Preventing Caregiver Burnout

March 27, 2023

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health Offers Tips and Resources for Those Caring for Loved Ones with Dementia

As the number of people living with dementia continues to increase, so does the number of individuals providing care for them. Caregiving for someone with dementia can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be incredibly challenging and exhausting. Caregiver burnout is a common phenomenon among those who care for individuals with dementia, and it can lead to serious physical and mental health issues. Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is committed to supporting caregivers and promoting their well-being. We offer the following tips to help caregivers avoid burnout when caring for someone with dementia:

Take care of your own health: Caregivers often put their own health needs aside while caring for their loved ones. However, it’s essential to prioritize your own health by eating well, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. Taking care of yourself will help you be a better caregiver in the long run.
Seek support: Caring for someone with dementia can be isolating. It’s important to seek out support from friends, family, or a support group. Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health provides monthly support groups for caregivers that allow them to share their experiences and receive support from others who are going through similar situations. A caregiver can attend in person or via zoom from the comfort of their home.
Take breaks: It’s essential to take breaks from caregiving to recharge and rejuvenate. This can include going for a walk, reading a book, or spending time with friends. If your loved one is on Pemi-Baker’s hospice services, their hospice volunteers offer respite care services that allow caregivers to take a break while ensuring their loved ones are receiving quality care.
Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing, and yoga can help reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Stay organized: Keeping track of appointments, medications, and other caregiving responsibilities can be overwhelming. There are many online tools and educational classes to help caregivers stay organized and manage their responsibilities effectively.

At Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health, we recognize the importance of supporting caregivers and promoting their well-being. We encourage caregivers to take advantage of the resources available to them and to prioritize their own health and well-being. Together, we can create a healthier, happier caregiving experience for both caregivers and those they care for.

Please contact Guy Tillson, Chaplain at info@pbhha.org or by calling 603-536-2232 to pre-register for the Free Caregiver Support Group. The Caregiver support group meets the first Wednesday of every month from 10am-11:30am.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is a trusted, nonprofit agency proudly serving 29 towns in central and northern NH since 1967. Expert services include at-home healthcare and physical therapies (VNA), hospice and palliative care, and community programs including: American Red Cross CPR/AED/FA, Caregiver and Bereavement Support Groups and Ask A Pemi-Baker Nurse days at your local senior centers. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals and also your neighbors. In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

Pemi-Baker is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org Like our Facebook Page: @pemibakerhospicehomehealth

Celebrating the Caregivers in Our Lives

February 16, 2023

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health offers monthly support groups!

Though National Caregiver Day is February 17^th this year, we think every day is a good day to celebrate caregivers around the globe. We have a few ideas to inspire you as you take time to give back to the people who care for others all year long. We also want to invite any caregiver to our free Caregiver Support groups the first Wednesday of every month.

Who Are Family Caregivers?

Nearly 53 million people in the United States are providing some type of unpaid care for a family member or child. This means you probably have at least one person in your life who is an informal or family caregiver.

Challenges for Caregivers

All caregivers, whether informal or professional, face similar challenges. For example, caregivers are at high risk for caregiver fatigue or burnout. This is a condition that is rooted in stress and can result in serious health consequences ranging from high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, or increased physical illness.

Caregivers typically receive less help than they need to stay as healthy as possible, and they often put the needs of their loved ones ahead of their own. Unfortunately, this means that informal caregivers often skip their own annual doctor appointments or preventative care because they are overwhelmed coordinating care for their loved ones.

Gifts for Caregivers

There are many ways to celebrate a caregiver in your life. Even something small can go a long way and encourage them for days or months to come. For example:

An encouraging note or card telling them that you notice the hard work they do for others
A gift card to a local coffee shop so they can pick up their favorite treat
A subscription to a meal delivery service like Blue Apron or HelloFresh
A gift card to a local spa for a haircut, massage, or facial
A subscription to their favorite magazine so they can have one ready for when they have a quiet moment

Beyond traditional gifts, perhaps the most meaningful thing you can give a caregiver is the gift of time to themselves. You can offer to make life a bit easier and relieve some of their daily burdens by:

Making homemade meals they can freeze and then defrost when they are too exhausted to cook
Driving their loved one to a medical appointment
Grocery shopping for the week and dropping off the items at their home or at the home of their loved one
Taking their children to/from sporting or school events
Visiting with their loved one for a few hours so the caregiver can get out of the home and run errands, grab a coffee, or take a nap

Most caregivers feel quite alone, and your acknowledgment of their work, along with tangible help, can make them feel supported.

