News & Blog

National Healthcare Decision Day. Have You Signed Your Forms Yet?

April 16, 2020

COVID-19 crisis puts thoughts of health care decisions in different light.

Pemi-Baker Community Health can help!

National Healthcare Decisions Day has been held on April 16 for twelve years. Yet, April 16, 2020 is a very different time than any of those previous years. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the way Americans are living – and the focus on advance care planning has taken on a profound meaning for many people.

Pemi-Baker Community Health and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization want to acknowledge NHDD by stressing the importance of talking with your loved ones about your health care wishes and documenting those wishes by completing an advance directive. In fact, given the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) across the country, completing your advance directive – or reviewing and updating your care preferences if you have an advance directive – could be timely.

“Given the uncertainty that we find ourselves coping with during the COVID-19 public health crisis, taking time to talk about the care you would or would not want with your loved ones is a worthwhile activity for all of us to undertake,” said NHPCO President and CEO Edo Banach. “Far too many Americans put off talking about their health care wishes and then they find themselves in a medical crisis and it may be too late to ensure that you get the care you want.”

Advance care planning includes completing an advance directive (also known as a living will) and appointing a healthcare power of attorney (someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to speak for yourself). Then, most importantly, sharing your decisions with your family and loved ones.

Visit the Pemi-Baker Community Health website www.pbhha.org to download these free resources. Lisa Fortson, MSW, Pemi-Baker’s Hospice and Palliative Care Supervisor, stated that, “Pemi-Baker’s Social Work department is available for questions about the forms by calling 603-536-2232. It’s also important to remember that having these thoughtful discussions with your family and documenting your wishes can be a gift to your loved ones should you become critically ill and unable to speak for yourself. Your priorities will be clear to them.”

~ by Anna Swanson

Grieving Cut Short-helpful ways to cope with loss during this pandemic

April 7, 2020

As we are enduring this COVID-19 pandemic, a memory from my youth appeared in my mind a few days ago. In 1964, I got my first real job- one that I actually got a paycheck for. I was a sophomore in high school. Minimum wage was $1.00 an hour at that time! I was hired as the “library page” for our village library. Every weekday, after school, I worked for an hour, putting the returned books back on the shelves and relocating the ones that browsers (not yet a computer term) had misplaced. One of the titles that piqued my interest was RATS, LICE AND HISTORY: A Chronicle of Disease, Plagues and Pestilence by Hans Zinsser. It was first published in 1935, so it was probably already thought of as “an old title” by 1964. It was written intelligently and with scientific detail, but its author purposely wrote in a style that could easily be understood by the general public. The book was the eighth best-selling title in non-fiction noted by THE NEW YORK TIMES for 1935. A Wikipedia search will also inform you that several medical professionals credited the work to inspiring them to enter upon their chosen profession. The book focuses on the history of the disease of typhus and its deadly effects. It has been regarded as a biography of an illness. Besides Dr. Zinsser’s work, I was also reminded on Edgar Allen Poe’s THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH and Thomas Mann’s DEATH IN VENICE, fictional works that deal with similar phenomena.

We are already feeling the loss our normal routine and activity due to the precautions necessitated by the appearance of this virus. Staying at home is quite the discipline. In my current profession as Hospice Chaplain and Bereavement Counselor, I cannot help but be moved deeply, even to the point of tears, as I watch the nightly news. A nurse in an urban hospital companions a man who is dying and becomes the messenger to his family, assuring them that he died peacefully. They were unable to be with him because of preventative precautions. A prohibition on closeness when closeness is most needed. Bodies are transferred to refrigerated trucks, and I wonder how long it will be before their families can claim them- if that is even a possibility.

Other persons continue to die of other things in this time, but this virus impacts on everyone. Two Sundays ago, the forty-nine year-old middle son of acquaintances of mine died of a cardiac aneurysm. Speaking with his mother, I learned they were permitted only a brief prayer service at an outside shrine on the grounds of their church. Only his parents, his spouse and children, and his two siblings with their spouses and children were present. This very popular, well-loved, and gregarious family are bereft of the very social supports that could help to assuage their sudden and shocking loss. We are all touched by this experience and may very well carry the heaviness of it within ourselves for a long while.

