Frosty Festival
The Frosty Festival was a wonderful success! Enjoy these glimpses of the joy and jingle of the Healthy Starts Frosty Festival, thanks to the Keene Kiwanis Clubs, Santa and Mrs. Claus and many generous and thoughtful elves.
2022 Ride for Resilience video – thank you!
Now an annual event connecting Family Resource Centers across the Granite State, NHCT’s Ride for Resilience highlights family strength and the many ways New Hampshire's network of support helps build individual, family, and community resiliency! On Oct. 21 four riders hopped on their bicycles and pedaled 100 miles across southern New Hampshire to raise [...]
Caring For Our Grieving Selves and Others During The Holidays
“I hate all calendars. Why do we have to have them?!” – Bereavement group member It’s true, calendars can feel cruel to grievers sometimes. Birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and especially Thanksgiving and end of year holidays—each can feel like scabs pulled off a wound. So many of us at HCS and our patient families have [...]
Climate Corner, December 2022
Hi Everyone. Welcome to my Climate Corner. My name is Rachel Kowalsky, and I am a social Worker with Healthy Starts. I’ve spent over a decade hiking, backpacking, and exploring the forests and trails of New Hampshire, New England, and beyond. I’ve seen the effects of climate change firsthand with several wildfires in [...]
Giving Tuesday
HCS Celebrates GivingTuesday on November 29, 2022 This GivingTuesday, HCS – Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community Services will inspire generosity with a matching pledge from MatrixCare for hospice education. GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world. GivingTuesday will kick off [...]
Ride for Resilience
Ride for Resilience In partnership with NH’s network of Family Resources Centers, The New Hampshire Children’s Trust’s 2nd Annual 100-mile, charity Ride for Resilience is set for launch Oct. 14, 2022! Healthy Starts Program Manager Penny Vaine and her cycling companion, Rainna Baker, and other hearty riders will be cycling from Keene to Vernon Family Farms [...]
The 27TH ANNUAL HCS POINSETTIA SALE
**Thank you all for your orders! The 2022 Poinsettia Sale has ended.** The 27th Annual Poinsettia Sale to benefit Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services is happening now! Plants will be available at the HCS offices in Keene and Peterborough. Your order of these beautiful NH-grown plants supports the services HCS provides throughout southwestern [...]
HCS Annual Meeting and 115th Celebration
The HCS Board of Directors invites you to the Annual meeting and 115th Celebration of Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community Services. Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. The Keene Country Club, 755 West Hill Road Tickets $50. RSVP by clicking this link or call Katie Hart at 603-352-2253 for more information. [...]
Caregiver Support Chat with the Keene Sentinel
Evelyn Erb, Social Work Manager, and John Everest, Bereavement Coordinator, were thrilled to chat with Olivia Belanger, Health Reporter at the Keene Sentinel, about support for caregivers as part of her coverage on the high rates of dementia in Cheshire County. The Sentinel hosted a Facebook Live question-and-answer session June 8 [...]
NH Gives!
It's time for NH Gives! Visit the NH Gives Website June 7-8 will be a historic day for everyone in New Hampshire to GIVE BIG! Your donation can have twice as much impact during NH Gives this year because the HCS Board of Directors is generously matching your gifts! Every day, HCS Meals [...]
Family Joy
Healthy Starts is celebrating FAMILY JOY as we work with you and the community to prevent child abuse and neglect!
National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16
We can’t plan for everything. But we can talk about what is most important — in our life, and in our health care — with those who matter most. National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16 is an annual initiative to encourage people to express their wishes regarding health care and for health care [...]
11th ANNUAL BUTTERFLY RELEASE
11th ANNUAL BUTTERFLY RELEASE Cathedral of the Pines June 16 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm Butterfly Park June 23 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (by reservation) HCS WILL BE HOSTING THE BUTTERFLY RELEASE IN TWO LOCATIONS. Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community Services (HCS) is collaborating with The Cathedral of The [...]
“March for Meals” to Support Local Meals on Wheels at HCS
"March for Meals" to Support Local Meals on Wheels at HCS The Winter Olympics may have come to a close, but every day here in Cheshire County an Olympic sized effort takes place to deliver Meals on Wheels to the homes of 450 older adults. During March, National Nutrition Month, Meals on Wheels [...]
Dr. Leinau recognized as a 2022 Top Doctor
Dr. Lisa Leinau, Hospice at HCS Medical Director, was recently voted by her peers as a 2022 Top Doctor and was recognized in the March issue of New Hampshire Magazine. Dr. Leinau has been the Hospice at HCS Medical Director for over eight years, and is board certified in Hospice and Palliative Care. Hospice [...]