Here at Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health, we honor every caregiver we have the chance to work with daily. From the professional and well-trained caregivers, to the family members and friends who tirelessly advocate for their loved ones, we celebrate you.

If you’re looking for support, we offer caregiver conversation, education and support at our free meetings the first Wednesday of every month. You will be able to connect with others, learn more about the ups and downs of at home caregiving, and discuss any issues related to the monthly topic. For more information about our meetings please email Guy Tillson: gtillson@pbhha.org or call 603-536-2232

Pemi-Baker is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org Like our Facebook Page: @pemibakerhospicehomehealth

Celebrating the Holidays While on Palliative or Hospice Care

December 19, 2022

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health teams help the Caregiver too!

The holiday season can be a difficult season for family caregivers. When your loved one is living with a serious illness, you want to carry on traditions with friends and family but the grief and responsibility of caring for them can greatly diminish the usual holiday cheer. Spending the holidays with a loved one receiving palliative or hospice care is a balancing act between maintaining traditions and not overstimulating.

Caregiving may include lifting, bathing, delivering meals, taking loved ones to doctor visits, handling difficult behaviors, and managing medications and family conflicts. This level of care can result in lost work hours, high stress, and serious declines in physical and mental health. If you are caring for someone receiving palliative or hospice care, however, it is important to know that the Pemi-Baker team will help you in this challenging role.

Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of an illness. As your loved one’s illness advances, they transition into hospice care near the end of life. Pemi-Baker’s goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family during both stages.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health Caregiver Support

They will keep you informed. Knowing what to expect can help a caregiver prepare appropriately for the ups and downs of an illness. Families are invited to every meeting so that everyone is on the same page exploring goals, treatment options and pain management.
They will equip you with practical tools and resources. The Pemi-Baker team will give you tips for taking care of your loved one, connect you with community resources, and make sure that you are able to take care of your own physical and emotional health. Attending Pemi-Baker’s free caregiver support group on the first Wednesday every month will provide you with conversation, education and support.
They will help you deal with stress too. Your loved one may be feeling frustrated and stressed. You may be feeling the same way. Our specialists take the time to listen to patients and caregivers, to answer their questions, hear their frustrations and help them take the necessary steps to feeling healthier and more focused in their roles.

During the holidays it’s important to continue traditions that are important to your family, however, overstimulating patients with lots of people, sounds and activity can cause your loved one to tire quickly and feel uncomfortable.

Don’t forget to decorate-There’s nothing like favorite lights, cookies baking and ugly sweaters to make someone’s personal space feel more festive.

Celebrate the service– If a religious service is an important part of a patient’s normal celebrations, perhaps the family could celebrate with them by performing a worship at home. As always, you can reach out for spiritual support from our Chaplain, Guy Tillson, MDiv, MA.

Avoid Over-stimulation– Remember that the patient might not be able to keep up with the pace of a regular celebration. The family should make sure that they are not overwhelmed by people who would like to see them, especially since a break in routine can be upsetting for dementia patients.

Prepare for guests-If you are having lots of visitors over to open presents or share memories, you should take steps to ensure that decorations, accommodations and activities don’t interfere with the space, equipment or care that are necessary for patient care.

