Preventing Falls in the Home

February 8, 2022

Falls have been a leading cause of injury for older Americans for decades, and the data on this problem is startling. As a Physical Therapist with Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health for nearly 12 years now, I can attest to the number of home health patients we treat annually due to a fall. Research compiled by the CDC finds:

In 2018, approximately 36 million falls occurred among people aged 65 and over in the US, and of that number, there were roughly 8 million injuries.(1)
One out of every 5 falls among older adults causes a serious injury, such as a broken bone or a head injury.
In fact, falls are the most common cause for traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
If you are curious about the cost of all this falling to the healthcare system, annually it totals close to 50 billion dollars for non-fatal falls, and another 750 million dollars for fatal falls.
NH actually has a higher than average rate of deaths due to falling, with a rate of 109 deaths per 100,000 falls annually. The national average is 66-68 deaths per 100,000 falls.

The WHO has reported that people over the age of 75 tend to fall more frequently in their homes, while those younger than age 75 seem to fall outside more often. Prior surveys found that around 30% of falls in the home happened in the living room, while another 30% were occurring in the bedroom. 19% of falls from this data set took place in the bathroom.

As for the reasons why people fall, there are numerous contributing causes. Many times, a person who falls will have several issues that weigh in against them. The evidence shows the likelihood of falls can be influenced by many factors including:

A prior fall. This is often the single strongest predictor of further falls.
Weakness of the leg or hip muscles. This can contribute to poor balance and slower reaction times, making it harder to stop a fall if a person stumbles or bumps into something
Poor vision, which also influences balance
Use of medications such as sedatives, some pain killers, or anti- depressants. Some of these may cause drowsiness or slower reactions.
Joint pain, especially in the feet, ankles, knees or hips.
Trip/slip hazards in the home such as clutter, objects lying in hallways, poor lighting, high thresholds, liquid spilled onto floors.

Fortunately, there are some effective options available to help reduce the chances of falling. The CDC has published a manual titled “A CDC Compendium of Effective Fall Interventions”. The first item they go over is exercise. Studies have repeatedly shown that specially designed exercises aimed at weak muscles and poor balance can be effective for many people in reducing falls.

The second item in the CDC Compendium effective for reducing falls was modification to the living environment. This might consist of things like making sure there is adequate lighting, getting rid of broken down old footwear, installing color contrasting tape on stairs, or getting a shower chair and hand-held shower attachment in place.

For over 55 years, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health has been providing services exactly as I have described above, to people in Grafton County, right in their homes. Our agency has highly trained, caring Occupational and Physical Therapists who can bring their expertise to your home and give you the right guidance on what you should do to reduce your chances of a fall. We can create custom home exercise programs and recommend practical, effective ways to modify your living environment for better safety. While our outpatient OT and PT service has now transitioned to operating thru the Mid-State Health Center, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health continues to provide top quality in-home OT, PT, and Nursing care. For more details, call or check our website www.pbhha.org.

References:

https://www.cdc.gov/falls/index.html

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

~written by Ernest Roy PT DPT, Quality Director PBH&HH

Reap the Rewards of Volunteering!

January 28, 2022

Join Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health’s Team of Hospice Volunteers.

Hospice volunteers know that helping others at the end of their lives is tremendously rewarding. Being part of a hospice team gives you the profound privilege of bringing comfort, peace and care to patients, caregivers, and their families during their transitional journey. Volunteers feel a greater appreciation of life itself, a deeper understanding of what’s truly important, and an authentic sense of fulfillment.

Why volunteer?

As a hospice volunteer, you become part of a person’s life when you are needed most. That sense of fulfillment is priceless. Also, without caring volunteers like you, there would be no Medicare-certified hospice programs. Medicare law requires that 5% of hospice care hours are provided by volunteers.

Who volunteers?

People just like you. Adults, young adults, and in some cases mature teens from all backgrounds, experiences, and cultures. Effective hospice volunteers embrace the fact that their role is one of compassionate service.

What skills do I need?

Most agencies like Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health, will provide the training and orientation you need to feel confident and comfortable with whatever level of support you choose to give. Training can include things such as grief counseling, boundaries between the volunteer, the patient and the family, and emergency medical support.

