.  The patient and family are kept informed about the recovery process and the family learns ways to participate in the patient’s care.

Graham’s Home Care services include:

• 24 hour coverage, 365 days a year
• Comprehensive Assessment
• Intermittent skilled, high-tech nursing services to patients of all ages
• Rehabilitative services through home Physical and Speech Therapy.
• Medical Social Services
• Certified Home Health Aides
• Community referrals

For additional information or to make a referral, contact our Intake Coordinator at 309-647-4088.

Hospice

• Serving all of Fulton County and its surrounding communities
  
  
• Licensed by the State of Illinois
  
  
• Medicare and Medicaid Certified
  
  
• Contracted provider for many private insurance companies
  
  
• Accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

Graham Hospital Hospice offers a total support system in the home for patients with a terminal illness and their families.  The Graham Hospital Hospice team offers skilled nursing, psychological and emotional support, spiritual guidance, and bereavement services.  We help to enhance the quality of life while allowing patients to remain alert and as pain-free as possible.

The Graham Hospital Hospice program enables patients with life threatening conditions to live comfortably during their final days.  The program provides care, guidance and support primarily in the home to patients and families dealing with the physical and emotional aspects of dying.  A team of health care professionals and trained volunteers work together to provide comprehensive services tailored to meet the individual needs of each patient and their primary caregivers.

Graham Hospital Hospice recognizes that most clients want to spend their last days at home in familiar surroundings, and most hospice care occurs in the home.  Graham Hospital Hospice also works with nursing homes and residential care facilities to provide hospice care for their residents. 

Patients are accepted regardless of diagnosis, age, race, gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or national origin.  Whenever possible, reimbursement is sought through Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance.  Charitable funds from the community provide for patients and families who do not have available resources.  Admission criteria are based on patient consent, and the approval of the attending physician who continues to supervise the care provided.

Eligibility for Medicare Hospice Benefit requires that life expectancy is limited to six months or less.  Hospice patients and families agree to forego additional aggressive curative therapy, procedures or hospitalizations.  Under the Medicare/Medicaid benefit, hospice covers not only the professional services of the hospice team, but also medical equipment costs, medications and supplies related to the terminal illness- providing a great cost benefit for patients and their families.

The Graham Hospital Hospice Team also provides respite services for the responsible family members and caregivers who are physically and emotionally fatigued from the responsibility of caring for a terminally ill patient.

Regardless of a patient’s condition or age, the nonprofit Graham Hospital Hospice opens its heart to all terminally ill people.  Graham Hospital Hospice philosophy supports neither hastening nor prolonging life’s progress.

Graham Hospital Hospice services provided include:

• Registered nurse case management
• Medical social services
• Home Health Aides
• Clergy
• Trained volunteer assistance
• Physical and Speech therapy
• Respite Care
• Spiritual and bereavement support
• Community services coordination

Giving Back: Hospice Volunteers

At Graham Hospital Hospice, we have a special appreciation for those who give of themselves by serving as hospice volunteers. They are indispensable to the patients and families we serve, and are key members of our hospice care team. Whether it’s visiting patients, building a wheelchair platform, helping out in the office, or sharing a special talent, the assistance of a volunteer allows our healthcare professionals to devote more time to providing exceptional care to our patients and their families.

Graham Hospital Hospice volunteers are thoroughly trained in the goals and philosophy of hospice care, as well as the care and comfort of the hospice patient. Graham Hospital Hospice volunteers assist patients and their families in a variety of ways, including:

• Providing grief and bereavement support
• Visiting with and keeping patients company
• Keeping the patient environment clean, comfortable and inviting

• Sharing the hospice story with the community
• Assisting in administrative and clerical tasks
• Organizing special events

• Positive contribution to community
• Greater appreciation for life
• Affiliation with a dynamic service organization

For more information or to make a referral, contact the Patient Care Coordinator at 309-647-4088.

Taking Charge! For Your Good Health

It is now necessary to fast when you have a cholesterol test. Cholesterol does not change in response to a single meal. Cholesterol does change in response to changes in long term patterns of eating, like changing from a high fat diet to a low fat diet. It takes several weeks to see change in blood cholesterol levels.

Desirable: A cholesterol below 200 mg/dl is considered desirable and reflects a low risk of heart disease.

Borderline: A cholesterol of 200-240 mg/dl is considered to reflect moderate risk. Your doctor may decide to order a lipid profile to see if your high cholesterol is bad cholesterol (high LDL) or good cholesterol (high HDL). Depending on the result of the lipid profile (and other risk factors you may have) your doctor will decide what to do.

High Risk: A cholesterol above 240 mg/dl is considered high risk. Your doctor may order a lipid profile (as well as other tests) to try to determine the cause of your high cholesterol. Once the cause is known, an appropriate treatment will be prescribed.

My Blood Pressure

About one in every four American adults has high blood pressure. Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. The good news is that it can be treated and controlled.

Blood Pressure measurements are read as two numbers. The higher number is called the systolic pressure. The lower number is called the diastolic pressure. Normal systolic pressure is 120 or less, and normal diastolic blood pressure is 80 or less.

High blood pressure is defined as systolic pressure greater than 140 and/or diastolic pressure greater than 90. People with systolic blood pressures between 120 and 139, or diastolic pressures of 80-89 are considered “pre-hypertensive” and need medical monitoring and lifestyle changes.

High blood pressure puts stress on the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys and blood vessels. Over time, high blood pressure can damage these organs and tissues.

My Blood Glucose

It is estimated that 16 million Americans have “pre-diabetes.” which is also called impaired glucose tolerance. This condition is characterized by high blood glucose levels that aren’t high enough to be diagnosed as diabetic. However, the condition often progresses to Type 2 diabetes.

The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at risk for certain diseases or conditions.

This screening is taken without regard to when you have eaten last. A measure of 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) indicates that you may have diabetes, and you should see your physician for further testing.

My Body Mass Index

Overweight and obesity have been associated with increased risk of developing such conditions as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple tool to determine if you are Overweight based on your height and weight. Because it does not measure body fat, it will overestimate the “fatness” of people with a lot of muscle, pregnant women and chronically ill people.

BMI Results:

• Below 18.5 - Underweight
• 18.5-24.9 - Normal Weight *Ideal
• 25-29.9 - Overweight
• 30 or Above - Obese

Specialized Services

• About medications being taken as the doctor ordered?
• About confusion medications?
• About re-ordering the right medications?

• About getting to a clinic to have blood drawn?
• About waiting in a physician’s office with sick people for a simple blood draw?
• About getting out in all kinds of weather for a blood draw?

Specialized Services will alleviate your concerns by performing medication set-up and management, and blood draws in the privacy of your own home! Our Home Care nurses will work with your physician to make sure that his medication orders are being taken correctly. They will set-up your medications in a med box. They can also draw blood for lab work ordered by your physician in the comfort of your own home.

Specialized Services will make life easier for you and will give peace of mind to your family members. It is well worth the affordable cost. For more information just call 647-4088 and ask for Specialized Services.