News & Blog

PBH&HH Score High in Hospice Satisfaction Survey Results

August 25, 2022

According to the most recent independent Strategic Healthcare Program (SHP) report comparing agencies of the Rural Health Care Network (RHCN), Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health (PBH&HH) shines bright in all categories and is at the top or tied for the top in over 20 categories of patient satisfaction for Hospice. We are touched and honored that our hospice families gave us such high scores with regard to the care their loved ones received.

The report measures many details about the agency’s interactions and care including communication with the family, getting timely help, treating patients with respect, emotional and spiritual support, help for pain and symptoms and training the family to care for the patient. Though PBH&HH scored high on all survey questions the following items scored a 100%-actual positive score:

“Communication with the family”-composed of separate questions, including-

Things were explained in a way that was easy to understand,
Hospice team listen carefully about any problems with care,
Family kept informed about patient’s condition

“Treating the patient with respect”-composed of 2 separate items including-

How often patient was treated with dignity and respect
You felt the hospice team really cared about the patient

“Percentage of families who would rate the Hospice care as a 9 or 10 on a 0-10 scale”
“Would you recommend this Hospice to family or friends?”

“Caring for the patient and their family is something our Hospice staff excels at. The feedback we receive from our Hospice families is a testament of the concern, compassion, and dedication our staff demonstrate every day,” said Lauren Bell, BSW, Hospice and Palliative Care Supervisor for Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health.

Are you wondering about Palliative and Hospice care for yourself or a loved one? Call us for a free in-home consultation with Lauren Bell, BSW or email your questions to info@pbhha.org.

With over 55 years serving clients from 29 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Expert services include at-home healthcare (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 in the business because of their hearts. Neighbors serving 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

It’s Make-A-Will Month

August 12, 2022

August is Make-A-Will Month. It’s the perfect moment to make your mark on all that you care about. On average it only takes 20 minutes to write or update your legal will. Still procrastinating? Read 10 great reasons to start today:

Save your loved ones time, money and stress. Most estates go through probate to start the legal process for distributing assets upon your death. Without a will, this gets complicated because the court names an administrator. With a will, you choose who will handle your estate, making it easier and smoother for your loved ones.
Determine who will manage your estate. Choose an executer who is capable and trustworthy to carry out your wishes.
Decide who gets your assets and property. Name people or charitable organizations as beneficiaries for specific assets or any residual value of your estate. Did you know you can bequest a gift to Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home health? It’s as easy as adding a few simple sentences. Join their Dorothy Westberg Heritage Society, named after their first nurse who saw the vision in 1967. This society of individuals are including PBH&HH in their wills, IRA’s, Trusts, Life Insurance and Retirement Plans, helping Granite Stater’s in need…now and in the future.
Choose who will care for your minor children. This is one of the most important reasons to have a will. Typically, a surviving parent will get sole legal custody of minor children. However, you can name a guardian who will be responsible for your children’s daily needs, including food, housing, health care, education, and clothing. Without a named guardian, a court will decide who will raise your kids.
Provide a home or plan for your pets. Name a beneficiary or caretaker for your pets and set aside funds to provide for their care.
Leave instructions for digital assets. An executer can be named to manage digital assets such as online accounts, social media, email and digital files.
Lower the potential for family disputes. If you die without a will, your family has to guess what your final wishes were. Chances are, they may not agree. This ambiguity can create friction, and even fights, which sometimes last a lifetime. Making a will solves this problem by eliminating guesswork.
Provide funeral instructions. Instructions about funeral arrangements are not legally binding but they offer guidance and peace of mind for those who are left behind.
Crate a legacy. Leave a positive impact on the world! Support the causes you love most by leaving a small or substantial part of your estate to a charitable organization. This can also offer tax savings for your heirs.
It’s easy to make a will! A last will and testament contains instructions on how your property should be distributed when you die. Spelling out exactly how you would like your estate handled provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Today, it’s easier than ever to make a will. A good resource to get you started is freewill.com, a free planning tool that guides you through the process of making a will.

After you’ve thought about how you want to distribute your assets, we recommend that you seek the advice of a trusted legal advisor, especially if your personal situation is complex. A trusted legal adviser can guide you through the process of drawing up a will and present tax-smart options for your estate.

If your considering a bequest for Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health, we have sample language on our website. All gifts will help us bring professional, skilled and compassionate medical care to those in need. Continuing our charitable work for generations to come.

Don’t procrastinate! Once you die, the opportunity to make a will is gone. The result is often a great deal of stress during a very emotional time for your surviving family members.

With over 55 years serving clients from 29 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Expert services include at-home healthcare (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 in the business because of their hearts. Neighbors serving 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

What You Learn About Hospice May Surprise You

August 8, 2022

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health has served countless friends and neighbors in the Lakes Region and Northern New Hampshire for over 55 years. We expertly deliver tailored care to patients and families and today we want to explain what Hospice Care is.

The peace of mind and relief you feel when Hospice comes in to help care for your loved one is almost instant. In fact, most people only wish that they had called sooner. Our wish is that more of our friends and neighbors in the community would know to turn to our professional caregivers at Pemi-Baker Hospice and Home Health in their time of need. And, it’s never too soon to call us and just ask questions! We can generally help sooner than you think.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health provides their care in your home or where you call home. You can’t ask for a better Hospice organization and that is why we are sharing the following information with you in the hopes that you can help your loved ones get the best care when in need.

Did you know?

