Fairview Home Care and Hospice Minneapolis, MN

M. Nelson

I would highly recommend Fairview Hospice. I have been a home health aid for 13 years and have dealt with many hospice groups in the past. What stands out about Fairview is that everyone was very kind, loving, caring and attentive. The doctor, nurses, aids, chaplain, social worker, massage therapist, music therapist. There was honestly not one person I didn't like. You can call them at anytime and get a response within minutes. They were very kind and respectful to me even though I was an employee of this family and not a family member.. You definitely can't go wrong choosing Fairview Hospice!

Provider Response

Expereinced excellent care

My father was cared for by Fairview Hospice in the past 4 months of his life. The hospice team provided compassionate care, excellent symptom management, superb communication and timely response to our needs. We could not have kept my dad at home without them. I would highly recommend Fairview Hospice!

Teresa Lynch

Our family member was taken care of by the Hospice staff, and we were so pleased by how caring and knowledgeable they were. They were there for us every step of the way: literally holding our hands and facilitating the conversations that we had and decisions that we needed to make. Our loved one was able to have a peaceful passing due to the efforts of the staff. We are forever grateful to Gwen and Gillian!

Provider Response

Greta Witcher

I had the opportunity to interact with a number of Fairview Hospice staff recently as they provided care for a friend. I was impressed by their knowledge and competence and was moved by each individual's authentic compassion. I'm grateful for the loving care they demonstrated to the patient, her family and friends. I highly recommend Fairview Hospice.

Provider Response

Greta Erickson

My grandpa was admitted to Fairview Hospice earlier this summer, and my family's experience has been nothing but positive. The staff has been attentive, compassionate and empathetic throughout our entire journey with hospice. The staff came out to my grandparents home to conduct a Veterans Service for my grandpa. I cannot say enough good things about the attention to detail that was put into this ceremony. The staff was completely engaged, and ready to listen to my grandpa and his stories of his time in the war. The stories we heard during this ceremony were ones that we had never had the chance to hear before, and we will continue to tell after he is gone. It was incredibly special for our family and we will be forever grateful to the Fairview Hospice team for joining our family for a short time to guide us through the grieving process.

Provider Response

grateful family member !!

Our Dad was a patient in the Fairview Hospice program for 6 days. We were very pleased from day 1. Every question was answered-having no knowledge of Hospice and the services offered every person we came in contact with gently guided us through our journey. If we weren't with Dad when a team member visited-we were called with an update. We were able to confidently hand over the caregiver responsibilities to Fairview so we could return to being out dads family in his last days.

Provider Response

anonymous2459

My mother in law is currently cared for by Fairview Hospice. I am so happy for their teamwork and support of all of us at this time. The volunteer is awesome and her chaplain also brings music as part of her care . We knew that more support would make all the difference at this time and we were right on to trust Fairview Hospice. I highly recommend Fairview Hospice!

Provider Response

anom123

We had Fairview Hospice for my mother. On the day we signed her into the program, it was as though a weight was lifted from my shoulders. Each and ever member of the hospice team were not only compassionate but also very knowledgeable. They educated me on what to expect as her illness progressed and how to care for her. Not only did the team care for my mother but they were also there to offer support for my family . I have and will continue to recommend Fairview Hospice to anyone!

Provider Response

Anonymous315

These guys are evil. Why? Because (in hindsight) they didn't answer my question and didn't really care what happens for my dad. I asked "what happened if emergency is needed for the patient during hospice?", they said "we'll discuss that IF you decide to do hospice". Well....that's like saying "get on the plane and then I'll tell you where we're going". We ask for a medicine to make my dad more calm and relax, they end up giving a new medication that slowly made his heart stop. The doctor that give this to us was sweating balls and the room temperature was cool. I noticed everyone else had no problem with sweaters on. I didn't know what was going on or why she was sweating. But in hindsight, she wasn't sure what this new med COULD do and was maybe afraid of something that made her nervous...sweaty as-s he ll nervous. She probably knew that this was the end. My dad was just an experiment to these people. I never want to see their faces again. I felt so bad for my dad.

Provider Response

Anonymous11111111

We used Fairview Hospice for my Grandfather and cannot say enough good things about them. They helped coordinate the hospital discharge and made sure he left with the medications he needed. Once he was at the Hospice Home the nurse and social worker came out and worked with the staff at the facility to control his pain and anxiety. The support by all the staff at Fairview Hospice helped our family during that difficult time. Thank you!

Provider Response

Mrs. S

My mother in law was recovering from surgery and had home care with Fairview. Staff was wonderful and she was better in no time. They always treated us with dignity and respect.

Provider Response

frustrated 2017

Current client. Honestly there is not enough consistency in sending staff out for in home health care. Plus the nurses did not know much about my health issues. The nurse I had did not even show up when he wasschwdulws nor did he even call to tell me he was not coming ....a total no show.