We Should Probably Talk About This
For those of you who missed the outstanding End of Life Expert Panel Discussion HCS hosted on February 16, "We Should Probably Talk About This," please feel free to view by clicking this link or viewing the recording below. Be sure to watch through the Q&A. The experts in End of Life planning shared [...]
Celebrating Deficiency Free Surveys for HCS
Celebrating Deficiency Free Surveys for HCS Home Care and Hospice Dear HCS Colleagues, Community and Loyal Supporters, After significant delays due to COVID 19, State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services conducted two onsite surveys in close succession (late December and early January) to assess the quality of care and [...]
Hospice and Palliative Care Triggers
To Make a Hospice Referral to HCS... Fax orders and referrals to 603-357-2545. Hospice informationals do not require an order. Hospice evaluations do require an order. Palliative Care NP requests do not require an order if patient is currently an HCS patient. Please contact HCS at 603-352-2253 if you [...]
Share the Love with Vulnerable Seniors This Year
Exciting news! For the 14th year running, the Meals on Wheels network is participating in the 2021 Subaru Share the Love Event. Over the past thirteen years, Subaru and its retailers have helped Meals on Wheels to deliver more than 2.5 million meals nationwide to seniors in need. Why does Subaru support Meals on Wheels? Too many seniors are struggling to stay independent and healthy. One in four [...]
2021 National Day of Giving
Give Now Giving Tuesday Update On Giving Tuesday, you opened your hearts and our wallets to support Healthy Start families. Starting with The Whitney Brothers support to match the first $500 dollars, you took it from there. With the Whitney Brothers match, you raised $2565 to support families in the Healthy [...]
Winner of the Spirit of NH Award
We are pleased to announce that the Jaffrey Meals on Wheels volunteers were recognized during Volunteer NH's 2021 Spirit of NH Awards. Volunteer NH recognizes those who go above and beyond the call to serve throughout the Granite State, shining a spotlight on the often-unsung heroes among us in front of an audience of [...]
2021 Annual Report and Annual Meeting
2021 HCS Annual Report and Annual Meeting Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services is pleased and proud to be able to present our 2021 Annual Report and the recording of the 2021 Annual meeting. 2021 was a year of challenges and opportunities and we are grateful for the support of our donors, the [...]
The 26TH ANNUAL HCS POINSETTIA SALE
The ordering deadline has passed. We will see you next year! The 26th Annual Poinsettia Sale to benefit Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services is happening now. Deadline for ordering is December 2nd. Plants will be available at the HCS offices in Keene and Peterborough. Your order of these beautiful locally-grown plants supports the [...]
The Castle Center Life Enrichment Program is Open!
The Castle Center has opened its doors once again to participants! Mary Lucas, RN and her staff welcomed participants back for the first time in 18 months on August 16! “We are so excited to see people come through the door,” said Mary. “We have new furniture and cleaning procedures in place to keep [...]
Butterfly Release 2021 recap
We were blessed with a gorgeous day for our sold-out 10th Annual Butterfly Release Event on June 10th. We had over 220 visitors to the Butterfly Park to release their butterflies. The Families that participated were so grateful for having the opportunity to come together to celebrate the memory of their loved ones. For some, this was the [...]
Counting down the days to NH Gives
We’re counting down the days to June 8 - 9, 2021 and NH Gives. HCS will be raising funds for Meals on Wheels. We need your help to make our campaign a success, and we’ve included a few easy ways that you can support us. Share and share alike. Online days of giving are [...]
Happy Nurses Week!
Happy National Nurses Week! On May 6, we recognize the important role nurses play in our lives by celebrating NATIONAL NURSES DAY. We acknowledge the dedication of our nurses to their patients and their profession. Every year, HCS serves people of all ages in 52 southwestern New Hampshire communities with nursing care in the [...]
Child Abuse Prevention: Prevention is Knowledge
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Throughout this month, Healthy Starts at HCS is talking about what prevention is. This time we're talking about how Prevention IS... KNOWLEDGE.
Child Abuse Prevention: Prevention is Mindfulness
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Throughout this month, Healthy Starts at HCS is talking about what prevention is. This time we're talking about how Prevention IS... MINDFULNESS.
BUTTERFLY RELEASE EVENT – JUNE 10 – SOLD OUT
The 10th Annual Ceremony of Remembrance & Gratitude will be held on Thursday, June 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Reserved time slots will be offered to allow for social distancing. The event is held in Butterfly Park, located at 320 Marlboro Street – next to the HCS Parking lot. Wheelchair entrance via Bartholomew Court.
Child Abuse Prevention: Prevention is Support
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Throughout this month, Healthy Starts at HCS is talking about what prevention is. This time we're talking about how Prevention IS... SUPPORT.
