COVID-19 UPDATES

March 10, 2020

Direct link for NH Department of Health & Human Services Covid-19 Website

Data from Johns Hopkins showing state-by-state trajectory of new cases to monitor reopening resurgence

January 5th, 2021: Phases for NH COVID-19 Vaccine distribution

September 15th, 2020: CDC Introduces a New Web Page on How to Select, Wear and Clean Your Mask

September 1st, 2020: Pemi-Baker Leadership team announces memberships and aqua classes will be discontinued until the facility can safely hold group programs.

In consideration of the ongoing COVID-19 changes as well as the Boulder Point facility needs, it has been decided to discontinue our membership, swim lessons and joint mobility programs indefinitely. One-on-one, Aquatic Physical Therapy will continue and it is our intention to resume our classes when renovations are complete and we have a safe plan of return established. This was not an easy decision but it is an opportunity to begin doing the needed repairs and upgrades to the facility starting with the HVAC system, which was approved by the PBCH Board.

We want to publicly thank Liz, Kristin, Anna, Callie, Mary and Diana for all their hard work, dedication and energy they continuously put into their classes! We look forward to the day when we can bring these programs back.

July 1st, 2020: Pemi-Baker Leadership team announces memberships and aqua classes will remain closed through the end of August.

“At this time the Pemi-Baker Community Health Leadership Team and COVID 19 TaskForce have decided to delay re-opening of our aquatics classes and memberships until the end of summer. Factors taken into consideration on this decision include the small size of our Locker Rooms and Front Entrance, staffing required for cleaning and monitoring the State of New Hampshire’s infection rates as state-wide re-opening occurs. We continue to grow our outpatient therapy census in the safest way possible for our patients.”

June 22nd, 2020: FDA advises consumers not to use hand sanitizer products manufactured
by Eskbiochem. FDA Article about Eskbiochem

May 20th, 2020: Direct link for NH COVID-19 REOPENING GUIDANCE

May 18th, 2020: New direct link for COVID-19 Testing Questions and Sign up

May 12th, 2020: New Covid-19 Testing Sites

Concord, NH – Tomorrow, the State of New Hampshire is launching a new testing site in Concord, NH. The testing location will be at 28 Stickney Avenue and will be open seven days a week 11:00 AM — 7:00 PM. Residents with any COVID-19 symptoms, with underlying health conditions, over the age of 60, or who are healthcare workers can request and reserve a test.

Interested individuals can sign up and reserve a test by going to the online portal here. They can also email covidtesting@dhhs.nh.gov, call the COVID-19 Coordinating Office at 603-271-5980, or by going through a health care provider.

The state’s volunteer medical corps, MMRS, is also partnering with the New Hampton Fire Department to increase community-wide access to testing by mobilizing a one-day testing site in New Hampton on Saturday, May 16, at the New Hampton Fire Department at 26 Intervale Drive. Register Now!

“We are ramping up our capabilities and rapidly expanding access to testing,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “This is one of our top priorities, and we are making huge strides every day.”

The COVID-19 Testing Registration portal is key to the State’s ongoing efforts to increase access to COVID-19 testing by ensuring qualifying residents can schedule a test without a referral from a medical provider.

There are now seven drive through testing sites as part of the Community-Based COVID-19 Testing Program. The fixed drive through testing locations are in Claremont, Concord, Lancaster, Milford, Plymouth, Tamworth and Rochester.

April 7th, 2020: Stay at Home Reminders-Resources to call for home grocery delivery

NEED HELP?

Anyone over the age of 60 or anyone who has a compromised immune system that may make you vulnerable to the affects of COVID 19 can get help getting groceries!

Call the number below that corresponds to the town in which you live. The person who answers the phone will take your order, if no one is available, please leave a voicemail with name and number. Once the shopper fills your order it will be delivered to your home. Prior to reaching your home, you will receive a phone call with the cost of your order. We ask that you tape a check to your door and we will leave the groceries at your doorstep. If you are unable to tape a check to your door please discuss with the delivery person to make an alternative plan. If desired, your receipt can be emailed, texted or potentially mailed to you. The receipt must go back with delivery person to store to pay for your order.

