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

What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?

Occupational therapy helps people with an injury, illness, or disability learn or re-learn to do everyday activities. For adults, this could include activities like getting dressed, cooking, and driving. For children, this could include activities like learning or playing. Occupational therapy got its name from its focus on helping patients with everyday activities—or “occupations.”

Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) are a part of your health care team. They think about your physical abilities, like which parts of your body you can and can’t easily move. They think about your mental abilities, like what your brain can and can’t process. And they think about your environment, like where you live, work, or go to school—and how you get there.

Your OT will ask you questions about what’s important to you, like driving your car or folding your laundry, so treatment focuses on meeting your goals. They might change the way you do an activity, like putting an extension on your steering wheel or suggesting grab bars to help you get in and out of the shower. OTs and OTAs will usually go wherever you need them so you can practice your skills where you’ll actually be doing activities, like your school, house, office, or nursing home.

  • Occupational therapy activities support what you want to do. All of your occupational therapy treatment activities should have meaning and be things you want and need to do. They should help you reach your goals and make you more functional and independent. The following are examples: Self-care or activities of daily living (brushing teeth, buttoning clothes, using eating utensils), Hand-eye coordination (writing on a classroom whiteboard, copying in a notebook what the teacher writes on the board), Fine motor skills (grasping and controlling a pencil, using scissors).

Real Life Example: If you had a stroke, you may still want or need to prepare your own meals while you’re recovering. Your OT or OTA should spend time helping you reach this goal by showing you the best ways to do things like reaching into cupboards and turning on the stove.

  • Occupational therapy activities that challenge your mind have a purpose. Just like your movement-based occupational therapy activities help you reach your physical goals, your mind-based activities should help you reach your cognitive goals. Your OT and OTA will think about how your brain uses information to help you reach your goals.

Real Life Example: If you have a brain injury from an accident, you may still want to do your own grocery shopping. This might include planning your meals, making a grocery list, managing your money, and finding items in the grocery store.

How do I choose an occupational therapist? Your doctor may refer you to an OT, but you can also choose one on your own.

Make sure your OT or OTA is licensed. Federal and state laws license and regulate OTs and OTAs. Contact your state’s Occupational Therapy Licensing Board or Agency to confirm that your OT or OTA is licensed.

Check your insurance coverage. Ask your health insurance plan if they cover occupational therapy. Many do, including Medicare and Affordable Care Act plans. Also ask if the OT and/or OTA you want to see is in your plan’s network, how much you may need to pay, and how many appointments are covered.

Contact Pemi-Baker Community Health today to set up an appointment in your home or at our office on Boulder Point Drive. 603-536-2232

~written by Anna Swanson

PBCH is First Home Health Agency in Central NH Offering Homebound Vaccination Clinics

Emily Reid, Pemi-Baker Community Health RN administering a Covid-19 vaccination to a homebound patient and caregiver in Plymouth, NH

Pemi-Baker Community Health is partnering with the Central NH Regional Public Health Network (RPHN) to bring COVID-19 vaccine to homebound patients within their 22 town service area. This unique collaboration is just one example of many partnerships the Central NH RPHN has throughout the region addressing complex public health issues.

The Central NH RPHN is one of 13 regional public health networks funded by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to convene, coordinate, and facilitate an ongoing network of partners to address the delivery of public health services. Services can include: public health emergency preparedness, substance use disorder, and other disease prevention and health promotion activities to improve population health and community resilience.

Angel Ekstrom, the Central NH Public Health Network Coordinator, has been instrumental in coordinating partners to vaccinate homebound residents throughout the region reaching the most vulnerable. “Partnering with home health care agencies to vaccinate residents who are homebound affords homebound vaccine recipients to receive their vaccine from a familiar and trusted healthcare provider who, in many cases, regularly enters the recipient’s home. For those who are not clients of the home healthcare provider it connects homebound recipients to available services they may need” says Ekstrom.

Through Central NH RPHN COVID-19 response efforts, Angel has collaborated with partners across sectors in providing situational awareness, aiding partners in obtaining Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), standing up and demobilizing an Alternative Care Site (ACS), coordinating and operating mobile vaccine clinics addressing inequities, securing vaccine to meet Central NH RPHN needs and recently this partnership with PBCH to administer COVID-19 vaccine to homebound residents.

