The Butterfly Files March 2019

March

Happenings

Drop-In Bereavement

March 11th

2:00 pm - 3:30pm

Hospice Volunteer Training

Beginning March 20th—

Every Wednesday

2pm—4pm

Foot Care &

Blood Pressure Clinics

See our calendar for dates/

details

Sarah joins us as an LNA with 6 years experience as in home care. She is hoping to make a difference in peo-ple’s day through her work. She also has a 20 year history of showing horses!

Melissa joins us after nearly 10 years experience as an LNA. She loves being a positive impact in the lives of the patients she helps in their homes. She also loves Bingo! Marina joins us after 1 6 years

working in healthcare. She is excited to be here be-cause she loves the medical field. Born in England, she was named af-ter the Duchess of Kent, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark! She is the great-great-granddaughter of Charles Sumner, Boston area Sena-tor, the very same one the Sumner tunnel is named for!

Our mission is to provide quality Home Health Care, Hospice and education to Individuals and families in our

communities so that they may reach their highest level of independence.

Welcome to our new staff

Join us Wednesdays, May 22nd, 2019 thru June 26th, 2019 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. as we meet to learn how to move

through grief in a supportive environment with Tobias Nyatsambo, Hospice Chaplain

and Beatrice Gove, Hospice Volunteer.

Franklin VNA & Hospice Office

75 Chestnut Street

Franklin, NH 03235

The Support Group is provided free of charge, but pre-registration is required. Contact April at (603) 934 - 3454

Franklin VNA & Hospice and

Peabody Home

Announce a Combined

SPRING GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP

Hospice Volunteers Truly Make a Difference

Franklin VNA & Hospice is hosting a Volunteer Training Session Wednesdays March 20th through April 24th

2pm—4pm Our 6 week session is designed to teach volunteers

the skills needed to be successful how to be present for someone just needing company

how their volunteer time allows the caregiver time to go for a walk, go to personal appointments etc.

the importance of reminiscing to allow the Hospice patient to find closure

dispelling fears that volunteering is scary or uncomfortable

Tobias Nyatsambo, Chaplain and Volunteer Coordinator says “The truth is, that while we do have those volun-

teers dedicated to never letting anyone die alone, who want to be called in to sit with someone in the final stages

of life, if the patient’s loved ones cannot be present, the majority of our Hospice volunteers are providing much

needed companionship and acting as listeners. We would never want to push a volunteer beyond their comfort

zone. The volunteers we have tell me they find the companionship that they give the patients playing games, look-

ing through scrapbooks or playing music to them a truly rewarding experience for both the patient and the

volunteer.”

Volunteers are matched to patients with similar interests and there’s always an opportunity to take a break if

you feel perhaps the match wasn’t well made.

“We are proud to partner with Peabody Home for our volunteer training,” says Nyatsambo, “The opportunity for our volunteers to meet with their residents as an introduction to being with the elderly is both instructive for them and very meaningful for the residents at Peabody Home.”

If you're looking to make a difference in someone's life, and perhaps change your own as well, Hospice volunteer-ing may be exactly what you're looking for. To register for the training program with Franklin VNA & Hospice, contact April at 934-3454.

“The only way to get to the other side is to go

through the door.” ~Helen Keller

Franklin VNA & Hospice

75 Chestnut St

Franklin, NH 03235

934-3454

March 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Blood Pressure Clinic

Belmont Senior Center 10:30am – 11:15am

Foot Care Clinic Franklin VNA & Hospice Please Call for Appt.

Blood Pressure Clinic

Salisbury Senior Center 11:15am – 12:00pm

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Bereavement

Drop In

Support Group

2pm—3:30pm

Franklin VNA &

Hospice

Foot Care Clinic Franklin VNA & Hospice Please Call for Appt.