Do you love music? Sharing stories? Playing cards? Whatever passions, talents, or interests you bring can also be valuable assets. The most precious asset, of course, is simply caring.

What does a hospice volunteer do?

Ultimately, hospice care is about providing patients, caregivers, and families with the most comfortable and compassionate end-of-life experience possible. Your responsibilities will vary. In many cases it’s as simple as companionship. Sitting and talking. Or just listening. Or playing a patient’s favorite music.

You may also assist patients with tasks they can no longer perform for themselves. It may include anything from light household chores to lending emotional support to the patient’s family during this difficult time.

If you prefer to work in a different capacity, some hospice providers have opportunities to help with administrative office tasks.

What is the time commitment?

As with most things around hospice volunteering, your commitment can vary. It depends a lot on the time you’re willing to commit and the needs of the patients you are matched with. Some volunteers work an hour a week, some 2 hours each month.

I’m interested; how do I pre-register?

The next FREE VIRTUAL Hospice Volunteer training will start Tuesday, February 8^th and run 5 weeks through March 8th. All the training is done via two hour zoom meetings in the comfort of your own home. Contact Shannon Cassidy, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health’s Hospice Volunteer Coordinator at 603-536-2232 or email her at scassidy@pbhha.org. For more information visit Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health’s Events Calendar.

With over 50 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

written by Anna Swanson

Loss & Grief: Some basics in processing personal grief

January 13, 2022

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is offering a FREE grief and loss support series starting Tuesday, February 15^th running through March 29^th, 2022. Late morning and early evening times will accommodate all schedules and we invite anyone experiencing a personal loss to join us.

Since Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’ pioneering work On Death and Dying in 1969, research and study on the very human experiences of grief and loss have come a very long way. The “five stages of grief” entered quickly into the storehouse of wisdom in the popular culture. Many people can tick off “Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance” when asked about the process of grieving. As helpful as these categories can be in opening up discussion, the truth is that “stage theory” has fallen on hard times in psychological studies.

Put simply, life experience is much too dynamic and deeply personal to fall into neat and progressive stages that follow one upon the other in predictable fashion. Kubler-Ross herself did not see her theory as being that way. It took our characteristically American linear way of thinking to do that. Generally speaking, we like things neat, but life is messy. Over the course of almost four decades, other theorists have included additional features in grieving, such as “shock”, “guilt”, “retreating”, “reflection”, “isolation”, and “working through”. There is a lot to consider if we are in the thick of trying to come to terms with a significant loss that has come into our life.

In a practical effort to begin to explore the intricate web of responses and reactions that human beings experience following upon significant life-losses, the Hospice program of Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health in Plymouth will be offering a series on “Loss and Grief: Some Basics” as part of its Bereavement services. The series consists of six sessions. Each session will include a brief educational presentation, a reflective exercise to assist participants in focusing on their experience of loss, and a time for sharing, questions, and discussion. Sessions will include such topics as: “My Concept of Loss”, “Evaluating My Loss”, “Coping Skills”, “Manifestations of Grief”, “What Helps and What Hurts?”, “Acceptance”, “My New Reality”, and “Recognizing My Strengths”.

The six week series will be offered on Tuesdays at two different times: a late morning group 11am-12:30pm or an evening group 5:30pm -7pm. In-person participation is limited to five people for each group; there will be hand sanitizer, socially-distanced seating and masks are required. Please pre-register with Guy Tillson, Bereavement Coordinator by email (gtillson@pbhha.org) or by phone (603-536-2232). Pre-registration required by Tuesday, February 8^th, 2022. Ask about possible accommodations virtually via ZOOM.

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: @PBCH4

Home Care: More Than Just a Visiting Nurse

January 3, 2022

When patients leave the hospital and return home, they go from highly supportive medical environments with physicians, nurses, aides, and other professionals, to non-medical environments with informal caregiver support. Patients and caregivers must struggle to absorb confusing medical information before leaving the hospital and often providers have incomplete understandings of home environments and caregiver capabilities. Patients are largely left to themselves, expected to manage their medical conditions on their own. It is a daunting task.

This is where Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health (PBH&HH), can assist; supplementing visits from home care nurses, physical therapists and licensed nursing assistants.

What is the Meaning of Home Health Care?