“We are very excited to offer vaccines to our homebound patients and their caregivers. We have been compiling a list of our own patients who cannot leave their homes to travel to a vaccine clinic and 211 NH has also given us names” said Kara Hamill, PBCH Senior Operations Director. Jenn Stewart, Infection Control Nurse, Penny Conlon, RN,  Emily Reid, RN and Macayla Noble, LPN have undergone specialized training and have been conducting homebound vaccination clinics for three weeks, vaccinating over 80 people thus far.

Jenn Stewart, Infection Control LPN preparing vaccines.

To date, Pemi-Baker Community Health is the only Home Health (VNA) agency offering this homebound service in Central NH. “We are honored to collaborate with Angel and the Central NH RPHN and are very proud of the fact that although we have serviced multiple patients with Covid-19, we haven’t had a single Pemi-Baker clinician contract Covid-19 from a patient over the past year. While out in the community our employees have been very diligent following CDC, NH state guidelines and the guidelines that the PBCH Covid taskforce has laid out” said Jenn Stewart, LPN and Pemi-Baker Community Health’s Infection Control Nurse.

If you or a loved one cannot leave the house (homebound) and would like more information about this service please call Pemi-Baker Community Health at 603-536-2232.

~written by Anna Swanson

Thank You for 12 Amazing Years of Leadership!

We are at once happy and sad to announce the retirement of our CEO, Chandra Engelbert. She has been an outstanding leader for more than 12 years of dedicated service at Pemi-Baker Community Health and a true inspiration for all of us.

The entire Central NH/Plymouth community has benefitted from Chandra’s leadership for much longer than that though. Chandra began her career earning a B.S. in Nursing at Northeastern University in Boston, MA and her MBA from UNH’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics. Chandra’s professional expertise included: Nursing in Medical Surgery, Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department, Recovery Room, Home care and Hospice. Profit and nonprofit administrative background included management of home care and hospice, Vice President of Diagnostic Services at LRGHealthcare and ICU/ED Manager at Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster, NH.

Over the years she served on the Home Care, Palliative Care and Hospice Alliance of NH and the Central New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce Boards, Central NH Health Partnership, Rural Healthcare Association, Plymouth State University Nursing Honor Society and Nursing Advisory Board and the Central Service Health Network; participating in emergency preparedness efforts and public health initiatives in NH.

Creating a collaborative effort between PBCH, Mid-State Health Center and Speare Memorial Hospital is one of her most proud accomplishments and instilling the ‘Ubuntu’ philosophy for the employees of Pemi-Baker Community Health, creating a culture for them filled with respect, honesty and value.

She will be deeply missed but we can only feel happy for her after many years of service to our community and hope that she enjoys her well-deserved retirement.

~written by Anna Swanson

PBCH Receives Generous Donation from Service Credit Union

The holidays came early for Pemi-Baker Community Health(PBCH) thanks to a generous donation from Service Credit Union.  Both non-profit companies have strong missions to support the communities they serve and PBCH plans to use the donation for much needed training supplies for their nurses.

Since 1967, Pemi-Baker Community Health has brought compassionate health care into the homes of Central and Northern New Hampshire, delivering much needed home health, palliative, hospice and therapeutic care to patients in 22 towns.

Service Credit Union was established in 1957 to support military personnel and their families at what was then Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire.  Since then, they have grown to serve members all over the world.  Their 800+ employees provide financial services at 50 walk-in locations throughout New Hampshire, North Dakota, Massachusetts and Germany.

“Without the generous support of community partners like Service Credit Union, we would have a difficult time continuing our mission and we wish to extend our thanks to Jenn Duncan, Branch Manager at the Plymouth Service Credit Union” said Danielle Paquette-Horne, Home Health, Palliative Care & Hospice Director, at Pemi-Baker Community Health.

Please consider donating to Pemi-Baker Community Health during the New Year by visiting their website, www.pbhha.org.  If you order online, Amazon will give a percentage of your purchases directly to Pemi-Baker Community health by using Amazon Smile. Visit www.smile.amazon.com and choose Pemi-Baker Community Health.  Or perhaps you would like to donate your time instead. There is room in their Free Hospice Volunteer Training starting January 5th via Zoom. Contact Lauren Bell, SW and Volunteer Coordinator at info@pbhha.org or 603-536-2232.        