We should do our best to honor favorite holiday traditions, but remember to ask the patient how they would like you to incorporate their favorite songs, movies and rituals. The patient may prefer a lower key celebration. Whatever you decide, the staff at Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health wish you and your family a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Pemi-Baker is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org Like our Facebook Page: @pemibakerhospicehomehealth

Holiday Grief and Loss Support Groups

October 28, 2022

The merry and festive atmosphere of the upcoming fall and winter holidays can pose a challenge to those who have endured significant losses. The losses do not have to be the deaths of loved ones. They can include such things as a divorce or the breakup of a relationship, being laid off from a job, relocation from a long-familiar setting to a brand-new place where all seems strange, the death of a pet, or the loss of physical health and powers due to a medical condition. In any case, one may not feel at all like celebrating even though it seems like everyone else does.

To address and explore this concern, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health will be offering TWO support groups beginning on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. A morning group will meet in-person at 11:00am at the Plymouth Regional Senior Center. A late afternoon virtual meeting group will begin on the same date at 5:30pm. Those interested in this group will need to download the app for TEAMS on their computer.

The groups meet for SIX sessions (all Tuesdays) on November 22, November, 29, December 6, December 20, and December 27, 2022; and, January 3, 2023. Please note there is NO MEETING on Tuesday, December 13, 2022. The energy generated by the group discussion and sharing determines the length of the group session, though we will definitely conclude by 12:30pm for the morning group and by 7:00pm for the late afternoon group. Group sessions include a combination of educational presentations, shared discussion, and reflective activities.

There is no cost to participate in either group; however, you MUST pre-register to attend by contacting Guy Tillson, Hospice Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator, by email gtillson@pbhha.org or by phone 603 536-2232. The groups are a service offered to our larger community by Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health.

~written by Guy Tillson, Hospice Chaplain & Bereavement Coordinator

Palliative & Hospice Care Teams Helping Those with Sarcoma Cancer

July 8, 2022

July is National Sarcoma Cancer Awareness Month

July is National Sarcoma Cancer Awareness month and Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health (PBH&HH) would like to shed some light on this cancer and how their Palliative & Hospice team can help those affected. Sarcomas are cancers that arise from the cells that hold the body together. These could be cells related to muscles, nerves, bones, fat, tendons, cartilage, or other forms of ‘connective tissues.’ There are hundreds of different kinds of sarcomas, which come from different kinds of cells.

According to the Sarcoma Foundation of America, sarcoma accounts for 1% of adult cancers diagnosed in the United States and 15%-20% of childhood cancers. Every cancer treatment can cause side effects or changes to your body and how you feel. For many reasons, people do not experience the same side effects even when they are given the same treatment for the same type of cancer. This can make it hard to predict how you will feel during treatment.

As you prepare to start cancer treatment, it is normal to fear treatment-related side effects. It may help to know that your health care team will work to prevent and relieve side effects. Doctors call this part of cancer treatment “palliative care” or “supportive care.” It is an important part of your treatment plan, regardless of your age or the stage of disease. Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home health offers free consultations to explain the benefits of having a Palliative Care team on your side. This can be done over the phone or in person.

Coping with physical side effects

Talk with your Pemi-Baker Palliative health care team regularly about how you are feeling. If they know how you are feeling, they can find ways to relieve or manage your side effects to help you feel more comfortable and potentially keep any side effects from worsening.

Sometimes, physical side effects can last after treatment ends. Doctors call these long-term side effects. They call side effects that occur months or years after treatment, late effects. Treating long-term side effects and late effects is an important part of survivorship care.

Hospice care for cancer patients is a special kind of care that provides comfort, support, and dignity at the end of life, typically when you or your loved one’s life expectancy is six months or less. Hospice cares for the whole person, addressing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.

Coping with emotional and social effects

You can have emotional and social effects after a cancer diagnosis. This may include dealing with difficult emotions, such as sadness, anxiety, or anger, or managing your stress level. Sometimes, people find it difficult to express how they feel to their loved ones. Some have found that talking to PBH&HH’s social workers or chaplain can help them develop more effective ways of coping and talking about cancer.

Caring for a loved one with cancer

Family members and friends often play an important role in taking care of a person with sarcoma. This is called being a caregiver. Caregivers can provide physical, practical, and emotional support to the patient, even if they live far away.