Home health care is a wide range of health care services that can be given in your home for an illness or injury.
Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as care you get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.

Patient safety at home is as important as patient safety in hospitals. Unsafe conditions in the home can lead to unnecessary or avoidable, expensive, re-hospitalizations. Your PBH&HH team will be a bridge of communication and care between you and your physician. Receiving home care decreases costs, improves health outcomes, and reduces hospital stays. PBH&HH helps support your family by teaching you to properly care for wounds, follow medication regimens correctly, manage durable medical equipment and keep your house free of hazards.

What Can I Expect From A Home Health Care Visit?

Checking your blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and breathing.
Making sure you understand the purpose of your medicines.
Teaching you or your caregiver to care for a wound or IV.
Creating an exercise plan to build your strength and improve balance/walking.
Helping you assess your pain and monitor your food intake.

PBH&HH’s primary goal is to discharge you to self or family care and avoid subsequent hospitalizations. We want you to feel confident and comfortable not only in your home but with the goal of returning back to your normal daily routines in your community. PBH&HH provides services to residents who reside in Grafton and Belknap counties, but we also accept referrals in other counties upon request. Call or contact us today to learn more.

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 visit online: www.pbhha.org

~written by Anna Swanson

Why We Love National Home Health & Hospice Month

November 11, 2021

National Home Care and Hospice Month in November is when we honor all professionals who work in the broad field of home care and hospice work – this includes physicians, nurses, LNAs, social workers, physical therapists, and so many more. Each requires a different skill-set and comes with its own emotional and physical demands. The professionals who perform these services are committed to helping patients live, as well as pass away with dignity. This month is for them.

Home Health Care Can Reduce Falls and Hospital Re-admissions

If you have had surgery or been hospitalized for a medical illness, you might have safety concerns at home, particularly the risk of falls. The truth is that falls with resulting injuries are quite common in hospitals, despite efforts to reduce them. There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that an elderly or ill person is less likely to suffer a serious event at home compared to an acute care setting. Home care can also reduce the rate of hospital re-admission.

Home Health Care Provides a Medical Level of Care at Home

After hospitalization, most people prefer to heal at home. Similarly, the elderly prefer to stay home rather than go to a skilled nursing facility.

Home health care can provide a variety of benefits to support activities of daily living as well as 24/7 nursing care, disease management, ostomy and catheter management, surgical after care/wound care, medication management and care for high risk pregnancies, infants and children.

If the only thing keeping a patient in the hospital is the need for intravenous medications, there is good news: there is now a way to manage infusion therapy at home.

Home Health Care Can Provide Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy

If you’ve had surgery and you’ll be needing physical or occupational therapy, you don’t have to go to a rehabilitation facility. Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health offer at-home therapy services. Another benefit that at-home therapy provides, is the opportunity to assess the safety and accessibility of the home environment. A therapist’s trained eyes can spot fall hazards or bathroom dangers and provide helpful preventive advice.

Hospice Provides Dignity for Many

Home care and hospice workers believe that those at the end of their lives deserve the right to pass peacefully and on their own terms. The elderly often far prefer to stay in the comfort of their homes, where they feel freer and are at less risk of contracting other illnesses. The existence of hospice makes this level of freedom available to many who otherwise would not have had it. Hospice care offers 24/7 clinical support, medication and pain management, assistance with daily living activities, medical supplies and equipment, volunteer support and companionship, social, spiritual and grief support from social workers and chaplains, for the whole family.

Hospice Month Gives us a Chance to Improve Caregivers’ Lives

These family members and/or professionals dedicate physical, emotional, and mental energy to each one of the individuals in their care, and often deal with the emotional fallout when the terminally ill take a turn for the worst or pass away. Pemi-Baker offers advice and support in the home to the families they are caring for and also offers a Caregiver Support group every first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am in person or via ZOOM.

Hospice Proves the Healing Power of the Home and Loved Ones

The elderly who wish to retain the freedom of staying in their home and ending their lives on their own terms experience true psychological benefits. Their comfortable surroundings allow them to end their lives with a sense of dignity, which is incredibly valuable. In fact, home care harkens back to older days, when tending to the terminally ill at home was the standard. There’s always the added benefit of being closer to their loved ones in their final days.