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

Plymouth Service Credit Union branch is conveniently located inside the Plymouth Walmart.  They offer numerous member tailored lending options including mortgages, auto loans, credit cards as well as savings, checking and business banking services.  1-800-936-7730, www.servicecu.org

~written by Anna Swanson

Soothing Seasonal Sadness

In my years working as a clinical mental health counselor, I could always count on having a few clients who suffered with Seasonal Affective Disorder. That’s psychiatric lingo for mood disturbances worsened by seasonal changes. Appropriately, its acronym is SAD. Particularly as we lose daylight hours, especially when we turn the clocks back as the fall moves into becoming winter, some people get in a sad and funky mood. At the mental health center I worked for, we purchased a device called a light box which patients could borrow for short spaces of time. The light box radiates light which helps the patients in elevating their mood so that the sadness would not be so pervasive or overwhelming.

Currently, we are experiencing stretches of time besides this season of fall turning into winter. It is the holiday season. It is a season of caution and care as we try to safeguard ourselves against the coronavirus. It also an ongoing season of grief and mourning for those whose loved ones have died, whether from COVID19 or other causes. So, perhaps, we are enduring multiple seasons of compounded sadness in varying degrees of intensity. Sorry to say, there are no easy remedies to “the blahs” that may befall us at the present time, though there may be some temporary relief to turn our awareness from it all so that we do not become overshadowed by a moody cloud. Here, I will suggest some short, simple practices.

 First of all, fresh air and physical movement are valuable. Naturally, as the weather gets colder, we need to moderate our exposure to the outside air. A brief walk around your yard or on your porch or deck for ten or fifteen minutes, breathing normally, with some movement of your limbs will help to “clear house” and “keep the motor going”.

Secondly, the simple act of washing your face two or three times a day can be very refreshing. You can experiment with what seems to work best for you- water temperature that is hot, lukewarm, or cold and a facecloth that is thin or plush. The temperature of the water and the texture of the fabric revitalizes our pores, wakening up our complexion.

Following on this, there are the practices of hand and head massages. Start by rubbing your hands together as you would if you were washing your hands at your sink. Allow each hand to move over its partner, gently rubbing over the back of the hand, then the palm, and moving through the fingers. Starting at the wrist of one hand, let your thumb and fingers of the other hand softly massage the wrist, and then move across the back of the hand, and continue to gently massage each knuckle and joint of each finger. As you finish, use your fingertips to move in a circle in your palm. Then attend to the other hand. You may also want to lightly rub your palms together or even to softly clap your hands. To massage your head, gently let your fingertips move through your hair (or what you have left of it!). Do this a few times. Then gently tap your fingertips throughout and across your whole scalp, not forgetting the areas around your ears or at the base of your skull down to your neck. This also stimulates the movement of energy in our cranial area.

 I began this sharing by mentioning the use of a light box, so I will close with a suggestion that is more meditative and reflective. The winter holidays of this time of year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Hanukkah, and the Winter Solstice) all focus on the element of light, hoping for its return and emergence from the darkness. Most craft supply stores and even some pharmacies sell small LED light battery-powered candles of various sizes. Some even have flickering flames. Though there is a lot to be said for actual candles, these are a bit safer to use. For the purpose of focusing and directing your attention, only one is necessary. Use it as the daylight is ending. Simply direct your attention to the light, bringing to mind thoughts of past good times and the joy of affection shared with loved ones. The length of time you do this for does not matter too much, but respect the rhythm of your ability to concentrate easily. This isn’t supposed to be a chore or an assignment! It seems to be more profitable to do this in a quiet time without the distraction of other noise. This can be settling to the soul and bring your day to a peaceful end.

As I indicated earlier, these are not “cures” for seasonal sadness- only suggestions for momentary relief that may help the next stretch be more tolerable and bearable. As always, take care of yourself, respecting both your own strengths and limits.

Regretfully, we are still unable to gather for our Bereavement groups due to COVID19 restrictions but Guy Tillson can meet with you one on one via ZOOM or in person following CDC guidelines for safety. To contact Guy please email him at gtillson@pbhha.org. Please visit our website for other monthly ZOOM meetings: Coffee with Caregivers and Fill Out Your Forms.