Caregivers may have a range of responsibilities on a daily or as-needed basis, including:

Providing support and encouragement
Talking with the health care team
Giving medications
Helping manage symptoms and side effects
Coordinating medical appointments
Providing a ride to and from appointments
Assisting with meals
Helping with household chores
Handling insurance and billing issues

It is important to care for yourself as well as your loved one with cancer. Caregiver burnout is very common but PBH&HH can help through their free ‘Caregiver conversation, education & support group’ held the first Wednesday of every month from 10am-11:30am. You can join the support group in person at their facility on Boulder Point Drive or by Zoom. Pre-registration is required through Guy Tillson, Chaplain at gtillson@pbhha.org or by calling 603-536-2232. We hope you will join us!

With over 55 years of experience, serving clients from 29 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Services include at-home healthcare (VNA), hospice and palliative care, and Community Programs including: American Red Cross CPR/AED/FA, Caregiver Support Groups, Grief and Bereavement Support Groups and Ask-A-Pemi-Baker Nurse senior center programs. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals in the business because of their hearts. In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

Pemi-Baker is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org Like our Facebook Page: @pemibakerhospicehomehealth

Summer Safety Tips For Seniors

July 1, 2022

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seniors are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses and injury. When we age, our bodies become less efficient at regulating temperature because older adults do not sweat as much as younger adults, and sweat is the body’s most important heat-regulating mechanism. Older adults also store fat differently, which can further complicate heat regulation in the body.

This can cause issues in the summer because when the outside temperature rises, so does the body’s internal temperature. Which is why seniors suffer from heat stroke in the summer more often than younger people.

Therefore, seniors have health risks that need to be monitored, especially in the heat of the summer. Below are tips to keep seniors safe and healthy in the rising temperatures of the summer months.

Stay hydrated.

Drink eight or more glasses of water and/or fruit juices every day to stay hydrated. Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages such as soda, coffee and tea as they can leave you dehydrated quickly. Increase your intake if you are doing any physical activity or if the weather is particularly hot.

Stay indoors during extreme heat.

In extreme heat and high humidity, evaporation slows down and the body must work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature. Keep in mind, the sun is the most intense between 10 am and 4 pm. If you can, limit your outdoor activity to the morning and the evening.

Stay in an air-conditioned place.

Air-conditioning is important when it is hot and humid outside. If you do not have air-conditioning in your home, go somewhere that does. A movie theater, the mall, a friend or family member’s home or a community senior center are all good options. You can contact your local Area Agency on Aging for help finding a local cooling center during extended periods of extreme heat.

Know the weather forecast and dress appropriately.

The best clothing to wear in the summertime is loose-fitting and lightweight clothes in natural, breathable fabrics like cotton. Dress in light colors that will reflect the sun and heat instead of darker colors that will attract them.

Protect your skin and eyes.

Wearing sunglasses can block your eyes from harmful UV rays and protect your vision. When outdoors, protect your skin from damage by wearing hats, sunglasses and a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation.

Know the side effects of your prescriptions.

Some medications can cause increased sensitivity to the sun. Look over your medications and talk with your doctor about any concerns or questions you have.

Know the early signs of heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, hyperthermia, etc.

Signs to look for may include disorientation, dry skin, excessive tiredness, headache, lethargy, nausea, a flushed face, high body temperature, rapid pulse, dizziness and confusion. Take immediate action if you feel any symptoms coming on.

Maintain communication with friends, family, caregivers and emergency contacts.

Prepare a list of emergency phone numbers and place them in an easy-to-access area in case needed.

As a caregiver or loved one, you can help seniors beat the heat by:

Visiting at least twice a day.
Watching for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Making sure they have access to air conditioning.
Helping them limit their exposure to the sun.
Making sure they are getting enough fluids to keep them hydrated and have a normal body temperature.

Pemi-Baker’s Ask-A-Nurse: A collaboration with the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council (GCSCC)

If you have questions or need a place to cool off why not visit your local senior center? In addition to virtual and in-person activities and meals offered by the 8 senior centers of GCSCC, three are hosting Pemi-Baker Hospice and Home Health’s ‘Ask-A-Nurse’ program. This is a free service manned by a Pemi-Baker Registered Nurse and/or Social Worker where you can get your blood pressure checked, ask medical questions, fill our your advance directive forms or just swing by and say hi!

