FAQ

You or a family member may benefit from home care if you are:

  • Recovering from a recent illness, surgery, or hospitalization.
  • Recently discharged from a nursing home or hospital stay but need additional care.
  • ln need of education regarding your health problem and how to manage your disease effectively.
  • Terminally ill and wish to receive end-of-life care in your home.
  • ln need of assistance in order to live independently at home and to enhance the quality of life at home.

Medicare, commercial insurance, and HMOs typically cover certified home care services when the criteria are met.  Altruity is a Medicare provider of services.

In order to receive home health care services under Medicare, the patient must require skilled, intermittent nursing care, physical therapy, or speech therapy, have a physician’s order for home health care, and be essentially homebound.  Medicare considers a person to be homebound if leaving the home would require a considerable and taxing effort and if s/he has a condition due to an illness or injury which restricts the ability to leave home except with the aid of devices such as crutches, canes, wheelchairs, walkers, special transportation, or assistance of another person.  Homebound patients may leave their home if absences from the home are infrequent or for periods of relatively short duration, or for the purpose of receiving medical treatment.

The home care team is interdisciplinary and usually includes nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, social workers, registered dietitians, and home health aides.

Yes, Altruity Home Health is a Medicare/AHCCCS-certified home health agency and provides skilled, intermittent nursing and therapy visits.

Yes, Alturity Home Health has brochures and an admission packet which includes and describes Patient’s Bill of Rights, emergency plan, confidentiality, our services, admission criteria, mission and philosophy, Medicare guidelines, Advance Directives/Durable Power of Attorney, and safety information.

Altruity Home Health performs a thorough screening on each patient care employee including:

  • Professional license check, if applicable
  • Criminal background check
  • Driver license check
  • Business and personal references required

All patient care employees are fully licensed or certified, as well as insured, bonded, and CPR-certified.  Each employee goes through an extensive orientation and training program upon hire and is assigned to a supervisor who closely monitors the employee’ s progress.

All patients’ home health care needs are evaluated during the first visit by a RN or therapist.  Under the direction of the patient’s physician and with input from the patient and family members, an individualized care plan is initiated.  The care plan is continually assessed and updated as the patient’s needs change and as progress is made.  All of this is documented in the patient’s chart.

Education is a very large part of our services.  All patients are given educational guidance that deal with the diagnosis that they are receiving home health services for.  Each visit the patient is taught in a method to assist patients care for themselves.  The care plan is made in conjunction with the patient and family and is discussed thoroughly.  Altruity’s staff ensures the family and patient understand the care that will be provided, how often, etc.  Typical topics addressed are: medication safety, disease management, emergency procedures, community resources, nutrition, etc.

Yes, every employee has a clinical supervisor that oversees the care patients are receiving.  All staff are evaluated at least annually by their supervisor during a home visit.  Our clinical supervisors are always available to our staff and patients for questions or help.

Altruity Home Health has a patient concern procedure in place which is spelled out in the admission packet the patient receives upon admission to our agency.

An emergency plan is made and thoroughly discussed with the patient and family during the first visit and is posted in the home and included in the care plan.  This plan is reviewed frequently with the patient and family during the course of our care in the home.  An RN is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to handle questions, problems, etc.  However, Altruity Home Health is not an emergency service.

For more information on Medicare-certified agencies and home health care, go to Home Health Compare at:

Another consumer resource is California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) can be contacted at:

cahsah.org  or you may Call  916-641-5795

For more information on Medicare-certified agencies and home health care, go to Home Health Compare at:

Another consumer resource is California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) can be contacted at:

cahsah.org  or you may Call  916-641-5795

STEVEN HANNAH

DIRECTOR OF PATIENT CARE SERVICES

Steven was born and raised locally in Merced. He started his healthcare career in 2014, as a Licensed Vocational Nurse for one of our corporate company’s skilled nursing facilities. In 2016, he transitioned to assist with the opening of our parent company’s newest skilled nursing facility in Merced. From there, he continued his growth and became the facility’s Unit Manager and shortly after promoted to Assistant Director of Nursing. He continued his education and became a Registered Nurse. He is now Altruity Home Health’s Director of Patient Care Services.

Steven has excelled in managing several different tasks/projects for the company and has worn many hats to help every department whenever called upon. He is very flexible and is always willing to lend a helping hand. He strives on collaborating with the team and on finding ways to learn and grow. He is of big support and always puts his patients and staff first.  

Outside of work, Steven continues his education and is pursuing his BSN degree. Along with schooling, he enjoys hanging out with his family and friends for weekly get togethers, BBQs, and events. He likes attending and watching anything motorsports, SF Giants games, and Disneyland. He also enjoys spending time outdoors in the mountains or ocean sites, travelling, and doing re-modeling projects with his spouse.


TABITHA DAY, RN

REGISTERED NURSE, ALTRUITY HOME HEALTH

Tabitha Day started her career in health care as a certified nursing assistant in 2012 for one of our corporate company’s skilled nursing facilities. She continued her education and through hard work, she transitioned into an RN. Since then, she has worked various positions for our corporate company, including interim Director of Nursing where she was responsible for overseeing the nursing care of a 99-bed skilled nursing facility. Tabitha is always willing to step up and assist where needed to ensure her patients receive the care they need.
Outside of work she enjoys reading, tending to her various of indoor/outdoor plants, and spending time with her husband and yellow lab.


PAT HARRIS, DPT

PHYSICAL THERAPIST, ALTRUITY HOME HEALTH

Pat Harris was born and raised in a small town on the Oregon coast. He began his career in physical therapy in 2010 as a therapy aide, while attending the University of Oregon. He went on to graduate from UO with a Bachelor’s of Science in Human Physiology and later earn his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, CA.
Pat strives to provide patients with knowledge and care in order to reach their maximal quality of life. He endeavors to address the specific needs of each patient as part of a healthcare team. In his free time, Pat enjoys outdoor activities, sports, and science fiction.

LILIANA “LILY” VALDIVIA

ADMINISTRATOR, ALTRUITY HOME HEALTH

Lily Valdivia began her healthcare career in 2012 as a Social Services Assistant in a skilled nursing facility. Shortly after, she promoted to Social Services Director and continued to learn the many facets of the healthcare world. She assisted in the opening of our corporate company’s newest 120-bed skilled nursing facility in Merced, CA where she strived to ensure her department exhibited compassion and dedication towards her residents and their families. Through her leadership, interpersonal skills, and compassion towards others, she is now the administrator for Altruity Home Health.

Lily holds a Master of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Stanislaus. Outside of work, Lily enjoys hiking, playing her guitar, and spending time with her two young sons.

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