Provider Response

Fairview Hospice

During my husband's 7 year illness with ALS he received excellent care from the ALS team at the U of M /Fairview hospital and clinic. So when his Neurologist there recommended transition to Hospice care, we chose Fairview Hospice, being in the same system, even though the U of M Hospital gave us a list of many other Hospices in the metro area and left the decision to us. At this time my husband had been diagnosed with a large, rapidly growing malignant brain tumor in addition to his late stage ALS . Would Fairview Hospice be as good as U of M /Fairview had been? Our decision turned out to be right.. The Fairview Hospice Team swooped in fast and began managing this complex illness with both skill and compassion. My husband and I were supported in so many ways, from equipment , medication and physical care needs to spiritual and emotional needs. Fairview's goal was to enhance and make the most of my husband's quality of LIFE. All of the team members with whom we came in contact were kind and caring. They treated my husband gently and respectfully, as if he mattered. The focus was on comfort and support of all kinds, for both of us. Throughout our time with Fairview Hospice I marveled at the rapid response times, day or night, whenever a new need arose. With the support of the Hospice team my husband was able to remain at home, surrounded by family and friends,which was his wish, until he passed away peacefully. I have recommended Fairview Hospice to others and I continue to do so.

Provider Response

MMI

My family and I were very well supported for both my Mother and Sister The nurses taught my family how we could use medications under the tongue to keep them both comfortable. The hospice Doctor came and visited and helped my family to be able to ask questions and be supportive. Both of my family members died peacefully in their homes with family next to them. Their deaths were peaceful and pain free. I could not have done this without the fabulous nurses and hospice staff.

Provider Response

SBP

I was the night time caregiver for my soon to be Mother in Law, and was very appreciative of the care and concern that was shown her by the Hospice staff. My brother in law was the day person and he always felt supported. It was good to know the nurses were reachable by phone 24 hours a day! The nurse Katie was very good at managing her pain and helping when she became anxious. The nurse did a good job preparing us for the changes that we were seeing as Marion got weaker.. She was able to die at home with dignity and comfort. Thank you Fairview!

Provider Response

Beth

I have had the opportunity to experience Fairview Hospice twice in a matter of a few months. The first time with my elderly mother in a nursing home facility and then three months later for my sister in my home. The care that my mother and sister both received was excellent, from the Chaplain, nurse, music therapist, aid, and massage therapist, and office workers. They truly became part of our extended family during very difficult situations. While caring for my sister in my home her last days I had many questions regarding her care and medications. I was always treated with respect and reassurance. I would and have highly recommend Fairview Hospice to anyone looking for support during end of life care.

Provider Response

Heartbroken family

I am very disappointed in Fairview Hospice my parent have gone to Fairview Clinics for many years. When my father became very sick on a Thursday night. I called Friday morning, my dads Dr and requested hospice be sent ASAP. The Dr sent the request. We heard nothing Friday. He got worst through the night. I waited until mid morning then contacted another Hospice organization. They were awesome! And sent a RN and Social worker within an hour of calling. That was on a Saturday. We never did hear from Fairview and had they called us Monday it would have been to late he died late that night. Luckily there are Hospice companies out there that do care about there patient. They work all hour not just Monday-Friday 8-5, because if these awesome people my dad died peaceful at home. I will never recommend your service

Kim ex oncology nurse

I spent the day with my aunt that is receiving hospice care from Fairview. When I arrived, after receiving a frantic call from my cousin, I had to hold down my aunt's flailing arms and legs for an hour and a half before the nurse came and then it was hours before she looked comfortable. The FAMILY IS BEGGING FOR iv PAIN MEDICATION BECAUSE THE ORAL IS NOT working obviously due to her inability to swallow. The nurse got her more comfortable temporarily at about 1 pm today. Then pointed fingers at the family for causing the anxiety for arguing about the pain meds. She left them with a leaking rectal tube to give the meds through. Her shoulders were twitching when I left. They really want IV pain meds. She has a portacath. She went through the pain and expense to have this placed and now they won't use it. Is this cost thing? The nurse basically told the MD the patient didn't need it. The family is stuck with every two hour pain administration. Her 80 some year old husband is beside himself and her daughter is severely sleep deprived. At any point the tube may come out, it's already leaking. Or they will find her pain meds on the pad under her. It is hard to know how much meds she is getting. We are just waiting for the flailing to start again. I'm an ex oncology nurse and I cannot believe this poor plan. I promised my aunt I would make sure she did not have severe pain. the family cannot call 911 because they agreed not too and signed something. Now the insurance will not pay. She spent from 4 am until 1pm flailing in pain. I cannot believe the poor care, controlling personality of the nurse and the cruelness to this very sweet family

