ELIGIBILITY

We serve patients¹ and their families who are actively² receiving medical care at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH). Eligible Fisher House guests are:

• immediate family members of in-patients (spouse, children, parents - including step and “in loco-parentis”, siblings)

• extended family members of in-patients (grandparents, in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins) when immediate family is not already occupying a room

• travelling more than 40 miles to Fort Campbell

• medically and mentally stable and able to care for themselves and/or their family members

• out-patients² - on a case-by-case basis, discuss specifics with the house manager

 

¹Patient must have a military connection (any branch): Active Duty, Retired or Veteran or the dependent of a service member.

²Assignment/attachment to the Warrior Transition Battation/Unit (WTB/U) does not automatically qualify.

 

GETTING A ROOM

A Referral Form should be completed and submitted by hospital social work or nursing staff for in-patients, and by case management for out-patients. Families are permitted to self-refer, however we will need to verify the medical situation prior to approving a stay.

Check-ins should take place during regular business hours - Mon-Fri 9:00 - 4:00.  Please be aware that we are not staffed evenings, weekends or holidays.  After-hour check-ins are coordinated through the BACH Staff Duty (SDNCO) & Admin Officer of the Day (AOD).  

A referral is not a reservation! We always recommend that families be prepared to make other arrangements as room availability is not guaranteed until check-in. When we have more referrals than rooms, we prioritize on many factors, including medical severity, projected length of stay, financial need, etc... When the Fisher House is full, we will maintain a waiting list. Our policy is 1 room per family - max occupancy of 3!

COST

Currently, there is no cost to the family for a stay at the Fisher House.  The $10/nightly lodging fee is being paid by the Fisher House Foundation.  Everything provided to the families while staying at the Fort Campbell Fisher House is made possible by our generous supporters in the Fort Campbell community!  

OUR LIMITATIONS

Our staff and volunteers are here to provide the families of our patients with a comfortable stay in a home-like atmosphere. Please realize that we are not a medical facility, nursing home, or hospice center and no medical treatment may be performed in the house, except that which is self administered.  In order to elminate infectious risks to all our guests, out-patients with any medical equipment still attached may be excluded from staying at the Fisher House.  

HOUSE RULES

Adherence to the house rules will ensure a safe and peaceful experience for all Fisher House guests. Any guest who refuses to comply with the house rules or live in harmony with other guests, may be evicted with or without written notification.

Family members are responsible for abiding by all house rules & policies and ensuring their guests do the same. A responsible party is required to sign a Resident's Agreement regarding this fact prior to admission into the facility.

Any of the following violations may result in immediate eviction from Fisher House :

• Anger, hostility, violence or threats, disrespect towards staff and housemates

• Negligent or willful damage, or theft, of property and furnishings

• Sexual misconduct or sexual behavior in shared spaces

• Possession or use of weapons, illegal drugs or alcohol

• Smoking inside the facility

• Illicit use of Fisher House computers (ie, pornography)

• Unauthorized guests & use of rooms

• Possession of animals (except certified service animals)

• Gambling, Soliciting, and Selling Merchandise

• Demands of preferential treatment

• Blatant disregard for house rules

The following regulations are in place to ensure the safety and comfort of all Fisher House guests. Initial infractions will result in a warning but subsequent violations may result in eviction from the Fisher House :

• No food or beverages (except water) are allowed in guest bedrooms, the living room, or TV room!

• Children are the sole responsibility of their parent or guardian. An adult family member must be present in the house anytime children under 13 are in the house. Children 13 and older may be permitted to be left unsupervised on a case by case basis - discuss this need with the manager. Fisher House staff, volunteers nor your housemates, can provide babysitting services, however, they are permitted to assist with child supervision for short periods while you remain on the property.

• Any family member, regardless of age, who is not able to care for themselves should never be left alone in the house.

• Exterior doors must be kept locked when staff is not present. Never grant admittance to anyone you don’t personally know!

• Quiet hours are from 9:00pm - 8:00am daily.

• Visiting hours are 9:00am - 9:00pm daily, limited to a few visitors for short periods. You are responsible for the actions of your visitors - be sure they follow the rules! Your visitors must supervise their own children at all times and provide quick and complete clean up after them! Please keep in mind this is a communal living situation and you must be very mindful of the imposition your visitors may have on your housemates. When your visitors cause inconvenience, discomfort, or stress to our other guests or staff, they will be asked to leave and you will lose visitor priveleges.

• Guests and their visitors must be appropriately dressed while at the house. Shirts, shoes and/or slippers must be worn at all times in public areas. Night wear may be worn outside guest rooms provided a housecoat or robe is also worn. Modesty is key here!

• Guests are responsible for maintaining the individual cleanliness of their assigned rooms and cleaning up after themselves after use of common areas. Management reserves the right to perform random room inspections for compliance and to enter for maintenance purposes.

• While here, guests are a volunteer!  We work hard to keep a beautiful home for you, please help us by doing your part and helping out when you see a need.  For instance, if the trash is full, please take it out.  If the dishwasher has completed its cycle, please put dishes away, etc...

• Mattress covers must be used on beds at all times, also a bottom and top sheet.

• Persons with MRSA, chicken pox, measles, tuberculosis or any other contagious diseases/illnesses will be excluded from the Fisher House. Guests must inform staff immediately when they develop these diseases during their stay. If anyone gets chicken pox within 3 days of leaving the Fisher House, please contact the manager immediately. Chicken pox can be very serious for out-patients with lowered immunities.

• The furniture in the common rooms is shared by all - please keep feet off the furniture and do not allow children to play on it. Under no circumstances are the sofas to be used as a sleeping space - all authorized guests have been provided a bed for sleeping in. If there is someone in your room without a bed, then they are not an authorized guest!

• Guests must refrain from being too loud and using foul language. Be advised that your neighbors can probably hear you talking (as well as your TV) through doors and walls.

• Babies and children who are not yet potty-trained must always have on a diaper or pull-up. When changing diapers, please do so in your room and please use a changing pad under your child. Dirty diapers/pull-ups should be bagged and taken to the garbage cans outside daily.

• Read through the binder in your room for the full list of house policies.

Staying at Fisher House is a privilege!

page last updated 12/18/11