Ask-A-Nurse Days & Times:

Mondays 11:30-1pm @ Plymouth Regional Senior Center-8 Depot Street, Plymouth

Wednesdays 11:30-1pm @ Lin-wood Area Services- 194 Pollard Road, Lincoln

Every Third Thursday 11:30-12:30 @ Littleton Area Senior Center- 77 Riverglen Lane, Littleton

With over 55 years of experience, serving clients from 29 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Services include at-home healthcare (VNA), hospice and palliative care, and Community Programs including: American Red Cross CPR/AED/FA, Caregiver Support Groups and Grief and Bereavement Support Groups. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals in the business because of their hearts. In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

Pemi-Baker is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org Like our Facebook Page: @pemibakerhospicehomehealth

Free Summer Support Groups Offered by Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health

June 21, 2022

Pemi-Baker Hospice and Home Health will be offering two new Grief and Loss Support Groups, beginning on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. The groups will deal with issues pertaining to loss and grief as these experiences impact the lives of individuals. The six sessions will draw on insights from the works of David Kessler, Kenneth Doka, and Alan Wolfelt, three leading voices in the area of grief studies.

There will be TWO groups:

A morning group will meet at the Plymouth Regional Senior Center from 11:00am through 12:30pm. We can accommodate TEN IN-PERSON participants. Group members will sit socially-distanced from one another. Masks are NOT required, but are recommended for those who wish to be cautious. We can also accommodate persons virtually via ZOOM.

There will also be a late afternoon group from 5:30pm through 7:00pm. The late afternoon group is ZOOM-accessible ONLY.

There is no cost for participating in these groups, though participants MUST pre-register by contacting Guy Tillson, Bereavement Coordinator, at gtillson@pbhha.org or by calling 603 536-2232. Each group will go for six sessions. The size of each group and the energy generated by discussion and sharing determines the length of each session. Though we allow for an hour and a half, we normally go for about an hour.

Pemi-Baker also offers a monthly support group for at-home caregivers. This group meets on the FIRST WEDNESDAY of each month at 10:00am. We can accommodate FIVE IN-PERSON participants in the Conference Room at Pemi-Baker Hospice and Home Health, 101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3, in Plymouth. In-person participants are required to wear masks. Virtual participation is also available via ZOOM. As with the grief and loss groups, please contact Guy Tillson at gtillson@pbhha.org or by calling 603 536-2232.

With over 55 years of experience, serving clients from 29 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Services include at-home healthcare (VNA), hospice and palliative care, and Community Programs including: American Red Cross CPR/AED/FA, Caregiver Support Groups and Grief and Bereavement Support Groups. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals in the business because of their hearts. In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

Pemi-Baker is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org Like our Facebook Page: @pemibakerhospicehomehealth

Let’s Celebrate Our Hospice Volunteers!

April 18, 2022

National Volunteer Appreciation Week April 18th- April 22nd!

April 18^th-22^nd is National Volunteer Appreciation week and Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health (PBH&HH) would like to recognize and say thank you to their 20+ hospice volunteers. Their volunteers come from a variety of professional backgrounds and represent many of the 29 towns PBH&HH serves.

The spirit of hospice volunteering is borne from a genuine desire to give comfort, peace and care to patients, caregivers and their families during end of life. Many volunteers have had a personal experience with someone who has benefited from all that hospice offers and have a strong desire to give back to other families in their community.

Hospice volunteers help in a variety of ways: holding vigil, writing letters, reading to patients, light housekeeping, relieving family caregivers, helping with outside chores, grocery shopping, dog walking and holding meaningful conversations. No amount of time is too small; some volunteers give 1-2 hours per week, some give 1-2 hours per month. “We are always looking for wonderful people who have a passion for working with others. Our volunteers are so important to our non-profit organization and to those families we serve,” said Shannon Cassidy, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator for PBH&HH.