 

~Guy Tillson, MDiv, MA, PBCH Hospice Chaplain and Bereavement Counselor

Six Common Myths About Physical Therapy Explained

While physical therapist’s roles are both broad and diverse, several misconceptions still exist about what physical therapy is, what it isn’t, and the various ways it can help people improve the health and lives of people at all stages in life.

Matt Scagliarini uses dry needling to reduce his patient’s pain, release scar tissue adhesions and treat muscle trigger points.

“When a lot of people think about physical therapy, they think rehabilitation from injury or surgery. But that’s just part of what we do,” said Matt Scagliarini, PT, DPT and Director of Outpatient Physical Therapy at Pemi-Baker Community Health. “Physical therapists can improve the lives of people of all ages dealing with biomechanical faults that could lead to injury, sports performance, balance impairments and nervous system conditions to name a few.  We use innovative testing to work with our clients to develop a personalized plan of health for people of all ages and abilities.”

According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), physical therapists (PTs) are highly educated and licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility. Sure, this includes those who’ve suffered musculoskeletal injuries, Scagliarini says, but it’s much more than that.

Here are six common misconceptions about physical therapy:

  1. I need to be injured to see a physical therapist. Rehabilitation following an injury or surgery is just a portion of what physical therapists may provide. It’s common for a PT to treat other common ailments like balance and vestibular issues, headaches, pelvic pain, chronic pain, incontinence, and basic joint and muscle discomfort. They also work with clients to prevent injuries and improve athletic performance.
  2. It’s going to hurt. The “no pain, no gain” philosophy has no place in physical therapy. In fact, PTs are trained to work within one’s pain threshold to ensure her or his musculoskeletal gains are safe and incremental. PT’s at Pemi-Baker are trained to analyze the biomechanics of movement. Therefore, they are able to replace painful movement patterns with less painful and more efficient alternatives that improve performance.
  3. Surgery/medication are better options. Both have a place as medical treatments, but multiple studies have shown that physical therapy is more effective and safer than options like subscription painkillers, as well as common surgeries for lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease, and even meniscus tears.
  4. Physical therapy is expensive. Physical therapy is a bargain when compared with surgery and the cost of medical imaging. But more than that, studies have shown that for the treatment of one of the most common ailments, non-specific back pain, patients can save up to 60 percent on their medical bills if they first visit a physical therapist.
  5. Any health care provider can offer physical therapy. This is simply not true, though the APTA estimates 37 percent of all consumers believe it to be the case. The fact is only licensed physical therapists have received the post-graduate education and training necessary to provide physical therapy services.
  6. I can’t see a PT without a prescription or referral. According to the APTA, this myth is shared by 70 percent of all health care consumers. In most states, patients are allowed to be evaluated by a PT and receive visits prior to needing a physician referral. Every private health insurance is different. Contact Pemi-Baker Community Health or your insurance company directly for more details.

To learn more about how physical therapy can benefit a particular ailment, condition or wellness goal – or for an injury, pain or movement evaluation – contact the physical therapy team at Pemi-Baker Community Health.

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.            

 

~written by Anna Swanson

Pemi-Baker Community Health Welcomes our Newest Community Partner-Enlighten Nutrition and Wellness

Personal Protective Nutrition(PPN)-Create Meals to Boost Immunity

Experience and education are key when searching for nutrition advice… look no further. 

Pemi-Baker Community Health welcomes our newest Community Partner, Denise Poudrier Normandin, Registered Dietitian, founder, and CEO of Enlighten Nutrition & Wellness. Denise is a passionate advocate, leader and motivator of healthy eating, physical movement, and lifestyle medicine practices. She has over two decades of experience as a Registered/Licensed Dietitian, Nutrition & Health Educator, Consultant and Coach. With Covid-19 cases on the rise, maximizing the health of our immune system by eating well and exercising is more important than ever!

Focusing on food sources that support a healthy immune system is essential to maintaining and/or improving health. Think of food as nature’s medicine! Food can heal or harm our bodies. It is important to consume whole foods. A whole food has been processed or refined as little as possible and is free from additives or other artificial substances, therefore more nutrient-dense. Meanwhile one should limit, highly processed foods, saturated fats, refined grains and added sugars. Evidence suggests a healthy eating pattern is linked to lower risk of chronic diseases, like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. These largely preventable chronic diseases put people at a greater risk for illness, including COVID-19.