In times when we are deprived of the comfort of social interaction in the face of loss and grief, small things become important. If you have lost someone during this time (whether or not from COVID-19), perhaps these suggestions might help. Create a small sacred space in your home to honor your loved one. If it helps to place a photo of your loved one there, do that. If there are other mementos, use those as well. Use candles safely. Hannaford is still selling flowers- and we can still access food markets. If you have a spiritual practice or a religious tradition, make use of its words and rituals. If your loved one enjoyed music, listen to it. If they delighted in favorite foods, cook a meal to honor their memory. See if you can stream a movie they enjoyed.

If you are staying at home with family members, cherish the intimacy this time can offer you. Reach out to others who knew your loved one- email, texting, phone calls, or FaceTime. If you need comfort and help, ask for it. Make use of what can be available to you now, even in these extraordinary circumstances. Above all, allow yourself your feelings and your expression of them. Tears and groans are perfectly acceptable. I highly recommend (what I call) “therapeutic screams”- inside the car is the best place. Hopefully, we will find a time in our future when what we have not been able to do now will be able to be done later. So many people are assuring us that we will come through this- and we will! By the way, Dr. Zinsser’s book is still available!

~By Guy Tillson, MDiv, MA-Pemi-Baker Community Health Hospice Chaplain & Bereavement Counselor

Coping During Social Distancing

March 20, 2020

Since we’re all staying home—and it’s looking like we will be for at least a while— you might be starting to wonder how exactly you’re going to fill up your time. Pemi-Baker has some ideas with digital gatherings and events. But it’s also important to stay as connected as possible with family, friends, and neighbors, give back to your community, get the material supplies you need, and find new ways to keep yourself entertained.

Entertainment: Explore the World, Virtually

With a library card, you can continue to borrow digital resources like e-books, audiobooks, music, TV shows, movies, and more. Visit your local library’s website to find out which services they partner with. OverDrive/Libby, Hoopla and Kanopy are some popular ones. Now’s also the perfect time to check out video streaming services, download a few podcasts, or explore the depths of YouTube. Cultural institutions are moving museum and art gallery exhibits and performances online too, but if you just need a break for something mindless and happy, animal videos are the way to go. The Cincinnati Zoo is offering daily Facebook Live video streams of Fiona the hippo, and Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium filmed its pretty adorable penguins roaming and visiting other exhibits after closure.

Remember to Love Thy Neighbor Now

Now is the time to reach out to one another. Do you know the people who live on your block or in your apartment building? If you can’t call, put a note on their door with your name and phone number. Explain that you live next door or down the street. Tell them you want them to feel free to ask for help. Many people are uncomfortable asking for help. Instead of just saying, “Do you need help?” offer to do something specific for them.

There are many things you can do. Before you run to the grocery store, drug store or a restaurant to pick up take-out, call and ask your neighbors if they need you to pick up something for them. Volunteer to walk their dog or would it be helpful for them if you put their mail and newspaper beside their front door? Does their yard need maintenance? Ask if they would like you to start raking or maybe putting their trash out or bringing the empty cans back into the garage would be helpful. If you have extra soap, toilet paper or other staples, leave a care package at your neighbor’s door. If you’re looking for ways to engage your children, have them help with some of these ideas.

Don’t Forget Self-care to Manage Your Stress and Anxiety.

It can seem like you don’t have time for things like self-care. But this situation is a marathon — not a sprint – and it’s important to take care of yourself throughout. Take a 10-minute break to do some light breathing exercises or yoga. Purposeful, mindful breathing has been shown to be an effective tool against anxiety. Right now, the meditation app Headspace is offering some free tools picked just for this time, and it’s offering totally free subscriptions for healthcare workers. Www.Calm.com is another great site and Balance is a meditation app you can download on your phone.

Consider limiting your coronavirus news consumption. It’s important to stay informed, but refreshing your feeds constantly for tidbits of news on the coronavirus isn’t going to prove productive. Instead, check the CDC website for updates periodically and try to spend most of your day focused on other things.

Talk to your friends and family. It’s important that even though this situation leads to increased social isolation that you stay in touch with people. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a friend for a phone call — or better yet — a video chat.

Pemi-Baker Community Health is Continuing Their Important Services.

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.

We have taken steps to prioritize our Rehab Therapy Patients at Boulder Point. To minimize exposure and help our patients continue their physical and occupational therapy we have: Limited entrance to our facility to patients only, suspended all memberships and swim lessons, implemented social distancing with staff by working from home and separating work stations and surfaces are wiped down after each patient with CDC recommended bleach solutions as well as always washing hands after contact with surfaces and patients.

Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns by calling our office: 603-536-2232

Be well and stay safe.

~Anna Swanson

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