Day Away – Caring for the Caregiver

a great day at day away each Thursday from 9 a.m. til 3 p.m. Your loved one with dementia (participant) will be cared for in a safe environment, staffed by “one on one volunteers”and 2 registered nurses. For more information, call (603) 744-3687 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on any Thursday except for major holidays.

Dan Hale visits Day Away often to entertain participants singing and playing his guitar.  Many songs are familiar and sing-a-longs ensue! Thank you to Dan Hale for stopping by and singing with us!  See you soon!!

We are looking for volunteers for Day Away, will you join us?  Together we can make our participants’ lives brighter.  The heart of a volunteer is measured by the depth of the commitment to make a difference.  Contact  Ed Swanson at (603) 536-7299 or Terry Kurdzionak, R.N. at (603) 726-7645 or email <terrykurdz@gmail.com> for further information about volunteering. 3 and 1/2 hours once or twice a month on Thursdays would be so helpful!

Participants are gardeners too at Day Away!  Thanks to the Knights of Columbus who donated the planters, the participants at Day Away planted a vegetable garden outside the hall.  The vegetables and herbs will be incorporated into the healthy lunches that are made for them every week.  Great job!!

In the summer, we get outside to take in the fresh air as well as play wiffleball, and other outdoor games. We also enjoy an occasional picnic lunch outside if weather permits.

For National Volunteer Appreciation Week, Day Away recognized all their volunteers for their help and contributions to the program.   One Volunteer in particular was especially recognized for her part in Day Away.  Six years ago, after visiting the first Day Away program in Merrimack NH, Fran Olson of Bridgewater NH felt a need to start the program for families in the Lakes Region.  Fran brought her desire to start the program to a group of friends and parishioners at her parish, Holy Trinity of Plymouth, NH.  Holy Trinity Parish generously offered to host the program in the hall of Our Lady of Grace Chapel in Bristol.  In 2014, the Day Away program opened its doors to all eligible families in the Lakes Region, regardless of creed. Fran’s recognition award was appropriately inscribed “Fran Olson…A Day Away…Because of You”.

Fran Olson receives her recognition statue from Director Sandra Coleman, BSN, RN

Volunteers enjoy an appreciation lunch at the Homestead Restaurant in Bristol

Bernie and Christine

Peter Ole performs

Bernie and Christine dance the Day Away with music and song by Mystro Peter Ole, a local, talented musician and artist. Peter is a frequent visitor to Day Away and also visits Senior Centers and rest homes in the Lakes Region and has been doing so for many years.  Thank you Mystro Peter!

Studies have shown that music therapy helps people who suffer with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia both cognitively and in movement.  At Day Away, a fun part of the day at the weekly program is the Sing Along with participants and volunteers.  Recently Sensei Stuart Paton of the Burlington Taiko Group of Burlington VT, shared his talents in the ancient art of Taiko (Japanese Drumming).  Sensei Paton brought with him various sized drums, and under his tutelage, taught the new artists a short course in this performing art.

We are fortunate for the outpouring of support from local entertainers and establishments who visit regularly to entertain or assist with our weekly craft.  Recently Kil’n Time Studio, a paint your own pottery studio located on Main Street in Plymouth, offered Day Away participants an opportunity for them to create their own masterpiece.

from left to right: Steve Loring, tenor, Niall Trimby, lead, Art Lively, bass, and Harvey Beetle, baritone. Missing from photo are John Richardson and his son Todd.

Members of the quartet “Kytch ‘N Sync” entertained at the annual holiday open house.  The members of the barbershop a cappella ensemble is made up of six barbershop singers and is a member of the Lakes Region chords men chorus of Laconia and the Barbershop Harmony Society.  Members of the local chapter of quartets sing throughout the area at nursing homes, senior citizen centers and assisted living centers.  February is a favorite time of the year when the members deliver singing valentines to residents at their frequent visits to the local establishments.  The local Laconia chapter also hosts the Alton Bay Barbershop Jamboree each year in August and assists with the Lakes Region Youth-In-Harmony Festival each spring for area high school students.  The chorus has competed at the Society’s Division and District level and was recently recognized by the Northeastern District for its community outreach.  The performance was the highlight of the well attended event.

Shown in photo L-R: Bill York CDP, Erin Hattan MD, Diane Arsenault MD, Maria Babineau MSW, Scott Meyer PhD.

The Day Away Program sponsored an informational forum on memory loss recently at the Minot-Sleeper Library in Bristol, NH.  A short film was played showing a family’s struggle living with a loved one with Alzheimer’s.  The film was followed by presentations from a panel of medical professionals who specialize in memory loss. The panel’s subjects included the complicated effects on those suffering with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, current treatments available, coping skills for caregivers, the need for respite, and long-term care options.  Bill York of Live Free Home Health Care in Meredith NH spoke on the importance of support groups for caregivers.  Day Away would like to thank the panel for their time and much needed information on the many facets of memory loss diseases including care giving.