 

NATURAL IMMUNITY BOOSTERS

  • All bright-colored fruits and vegetables. They offer extensive antioxidant protection and bolster the body’s infection-fighting mechanisms. Think of red-orange vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes, and winter squashes all are rich in beta-carotene. Beta carotene is converted into vitamin A. Beta-carotene comes from plant sources and has been shown to protect lung strength as we age. The American Heart Association recommends obtaining antioxidants, including beta-carotene, by eating a well-balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
  • Vitamin C-rich foodslike citrus, broccoli, sweet bell peppers, kale, and kiwi.
    Click Here for Mediterranean Village Salad Bites Recipe
  • Vitamin D found in salmon, mushrooms (exposed to sunlight), eggs, and fortified foods like milk.Also known as “the sunshine vitamin” is produced when skin is exposed briefly to natural sunlight.
  • Zinc is an essential mineral for immune function. Found in high amounts in meat and seafood and in moderate amounts in chickpeas, sunflowers, and pumpkin seeds.
  • Natural herbs and spices: ginger, garlic, onions, oregano, rosemary, and thyme all have properties that help fight off viruses and harmful bacteria.
  • Eat a variety of plant-based foods: nuts, seeds, beans (all kinds).

MEAL PLANNING

Good nutrition requires planning ahead, designating time in your schedule to shop, plan, prepare and enjoy healthy meals. Make the most out of every trip to the grocery store or local farmers market by considering:

  • How many meals will you prepare at home from scratch?
  • How many people will you need to serve?
  • Will breakfast be a quick meal like cereal, whole-grain toast with avocado or hard-boiled eggs with fresh berries?
  • What leftovers can you turn into a quick snack or lunch the next day?

FITTING IN FITNESS

Like healthy eating, being physically active is one of the most important actions that people of all ages can take to improve their health. Adults should move more and sit less throughout the day. Unfortunately, only 1 in 5 adults and teens get enough exercise to maintain good health. Lack of physical activity combined with poor dietary choices contributes to excess weight. Find physical activities that you enjoy and will want to do! Recruit a buddy to join you. Make exercise part of your daily routine.

The CDC Physical Activity Guidelines, 2nd Edition recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combo of both, preferably spread throughout the week.

Get moving today… here are some key benefits of staying active:

  • Fosters normal growth and development.
  • Makes people feel better, function better and sleep better.
  • Greatly reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
  • Boosts the immune system.
  • Builds strength and helps our body manage unhealthy stress.
  • A healthy body builds a healthy mind.

 

The time is now! Make your health and wellness a priority so you can live life to the fullest!  Insurance accepted. Contact Denise to book a virtual telehealth or in-person appointment:  denise@enlightenlivewell.com or on line www.enlightenlivewell.com 

Denise is a registered dietitian through the Commission on Dietetics Registration, a board-certified diplomat in Lifestyle Medicine through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and a preferred provider of Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). She is committed to building stronger, healthier individuals, families and communities through individual and group nutrition consultations, telehealth, corporate training workshops, wellness retreats, health, and lifestyle coaching, and speaking engagements.

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.            

~Written by Denise Poudrier Normandin, MA, RD, LD, DipACLM           

Pemi-Baker Community Health Celebrates Giving Tuesday on December 1, 2020

 

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past eight years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give. GivingTuesday strives to build a world in which the catalytic power of generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity and equity around the globe.

Our community is STRONG!  Let’s help it grow even stronger.  Join us in giving back for GivingTuesday on December 1.  Give to your local nonprofit, volunteer, or do an act of kindness.  Every act of generosity counts and each means more when we give together.

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.            

~Written by Anna Swanson               

Skilled Home Health Care: What Pemi-Baker Community Health Can Do For You

November is National Homecare Month. What better way to celebrate it than to provide information about home care services thru Pemi-Baker Community Health, and what it can offer for a loved one? As we age, we still want our independence. Many older Americans are choosing to stay in their homes longer and “age in place.” This trend allows people to remain in their family home surrounded by familiar furnishings that make them feel comfortable and safe. But as we get older, certain activities that once seemed simple can become more difficult to manage.

