• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

(603) 536-2232
  • Remembrance Service
  • Home
  • Donate
  • Join Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Leave A Review

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health Logo

Providing compassionate in-home and out-patient care in Plymouth, NH

  • Our Services
    • Home Health (VNA)
    • Palliative Care
    • Hospice Care
    • Community Support & Resources
  • What’s Going On
    • Calendar
    • News & Blog
    • Events & Fundraisers
    • Remembrance Service
    • Volunteers
  • About Us
    • About
    • COVID-19
    • Our Service Area
    • Pemi-Baker Staff
    • Careers/Employment
    • Resources & Forms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Search
  • (603) 536-2232
  • Contact Us
  • Remembrance Service
  • Fundraiser
  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Home Health (VNA)
    • Palliative Care
    • Hospice Care
    • Community Support & Resources
  • What’s Going On
    • Calendar
    • News & Blog
    • Events & Fundraisers
    • Volunteers
  • About Us
    • About
    • COVID-19
    • Our Service Area
    • Pemi-Baker Staff
    • Careers / Employment
    • Resources & Forms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Donate
  • Refer a Patient
  • Join Our Team

Advance Care Planning

National Home Health and Hospice Month: “Courageous Conversations”

November 1, 2023

National Home Health, Hospice and Palliative Care Month: “Courageous Conversations” – Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health Advocates for Open Dialogue.

November is National Home Health, Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is joining the nationwide effort to raise awareness and promote “Courageous Conversations” about end-of-life care. This year’s theme emphasizes the importance of initiating open dialogues within your inner circle of friends, family, and care providers about your healthcare preferences and choices. These conversations can be a powerful way to ensure that your wishes are respected and honored.

In a world that often shies away from discussing topics related to mortality and end-of-life decisions, “Courageous Conversations” encourage individuals to break the silence and engage in meaningful discussions. Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health believes that starting these conversations is an act of love and compassion, benefiting both you and your loved ones in the long run.

Initiating such discussions can be daunting, but it is an essential step toward ensuring that your values and preferences are understood and respected. Here are some suggestions for starting “Courageous Conversations”:

  1. “I know this isn’t a concern for us now, but I was thinking…” – This gentle approach allows you to express your thoughts without making it an immediate issue, giving your loved ones time to process and respond.
  2. “Remember when our (name of friend or family member) was sick/in the hospital? I’m wondering what you would have wanted if it were you.” – Relating your question to a shared experience can help open the conversation and make it feel less intimidating.
  3. Review and Update Advance Directives – Ensure your healthcare directives accurately reflect your current wishes and values. It’s crucial to keep these documents up-to-date, especially if there have been changes in your life circumstances or health status.
  4. The 5 D’s: Recognize that certain life events, such as Divorce, Death, Diagnosis, Decline, or Decade (significant milestone birthdays), can trigger the need to revisit your healthcare decisions. Use these events as reminders to update your preferences and inform your loved ones.
Conversation Starter kit for Advance directives
Click Here To Download Guide

Having clarity about what is important to you in terms of your medical care can significantly ease the burden on those who may need to make decisions on your behalf. It provides them with the reassurance that they are acting in accordance with your wishes.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health offers support and guidance for those who want to initiate “Courageous Conversations” with their loved ones. Our team of healthcare professionals is available to provide information, resources, and advice on advance care planning and end-of-life decisions.

This National Home Health, Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we encourage everyone to take the first step in having “Courageous Conversations” about their healthcare preferences. By doing so, we can ensure that each individual’s dignity and choices are respected, providing peace of mind for both patients and their families.

Advance Directives, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health, Plymouth, NHFor questions about advance directives or hospice call 603-536-2232 or visit us at one of our Ask A Pemi-Baker Nurse drop in days at your local senior center. For days and times please check our website calendar.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is a trusted, nonprofit agency proudly serving 32 towns in central and northern NH since 1967. Expert services include at-home healthcare and physical therapies (VNA), hospice and palliative care, and community programs including: American Red Cross CPR/AED/FA, Caregiver and Bereavement Support Groups and Ask A Pemi-Baker Nurse days at your local senior centers. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals and also your neighbors.  In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

Filed Under: Advance Care Planning, Hospice & Palliative Care Tagged With: Advance Care Planning, advance directives, Courageous conversations, National Home Care & Hospice Month

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health Promotes ‘Write Your Will Month’ Emphasizing the Importance of Advance Directive Forms

August 3, 2023

Advance Directives, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health, Plymouth, NHPemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is excited to announce the observance of ‘Write Your Will Month’ throughout August, urging individuals to consider not only their financial wills but also their living wills, or Advance Directive Forms. The organization is dedicated to raising awareness about the significance of planning for one’s future healthcare decisions to ensure peace of mind and a smooth transition during challenging times.

