In early spring of 1966, Lois Reed, R.N., in conjunction with the New Hampshire Division of Public Health, presented a new idea for Grafton County in the form of home nursing care. She enlisted the aid of the medical profession and the community, and in May of 1966 the Plymouth Council of United Church Women agreed to sponsor what would become the Pemi-Baker Home Health Agency. A board of directors was formed and Mrs. Madeline VanHagen was named chairman. The agency officially opened for business on July 17, 1967. The original staff consisted of one nurse, Dorothy Westberg, one part-time Physical Therapist, Mrs. Henrietta White, and one Secretary, IdaMae Hibbard.

Today the agency staff consists of 30+/- employees, which include RN’s, LPN’s, LNA’s, Homemakers, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapy Assistants, Administrative Assistants, Finance Assistants and Aquatic Specialists. The Leadership Team includes a Clinical Director, Director of Finance, Director of Rehabilitation, Director of HR/Administrative and the Executive Director. Contracted staff consists of Occupational Therapy and Medical Social Work.

The agency serves the towns of Ashland, Campton, Ellsworth, Groton, Hebron, Holderness, Plymouth, Rumney, Thornton, Waterville Valley and Wentworth. We also serve other towns by arrangement. Participating towns pay an annual appropriation based on a per-capita rate established by the board of directors. Census figures are taken from the most recent figures available from the Office of Comprehensive Planning in Concord.

In October of each year, the Selectmen of each town receive a report from this agency indicating programs available, the number and types of visits made to their town, the per-capita amount and the appropriation request for the next year.
In 1981 the Pemi-Baker Home Health and Hospice moved from two rooms at 47 Main Street in Plymouth to 94 Highland Street and in April 1993 we moved across the street to Plymouth Professional Place. We still own our land and building at 94 Highland.
In December of 2007 Pemi-Baker Home Health & Hospice moved to 101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3 in Plymouth and opened the doors of Pemi-Baker Aquatic & Wellness Center. The outpatient facility offers rehabilitation, aquatic therapy, a transitional program as well as a wellness center.

The services this agency offers have grown over the years to include: skilled nursing, home health aide services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, homemaking, social work and a wellness program. These core services can be found in our agency brochures. In order for us to provide homecare skilled services, a physician must give us an order to do so. We bill Medicare, Medicaid, private and third party insurances. We are a N.H. Licensed Home care facility and must meet licensure requirements annually. In addition we are surveyed by Medicare, Medicaid Grafton County, and the State of N.H. Adult & Elderly Services. The annual Medicare cost report, agency audit, quarterly cost reports, Federal Form 990, State Form NHCT-2 and Form MS-2G.E are compiled by Brad Borbidge, CPA of Concord.

As we look into the future of Health Care, we see that it is becoming increasingly more difficult to meet the needs of patients and the community in light of rising health care costs and the reductions in funding for much needed programs. We continue to stress the importance of marketing and fundraising to increase our visibility as a home care agency in this community and enable this agency to maintain present programs and promote future programs as needed.

As Health Care faces the challenge of the future, it does so at a time of significant new service demands, an uncertain financial and regulatory climate, and competition for a limited pool of qualified caregivers. Despite these constraints, Health Care has an exciting future. COLLECTIVE VISION and CREATIVITY can make our vision a reality.