So when do we need skilled home health care?

Skilled home health is care given to patients at home by medically trained and licensed professionals. It is an alternative to receiving care in a nursing home or hospital to regain health and independence.

What sort of people are served by home health?

Skilled home health care clients can be recovering patients who are ill with a chronic condition like heart failure or an acute health condition like surgery for a hip replacement, or who have sustained an injury. Home health care permits earlier discharge from a hospital, reduces hospital admissions and assists with rapid recovery. It’s less expensive, more accessible, and as effective as care from a hospital or skilled nursing facility.

Skilled home health care can be for rehabilitation following a stay in the hospital or nursing home.  Patients may also be referred to Pemi-Baker Community Health by their own PCP’s for help managing a health condition. For example, your Mom might need skilled nursing after being hospitalized with a bout of pneumonia or Dad may need occupational and physical therapy when he gets home following knee surgery. The nurse can help your Mom learn to manage her medications safely and help her learn ways to manage her overall health more effectively. Occupational and physical therapy will provide training on the best exercises Dad can do to strengthen his knee so he can get back to doing the things he enjoys.

Long-term home health palliative or hospice services can be provided when your parent or loved one is suffering with a terminal illness. Our nurses and therapists work together with your doctors to provide coordinated, effective care.

How does a patient access skilled home health thru Pemi-Baker Community Health?

A referral from a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant is necessary. If your loved one is being sent home from the hospital or nursing home, their staff physicians will typically write the referral. Your own PCP can also provide a referral.  Just let them know you would like to use Pemi-Baker Community Health, we service 22 towns in Central New Hampshire.

Who pays for skilled home health care?

Payment options for home health typically include a wide variety of insurances including Medicare, many Medicare Replacement plans, along with a whole host of private insurances.

Pemi-Baker Community Health has been in the business of ‘skilled’ home health care for over 50 years. We understand how hard it can be to get ready, travel to a certain facility to receive care and then travel back home again every time you have to go to an appointment. Home health care addresses this dilemma and Pemi-Baker Community Health can help you. There are many benefits of getting care at home and one of them is getting competent, one-on-one skilled care right where you live. Apart from this, you also save your time, energy and extra money because home health care is relatively cheaper than being institutionalized in a care facility.

Our team of responsible and reliable professionals will make sure that you or your loved ones receive the appropriate care at home. We offer skilled nursing, home health aides, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social services and speech therapy. We are experts in our field and we have the necessary experience to make sure you are cared for correctly. You are in safe and caring hands with Pemi-Baker Community Health.

“The people working at Pemi-Baker are terrific. I would highly recommend them for any home health care needs for yourself, family and friends. They take the time to meet your needs in a kind and sensitive way.” ~Deb

“I have had home-care after a hip replacement as well as physical therapy to recover and PT for other problems. Everyone is friendly, concerned, efficient, professional and cheerful. This organization is superior to others I have had over the years.”  ~Sheila

“Fantastic people!  Real people you can trust and feel comfortable with.  I can’t thank you enough for all the help you have given us while my husband is going thru cancer.  Thank you so much!”  ~Maxy

~Written by Anna Swanson

November is National Home Care & Hospice Month

During the month of November, the home care and hospice community honor the millions of nurses, home care aides, therapists, and social workers who make a remarkable difference for the patients and families they serve. These heroic caregivers play a central role in our health care system and in homes across the nation. To recognize their efforts, we call upon all Americans to commemorate the power of caring, both at the home and in their local communities and ask them to join with Pemi-Baker Community Health in celebrating November as Home Care and Hospice Month.

In addition, Home Care Aide Week takes place the second full week of November. Join us in honoring these compassionate, tireless workers who play an invaluable role for their clients as caregivers, companions, and friends.

“Home care and hospice nurses, therapists, aides, and other providers choose to use their lives to serve our country’s aged, disabled, and dying. This noble work deserves our recognition and praise and we celebrate November as home care and hospice month for that very reason,” said National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) President William A. Dombi.

With 10 thousand Americans turning 65 every day, the need for health care will continue to rise, and costs will continue to skyrocket. This is where home care and hospice come in. As the preferred choice for most patients, it also offers the greatest cost savings. For example, Medicare pays nearly $2,000 per day for a typical hospital stay and $450 per day for a typical nursing home stay. Meanwhile, home care costs less than $100 a day and helps many U.S. seniors remain independent at home, enriching their lives, and staying in touch with those they love.