Shopping and delivery days will be Tuesdays and Thursdays

WHO TO CALL:

Plymouth: Plymouth Police Department- 603-536-1804

Ashland & Holderness: Theresa Melanson-603-833-6291

Campton, Thornton & Ellsworth: Food Pantry-603-960-1127

Rumney & Wentworth: Laurie Coffin-603-786-2468

If you have been diagnosed with COVID 19 or have been quarantined by a physician please let the person who is taking your order know.

March 17, 2020: Continuing Important Services

Here at Pemi-Baker Community Health, one of our core values is remaining “Rock Solid” by providing home health care as well as rehab therapy regardless of what challenges come our way. In light of the developing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, we would like to inform you of what actions we are taking to prioritize our patients.

To minimize exposure to Rehab patients at Boulder Point:

Limited entrance to our facility to patients only
All memberships and swim lessons have been suspended until further notice
Social distancing has been implemented with staff by working from home when it is possible and by separating work stations
Surfaces are wiped down after each patient with CDC recommended bleach solution
Washing hands after contact with surfaces and patients

Home care and Hospice employees have also taken actions to minimize exposure.

Here at Pemi Baker Community Health and Hospice we take our patient’s health seriously and also the health of ourselves and our community. We want to assure you that we are taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus into our community. We are following both the CDC and the NH Department of Health’s recommendations for healthcare workers. In order to meet the needs of our home care and hospice patients and to minimize vulnerable patients from going out into the community, our field staff will continue making home visits.

March 16, 2020: PBCH Suspending All Fitness Memberships

In an effort to work with the CDC guidelines and follow their recommendation to limit exposure, PBCH will be suspending ALL membership classes and programs until further notice. Moving forward auto pays will not be collected until the resumption of services. We consider you a part of our Pemi-Baker family and your safety remains our highest priority. We feel this is best way to keep our members, patients, and staff safe from unnecessary exposure to COVID-19. Pemi-Baker’s Homecare, Hospice, Physical & Occupational Services continue at this time.

March 13, 2020: Children’s Swim Lessons Postponed Through April

The COVID-19 Taskforce has met and decided to postpone our aquatic swim lessons program beginning Monday, March 16^th, for the next 4-6 weeks. Pemi-Baker Community Health will pro-rate 5 weeks due to this change in the schedule.

Pemi-Baker Community Health will re-evaluate in 4-6 weeks to determine when the aquatic swim lessons will resume.

Please contact Crystal, a member of our COVID Taskforce, if you have any further questions, cgonzalez@pbhha.org or 603-536-2232.

March 10,2020

Pemi-Baker Community Health is committed to serving our patients in New Hampshire and keeping you informed about local updates with respect to COVID-19, also known as the Novel Coronavirus 2019.

Your safety is our priority, and our infection control team is continuing to ensure that patients can continue to receive safe and exceptional home health care. PBCH has not altered our operations but are conducting screenings according to the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As members of your local community, we strive to act in the best interests of patient, employee, and community by complying with CDC guidelines and taking precautions as necessary.

We have assembled the following resources to help you stay informed and protect yourself during this developing situation:

‘There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools or hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g., with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.’ ~CDC

Helpful Precautions:

1) NO HANDSHAKING! Use a fist bump, slight bow, elbow bump, etc.

2) Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches. elevator buttons, etc.. Lift the gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a disposable glove.

3) Open doors with your closed fist or hip – do not grasp the handle with your hand, unless there is no other way to open the door. Especially important on bathroom and post office/commercial doors.

4) Use disinfectant wipes at the stores when they are available, including wiping the handle and child seat in grocery carts.

5) Wash your hands with soap for 10-20 seconds and/or use a greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from ANY activity that involves locations where other people have been.

6) Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home’s entrances. AND in your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when you can’t immediately wash your hands.

7) If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more!

8) Disinfect your phone and tablets daily!

Hospice Volunteer Graduates Announced

March 5, 2020

Pemi-Baker Community Health is pleased to introduce the newest members of their hospice volunteer team. The volunteers come from a variety of professional backgrounds and represent many of the 18 towns that PBCH 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 Lauren Bell, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator for PBCH.