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Blood Pressure Clinic

Tilton Senior Center 11 Grange Rd, Tilton 10:30am – 11:30am

Foot Care Clinic Franklin VNA & Hospice Please Call for Appt. Hospice Volunteer Training Begins 2pm –4pm

Blood Pressure Clinic

Northfield Com-munity Pines 61 Summer St. 11am – 12pm

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Blood Pressure Clinic

Tripp Center Bessie Rowell Community Center

10:30 – 11:30

Foot Care Clinic Franklin VNA & Hospice Please Call for Appt. Hospice Volunteer Training 2pm –4pm

Happy

St Patrick's

Day

Shepherd's Pie

1 Pound Ground Beef 1/3 Cup Ketchup

1 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce 16 oz Mashed Potatoes

1/4 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

8 Oz Frozen Mixed Vegetables

Heat oven to 400°

Cook beef in a skillet over medium heat, until no pink remains,

about 5 minutes. Discard fat.

Stir in ketchup, Worcestershire and mixed vegetables while cook-

ing for 1 minute. Spoon into baking dish.

Mix cheese with potatoes and spread over beef mixture.

Cook in oven about 10 minutes, or until heated through.

Enjoy!

St. Patrick’s Day Treat

The Overlooked Foot Your feet are like old friends, always there for you, dependable and sometimes

overlooked. But we need to change that. No, your feet won’t unfriend you on Fa-

cebook, but if they are ignored too long problems, like bunions, ingrown toenails

or sores can develop making your once dependable feet painful and a risk to your

health. If you have poor circulation, diabetes or heart disease it’s even more im-

portant to take care of your feet.

It is estimated that 80% of older people have foot problems. It can be the cause of

falls, decreased mobility or total loss of ambulation, and can affect ability to travel

to doctors’ appointments and seek care for other medical conditions.

The Overlooked Foot cont. Complications arising from diabetes, gout inflammation, peripheral vascular dis-

ease, and the side effects from certain medications can cause damage to the feet.

These can all cause infections that result in hospitalization or lead to chronic

wounds with potential for amputation.

Regular foot care can prevent the above complications and allow recognition of

foot conditions which need further medical attention or intervention. Good foot

hygiene includes;

Washing your feet every day, and drying gently – don’t forget to dry between

the toes.

Checking your feet daily for cuts, bruises, blisters, spots, lumps or bumps.

Trim toenails straight across regularly. If you can’t trim them, a foot care clinic

like Franklin VNA & Hospice’s Wednesday Foot Care Clinics is a great option.

Wear clean socks, and change them daily.

Wear supportive shoes that fit well. If the shoes cause blisters, pinch or make

your feet sore, get rid of them and wear a different pair.

Communicate with your provider. If you notice changes in your feet, or any

injuries, let your health care provider know - this could be your visiting nurse,

primary care provider or orthopedist.

You only get one pair of feet, so be a good friend and don’t neglect their care!

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Get screened and stay healthy!

Everyone ages 50 - 75 needs to get screened for colorectal cancer - screening saves lives. If everyone aged 50

and older were screened regularly, 6 out of 10 deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented. March is

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Franklin VNA & Hospice wants you to get screened because early

detection is key to effective treatment. Often there are no signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer, which is

likely why it’s the third most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of death from

cancer. Currently there are three different screening tests, Colonoscopy, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy and Stool

Testing. You and your healthcare provider can pick the one that will work the best for you.

A colonoscopy lets the doctor look inside your rectum and colon to check for cancer or polyps (growths

that can turn into cancer). To do a colonoscopy, the doctor puts a thin, flexible tube into your anus. The

test is done at a hospital or clinic. If the result is normal, you can wait 10 years before getting tested again.

If polyps are found during the test, the doctor can usually remove them, but you might need another colon-

oscopy in 3 to 5 years.

A Flexible Sigmoidoscopy lets the doctor look inside the rectum and lower part of the colon to check for

cancer or polyps (growths that can turn into cancer). To do one, the doctor puts a thin, flexible tube into

your anus. This test is like a colonoscopy, but it only looks at part of your colon and has a smaller risk of

complications. If the result is normal, you can wait 5 years before getting tested again – or 10 years if you

get this test combined with the stool test. If the result isn’t normal, you’ll need a follow-up colonoscopy to

find out why.