Personal Rep

My mother had a sudden loss of strength and ambulation that caused me to call for an ambulance to get her into a hospital to be checked out and observed because I couldn't get her out of the house by myself at the time. That actually made the problem(s) worse. The ambulance personnel put a gash in my mother's leg about 8 inches long and perhaps 3/4 inches wide when the two ambulance personnel dragged her leg against the screen door shock absorber bracket while carrying her in her wheelchair out of the house to get her to the ambulance and hospital. Once they got her in the ambulance they steri-stripped the gash with about 40 steri-strips as though it was a clean edged laceration instead of a 3/4 inch wide gash, meaning that they stuck the steri-strips right into the open flesh of the wound. I'm telling you this because after my mother got out of the hospital and back home we arranged for a hospice nurse to come in weekly and check on the wound. Because neither I nor my mother were comfortable with the use of steri-strips on such a wound I asked several times about them and what we should do about them and her wound. We were told every time that we asked, and by a couple of different nurses, including one who we were told specialized in wounds, not to worry about the steri-strips because they will eventually fall off on their own. Wrong. The wound began healing around and over the steri-strips since they were put right on/into the flesh of the open wound, and the "wound" nurse eventually had to cut the healing flesh away with the steri-strips to get them off of and out of her leg, reopening and enlarging the wound again. Then there was the parade of what I can only describe as sales pitches for medical equipment that we either had already or didn't need. My mother had been a Registered Nurse and surgery assistant, and I a Direct Care Provider so between the two of us we had many years of medical experience, a degree, certifications, etc which is why we had all the First Aid equipment and then some already..., which is also why both of us were very uncomfortable with the use of the steri-strips on such a wound and questioned their use so often. I saw what I see as little more than wasteful attempts to pad the bill with unnecessary medical equipment. Things that I told and showed the hospice nurse that we had already and enough of were ordered after I told them not to anyway, and either sent to us by Fed Ex/UPS delivery services or brought to us by the hospice nurse when she came for her weekly visit. We talked about a schedule for her visits and first agreed on Tuesdays because that was also the day the bath aide was able to come. That worked out well even when that hospice nurse had to take time off for a medical issue of her own and another hospice nurse was taking her place until she could return back to work. However, that replacement hospice nurse attempted to scare us into getting more equipment and nursing visits more often by mentioning that he didn't want my mother to lose her leg. This was ridiculous, and we both knew it because she had no pain in her leg or foot other than the slight pain from the wound, and no strange discolorations of her skin. Also, the wound nurse had used what I believe they called a Doppler on her foot to check the pulse in her foot and we could all hear it loud and clear. In addition, I have had a blockage of the main artery going into one of my legs and went through all of that only a few months prior, so I know from personal experience about the foot and leg pain associated with loss of blood circulation into the leg, and the strange discolorations and "marbling" of the skin when that happens. Anyway, the original hospice nurse was able to come back to work and then informed us that Tuesdays were bad for her and Fridays would be a better day for her to be able to come to the house. We then settled on Fridays for her visits. So, the very next Monday that nurse calls and says she'll be here tomorrow, Tuesday. Why did we even have the discussion we had about what days she would come, and agree on Fridays? I don't know. Then on Tuesday she calls and says she couldn't make it, but will be here on Friday, which she was. Then we got three calls in a row only a minute apart from each other where our phone rang only once for two for the calls, and twice for the other, and that was it. Whoever had called hung up after letting the phone ring only once, and twice, and did that within a minute of each call. Our caller ID showed that the calls came from the hospice nurse's phone. Also, that original hospice nurse hasn't yet checked my mother's leg wound of her own initiative yet. Either I have removed the dressing so it can get some air first, before she got here, which makes it easy for her to just see it right there in front of her, or I have to ask her if she's going to check that wound, which she usually responds to by asking me if I want to remove the dressing. I tell her, "Hey, you're the nurse, you're here, you do it." I sometimes wonder what she thinks she's getting paid to do, or not do. Also, she wasn't checking my mother's pulse and B.P. either, until we told her that the nurse who took her place while she was out had been doing that. There are other issues as well, but I haven't yet figured out who is doing what regarding those issues. Regardless, I'm not impressed with the Fairview Home Care and Hospice people we have been getting, and I wouldn't and don't recommend them.

Penny Ott

I give the Home Health aide for my father 5 stars. She is awesome with my dad, and has help me along the way also.

hultmanelson

Fairview Hospice was responsive to our needs when our father was dying. They helped the whole family cope with the changes my Dad went through and anticipated the changes for us when we were unable to, helping us to think through getting more care when it was needed. They had a regular music therapist and massage therapist that provided my father with the extra comforts and healing that he would not have received had we not chosen to go with hospice. Some hospice programs do not offer the regular music therapy and massage that Fairview provides. The staff were all exceptional people with a sense of mission about the work they did and a lot of compassion, along with professionalism. Now my mother is in hospice and we have chosen Fairview for her care, naturally.