The volunteers completed a FREE, 5-week training course at PBCH’s Boulder Point location in Plymouth. The course covered the hospice philosophy, listening and communication skills, confidentiality, family dynamics, and bereavement support for clients and their families.

The next free training session will begin April 7th through May 5th on Tuesday afternoons, 2-4pm. For more information about hospice training or to register, please contact Lauren Bell, SW, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator at 603-536-2232 or by email at lbell@pbhha.org.

VOL NTEER…ALL THAT’S MISSING IS U!

Thank You New Hampshire Electric Co-op Foundation

February 28, 2020

Pemi-Baker Community Health wants to say THANK YOU to the New Hampshire Electric Co-op Foundation for a very generous grant for a new commercial washer and dryer! This is a huge upgrade for our facility and was sorely needed. If NH Electric Co-op is your utility company you can help. Funding for grants such as these come from NH Electric Co-op members who participate in the Round-Up Program and have their monthly electric bills rounded up to the nearest dollar.

Founded in 2006, the purpose of the New Hampshire Electric Co-op Foundation is to improve the quality of life for their members and the communities they serve. As a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), the NHEC Foundation provides grants to charitable organizations, throughout NHEC’s service territory that are designed to promote health and social well-being programs, enrichment programs and/or educational programs, hunger programs, cultural art programs and academic achievement programs.

We are so lucky to have such a great business in our community!

Protect Your Hands-You Only Get Two!

February 21, 2020

The saying goes “work smarter, not harder.” These are words to live by when protecting the fragile joints of your wrists and hands, especially if you have arthritis. There are many techniques you can learn to get through your day without injuring yourself further.

Remember to be proactive. Balance work and rest, making sure you rest before you’re tired and before pain starts. Prioritize what’s important for the day, setting realistic goals and completing more difficult activities when you feel strongest. For some the morning is best, for others the afternoon is better when they’ve loosened up.

When you’re in the middle of your task, try to maintain proper posture, use both hands when possible and avoid a tight grip, using the palms of your hands for lifting and pushing instead.

When working in the kitchen there are many cooking tips and gadgets to make it easier on your hands. Setting a bowl on a sponge or washcloth can prevent bowls from turning, so you don’t have to hold them. Large culinary scissors can be used to open plastic bags and cut up vegetables. Use tongs instead of forks to turn or lift foods, and if you have a spiked cutting board, your steak will stay put. Electric can openers and jar openers do most of the work for you. Keep knives sharp so you can use your other hand to provide pressure on top of the knife to cut items. Carry groceries in your arms, close to your body. By doing this, bag handles won’t cut into your hands and fingers, and your back will thank you, too.

There are many things we do every day not realizing how much strain we are putting on our fingers. When you’re

done with the dishes, press water out of sponges with your palm, not by squeezing. Drip dry your hands or pat them, instead of wringing them in a towel. Slip foam over a pencil or use the eraser end to dial the phone, holding the pencil like an ice pick. When inserting tacks don’t put all that pressure on your thumb; use a small hammer. Place extensions or grippers on door knobs or water faucets. Many of these items can be found at your local hardware or dollar store.

Hopefully these aforementioned tricks will help. Just remember, that if your hands are already fragile or injured, these are good guidelines to follow. If preserving hand strength is your goal, talk to your Pemi-Baker Physical or Occupational therapist for strengthening exercises.

~by Pam Hixon, OT

Valentine’s Day-14 Helpful Acts of Kindness for a Friend in Need

February 14, 2020

It can be hard to know how to help during a time of desperate need.

Here are some supportive ideas for that family member, friend or over-extended caregiver:

Bare Basics. Grocery Shopping. Think paper towels, laundry detergent, bread, juice, eggs, bananas. Shop in-store or online, and have the order shipped to their home. Forget about brands, specific tastes or questioning whether it is something your loved one would like. Indecisiveness like that prevents your follow-through. When a family caregiver can’t be away long enough to run out an purchase toilet paper or milk to settle a patient’s queasy stomach, they will kiss you for bringing it to their door.
Offer Rides to Treatment. Many caregivers juggle full-time jobs and have added hurdles, such as busy meeting or travel schedules. Receiving the gift of transportation on a hectic day brings a huge sigh of relief.
Bring a Meal. Basic dishes that are easy to freeze and reheat become lifesavers. Recyclable aluminum pans or reusable plastic containers that don’t need to be returned are a plus. Since even well-meaning visitors can tire out a patient, and germs are a factor, offer to leave meals in a cooler outsider their door.
Pet-Sit or Plant-Water. It is expensive to board pets in a kennel. So if you know that a loved one has to go out of town for a procedure or appointment, offer to care for their furry family member. And should you be one of the green thumbs of the world wishing to help, volunteer to water interior or exterior plants.
Text an Inspiring Quote. We warriors need all the encouragement we can get, and hearing from you means the world to us. A few kind words—especially question-free messages not requiring a response—breaks up the day and lets us know that we are loved.
Consider the Caregivers. Their lives have dramatically changed, too. Invite them to a game, a car show, a round of golf, a cup of coffee, or a simple Sunday after-noon drive, just as you did before. Even if their patient is not feeling up to leaving the house, a short break means a lot to a caregiver. If it is not a good time for a break, they will let you know. They will appreciate the gesture and the glimpse of normalcy.
Mail a Gift Card. Unexpected expenses—extra gas for treatment travel, extra meals out, astronomical medical bills—take a huge toll on every patient’s budget. A gift card for gas, groceries, restaurants, hardware stores or hobby/craft stores is a welcome surprise. If your loved one appreciates reading or music, and Amazon or iTunes card could provide new entertainment to get them through long treatment sessions. A prepaid Visa gift card could be perfect for helping out with medical co-pays.
Take on Some Chores. Pay for a one-time service, or volunteer a few hours to help with cleaning, moving, snow-shoveling, washing windows or holiday decorating. This also could be a perfect service opportunity for a teen-ager. If the kids have adult supervision, the chores could be done while the patients and caregivers are at the hospital or clinic or out of town.
Donate Some Vacation. Unpaid leave from work is sure to cause additional financial hardship. If donating a vacation day or two is an option for you, ask some other co-workers if they also might be willing to donate time, too. This could be a huge help to a patient or a caregiver who has to be away from work.
Think Soft and Cuddly. If knitting is your thing, consider making a prayer shawl, soft cap or socks. Thoughtful gifts like a new set of slippers, pajamas, pull-on pants or v-neck shirts that allow chemo-port access would be a definite plus. Pamper your loved ones with items that are cozy and comfortable.
Send Snail Mail. Nothing brightens a day more than finding a hand-addressed note in the mailbox, among the medical bills. Recognizing the handwriting and return address will instantly bring you to your loved ones’ hearts.
Donate Blood in Their Name. Cancer and other illnesses prohibit patients from donating, so we appreciate those of you who donate in our honor.
Host a Scarf and Hat Party. If chemo is going to bring about hair loss or someone you love, bring together some close friends, serve some light refreshments and shower your patient with a variety of headwear options. It is sure to make the transition easier.
Help With the Kids. Taking the kids for an impromptu sleepover or a Saturday-morning outing may give your struggling loved one a little bit of rest and quiet that they desperately need.

Surviving a Heart Attack: Why Care in the First Hours is Critical

February 1, 2020

February is Heart Disease Awareness Month!

In the United States, about 790,000 people have a heart attack each year. With numbers like that, it’s likely that you, or someone close to you, will have a heart attack during your lifetime. Luckily, many people survive heart attacks and go on to live fulfilling lives. And the odds for this happy outcome are far higher among folks who recognize they’re having a heart attack and get the right care, right away.

Protect yourself and your loved ones by understanding what causes this health crisis and how prompt treatment can save a life.

What is a Heart Attack?

Your heart has the tough job of pumping blood and oxygen through the coronary arteries all along your body. A heart attack happens when plaque builds up in your arteries over time and blocks the flow of blood. Without blood bringing oxygen to the heart muscle, the area of your heart supplied by that artery begins to die.

This is the moment when quick medical care is critical: A blockage that’s re-opened in two to three hours will cause far less damage than one left untreated for five or six hours.