A will is a crucial legal document that outlines how a person’s assets and possessions will be distributed after their passing. However, alongside financial planning, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health recognizes the importance of preparing an Advance Directive Form, commonly known as a living will. An Advance Directive is a legally binding document that allows individuals to express their medical preferences and appoint a healthcare proxy/agent to make decisions on their behalf if they become unable to communicate.

To support the community in taking proactive steps toward securing their future, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is organizing a free Advance Directive Workshop on August 22nd, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. The workshop will take place at the Newfound Area Senior Services/Bristol: Bristol United Church of Christ, located at 15 Church Street, Bristol, NH.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the importance of Advance Directives, the elements that constitute a comprehensive living will, and how to designate a trusted healthcare proxy/agent. Pemi-Baker’s social workers will be neutral guides helping you reflect on and identify the values, beliefs and goals that shape the way you make health care decisions. Pemi-Baker’s social workers will also be able to notarize your advance directive upon completion.Susan Varnum, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health, Plymouth, NH

“We believe that taking the time to create both financial and living wills is an essential aspect of responsible life planning,” said Susan Varnum, Director of Home Health, Palliative & Hospice Care at Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health. “By offering this free Advance Directive Workshop, we hope to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their medical care and ensure that their wishes are respected in any situation.”

To attend the free Advance Directive Workshop, interested individuals are encouraged to pre-register by calling 603-744-8395.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is a trusted, nonprofit agency proudly serving 32 towns in central and northern NH since 1967. Expert services include at-home healthcare and physical therapies (VNA), hospice and palliative care, and community programs including: American Red Cross CPR/AED/FA, Caregiver and Bereavement Support Groups and Ask A Pemi-Baker Nurse days at your local senior centers. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals and also your neighbors.  In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

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

~written by Anna Swanson

Filed Under: Advance Care Planning, Free Community Service Tagged With: Advance Care Planning, Advance Directive Workshops, advance directives, Bristol, free community service, Newfound Area Senior Services, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health Highlights the Importance of ‘Goals of Care Conversations’

July 12, 2023

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is proud to emphasize the significance of ‘Goals of Care Conversations’ in healthcare decision-making. With a commitment to providing compassionate care tailored to each individual’s needs, Pemi-Baker recognizes the value of these essential discussions between patients, their caregivers, and family members. By engaging in such conversations, individuals can ensure that their medical care aligns with their true goals and values, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.

As an experienced healthcare provider, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is dedicated to facilitating these vital conversations with sensitivity, respect, and expertise. Recognizing the challenges and complexities surrounding end-of-life care decisions, Pemi-Baker’s skilled team is equipped to guide patients and their loved ones through this process, offering support and guidance every step of the way.The conversation project, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health, Plymouth, NH

The Conversation Project (www.theconversationproject.org) serves as a valuable resource that Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health recommends to individuals seeking assistance with discussing and documenting future healthcare wishes and decisions. This website provides accessible workbooks, resources, and conversation starter guides to help people navigate these discussions effectively. By using this resource, patients and their families can gain confidence and clarity in expressing their wishes. It’s also a valuable resource for anyone over the age of 18, with or without a serious illness. Everyone should have an advance directive filled out in case of emergencies and unexpected events.

“We believe that open and honest conversations about goals of care are essential to ensuring that medical treatment is aligned with an individual’s values and preferences,” said Danielle Paquette-Horne,RN, Executive Director at Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health. “At Pemi-Baker, we are committed to facilitating these conversations and providing the necessary support and guidance to empower patients and their families in making informed decisions.”

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health encourages community members, healthcare professionals, and individuals seeking guidance in discussing goals of care to utilize the valuable resources available through The Conversation Project website (www.theconversationproject.org). By engaging in these conversations, individuals can take control of their healthcare journey, promoting a higher quality of life and ensuring that their wishes are honored.

You can also ask one of their professionals at the next ‘Ask A Pemi-Baker Nurse’ program offered monthly at the Plymouth Regional Senior Center, Orford Senior Center, Littleton Senior Center, Horse Meadow Senior Center or Lincoln/Lin-wood Senior Center. For specific days and times please access the calendar HERE.

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

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

Filed Under: Advance Care Planning, Free Community Service Tagged With: Ask A Pemi-Baker Nurse, The conversation project; advance care planning

FREE Advance Directive Workshops in April

March 31, 2023

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health Empowers Individuals to Make Informed Healthcare Decision by Offering FREE Workshops at Local Senior Centers in April

National Healthcare Decision Day is an annual event that takes place on April 16th to encourage individuals to make decisions about their healthcare in advance of a medical crisis. This day aims to empower patients to make informed decisions about their care, reduce confusion and stress for families, and ultimately improve the quality of healthcare for everyone.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of making healthcare decisions in advance. Many people have had to make critical decisions about their health and the health of their loved ones in a matter of minutes or hours. The stress and confusion of these situations can be overwhelming, making it difficult to make informed decisions that align with an individual’s values and wishes. Advance Care Planning at Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health, Plymouth, NH

National Healthcare Decision Day provides an opportunity for individuals to take control of their healthcare decisions before a medical crisis occurs. This day reminds us all of the importance of discussing our healthcare wishes with our loved ones, healthcare providers, and designated agents. This open dialogue can help ensure that our healthcare choices are respected and followed in the event we cannot speak for ourselves.

