Wentworth-Douglass awards $10K grant to support trauma-informed care expansion
DOVER – Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has awarded a $10,000 community benefit grant to Lydia’s House of Hope to assist in the expansion of trauma-informed clinical services provided to their in-house residents.
Since 2016, Lydia’s House of Hope (LHOH) has offered a highly structured 365-day residential program for homeless women and children, many of whom have experienced difficult circumstances, such as extreme poverty, domestic violence, and substance use disorder. LHOH’s goal is to break the cycle of generational homelessness and transition families into wholeness and healing.
“We are pleased to support LHOH as they continue to grow their trauma-informed care services, and we feel that the ongoing development of these services is well aligned with needs identified in our most recent Community Health Needs Assessment,” said Meaghan Heusler, Wentworth-Douglass community benefits manager.
LHOH will use this funding to expand their in-house nurse advocacy and trauma therapy programs. The nurse advocate, a board-certified patient advocate and registered nurse, helps residents address factors which impact health equity, well-being and quality of life. Grant funding will also support the expansion of in-house trauma therapy focused on mind-body connection and healing in a safe and supportive environment.
“Over the past two years, our residents are arriving with more complicated medical and trauma histories, an extensive list of medications, gaps in their medical history, and a lengthy list of comorbidities. Our nurse advocacy and trauma therapy programs are vital to the well-being of our residents, and their expansion will have a lasting positive effect on the mental, emotional, and physical health of our families. Services like this would not be possible without support from partners like WentworthDouglass,” said Theresa Tozier, founder and director of Seeds of Faith Ministries and Lydia’s House of Hope.
Lydia’s House of Hope is located at 21 Grand Street in Somersworth and accommodates up to 25 residents (12 families) at a time.
In addition to therapy and advocacy services, LHOH provides residents with case management, occupational therapy, substance use counseling, and referrals based on individual needs. Residents participate in classes focused on parenting, computer skills, budgeting and finance, cooking and nutrition, art therapy, organization, time management, communication, and more. Upon completion of the program, residents graduate with employment, an educational certificate, a savings account, a vehicle, safe and affordable housing, and support from staff and the community.
Wentworth-Douglass conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment every three years to identify where the hospital should focus its programs and services to improve the overall health of the individuals and families it serves. The funds donated are approved by the hospital’s Community Benefit Funding Disbursement Committee and are not raised through any public or private donations.
Alzheimer’s Association to host annual New England Family Conference
STATEWIDE — New Hampshire residents are invited to a free educational conference hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association New England Region for individuals living with dementia and their families. The annual two-day New England Family Conference will take place March 1-2. This virtual event is open to individuals living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, family caregivers and the general public. Live translation in Spanish will be offered during the entire conference.
Experts in the field of care and support will share practical and concrete recommendations, resources, and guidance in the care and support for those living a life with dementia. Sessions include Maximizing Independence: Tips and Strategies to Organize Your Space and Home; Using Art and Mindfulness to Care for Yourself; A Time of Hope: Advances in Treatment and Modifiable Risk Factors; and Creating Meaningful Engagement with Memory Boxes. The two-day program also features a panel of individuals living with Alzheimer’s as well as a panel of caregivers.
Currently in New England there are more than 302,000 people living with Alzheimer’s disease, and roughly 505,000 individuals serving as unpaid family caregivers. For a full list of sessions, topics, and speakers, and to register for the New England Family Conference, visit alzfamilyconference.org.
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital hosting two Advance Directive events at Somersworth Library
SOMERSWORTH – WentworthDouglass Hospital is hosting two free events to assist those interested in drafting an advanced directive.
The events will be held Oct. 16 and Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Somersworth Public Library. Attendees will receive a 30-minute appointment with a social worker, who will assist in creating the document.
An advanced directive, commonly referred to as a living will, is a legal document that specifies what actions should be taken if a person is no longer able to make decisions for themselves – often because they have become seriously ill or otherwise incapacitated.
Those attending should bring their license, a list of proxies they would like to represent them, and contact information for all parties involved.
There is a limit of twenty, 30-minute appointments. To schedule an important, or inquire further, please call the hospital’s social work office at 603-7402826.
248 Dartmouth Health doctors ranked among New Hampshire’s best for 2024
LEBANON – Dartmouth Health saw its highest number of physicians ever recognized in New Hampshire Magazine’s annual Top Doctors ranking for 2024. A total of 248 Dartmouth Health doctors were named to the list, an increase of more than 40 providers from the previous year.
The recognized physicians are employed and/or provide services at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon; Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics locations in Concord, Lebanon, Manchester, Merrimack and Nashua; Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon; Cheshire Medical Center in Keene; and New London Hospital. They are named across 58 pediatric and adult specialties, including internal medicine, interventional cardiology, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopaedic surgery, psychiatry, radiation oncology, rheumatology, sports medicine, urology, and many more.
New Hampshire Magazine partners with the national research firm Castle Connolly to distribute surveys to every licensed practicing Granite State physician. The physicians are asked to nominate specialists who they would recommend to friends and family for treatment. Those receiving the most nominations are named as the top doctors and represent leading physicians in their respective specialties.
To see the complete list of Dartmouth Health’s 2024 “Top Doctors” honorees, please visit go.d-h.org/topdocs.