Know Your Risk and Prepare for the Worst

As with most diseases, there are risk factors for heart disease you can influence with treatment or lifestyle change, and others you cannot. Some factors such as your age, gender and family history can’t be changed. However, others can be better managed to help reduce your risk for heart disease and heart attack, including your:

Alcohol or Tobacco Use
Blood Pressure
Diabetes
LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
Physical Inactivity
Stress Level
Weight

Both your family history and certain lifestyle choices should be reviewed with your doctor at each well visit — especially at your annual physical. These routine checkups are designed to provide an opportunity for you and your doctor to determine your risk for certain diseases and conditions, put a screening plan in place, discuss any health changes and create a plan for any needed lifestyle changes.

What to Do If You Suspect a Heart Attack

If you suspect you or a loved one is having a heart attack, call 911, where you’ll be taken to your local Emergency Room to get expert help right away. People who get to the hospital quickly have the best chance for survival. They also have a better recovery, since opening the blocked artery as soon as possible means less heart muscle dies.

The key to getting the help you need, when you need it, is recognizing the signs of a heart attack.

While the most classic symptom is sudden severe chest pain, not all heart attacks give such a clear signal. In fact, many heart attacks are silent, causing few or no symptoms at all.

Heart attack symptoms can begin gradually or suddenly, and may be mild or severe. You or your loved one may experience:

Cold Sweat
A Sense of Impending Doom
Nausea, Stomach Pain or Heartburn-Like Symptoms
Pain, Pressure, Squeezing or Other Discomfort in the Chest
Pain Radiating From the Jaw, Neck Shoulders or Arms
Shortness of Breath
Unusual Fatigue

It’s especially important to know these symptoms if you or someone you love is at higher than average risk for a heart attack.

In addition, women can have more subtle heart attack symptoms that are easily mistaken for other health conditions, such as anxiety. These include:

Dizziness
Heartburn or constant indigestion
Nausea
Pressure between your shoulder blades
Rapid heart beat
Trouble sleeping
Unexplained extreme fatigue that can last for days

Every Moment Counts

It’s smart to work at lowering your heart attack risks, so you can avoid this frightening and dangerous health crisis. In the meantime, remember the symptoms of heart attack and call 911 if you think you or someone nearby is having one — even if you’re not sure.

Pemi-Baker Community Health’s Home Care team will be by your side as soon as you return home; helping you recover and regain independence day by day.

~by Anna Swanson

Pemi-Baker Receives Grant from Heart & Hands Thrift Shop

January 28, 2020

Pemi-Baker Community Health recently received a grant from the Heart & Hands Thrift Shop for a new pool exercise platform. “We’re very excited to have this platform for our therapy pool. It allows children to stand in deeper water while doing their aqua therapy and is also used by our taller aqua aerobics participants in the deep end,” said Kathryn Schwartzer, PT, DPT.

The Heart & Hands Thrift Shop, located at 8 Maple Street in Meredith, is a collaboration of three Meredith Churches: Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and the First Congregational Church. The thrift shop is run by volunteers and one paid employee, with all the money raised coming from donated items. “We have given over $220,000 in grants and scholarships since opening our doors in August of 2017,”said Lisa Clark, Heart & Hands volunteer. Scholarships and grants have been given to many non-profits in the Lakes Region including local students and student programs, summer camp participants, the Meredith Food Pantry and now Pemi-Baker Community Health is a lucky recipient.

Pemi-Baker Community Health would like to thank those involved with the Heart & Hands Thrift Shop as well as those who have donated to the shop over the years. Community generosity is not just about giving, it’s about making a difference. Thanks to you, Pemi-Baker Community Health and many other non-profits in the area can continue to make a difference touching the hearts of your families and neighbors.

Pemi-Baker Community Health is a non-profit visiting nurse association servicing 18 towns in central and northern New Hampshire. For over 52 years it has been the home care provider of choice for Grafton County. In addition to at-home healthcare (VNA) services, they also provide hospice and palliative care, on site physical and occupational therapy, fitness memberships, Bereavement and Caregiver Support groups and other community outreach programs.