If you think you or your loved one would benefit from home health care, palliative care or hospice care we urge you to visit our website to learn more or call to speak directly to a professional who will guide you.

With over 50 years of experience, serving clients from 28 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: @PBCH4

~written by Anna Swanson

Pemi-Baker Community Health and Mid-State Health Center Collaboration

November 8, 2021

Pemi-Baker Community Health and Mid-State Health Center are excited to announce a new collaboration to enhance access to services in the community.

(from left to right) Matthew Scagliarini, Pemi-Baker Community Health Outpatient Physical Therapy and Membership Director, Danielle Paquette-Horne, Pemi-Baker Community Health Executive Director, Robert Macleod, Mid-State Health Center Chief Executive Officer

Pemi-Baker Community Health Changing Name to Pemi-Baker Hospice and Home Health

For fifty-five years, Pemi-Baker Community Health has followed their mission to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve by providing excellence in health care services in your home and at their facility at 101 Boulder Point Drive in Plymouth. With more than 70 employees and volunteers, they have grown to meet the needs of 28 surrounding towns, and as their new name and logo show, they are focusing on Hospice, Palliative and Home Health Care moving forward.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is pleased to announce that their outpatient physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) services will now be overseen by Mid-State Health starting January 1^st, 2022. Pemi-Baker will maintain their offices at Boulder Point with a new entrance and will be serving patients as far north as Benton, Lincoln, Franconia, Sugar Hill, Bethlehem and Littleton. Their Doctors, Nurses, LNA’s, Chaplains, Social Workers, Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists will continue to provide excellent services in the home setting. They are also pleased their current Senior Director of Home Health, Palliative Care, & Hospice, Danielle Paquette-Horne RN, is taking the position of Executive Director.

“With the growing need for hospice and home health in central and northern New Hampshire, this transition will allow us to focus our resources and expand our services to the patients and families who are in need of professional home healthcare,” said Danielle Paquette-Horne.

Mid-State Health Center launches Outpatient Physical and Occupational Therapy as a new service.

Starting January 1, 2022, Mid-State will begin offering physical and occupational therapy services under its umbrella of primary care services. Through a collaboration with Pemi-Baker Hospice and Home Health, Pemi-Baker’s trusted and skilled Outpatient Physical and Occupational Therapy team will be joining Mid-State Health Center to provide PT/OT services. This transition will further enhance Mid-State’s integrated approach to health care while providing individuals in need of physical and occupational therapy with the same high-quality care, provided by the same team, in the same familiar space.

Dr. Robert MacLeod, Mid-State CEO says, “We are committed to providing health care services that meet the needs of the whole person. Bringing PT/OT services under our umbrella is another step for Mid-State to strengthen our integrated care model, while allowing Pemi-Baker to deliver services to patients where they need it most in the home care setting.”

The two organizations will be working closely over the upcoming months to ensure a seamless transition for all. To learn more about this transition, please visit midstatehealth.org/OPT.

Loss and Grief Support Groups for the Holiday Season

October 28, 2021

Because the holiday season can be a difficult time for persons who have endured a loss, Pemi-Baker Community Health will be offering TWO support groups in the months of November and December. These groups are open to anyone who has experienced ANY type of loss- the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, relocation to an unfamiliar area, or the passing of a beloved pet. The groups will offer an opportunity to listen and converse with others.

Both groups will be held in the Conference Room at Pemi-Baker Community Health at 101 Boulder Point in Plymouth, NH. For convenience, two times are offered: 11:00am and 5:30pm. Both groups will meet on the following dates: Tuesday, November 23 and 30, December 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2021. Because of ongoing COVID19 precautions, groups are limited to FIVE in-person participants. We will also try to accommodate virtual participants via ZOOM.

In-person participants MUST wear masks and sanitize their hands upon entering the Conference Room. There will be distanced seating. There is NO cost for attendance but you MUST pre-register by Wednesday, November 17, 2021. Registration will be on a “first come, first served” basis. To register, please contact Guy Tillson, Bereavement Coordinator, at gtillson@pbhha.org or by leaving a voicemail at (603) 536-2232. We hope that these offerings will assist those who need some support and living through “the holiday blues”.

