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Bay Pines VA Fisher House

The Bay Pines VA Fisher House is located on the grounds of the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center and was dedicated on July 1, 2002. It is a home away from home for families of acutely hospitalized Veterans and active duty service members who live more than 50 miles away from the campus.

Fisher House 2

Facility Overview

The Bay Pines VA Fisher House has eight suites complete with common kitchen, laundry facilities, spacious dining room, living room, library, and outside gazebo. Guests must be able to take care of their own personal needs. Guests are responsible for maintaining their own rooms and keeping the common areas clean. There is no maid service.

Mission

Fisher House Foundation, Inc. is an international, not-for-profit organization established to improve the quality of life for members of the military, Veterans and their families. The Foundation builds comfort homes at military and VA medical centers and gifts them to the government.

Referrals to Bay Pines VA Fisher House

Referrals to Bay Pines VA Fisher House must be completed in advance. During regular business hours, Bay Pines VA's Social Work Service screens guests for the Fisher House and makes referrals if eligible. After hours, this is done by the Administrative Officer of the Day (AOD). The health care professional assigned to the Veteran will conduct an initial screening to determine appropriateness.

Lodging Criteria

  • Have a loved one receiving inpatient services at the C.W. Bill Young Medical Center.
  • Live 50 miles or more away from the C.W. Bill Young Medical Center.
  • Are actively engaged in the hospitalized Veteran's treatment plan and provide daily ongoing bedside support during the episode of care.
  • Are medically stable and able to stay in a non-medical, unsupervised setting.
  • The guest must have a permanent address.
  • Are willing to abide by all house guidelines and regulations.
  • Veterans are not allowed to lodge alone in the Fisher House. Veterans must be accompanied by a caregiver while lodging at the Fisher House.

Bay Pines VA Fisher House Contacts

Shentrela Diggins​
Phone:
Hours of Operation: 24/7

Pay.gov - VISN 8 Donation Form

Lodgetel Program

The Lodgetel program is designed to provide temporary, overnight lodging accommodations to eligible Veterans in a non-VA motel/hotel. A stay in the Lodgetel program is only for outpatient appointments, therefore Veterans must be capable of self-care when the Veterans must travel 50 or more miles for their scheduled appointment and has an early morning appointment. 

For more information regarding the Lodgetel program click here.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

The Bay Pines VA Fisher House offers temporary lodging to the family members and caregivers of service members and Veterans receiving care at the C.W. Bill Young Medical Center. The Bay Pines VA Fisher House has eight guest suites with some having private baths and a common kitchen, dining room, living room, family room, and outdoor gazebo.

The Fisher House Foundation built and furnished the Bay Pines VA Fisher House and then donated the house to VA.  Bay Pines VA operates and maintains the house.

An accompanying individual of the Veteran or service member is an individual over the age of 18 seeking Bay Pines VA Fisher House or other temporary lodging, who provides familial support, or the equivalent of familial support, to a Veteran or service member while the Veteran or service member is experiencing an episode of care. An accompanying individual includes relatives, close friends, or a caregiver.

Guests at Bay Pines VA Fisher House may be accommodated under specific circumstances, such as hospitalization due to injury or illness, when death is imminent, or when a Veteran is unable to make medical decisions for themselves, and the accompanying individual is authorized to make those decisions on the Veteran’s behalf, or if deemed necessary by the clinical team.

Bay Pines VA Fisher House lodging is on a first come, first serve basis, and reservations are not accepted. A room cannot be guaranteed on the request check-in date. Families requesting to stay at the Bay Pines VA Fisher House should have back up lodging plans in case a room is not available. 

A referral must be placed by a member of the Veteran’s care/treatment team for all individuals wishing to stay at the Bay Pines VA Fisher House. Family members seeking Bay Pines VA Fisher House lodging should contact the Veteran’s care/treatment team social worker.

There is no cost to stay at any Bay Pines VA Fisher House.

Meals are not provided at the Bay Pines VA Fisher House. The Bay Pines VA Fisher House has a well-equipped kitchen for guests to prepare meals during their stay. Some donated food staples are available.

Guest suites have a TV with Direct TV, a DVD player, a phone for local calls and an internet connection. Common areas have wireless internet access and a TV and DVD player.

Children of any age are welcome at the Bay Pines VA Fisher House. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and may not be left unaccompanied at any time. Childcare services are not provided by the Bay Pines VA Fisher House or the Bay Pines VA. 

Only service animals belonging to Bay Pines VA Fisher House guests are permitted. The only service animals recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are Service Dogs. Service Dogs are dogs trained to do work or perform tasks to help a person with a disability who could not perform the work or task alone.

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