~by Anna Swanson

The Full Impact of Grief

January 16, 2020

The word “bereavement” is something that we normally associate with our experience of the death of someone we have known, loved, and cared for. The word, however, is actually connected with the adjective “bereft” which means “deprived of” or “left without”, so it can actually refer to any experience of loss, whether small or great, temporary or permanent. The great pioneer in the field of death and dying, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, frequently said, “All of life is loss”. Our experience of life is filled with change and change moves us from various sets of experiences to others.

When I found it needful and helpful for myself to attend a Bereavement Group following the deaths of my father (2011) and my brother (2013), the grief counselor who facilitated the group said, “A loss is any experience of the absence of someone or something that has been a part of your world. That absence has changed your vision and perception of your world as you had known it and your experience of it.”

If you think about that for a bit, we are experiencing loss frequently in our lives on all sorts of levels. These can be seemingly small and temporary. There is a commercial currently running on television of a thirty- or forty-something year old white collar worker (wearing a necktie) probably just ready to leave for work. He is peering at the faucet in his kitchen sink which is NOT running. His exasperated remark is, “THIS isn’t on the schedule!” Maybe to make this more personal, consider your own reaction and behavior when you cannot find your car keys! Relatively small, insignificant, and temporary losses, perhaps- but they alter the individual’s perception of an efficient and smoothly-running world.

When we do endure the death of someone we have loved, or if we are the victim of a crime or a natural disaster, or if we have lost our job, or if we are coming to terms with the loss of our personal powers through illness or aging, we are in a state of bereavement whether we are conscious of it or accepting of it or not. Kubler-Ross also used the word “denial” to describe an experience where we avoid recognizing the loss. It is a way of defending ourselves against our own feelings of powerlessness in not knowing how to handle the change of our world-view. Sadly, many persons decide simply to “Soldier on” or “Return to business as usual”.

After a death, a very common reaction is “It’s all over now. I don’t need to bother with anything more.” But loss has far-reaching effects on our lives, touching on our emotions, our physical health, our material and financial security, our social interactions and relationships with others, our occupational and recreational involvements, and our spirituality or life-direction. These effects can be uncomfortable, stressful, and even debilitating.

Beginning on Monday, February 3, 2020, Pemi-Baker Community Health will be offering a new Bereavement Group series entitled “THE FULL IMPACT OF GRIEF”. Each session will look at a particular aspect of our lives to gain a greater understanding of how our loss has affected that area of our existence. We will explore ways we can process our responses and reactions. The group will meet in the Grady Conference Room at Speare Memorial Hospital, beginning promptly at 12:30pm and concluding by 2:00pm. The group will meet weekly through Monday, March 16, 2020. There is no fee for attendance.

Pemi-Baker Community Health will also be resuming its monthly Drop-In Bereavement Group which meets on the LAST WEDNESDAY of each month in the Main Conference Room at Pemi-Baker’s offices at Boulder Point in Plymouth. This group is less formal with no set curriculum or session topics, though take-home reading materials are made available. The first session of the Drop-In Bereavement group for this new year is on Wednesday, January 29, 2020, beginning promptly at 5:30pm and wrapping up by 7:00pm. Again, there is no fee for attendance.

Both Groups are facilitated by Guy Tillson, MDiv, MA, Bereavement Counselor and Hospice Spiritual Counselor for Pemi-Baker Community Health. He may be contacted at gtillson@pbhha.org or at 603 536-2232, Extension 206, if you have any questions or concerns.

~by Guy Tillson

Self Care for Caregivers

January 16, 2020

When Alison’s Dad fell, she moved in with her parents to help out around the house and make sure they were taking their medications and getting proper meals. With a full time job to manage, what started out as a good deed soon became overwhelming as her parents’ health declined.

The Cost of Compassion

It is our nature to care for loved ones and, for many of us, it brings great satisfaction. Empathy and compassion are desirable character qualities, present in people to varying degrees. These enable us to identify, and in some cases, actually experience the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of others we care about.

Compassion can come with an emotional cost when caring for someone with a long-term illness. The distress resulting from the constant demands of caring for another, consistently witnessing pain or cognitive decline, can have serious consequences.

In the book, “Overcoming Compassion Fatigue,” author Sharise M. Nance, LCW, CCTP, details how caregiver burnout can manifest itself in exhaustion, depression, apathy, and even physical or emotional disability. “People in ‘helping professions’ are regularly exposed to a range of emotions, from hope to dread, from gratitude to anger, from patience to frustration, and from grief to sorrow.”