With over 50 years of experience, serving clients from 28 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Community Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Services include at-home healthcare (VNA), hospice and palliative care, on-site physical and occupational therapy and aquatic therapy in their 90-degree therapy pool. 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.

~Written by Guy Tillson, MA, MDiv, Hospice Chaplain

Jenn Stewart Selected for Mary Ellen LaRoche Scholarship

September 27, 2021

“Jennifer Stewart is a go-getter with excellent clinical skills who cares deeply for her patients and has a commitment to community-based nursing,” says Julie Reynolds, Alliance Board President. Stewart was chosen for the annual Mary Ellen LaRoche Nursing Scholarship.

Stewart has been a licensed practical nurse for seven years and is enrolled at NHTI to become an RN. She serves as her agency’s infection control nurse, teaches wound care skills to RNs, and is actively involved in COVID testing and vaccinating homebound patients.

The Mary Ellen LaRoche Nursing Scholarship supports individuals currently employed in home healthcare or hospice working towards an associate, bachelor’s, or advanced nursing degree. The scholarship honors Mary Ellen LaRoche, the executive director of Carroll County Health & Home Care in Chocorua, until her death in 2009. She was a mentor to paraprofessionals and nursing staff throughout her career.

“The need for highly educated nurses is growing. We are delighted to be able to support New Hampshire nursing students who will bring diverse and valuable perspectives to the field,” said Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care CEO Gina Balkus.

Applicants for the Mary Ellen LaRoche Nursing Scholarship must be employed by a member agency, be enrolled in an educational program for at least a year, have a GPA of at least 3.0 and be recommended by a supervisor.

The Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care Alliance membership includes not-for-profit and proprietary agencies serving New Hampshire. Member agencies provide services to thousands of New Hampshire residents of all ages recovering from surgery, injury, or illness, chronic or terminal illnesses, or other conditions needing support at home.

~written by Leslie Hammond

6th Annual Battle of the Sexes Tennis Tournament Scheduled for September 19th

August 24, 2021

Pemi-Baker Community Health (PBCH) is excited to announce that the Waterville Valley charity event, “Battle of the Sexes Tennis Tournament” will be held on the outdoor, clay courts on Sunday, September 19^th2021. Doubles men’s teams will compete against doubles women’s teams in hour long battles on the court as well as competition for overall moneys raised for PBCH’s Palliative & Hospice Care.

The generosity of our players, sponsors, and donors has raised $30,000 over the past six years for PBCH and hopes are high for bragging rights this year. You can join in the fun by registering your doubles team; players are participating from all over the state. In past years, Pirates, Roaring Twenties Flappers, Cowboys and Pink Diva costumes have added to the fun and given players point advantages. Players can also ‘buy’ mulligans / serves during play which of course adds to the proceeds and fun.

There are many other ways to get involved if you don’t want to battle it out on the tennis court. An auction site has been set up to buy raffle tickets for wine baskets, photography/artwork and more. You can also help your favorite team win the ‘Moneys Raised’ competition by donating on the auction site towards your favorite team: ‘Men’ or ‘Women’. www.32auctions.com/Battle2021

If you would rather be a spectator watching the shenanigans and banter, we encourage you to join us courtside on the 19^th. Teams will be competing from 2-5pm and prizes will be given out at the after-party at the Wild Coyote Grill located in the White Mountain Athletic Club. Raffle tickets can also be bought at Pemi-Baker Community Health, courtside during the competitions and at the after-party. Many thanks to our sponsors Waterville Valley Realty and Roper Real Estate!

For more information about how you can get involved, please look on our events page.

PBCH is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org Like our Facebook Page: @PBCH4

~written by Anna Swanson

Alzheimer’s at the Movies

August 20, 2021

Over the past twenty years, several interesting feature films have been produced which explore the significance of Alzheimer’s Disease and its impact on patients and their families and caregivers.

For her performance as Alice Howland in 2014’s “Still Alice”, Julianne Moore received the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film is based on a novel of the same title by Lisa Genova, herself a neuroscientist. The film is the story of Alice Howland, an esteemed professor of linguistics at New York City’s Columbia University. The story takes us from Alice’s first suspicions that something is amiss, through her diagnosis with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, her various losses, and concluding with a touching scene featuring Alice’s free-spirited actress daughter Lydia who has assumed responsibility for her care.