All hospice volunteers complete a free 5-week training course via Zoom with Shannon and other members of the hospice team. The course covers the hospice philosophy, listening and communication skills, confidentiality, family dynamics, and bereavement support for clients and their families.

Next Training: Tuesdays, 2pm-4pm, May 3^rd-May 31st

For more information about hospice training and to register, please contact Shannon Cassidy, BSW, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator at 603-536-2232 or by email at info@pbhha.org.

Spring Grief & Loss Support Groups Starting April 26th!

April 15, 2022

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health (PBH&HH) would like to welcome you to their FREE grief support groups being held on Tuesday mornings, 11-12:30pm, at the Plymouth Regional Senior Center. There is also a Zoom only group that meets later in the day from 5:30-7pm. Anyone who has lost a loved one is welcome. Topics include the stress of grief, tips for coping during the holidays and what helps when grief hurts.

Pre-registration is required for this 6 week session and the in-person, Tuesday morning meetings require a mask. Please call Guy Tillson, Hospice Chaplain at 603-536-2232 or email him at info@pbhha.org to register or learn more. We hope you will join us and find strength with others walking a similar path.

Tuesdays, April 26^th-May 31^st: 11am-12:30pm or 5:30pm-7pm

With over 55 years of experience, serving clients from 29 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Services include at-home healthcare (VNA), hospice and palliative care, and Community Programs including: American Red Cross CPR/AED/FA, Caregiver Support Groups and Grief and Bereavement Support Groups. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals in the business because of their hearts.

In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

Celebrate Caregivers!

February 15, 2022

What would we do without caregivers? Not everyone is cut out to be a caregiver. It takes a special person to dedicate their time and energy to help another. Caregivers provide help with daily essentials along with the physical and emotional support needed by our loved ones late in life. But do we ever stop to take care of the caregiver? How often do we say “thank you” for being there for our loved ones, our clients, and the most defenseless in society? When do we take the time to ask how the caregiver is doing? Care-giving can be a gratifying experience but can also cause a great deal of stress. While caring for and focusing on another, a caregiver can neglect their own health, causing harm over time. Therefore, it is essential to provide tools and resources to help manage stress. If a caregiver doesn’t care for themselves, they can’t care for someone else.

One way we can help is to spend a day honoring caregivers. On the third Friday of February, we can celebrate a group of people who selflessly provide support to our aging loved ones with patience and kindness. The Providers Association for Home Health & Hospice Agencies, PAHHHA, started National Caregiver Day in 2015 to recognize a profession that gives so much and often goes unappreciated. Caregivers spend time taking care of the essential needs of our vulnerable family members. A caregiver is anyone who provides help to another person in need and can be a family caregiver or a professional caregiver. According to the Mayo Clinic, 1 in 3 adults in the United States provides care as an informal caregiver to another adult.

Make sure you take time on February 18th to honor the people who care for our most vulnerable population. For example, you could give cards with encouraging words of appreciation or a small gift to show gratitude. You can also honor caregivers on social media using the hashtag #nationalcaregiversday and let people know what makes them special. Here are some suggestions for a small gift to the caregivers in your life:

Spa Gift Card
Scented hand lotion or Candles
Baked Goods
Take them to lunch

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to show appreciation. Caregivers make a difference in the lives of others every single day so let’s take one day & make a difference in their lives. Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health offers FREE Caregiver support groups the first Wednesday of each month from 10-11:30am via Zoom. You will be able to connect with others, learn more about tools and resources to cope with the natural ebb and flow of your emotions and discuss any issues related to the monthly topic. Contact Guy Tillson to register at info@pbhha.org or call 603-536-2232.

With over 55 years of experience, serving clients from 29 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Services include at-home healthcare (VNA), hospice and palliative care, and Community Programs including: American Red Cross CPR/AED/FA, Caregiver Support Groups and Grief and Bereavement Support Groups. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals in the business because of their hearts. In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

Pemi-Baker is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org Like our Facebook Page: @pemibakerhospicehomehealth