One elderly woman had experienced several falls. She lives with her husband who is in advancing stage of dementia. He wakes up several times each night, turns the lights on and gets dressed. Each time, she has to wake up and guide him back to bed often unable to sleep herself. Before getting help, she found herself exhausted, discouraged, and at a greater risk for additional falls.

Some caregivers can internalize the issues of those under their watch, hoping by some herculean effort to fix everything. The sense of responsibility can become disproportionately burdensome and they may lose perspective about what they can and cannot do. This is particularly daunting when a patient has dementia and cannot communicate effectively, or acts out physically.

Making a Plan for Self Care

Prolonged stress is associated with distinct physiological responses that can have long term effects on both physical and emotional health. Often referred to as the fight, flight or freeze response, these chemical reactions are effective in urgent, life-threatening situations, but not sustainable over time.

Ms. Nance noted several emotional states that can accompany caregiver stress:

Guilt: A sense of being responsible for the illness
Anger: Frustration with family members or health care workers
Sadness: Loss of the person as they once were
Fatigue: Exhaustion from extra work and irregular sleep
Apathy: Lack of energy to keep up with needed tasks

When these emotions arise, it can be a signal that the caregiver needs to take better care of themselves in order to do what is needed to care for their loved one. If you are in this situation, here are a few suggestions that might help:

Pace yourself: Take advantage of family or friends who offer to help. Home Care agencies like Pemi-Baker Community Health can provide a volunteer companion or home health aide for a few hours a day to take on the more challenging tasks.
Set boundaries: Make it clear to the patient and family members what you can and cannot do.
Seek support: Pemi-Baker Community Health and many churches or senior centers offer support groups for caregivers. While it may not alleviate the challenges you are facing, it can be helpful to know how others are coping.
Create a self-care plan: As impossible as it might seem, you need a plan for exercise, sleep and proper nutrition. If you are a spiritual person, spending time in prayer or meditation can be helpful.

“Self-care is not a selfish act, but a necessity and priority,” writes Ms. Nance.

Even health care professionals can become overwhelmed at times. Pemi-Baker Community Health employs home health aides and homemaker companions serving clients in 18 central and northern NH towns. “As a licensed home care agency, we are vigilant about providing support to our caregivers,” said Chandra Engelbert, CEO. “We encourage them to practice their own self-care so they can provide the best possible care and attention to our clients.”

Caring for another person can be a gift but also a burden. Anyone in that role has to be mindful of the potential risks, and remember to monitor their own well-being at times, too. All are welcome to our Drop-in Caregiver Support Groups on every 3^rd Wednesday of the Month at the Plymouth Regional Senior Center.

~by Anna Swanson

Chocoroa Masonic Lodge Makes Generous Contribution

January 6, 2020

Even in this season of giving, CEO, Chandra Engelbert was pleasantly surprised when she received a phone call from Masonic Master, David Hughes about a donation to Pemi-Baker Community Health.

For centuries, Freemasons have contributed to the communities in which they live through the principles of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. Freemasonry has existed in New Hampshire since 1735, and many of the leading citizens of our state have been Freemasons. Their charitable activities are many and varied: the Shriners’ Hospitals for Children, support of medical research, scholarships, programs for child identification and combating drug abuse, the Scottish Rite Learning Centers, and local charity. Freemasons are committed to helping those who are less fortunate, and in the process they improve themselves and
hope to build a better world.

With 52 years of experience, serving over 900 clients from 18 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Community Health is the home care provider of choice for Grafton County. Services include at-home healthcare (VNA), hospice and palliative care, on-site physical and occupational therapy and fitness memberships including a fitness gym and fitness classes in our 90-degree therapy pool. As a nonprofit, Pemi-Baker Community Health offers many free programs to the community including bereavement and caregiver support groups.

ASK Pemi-Baker, is a new program held at the Plymouth Regional Senior Center, every 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 11-12pm with a nurse and social worker on hand to answer any questions one might have.

Thank you to the Chocorua Masonic Lodge, in Holderness, for helping us continue to offer these free services!

~By Anna Swanson