Hospice is not about giving up hope. It’s about embracing hope and living longer with exceptional care. Facing the physical and emotional challenges of a life-limiting illness is overwhelming. You owe it to yourself to seek every option. Calling hospice does not mean giving up hope – it means letting hope in, for help and support, when you need it most. Our care is designed to help patients live more fully and comfortably – with a team of caregivers who work to ease symptoms and enhance quality of life. It is choosing compassionate care and support so that you can be at home – wherever you call home.
Patients and families who choose hospice care live longer and report feeling better, emotionally and physically, almost immediately. With improved quality of life, hospice patients actually live longer! A study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management showed that patients who choose hospice care live an average of 29 days longer than patients who do not have hospice care.
Remarkably, there is rarely any out-of-pocket expense for hospice care. You have already paid for hospice care. It is an entitlement your tax dollars earn you. Hospice care is most often paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or donations. Therefore, in addition to easing physical and emotional burdens, using hospice at end of life can ease financial burdens. The Medicare Hospice Benefit is available to all patients with the Medicare part A benefit.
Hospice care is designed to support people for months. Far too many patients and families say—“We wish we had called sooner.” Hospice care is not simply for patients in the final days or weeks, but rather months. Patients can receive hospice care as soon as a physician predicts that life expectancy is six months or less. Anyone, including yourself, family or friends, can make a referral to hospice. In fact, we provide free in home consults to you and your family about your current or future options.
Hospice care is provided in your home—wherever you call home. Our teams of caregivers come to you, making routine visits so that you can remain comfortable in your home with family, friends and familiar surroundings. This includes private homes, assisted living facilities and/or skilled nursing facilities. “I wish we had called sooner.” That’s what most families say once they have embraced the support of hospice. We understand that until you have had a first-hand experience with hospice care, you might not understand the true essence of hospice. That’s why we’re sharing this information and encouraging you to get to know more about Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health before you need them.

With over 55 years serving clients from 29 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Expert services include at-home healthcare (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 in the business because of their hearts. Neighbors serving 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

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

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health Raises Critical Funds for Patients Through Online Auction

June 15, 2022

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health (PBH&HH) celebrated another successful fundraising auction this spring thanks to the generosity of community sponsors, donors and bidders.

With over 125 items to bid on and specialty services to donate towards, they hit their fundraising goal and raised the critical funds needed to continue their important work in supporting the members of 29 communities who need medical aid at home. All proceeds from the auction support patients and families with little or no health insurance. Some of the auction donations are specific to palliative and hospice services including: therapeutic massage, hospice and dementia comfort cubs, therapeutic music and hospice comfort kits.

PBH&HH would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for sponsoring the auction: Dumont Construction, the VanSickle Family, Rockywold-Deephaven Camps, Waterville Valley Realty, Speare Memorial Hospital, Northway Bank, Bank of New Hampshire, Mid-State Health, Noyes Insurance, Meredith Village Savings Bank, R.M.Piper Inc., New England Employee Benefits Company, Insurance 24, Mainstay Technologies, Hannaford, Horne Electric, Tom & Donna Wall, Wild Heart Yoga & Wellness Studio, Tartaglia’s Pizza and Bovill Bros. Logging Inc.

Would you like to support Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health? Visit their website, www.pbhha.org, to make a donation or join their ‘Circle of Friends’. This special group of good as gold supporters, make small, monthly donations to provide ongoing funding so PBH&HH can mobilize care, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay. Just $10 a month will help ensure that every family can find the compassion, education and assistance necessary to help their loved one. You can make a difference to a friend or family member today with less than the amount you spend on lunch!

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

‘Lifting Life’

May 20, 2022

Pemi-Baker Kicking-Off Spring Auction!

April 30, 2022

May first is the kick-off date for Pemi-Baker Hospice and Home Health’s month long, online auction and they are inviting you to be a part of their largest fundraiser of the year!

The auction has something for everyone with gift certificates and specialty services from local businesses, breweries, restaurants, yoga studios, gift baskets with toys for the kids, champagne and chocolate picnics, Father’s Day baskets, camping supplies, spa day and golf packages, pontoon boat rentals, jewelry, local art ….the items are endless and with bidding options all month you can walk away with a steal!

The auction is online for the month of May at www.32auctions.com/PBHHH22.

All of the items have been donated by local businesses and friends of PBH&HH allowing all money raised to go to their uninsured patients as well as toward their free community programs (Coffee w/ Caregivers, Loss & Grief Support, Fill Out Your Forms) and free patient services: Therapeutic Comfort Cubs, Hospice Comfort Kits, Therapeutic Massage and Music Therapy.

“It is important for us to continue to support the members of our community who need medical aid at home and we are so appreciative of the businesses who helped us by being sponsors or by donating items to make this auction possible,” said Danielle Paquette-Horn, Executive Director.

PBH&HH would like to thank Dumont Construction, Rockywold-Deephaven Camps, The Vansickle Family, Mid-State Health Center, Waterville Valley Realty, Speare Memorial Hospital, Northway Bank, Bank of New Hampshire, Noyes Insurance, R.M. Piper General Contractors, Meredith Village Savings Bank, NE Employee Benefits Company, Insurance 24, Mainstay Technologies, Horne Electric, Wild Heart Yoga & Wellness Studio, Tartaglia’s Pizza, Badger Peabody & Smith Realty and Tom & Donna Wall for their sponsorships.

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.