The theme for this year’s National Healthcare Decision Day is “Planning for your Future: It’s Always Too Early Until It’s Too Late.” We urge everyone to take the time to consider their health care wishes and make plans for the future. This can involve completing an advance directive, naming a healthcare agent, and discussing these decisions with family and loved ones.

Pemi-Baker is offering three Advance Directive workshops during the month of April, collaborating with the Grafton Senior Citizens Council:

  • April 5th, 10-11:00am: Orford Senior Center (603-353-9107)
  • April 12th, 10:30-11:30am: Lin-Wood Area Senior Services (603-745-7446)
  • April 19th, 10:30-11:30am: Plymouth Regional Senior Center (603-536-1204)

These group workshops are free. Our Pemi-Baker social worker will be a neutral guide helping you reflect on and identify the values, beliefs and goals that shape the way you make health care decisions. Advance Directive forms will be available for use and we ask that you pre-register by phone, before the event, using phone numbers listed above.

For more information on Advance Directive Forms please visit our website: www.pbhha.org

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

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

~Written by Anna Swanson

Filed Under: Advance Care Planning, Education, Free Community Service, Press Release Tagged With: Advance Care Planning, advance directives, Durable Power of Attorney, Lin-Wood Area Seniior Services, Living Will, Orford Senior Center, Plymouth Regional Senior Center

Palliative Care for People Living With Parkinson’s Disease

April 1, 2022

April is National Parkinson’s Awareness Month!

April is National Parkinson’s Awareness month and Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health would like to shine the light on how a palliative care team can help those living with Parkinson’s Disease.

Understanding Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive illness of the central nervous system that affects muscles and movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in one hand. While hand tremors are the best-known sign of Parkinson’s disease, the disorder also causes muscle stiffness, slowing and jerking.

Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system. It damages the system of nerves that the brain uses to tell the body’s muscles what to do. Brain activity is also affected by the loss of dopamine, an important chemical messenger that helps the neurons in the brain do their work.

Parkinson’s disease symptoms get worse as the condition progresses over time. Although the disease cannot be cured, medications can improve the symptoms. So can palliative care.

Understanding Palliative Care

Palliative (pronounced “pal-lee-uh-tiv”) care is specialized medical care for people with serious illness. It focuses on providing you with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness like Parkinson’s disease. The goal is to improve quality of life for both you and your family.

Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses, social workers and other specialists who work alongside your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage of your illness. You can have it together with curative treatment.

Your palliative care team will help you to match your treatment choices to your personal needs and goals. That will allow you to have more control over your life. In all ways, the palliative care team helps you to better cope with the challenges of living with Parkinson’s disease.

Treating the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease–How Palliative Care Can Help

While there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, there are a growing number of treatments that can provide you with relief from its symptoms. People with Parkinson’s disease are often prescribed a combination of levodopa and carbidopa, which helps replenish the brain’s shrinking supply of dopamine.

A new therapy uses electrodes surgically implanted inside the brain, and a small electrical device called a pulse generator to provide electrical deep brain stimulation (DBS). Parkinson’s patients also benefit from the expertise of physical, occupational and speech therapists to help them manage practical issues in their daily lives.

Other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include a variety of motion-related issues, as well as sleep disturbances, fatigue (feeling weak or tired), constipation and other gastrointestinal problems, and low blood pressure.

Decisions about nutrition and feeding tubes eventually may become an issue, but the palliative care team will be able to provide guidance on this difficult subject. The social worker on your palliative care team can work closely with you to help you cope with the changes in your health. Sometimes just talking with an expert about what’s happening can be a great relief.

Another whole area of Parkinson’s symptoms is called cognitive decline, whereby ravages of the disease affect thinking and other uses of the brain. These include troubling mood disorders like depression and anxiety, unclear thinking, difficulty concentrating on a task and the potential emergence of dementia.

Some people become more disabled and dependent over time despite the best treatments. They may come to need so much help with the routine tasks of living that they require 24-hour care. This care may be provided at home or in a setting like assisted living, where they get the personal care they need.

Your palliative care team will talk with you about your hopes and preferences, and what may be possible for you to get the support you need to continue living life to the fullest. Because of the long course of Parkinson’s disease, the palliative care team can help you to clarify your goals and set up treatment plans far in advance. There are personal decisions you can make about how to live the life that remains, no matter what direction the disease takes-(Advance Care Planning).

Your palliative care team can help you with all this and more. The team will be your sounding board and your first line of defense against any symptoms of pain, discomfort, depression or anxiety.

The team specialists will help you and your loved ones to make both large and small decisions. They will enhance communication between you, your family and your other doctors, and help you to clarify your goals for care.