Child Abuse Prevention: Prevention is Connection
When we feel supported, when we feel accountable, when we feel known – that is when we can feel grounded and better able to face struggles of daily life. Being a caregiver to a child comes with challenges you may never have imagined. Being connected to others is so important to us all – but especially caregivers!
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Throughout the month of April, we want to encourage and challenge caregivers to think about ways to prevent child abuse, and how to be the healthiest they can be in order to help prevent child abuse. Our focus this month will be on what Prevention Is!
Show Your Mittens for Meals on Wheels!
The Meals on Wheels program at Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community Services (HCS) is joining the nationwide “March for Meals” again this year, creating our own challenge to raise funds for our local program. "Show Your Mittens for Meals on Wheels” is HCS’ Cheshire County version of the recent Bernie Sanders meme that raised funds for Meals on Wheels in Vermont!
Vote Best of Monadnock
Voting has begun for the Monadnock Shopper News’ Best of Monadnock 2021, and we would appreciate your votes for HCS again this year! It’s easy to vote -- visit www.shoppernews.com and click on Vote Best of Monadnock.
Share the Love with Vulnerable Seniors This Year
Exciting news! For the 13th year running, the Meals on Wheels network is participating in the 2020 Subaru Share the Love Event. Over the past twelve years, Subaru and its retailers have helped Meals on Wheels to deliver more than 2.3 million meals nationwide to seniors in need.
Philanthropy Friday Silent Auction
At HCS we are building a culture of philanthropy from the inside out, and we have shared Philanthropy Friday with our internal teams and now want to share it with the Community. The third Friday of each month, we will through Betterworld.org have a silent auction to benefit one of our programs.
Butterfly Park Sponsorship Opportunity
Butterfly Park at Home Healthcare Hospice and Community Services was established almost 15 years ago and provides quiet respite, lush gardens, and even a play area that is used by many. We thank those who gave us the initial investment to build such a beautiful place, watch it mature, and host the annual [...]
3rd Annual Keene Festival of Trees
A silent auction (held remotely with bidding on-line) of nearly 20 fully decorated trees located at Mascoma Bank's Keene branch location. Proceeds will be directed to Keene's Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community Services. Trees will be on display November 30th - December 9th
The 25TH ANNUAL HCS POINSETTIA SALE
The 25th Annual Poinsettia Sale to benefit Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services is happening now. Deadline for ordering is November 19th. Plants will be available at the HCS offices in Keene and Peterborough. Proceeds from the sale benefit HCS home care and hospice services provided in southwestern New Hampshire communities. These beautiful plants [...]
Celebrating Recognition by the Home Care, Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance of New Hampshire
Ruth Orkins (center), an LNA with HCS for 29 years, was honored recently by the Home Care, Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance of New Hampshire as the LNA of the Year. Ruth has dedicated her life to the service of many with courage, strength, and wisdom. Her clients are always treated with dignity and [...]
New Support Group for Parents in Recovery
Press Release For immediate release: October 16, 2020 For more information contact: Susan Ashworth, HCS, 352-2253 New Support Group for Parents in Recovery to Start Keene- Expectant moms and parents with young children are welcome to a new Mothers in Recovery group that will start beginning in November. Parents of all ages in all [...]
Hospice at HCS Offers Holiday Support Group
Hospice at HCS will offer a “Grief and the Holidays During COVID-19 Pandemic” bereavement support group this holiday season. The holidays are often a very difficult time for those who have experienced the death of a loved one. This year, changes related to the pandemic will add to the stress of grief and loss. This group will meet to provide support and coping strategies.
Help Seniors Stay Socially Active During COVID-19
With all the social distancing and stay-at-home orders the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly been a game changer for most Americans. For many of the 14 million elderly adults in the US who live alone, social isolation and loneliness are constant companions- ones that are exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions. If you’re currently looking after an older loved one here’s how to keep them socially active in the age of COVID-19.
Why You Need to Prioritize Self-Care as a Senior Caregiver
There are over 40 million informal caregivers in the US, and most take care of an aging in place elderly relative. In addition to their caregiving duties the average family caregiver also manages a household and holds down a part-time job. Because it can be so demanding scores of unpaid caregivers experience physical and emotional problems as a result. For most, taking better care of themselves is an afterthought. If you’re currently serving as a senior caregiver starting a self-care program is vitally important for your continued health and wellbeing.
HCS Butterfly Release – June 11, 2020
Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community Services Presents The 9th Annual Ceremony of Remembrance & Gratitude Butterfly Release June 11, 2020. Join us for the annual HCS butterfly release where we remember loved ones.
COVID-19 Update
Dear Neighbors, It has been one full month since HCS mobilized its workforce and operations to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 for our patients and our staff. We have learned so much in this short time. Allow me to list the lessons that continue each day. We have learned how to: Conduct patient “visits” [...]