Fast Facts

  • Home care providers will travel about 8 billion miles to deliver the best health care in the world.
  • Ninety percent of Americans want to age in place, and home care is the preferred method of health care delivery among the disabled, elderly, and chronically ill.
  • Home care provides high-quality, compassionate care to more than 5 million Americans annually.

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, occupational and aquatic therapy as well as free community educational/support groups via zoom.

~by Anna Swanson

“They are so pleasant and willing to help.”

They talk kindly and gently guide my mother to do what she needs to do.  It is as if this is not 'just a job' but they really are enjoying what they do.  They are happy!

Sister of a Hospice Patient
Pemi-Baker Community Health
2020-01-17T12:43:19-05:00
They talk kindly and gently guide my mother to do what she needs to do.  It is as if this is not 'just a job' but they really are enjoying what they do.  They are happy! Sister of a Hospice Patient

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 Community 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!

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 Community 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!

“I’m so happy that I found PBCH!”

I live in Meredith and wanted to exercise in a pool.  The aquatic classes here at Pemi-Baker are fantastic.  I am a member of the 7 am class and we meet three times a week for an amazing class run by Liz.  She changes it up every time and works us with a variety of cardio, strength, flexibility, balance and stretching.  The aquatic program here offers a variety of classes throughout the day; so very easy to fit it into your routine.  I highly recommend that you check it out.  Everyone is very welcoming and we have a lot of fun getting our exercise in.

L. Rice

Pemi-Baker Community Health
2020-01-17T12:31:13-05:00

L. Rice

I live in Meredith and wanted to exercise in a pool.  The aquatic classes here at Pemi-Baker are fantastic.  I am a member of the 7 am class and we meet three times a week for an amazing class run by Liz.  She changes it up every time and works us with a variety of cardio, strength, flexibility, balance and stretching.  The aquatic program here offers a variety of classes throughout the day; so very easy to fit it into your routine.  I highly recommend that you check it out.  Everyone is very welcoming and we have a lot of fun getting our exercise in.

“I had a sore knee keeping me from hiking and skiing.”

The therapy treatments and recommended exercises put me back outdoors enjoying my passions in no time.  Excellent staff was very helpful!

S. Baker

Pemi-Baker Community Health
2020-01-17T12:23:39-05:00

S. Baker

The therapy treatments and recommended exercises put me back outdoors enjoying my passions in no time.  Excellent staff was very helpful!

“The Joint Mobility class has made a world of difference for me!”

I'm in less pain, I sleep through the night, which I haven't done in years, and I've met some of the nicest people.  I look forward to this class so much; when Thursday comes I dread waiting till next Tuesday to see you.
Pemi-Baker Community Health
2020-01-17T12:02:46-05:00
I'm in less pain, I sleep through the night, which I haven't done in years, and I've met some of the nicest people.  I look forward to this class so much; when Thursday comes I dread waiting till next Tuesday to see you.

“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 PBCH and we are very lucky to have found this amazing group!  Thank you PBCH for your excellent care and compassion.

Leila L.

Pemi-Baker Community 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 PBCH and we are very lucky to have found this amazing group!  Thank you PBCH for your excellent care and compassion.

“We bonded as people and worked together as a team.”

My therapy experience has been all about partnership. This was the key to success ! My rehab was similar to that of an athlete with the therapists as my trainers using their expertise to progress my knee to the next level, the next stage.

‘Woody’ & Jake

Pemi-Baker Community Health
2019-11-07T12:20:00-05:00

‘Woody’ & Jake

My therapy experience has been all about partnership. This was the key to success ! My rehab was similar to that of an athlete with the therapists as my trainers using their expertise to progress my knee to the next level, the next stage.

“We’ve loved the swim lessons at Pemi-Baker.”

Anna's gentle and encouraging instruction was just right for making our daughter feel comfortable in the water. We're looking forward to continuing the lessons!
Pemi-Baker Community Health
2019-11-07T12:26:12-05:00
Anna's gentle and encouraging instruction was just right for making our daughter feel comfortable in the water. We're looking forward to continuing the lessons!
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