How to Get Palliative Care

If you or a loved one is facing Parkinson’s disease, ask your doctor about the benefits of a palliative care team or call Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health for a FREE consultation to help you make sense of the situation. PBH&HH also offers free Advance Directive help, helping you fill out your forms via Zoom. We hope you call or email us today for more information.

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 Loss 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

Filed Under: Advance Care Planning, Hospice & Palliative Care, Palliative Care Tagged With: Advance Care Planning, April National Parkinson's Awareness, palliative care, Parkinson's disease

What do Hospice & Palliative Care Social Workers do?

March 14, 2022

March is National Social Worker month and Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health wants to celebrate their social workers- Shannon Cassidy, BSW and Lauren Bell, BSW by explaining the details of Palliative and Hospice social work. The mission of hospice and palliative care social workers is to help clients and their families manage difficult situations and illnesses with dignity and peace of mind.

The Difference between Hospice and Palliative Care

While related, hospice and palliative care are distinct from each other in several key ways. Palliative care can begin at diagnosis and at the same time as treatment. Palliative care is focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness. Palliative care also applies to patients who require non-curative remedies for painful or debilitating symptoms in their daily lives.

Hospice care begins after treatment of the disease is stopped and when it is clear that the person is not going to survive the illness. Hospice care involves caring for patients who are suffering from terminal illnesses that have progressed to the point that they have fewer than six months to live.

What Does a Hospice or Palliative Care Social Worker Do?

The main responsibilities of Palliative and Hospice care social workers include conducting psychosocial assessments, coordinating care, providing counseling and psychotherapy, intervening in client crisis situations, and educating clients and families about their treatment plan and the resources and support systems available to them. Patients and their families are experiencing a number of hardships, including anger and anxiety; depression; financial strain; intense physical pain or discomfort; social isolation; and family conflict.

  • Psychosocial assessments- Hospice and palliative care social workers conduct assessments of clients and their families to determine their psychological, social, emotional and spiritual needs. This information is important for the larger hospice and/or palliative care team to develop an effective and compassionate care plan.
  • Care coordination- Hospice social workers coordinate the care of patients with a team of medical and human service professionals. With their knowledge of systems of care and support within medical settings and the larger community, hospice and palliative care social workers are often the point of contact between different care providers, as well as the liaison between clients and their treatment team. Hospice and palliative care social workers also play an important role in patient intakes and discharges. During the intake process, they gather data from patients upon their enrollment in a care program (through the psychosocial assessment), orient patients and their families to the hospice or palliative care environment and communicate with the treatment team regarding patients’ ongoing needs. They advocate on behalf of the patient and the family helping them understand their treatment plan and how to be vocal about their needs.
  • Counseling- Hospice and palliative care social workers also provide emotional support, counseling and psychotherapy to clients and their families who are experiencing psychological and emotional difficulties in the face of terminal, debilitating illness or both. Social workers may employ a combination of clinical social work modalities to help their clients evaluate and manage their thoughts and emotions and overcome various behavioral challenges.
  • Patient education and resource navigation services- Hospice social workers help clients and their families navigate planning for end-of-life care, educating the patient and family on filling out Advanced Directives and/or obtaining guardianship. They also help clients and their families understand their treatment plan and the processes involved in hospice and palliative care. They help families navigate relevant resources and assistance available to them connecting them with local resources, such as cancer or terminal illness support groups, pro bono counseling services and religious communities.
  • Crisis intervention-Social workers help intervene in a crisis and can connect families to other support services and resources near them.

Hospice and palliative care social work is challenging work, as it involves helping people through difficult and stressful times of their lives. However, the rewards include making strong connections with people, learning and celebrating their life stories, and having a positive impact on clients and their families. “As Hospice and Palliative care social workers we strive to provide the best resources, education and assistance to clients and their families. Our primary goal is to ensure you and your loved ones are presented with options and education based on your current and long term needs to create the best possible outcome” said Lauren Bell, BSW, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health’s Hospice & Palliative Care Supervisor.

If you feel you or a loved one might benefit from Pemi-Baker’s Palliative or Hospice team, please call us for more information. You do not need a referral from your doctor and there is no charge for a consultation.

Currently, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health is hiring for a part time home health and hospice social worker position. Call for details or visit our page on Indeed.

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

Filed Under: Advance Care Planning, Hospice & Palliative Care, Social Workers Tagged With: #SocialWorkMonth, Hospice Social Work, Palliative Care Social Work, Social Work Month

Alzheimer’s at the Movies

August 20, 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With over 50 years of experience, serving clients from 28 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Community Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Services include at-home healthcare (VNA), hospice and palliative care, on-site physical and occupational therapy and aquatic therapy in their 90-degree therapy pool. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals in the business because of their hearts. In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

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

Filed Under: Advance Care Planning, Bereavement, Caregivers, Press Release Tagged With: Caregivers, dementia, Support Groups

Virtual Healthy Aging Series-Hard Topics Made Easy for Seniors and Those Who Care for Them

June 30, 2021

Pemi-Baker Community Health, Mid-State Health Center and Speare Memorial Hospital are collaborating to provide The Healthy Aging Series: Hard Topics Made Easy for Seniors and Those Who Care for Them. The virtual series will be a mix of videos and podcasts designed to educate and assist seniors, caregivers, and the community about topics related to healthy aging.