A Stool Test looks at your stool (poop) instead of looking directly at your colon. For these tests, you use a

special kit to collect a small amount of your stool at home and return it to your doctor or a lab. If the result

is normal, you can wait 1 year before taking the test again. If the result isn’t normal, you’ll need a follow-

up colonoscopy to find out why.

Now that you have some good information, talk to your healthcare provider and schedule the test that will be

the best for you.

While screening is important, reducing your risk is also key.

If you smoke, quit! Smoking increases your risk for a whole bunch of bad stuff, including colorectal cancer. Even secondhand smoke increases the risk for those around you. Try www.quitnownh.org for free resources and support.

Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Diets that include lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole

grains have been linked with a decreased risk of colon cancer. Eat less red meat (beef, pork, or lamb) and processed meats (hot dogs and some luncheon meats), which have been linked with an increased risk of colon cancer.

Get regular exercise. If you are not physically active, you have a greater chance of developing colon

cancer. Increasing your activity may help reduce your risk.

Executive Councilor Mike Cryans is ready to work

February 15th, Executive Councilor Mike Cryans attended

the Franklin VNA & Hospice’s Meet Your Representative

event. The series is a chance for anyone to meet their

representative and talk healthcare. Attendees included

Michael Foss, Chief/Emergency Management Director for

Franklin Fire Department, Cheryl Barnes, Director of

Nursing at Peabody Home and member of the National

Association of Directors of Nursing Administration, Glen

Badger, an eldercare advisor, and many Franklin VNA &

Hospice staff.

Each Councilor represents 20% of the population with

Cryans, representing the state from its most northern town of Pittsburg down to Claremont, Andover, Hill,

Sanbornton, Tilton, Laconia and Gilford all the way across to Milton. A diverse area which includes businesses

from ski areas to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.

Executive Director, Tabitha Dowd advocated for the need for better pay and benefits to attract people to

caregiving jobs, “So it’s how can we strategically still be viable and sustainable in the future to provide these

needed services to the community, but pay them a fair wage? I think this is where the Executive Councilor

comes in. As these bills are brought forward by the legislators and you sit down and appropriate these funds,

this is something that is a need, not just in our area but the whole state of New Hampshire.”

Cheryl Barnes, Director of Nursing at Peabody Home, highlighted the need to act now to attract caregivers.

“The average rate of aging is now 78-82. One in Two people at the age of 85 will have dementia; the other

person will be their caregiver.”

It is clear that we need to

work to attract many

more workers to this in-

dustry to help care for

this wave of seniors.

All were in agreement

that services to allow

seniors to stay in their

homes longer than they

would be able to without

them, such as the

Choices for Independence Program and visiting nurse services, were a huge benefit to quality of life of those

seniors, in addition to being a substantial cost saving.

Cryans ended the question session by thanking the group, “I’ve certainly received a lot!”

As he headed out with staff nurse Deborah Richards to visit a patient, Dowd thanked him for his time and

noted, “We know we have a friend now, we can reach out to.”

Robert Morin, President of the Board , Tabitha Dowd, Ex-

ecutive Director, Executive Councilor Mike Cryans, Elaine

Cartier, Director of Hospice for Franklin VNA & Hospice

Proudly servicing our community

since 1945

Our Service Area

75 Chestnut Street

Franklin, NH 03235

Phone: 603-934-3454 Fax: 603-934-2222

Referral Fax Line: 603-934-1234

www.FranklinVNA.org

Check out our digital

version of this newsletter on our website!

www.FranklinVNA.org

Solution to February Soduku

Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack Counties is in great need of Substitute drivers for our Meals on Wheels Program.

You will be with a friendly group of people to package meals then deliver them to homebound people in Franklin and

surrounding communities. Please call Nancy Marceau at the Franklin Senior Center at 934-4151

S O R D B L V I E

I D L E R V B S O B E V O S I R D L R S B I V O E L D L I D R E B O V S O V E S L D I B R D L O V I R S E B V B S L O E D R I E R I B D S L O V