As the story unfolds, we witness Alice and her family confront and come to terms with many of the challenges posed by Alzheimer’s Disease. Alice’s particular form of the disease is called “familial”, meaning that in her family line, there have already been two or more relatives with the malady. Since Alice is only fifty, her diagnosis is termed “early onset”. The question is raised as to whether Alice’s three grown children want to be tested to determine if they are susceptible to the illness. Daughter Lydia chooses not to. Son Tom and the elder daughter Anna do want to be tested. Anna is pregnant. Though she is positive for the test, she follows through in giving birth to her twins. This complex of factors are among several story lines in this captivating film. Others include: Alice’s secret preparations to end her own life when her memory loss and functioning progress to a certain point, her lingering desire to make a contribution to others living with the same disease, and family decisions around Alice’s care in conflict with the reality that “Life goes on”. Through all this, we see Alice’s progressive deterioration through the loss of her teaching career, her advancing inability to recognize those closest to her, disorientation within her own home, an interrupted suicide attempt, her husband’s decision to relocate in favor of his professional betterment, and the loving self-sacrifice of Lydia to care for her. Despite the wasting away of the many qualities that made her the person she had been, she remains “still Alice” in a brief moment of recall when she is able to identify the importance of love.

In preparation for her role as Alice, Julianne Moore did extensive research about Alzheimer’s Disease. Sadly, it also fell to her to dedicate her reception of the Academy Award to the memory of Richard Glatzer, one of the two writers and directors of the movie. He died of ALS (“Lou Gehrig’s Disease) shortly before the awards ceremony. “Still Alice” can be accessed on You Tube, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Closer to our time, the winner of the 2020 Academy Award for Best Actor was Sir Anthony Hopkins for his performance as Anthony in “The Father”. Some years ago, Hopkins also won the Oscar in that same category as the infamous Hannibal Lechter in “The Silence of the Lambs”. “The Father” is based on a French stage play by Florian Zeller who assisted in the adaptation and direction of the work for the screen. “The Father” features Olivia Colman (currently seen as Queen Elizabeth II in Seasons Three and Four of the series “The Crown”). For her portrayal as Anne, Anthony’s daughter, Colman was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Spoiler alert! “The Father” immerses us within the thoughts, perceptions, and reactions of a man whose mind is unraveling because of dementia. There are repeated events with some changes in character and setting that can be quite confusing and disconcerting until we perceive that this is purposefully done to draw us into Anthony’s experience. It ushers us into the insecurity, denial, resistance, fear, anxiety, anger, and fragility of a man with dementia.

“The Father” begins with a confrontational conversation between Anne and Anthony who has become oppositional toward his paid caregiver. We are immediately plunged into what becomes a slow-moving but steadily mounting storm system of suspicion, stubbornness, refusal, lapses of memory, disorientation, and eventual breakdown. The persistent pace of the story’s development raises the sadly familiar challenges of living with and caring for someone with this illness. What to do about emerging potentially aggressive behaviors? How to live with the strain imposed on other intimate relationships? When does one arrive at the point of surrendering caregiving to a corps of providers in a setting that may better manage the patient’s needs? Hopkins’ masterful performance in this intense drama can be seen on You Tube, Amazon Prime, and Vudu.

Obviously, films of this genre do not lend themselves to a family movie night of coziness while sitting in front of the flat screen with popcorn at hand. They are, perhaps, most useful as a learning experience for mature adults who may be starting to consider addressing some of the serious “What if…” questions emerging in their lives as they age. The value of these movies as “family drama” will have served a good purpose if they broaden out into thoughtful and serious discussions and actual planning and preparation that might avert being overwhelmed in a later future time of critical need.

Pemi-Baker Community Health offers community support groups for Caregivers and families living with dementia as well as one on one meetings for help filling out those all-important forms for end of life wishes and care. We encourage you to contact us with questions. PBCH is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Plymouth, NH. To contact us please call: 603-536-2232 or email: info@pbhha.org Visit our website: www.pbhha.org and like our Facebook Page: @PBCH4

~written by Guy Tillson, MDiv, MA, Hospice Chaplain