Each month a new presentation will be available from an expert at Speare, Mid-State, or Pemi-Baker. The series launches July 1st with the first episode covering The COVID-19 Vaccine, presented by Mid-State Health Center’s Dr. David Fagan.

Future episodes will cover topics such as Home Funerals and Green Burials, Staying Fit Indoors and Out, Communicating with Your Aging Parent, Advanced Directives and more.

For a complete schedule of events, to learn more about the series, and to subscribe to episode notifications, visit www.virtualhealthseries.com.

Filed Under: Advance Care Planning, Caregivers, COVID-19, Education, Free Community Service, Nutrition Tagged With: Advance Care Planning, advance directives, Aging well, Caregiver support, Community Education, COVID-19, healthy eating

If You Live With a Serious Illness, Learn How to Improve Your Quality of Life

June 14, 2021

If you have cancer, lung, heart or kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, or another serious illness, you should know about a medical team that can address your symptoms and stress.

The medical team is called palliative care and they’re available in a variety of medical settings. Pemi-Baker Community Health (PBCH) offers palliative care in your home, making it easy for you and your family members to ask questions and relay concerns. Their focus is on relieving the symptoms and stress of your illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. This is done by coordinating the patient’s care as well as providing support for the caregivers if they are experiencing caregiver burnout.

Pemi-Baker Community Health’s palliative care is provided by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. Palliative care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in your illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.

Is Palliative Care right for you?

Answer the following questions to determine whether palliative care might be right for you or someone close to you. Remember, you can receive palliative care at any point in your illness.

  1. Do you have one or more serious illnesses such as:
  • Cancer
  • Congestive heart failure (CHF)
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, lung disease
  • Kidney failure
  • Liver failure
  • Neurological diseases (e.g., ALS, Parkinson’s)
  • Dementia
  1. Do you have symptoms that make it difficult to be as active as you would like to be, or impact your quality of life? These symptoms might include:
  • Pain or discomfort
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Lack of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  1. Have you, or someone close to you, experienced the following:
  • Difficult side effects from treatment
  • Eating problems due to a serious illness
  • Frequent emergency room visits
  • Three or more admissions to the hospital within 12 months, and with the same symptoms
  1. Do you, or someone close to you, need help with:
  • Knowing what to expect
  • Knowing what programs and resources are available
  • Making medical decisions about treatment choices/options
  • Matching your goals and values to your medical care
  • Understanding the pros and cons (benefits/burdens) of treatments (e.g., dialysis, additional cancer treatments, surgery, etc.)
  1. Do you, or someone close to you, need help with:
  • Coping with the stress of a serious illness
  • Emotional support
  • Spiritual or religious support
  • Talking with your family about your illness and what is important to you

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you can benefit from palliative care. Ask your doctor for a palliative care referral with Pemi-Baker Community Health. Once PBCH receives the referral from your doctor they will contact you via phone to answer and ask questions and set up a meeting with you at your home.

What happens at a first visit with a palliative care team?

The first step is for the palliative care team to get to know you as a person and find out who else is important in your care. They will want to hear your narrative – who you are, what you enjoy doing, and what is most important to you in your day-to-day life. They’ll review your medical information, ask what symptoms are of concern, and how much these affect your quality of life. They’ll ask questions to see if there are any care needs at home. They may also ask questions to learn what you know about your medical condition, and what concerns you about the future so they can plan how to help over time. The team will also ask questions about who you would want to help make decisions if you aren’t able to do so for yourself. This person is called a health care agent or proxy.

For more information on how Pemi-Baker Community Health can help please call 603-536-2232 or email us at info@pbhha.org.

With over 50 years of experience, serving clients from 22 towns in central and northern New Hampshire, Pemi-Baker Community Health is committed to creating healthier communities. Services include at-home healthcare (VNA), hospice and palliative care, on-site physical and occupational therapy and aquatic therapy in their 90-degree therapy pool. Providing compassionate care with experienced staff who are trained, certified professionals in the business because of their hearts. In your time of need, we’re right where you need us.

PBCH is located at 101 Boulder Point Drive, Plymouth, NH. Visit our website: www.pbhha.org  and like our Facebook Page: @PBCH4

~written by Anna Swanson

Filed Under: Advance Care Planning, Caregivers, Palliative Care Tagged With: Cancer, Caregiver support, CHF, COPD, dementia, Home Care, Kidney failure, Liver failure, Lung disease, Neurological diseases, palliative care, side effects

Learning About Caring For Dementia

April 16, 2021

When I first came on to Hospice work, my supervisor encouraged me to maintain ongoing self-study about various topics relevant to the work.  One day, I pulled a book from the shelf in our office.  An observant co-worker noticed and commented that I had grabbed “the Bible for caring for dementia.” The book is THE 36-HOUR DAY:  A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss.  The title itself, as does the book, pulls no punches.  Providing ongoing care for a person with dementia is time-consuming, emotionally demanding, stressful, and exhausting, so that one’s days feel like they are longer than they are and packed with too much to do and remember.

The task can also be loving and rewarding, especially when the caregivers learn to take care of themselves as well.  The book is also what it says it is- a guide to caregiving.  The authors are Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins, both affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the John’s Hopkins University School of Medicine.  Don’t think, though, that it is written with sophisticated terminology or an excess of medical jargon, making it heavy and dense.  To its credit, the style is easily understandable and presented in a conversational, caring, and concerned tone directly to the reader who may already feel overwhelmed when first facing the challenge of caring for a spouse, a parent or grandparent, a sibling, or another acquaintance living with dementia.  Above all, it is a practical volume, with all sorts of advice when confronting the many challenges of this type of care.  Since its appearance in 1981, the book has been revised and edited six times to keep up with new information as it emerges.  Over three million copies have been sold worldwide as of the publication of the 2017 edition.

The reader/caregiver is immediately immersed into the experience as the first chapter opens with the case history of a woman who begins to notice her memory is slipping and moves along as her limitations compound.  The focus is first on her.  What is she experiencing?  What is she feeling?   What can she do?  Woven through this are brief accounts of her family members’ attempts to care for her and their experiences and feelings as their involvement becomes more complex.  It recounts a loss of skills around self-care and social interaction, moving us all the way through her journey which ultimately end with her admission to a long-term care facility when her family arrives at the point of no longer being able to care for her.

In this introductory section, there is a brief presentation raising the question “What Is Dementia?”  The book is careful to explore all sides of the challenges of caring for someone with dementia.  The authors really walk alongside the readers/caregivers in taking the first steps toward assuming the responsibility of caregiving. Having read the book, I am hard-pressed to discover any stone that has been left unturned.  Let me be quick to say that not all dementia patients end up in nursing homes.  Caregiving story endings vary from case to case, very much the result of the many factors both patients and caregivers bring to their own unique circumstances.

The practicality of the book is manifest in addressing particular experiences from both positive and negative perspectives. This is done throughout the book as it anticipates a wide variety of responses and reactions from patients and caregivers alike.  It progresses from dealing with initial manifestations of the disease through its more serious and complex concerns and on to end-of-life care.  The development of this style moves from what to do about things like home safety, nutritional needs, medical needs, and personal hygiene on to “sun downing” (worsening behavior as a day moves toward its end) and “shadowing” (a clinging trailing after the caregiver) and on to more serious behaviors as wandering, combativeness, and inappropriate sexual behavior.  These are only a smattering of the features presented throughout the book.  The work is chock-full of all sorts of valuable information.  A very simplified example of considering various sides of a problem might go something like this:  “If your father is doing X, try redirecting him toward trying Y.  If it works, and you can keep reinforcing it, all well and good.  If he is unsuccessful or refuses to try Y, try Z.  If the problem persists and remains unresolved, you may have to learn to tolerate X to avoid frustrating and angering the both of you.”  (Not a direct quote)

What comes through quite clearly is that the caregiver/s must make changes in themselves as their loved ones become less and less the persons we knew them to be.  Our intervention helps to support them and compensate for what they have lost.  This is not easy.  It is emotionally costly.  It becomes the nub for the necessity of self-care for the caregiver/s.  There is a whole chapter on “Getting Outside Help”.  The authors draw on a tremendous fund of knowledge and experience in their offerings of factual knowledge about dementia and practical suggestions pertinent to caregiving.  In many places, there are “Who to call or contact” directives regarding particular concerns.  Of course, readers/caregivers will need to locate those types of resources available in their own area.

The chapter entitled “Special Arrangements If You Become Ill” and its subsection “In the Event of Your Death” both contain practical information for anyone whether or not they are currently in a caregiving role.  The COVID pandemic has served to heighten our awareness for the need of preparedness in the possibility of emergency.  It is to be hoped that it also has brought home to us the preciousness of our loving connections so that we do not over-burden our loved ones through our lack of practical foresight.  There is another whole chapter “Caring for Yourself”. There is also a chapter regarding the needs of children and teenagers who may be living in a home setting where caregiving is being done.  There are also sections and chapters on end-of-life care, financial and legal issues, and considerations about relocating care outside the home.

It is not until Chapter 17 (“Preventing and Delaying Cognitive Decline”) that the book returns to a more specifically medical and scientific consideration of dementia and its causes (Chapter 18) and research about dementia (Chapter 19).

Click here and learn more about our PBCH support groups!

In drafting this review, it was challenging for me to try to choose items that might grab a reader’s/caregiver’s attention in order to reveal the book’s appeal.  I do hope I have done it enough justice so that you might consider borrowing a copy through the library you patronize or purchasing a copy for yourself.  I have seen copies of the book on the shelves of our independent bookstores (Innisfree Bookshop in Meredith, Bayswater Books in Center Harbor, and Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord).  Of course, it is readily available through Amazon and Books A Million.  Quite simply, it is a superb guide, and I recommend it most highly.

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

Filed Under: Advance Care Planning, Caregivers, Education, Free Community Service Tagged With: Advance Care Planning, Caregiver Shadowing, Caregiver support, dementia, Nancy L. Mace, Peter V. Rabies, Sun Downing, The 36-Hour Day

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Current Month

Event Type

All

Aquatic Classes

Bereavement Support Groups

CPR Classes

Education Public

Fundraiser: Non-Profit

Holiday

Hospice Volunteer Training

Lifeguard Classes

Special Pemi-Baker Programs

Swim Lessons

november

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3

30nov2:30 pm4:00 pmAdult & Pediatric CPR/AEDAmerican Red Cross Blended Learning format: Pre-registration required!

Call Us

(603) 536-2232

News & Articles

Giving Tuesday, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health, Plymouth, NH

Give Back on Giving Tuesday, Join our ‘Circle of Friends’

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health Encourages Community to Give Back on Giving Tuesday. As the holiday season approaches, Pemi-Baker …

Holiday Blues support group, Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health, Plymouth, NH

Holiday Blues Grief & Loss Support Group November 21st, 2023

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health Starting Free Holiday Blues Grief & Loss Support Group November 21, 2023 Here in the United …

Conversation Starter kit for Advance directives

National Home Health and Hospice Month: “Courageous Conversations”

National Home Health, Hospice and Palliative Care Month: "Courageous Conversations" – Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health Advocates for …

The Rewards of Being a Hospice Volunteer

While I was familiar with Hospice for many years, I only have been a hospice volunteer with Pemi Baker Hospice and Home Health (PBHHH) since October 2021.  When I retired, I began searching for volunteer work that would allow me to give back to my community.  A newsletter from PBHHH arrived in my email announcing training for hospice volunteers.  My family had experienced the need for hospice twice, once in Ohio and again in Florida.  The relief my family and I felt when the hospice volunteers arrived was beyond measure.  I want to bring the same kind of assistance to others.  PBHHH given me that opportunity by providing professional training with knowledgeable nurses, doctors, social workers and other health care professionals.  Their guidance has enabled me to meet the challenges of being s hospice volunteer, and I am very glad that I did it.

Connie C.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2022-06-27T12:20:25-04:00

Connie C.

While I was familiar with Hospice for many years, I only have been a hospice volunteer with Pemi Baker Hospice and Home Health (PBHHH) since October 2021.  When I retired, I began searching for volunteer work that would allow me to give back to my community.  A newsletter from PBHHH arrived in my email announcing training for hospice volunteers.  My family had experienced the need for hospice twice, once in Ohio and again in Florida.  The relief my family and I felt when the hospice volunteers arrived was beyond measure.  I want to bring the same kind of assistance to others.  PBHHH given me that opportunity by providing professional training with knowledgeable nurses, doctors, social workers and other health care professionals.  Their guidance has enabled me to meet the challenges of being s hospice volunteer, and I am very glad that I did it.
https://www.pemibakerhospicehomehealth.org/testimonials/the-rewards-of-being-a-hospice-volunteer/

You give of yourselves day & night without end!

To the Pemi-Baker Hospice Team--Words really can't express my feelings-

Your help during one of the most difficult times of my life is SO appreciated.  I'm so grateful that because of you, Doug was able to get his wish not to spend the last of his days in a hospital, but at home with those of us who loved him.

And to be constantly reassured that if I needed anything you would be there-oh my gosh-ANYTIME!  Well, you people need to know how much you are appreciated.  You give of yourselves day & night without end!  God Bless you and thank you!

Pam O.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2020-06-11T07:31:14-04:00

Pam O.

To the Pemi-Baker Hospice Team--Words really can't express my feelings- Your help during one of the most difficult times of my life is SO appreciated.  I'm so grateful that because of you, Doug was able to get his wish not to spend the last of his days in a hospital, but at home with those of us who loved him. And to be constantly reassured that if I needed anything you would be there-oh my gosh-ANYTIME!  Well, you people need to know how much you are appreciated.  You give of yourselves day & night without end!  God Bless you and thank you!
https://www.pemibakerhospicehomehealth.org/testimonials/you-give-of-yourselves-day-night-without-end/

“My home physical therapy was fantastic.”

Pemi-Baker provided very good home therapy. All their therapists were pleasant, helpful in offering suggestions for better functioning after surgery, and practiced good health protocols. They were also very prompt in showing up for scheduled appointments.

Elizabeth B.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2019-11-07T12:26:12-05:00

Elizabeth B.

Pemi-Baker provided very good home therapy. All their therapists were pleasant, helpful in offering suggestions for better functioning after surgery, and practiced good health protocols. They were also very prompt in showing up for scheduled appointments.
https://www.pemibakerhospicehomehealth.org/testimonials/weve-loved-the-swim-lessons-at-pemi-baker/

“Your generosity with your time and your loving care is appreciated more than you know.”

Thank you to everyone who played a role in taking care of my mother and giving her the freedom of remaining home while suffering from dementia. Your generosity with your time and your loving care is appreciated more than you know. A special thanks goes to Macayla and Colleen, who visited her on a regular basis, and to Lauren who was helpful in connecting us with state services.

Terry W.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2020-01-17T12:43:19-05:00

Terry W.

Thank you to everyone who played a role in taking care of my mother and giving her the freedom of remaining home while suffering from dementia. Your generosity with your time and your loving care is appreciated more than you know. A special thanks goes to Macayla and Colleen, who visited her on a regular basis, and to Lauren who was helpful in connecting us with state services.
https://www.pemibakerhospicehomehealth.org/testimonials/i-was-ready-to-give-up-before-i-met-the-pemi-baker-team/

“Everyone is so understanding supportive and kind.”

From the director to the nurses to the health care workers.  So cheerful, helpful and accommodating.  This is our second time receiving assistance from Pemi-Baker and we are very lucky to have found this amazing group!  Thank you for your excellent care and compassion.

Leila L.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2020-01-17T13:19:24-05:00

Leila L.

From the director to the nurses to the health care workers.  So cheerful, helpful and accommodating.  This is our second time receiving assistance from Pemi-Baker and we are very lucky to have found this amazing group!  Thank you for your excellent care and compassion.
https://www.pemibakerhospicehomehealth.org/testimonials/everyone-is-so-understanding-supportive-and-kind/

“Pemi-Baker Hospice services provided kind, professional, competent services every step of the way-and even vaccinated us all for Covid/19!””

Our primary nurse, Fred, was outstanding, and others who filled in (Cathy, Penny, Colleen) were wonderful and a credit to your organization. Fred, you were amazing, not only for mom but for my husband and I as well. I will forever be grateful for your support, wisdom, humor and kindness, all along the end of life journey for mom. I am so deeply thankful that circumstances conspired such that mom was able to die at home, and your role made that time as seamless as it could be made.

Paula W.

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2020-01-17T12:31:13-05:00

Paula W.

Our primary nurse, Fred, was outstanding, and others who filled in (Cathy, Penny, Colleen) were wonderful and a credit to your organization. Fred, you were amazing, not only for mom but for my husband and I as well. I will forever be grateful for your support, wisdom, humor and kindness, all along the end of life journey for mom. I am so deeply thankful that circumstances conspired such that mom was able to die at home, and your role made that time as seamless as it could be made.
https://www.pemibakerhospicehomehealth.org/testimonials/im-so-happy-that-i-found-pbch/

Your courage during Covid-19 does not go unnoticed

Hello. We just wanted to take a moment and let you know how much we truly appreciate all that you do for us in these trying times. You're commitment to the health of our community is a special thing, and we know that you are working under stressful conditions due to the Covid 19 crisis. We realize that in order for you to treat those who may be ill, you are putting you're own lives and even you're own families lives in danger, and that is truly a courageous and honorable thing to do. We want you to know that it does not go unnoticed. Thank you all for all that you do!

Bryan and Renee C., and our mom Joan

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
2020-06-11T06:27:43-04:00

Bryan and Renee C., and our mom Joan

Hello. We just wanted to take a moment and let you know how much we truly appreciate all that you do for us in these trying times. You're commitment to the health of our community is a special thing, and we know that you are working under stressful conditions due to the Covid 19 crisis. We realize that in order for you to treat those who may be ill, you are putting you're own lives and even you're own families lives in danger, and that is truly a courageous and honorable thing to do. We want you to know that it does not go unnoticed. Thank you all for all that you do!
https://www.pemibakerhospicehomehealth.org/testimonials/your-courage-during-covid-19-does-not-go-unnoticed/
0
0
Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health

Footer

Hours & Contact

Monday-Friday: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Tel: (603) 536-2232

Answering Service for Nurse nights/weekends:
Tel: (603) 536-2232

Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health
101 Boulder Point Drive, Suite 3
Plymouth, NH 03264

Fax: (877) 201-0469
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Phone

Sign Up For Our Monthly Newsletter

Browse the Newsletter Archive Leave a Review
  • Calendar
  • About Us
  • Our Service Area
  • Careers / Employment
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2023 Pemi-Baker Hospice & Home Health · Website by Wicked Good Web

X