Community Health News Recent News From Community Health READ MORE Are Your Immunizations Up To Date? June 14, 2023 Measles, mumps, Rubella, pneumonia, polio, HPV, chickenpox, shingles, flu, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis, and covid! Vaccines aren’t just for kids! The pandemic made us more aware of vaccine accessibility and the importance of keeping up to date on immunization. “In Vermont, we are able to robustly provide vaccines at no cost to patients under the age of 65 because insurers pay into the state program that supplies vaccines to provider offices,” said Tracy Upton, RN, Community Health Director of Clinical Operations. If you are over 65, pay attention – Medicare coverage is different. Medicare patients should ask their primary care provider to review their immunizations and then talk about where to get the vaccines they need. “It’s been several years now that pharmacies have been administering vaccines for those covered by Medicare Part D coverage to Medicare patients,” said Upton. “And last year, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress, there now is no copay for vaccines for patients who are on Medicare. This includes shingles, pneumococcal, Tdap and recommended travel vaccinations.” Anyone under the age of 65 can receive some of the adult vaccines without charge from their Community Health primary care provider, such as the shingles vaccine. “You can get the shingles vaccine starting at age 50, so we educate providers to encourage that the vaccine be administered before the patient turns 65 so they won’t encounter a payment issue,” Upton said. An immunization review is included in the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV), available at Community Health for Medicare patients who have been enrolled in Medicare Part B for at least 12 months. The Annual Wellness Visit focuses on prevention and is designed to lower the risk of illness and injury and provide the support needed for a healthy quality of life. Some vaccines could be administered for those over 65 as part of the preventive AWV. Why Get Vaccinated? Vaccines provide protection against serious life-threatening infectious diseases from birth to adulthood. Immunization: Stops the spread of disease Builds community immunity Protects people too sick, too young, or too old to get vaccinated Childhood vaccines offer protection from serious or potentially fatal diseases. But it can be challenging to understand which vaccines are needed and when during a lifetime. The World Health Organization reports that millions of lives are saved each year thanks to immunizations which are available for more than 20 life-threatening diseases. In 2022, Community Health administered almost 37,600 vaccines. What’s the latest on the Covid vaccine? May 11, 2023, marked the end of the federal Covid-19 Public Health Emergency declaration. For two years, primary healthcare organizations like Community Health responded to the health crisis – scheduling clinics, updating equipment for proper storage of the different serums, and equipping and training staff so they could urgently, safely, and effectively address the health emergency. Community Health administered 10,558 Covid vaccines in 2022. The most recent guidance from the CDC is that the Bivalent vaccine, released in the fall of 2022, is recommended for adults and children. To be up to date: Everyone aged 6 years and older should get one updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine regardless of whether they received any original Covid vaccines. People aged 65 years and older may get a second dose of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine four or more months after the first updated Covid vaccine. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine two or more months after the first updated Covid-19 vaccine. Children aged 6 months to 5 years may need multiple doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, including at least one dose of updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, depending on the number of doses they’ve previously received and their age. For details, consult the COVID-19 vaccination schedule for children. Are your vaccines up to date? Vaccines work with your body’s natural defenses to build protection and reduce the risk of getting a disease. When you get a vaccine, your immune system responds. “It’s important to have a discussion with your provider to understand if you are up to date with the recommended vaccines because recommendations do change over time,” Upton said. A good example is the change in guidance with the Hepatitis B vaccine. “Depending on when a person was born, if it was part of the regular vaccine series, or if they didn’t receive it when they were older. They are now recommending that the Hep B vaccine be given to patients 65 years and older. We want vaccines to be like any other part of someone’s healthcare. It is important that patients understand why vaccines are important, and why a certain vaccine might be important for them based on their medical history and their age. The choice to receive a vaccine is a discussion they should have with their provider. The decision is shared between the patient and the provider.” At Community Health, healthcare providers have information about the available vaccines, the recommended age groups, and boosters needed to maintain full protection. Flu shots are available every year starting in October for the whole family. For those with chronic health problems like diabetes or asthma, flu, and covid symptoms can make chronic health conditions worse. If you are unsure what vaccines you have received or if you are up to date on required boosters, check with your primary care provider or your pediatrician. Here are links to more information about vaccines and immunization: Adult immunization schedule and recommendation: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/adult.html Full review of the covid guidance, visit the CDC link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html Hep B adult resources https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-b.html Shared decision-making vaccines: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/acip-scdm-faqs.html READ MORE Caregivers Support for Alzheimer's June 7, 2023 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Memory loss that disrupts daily life Challenges in planning or solving problems Difficulty completing familiar tasks Confusion with time or place Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships New problems with words in speaking or writing Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps Decreased or poor judgment Withdrawal from work of social activities Changes in mood and personality “I hear caregivers say how guilty they feel,” said Margaret Thompson, Community Health Care Manager and certified Alzheimer’s support group facilitator. “ They tell me they will get upset with their mom because she asks the same question again and again. Then they feel guilty for getting upset.” Thompson said it’s the most common conversation she hears from caregivers – their struggle with guilt. “Dealing with a partner or parent requires so much of their time and support. It’s normal to feel that way,” Thompson said, as caregivers attending Community Health’s Alzheimer’s support group talk about trying to come to terms with their new roles. There is guilt, sadness, grief, and responsibility. “It’s a hard role. People struggle with it,” she said. Changing roles within families is a recurring theme that comes up at the support meetings, said Community Health Care Manager Kelsey Bathalon, who partners with Thompson at the support meetings. “Changes in roles between husband and wife or mom and daughter, the child-parent role reversing,” she said. Self-care is the other issue. “Self-care for the caregivers isn’t selfish,” Bathalon said. “The participants are such good support to each other. Caregivers helping caregivers.” Alzheimer’s disease is a type of brain disease, just as coronary artery disease is a type of heart disease. It is caused by damage to nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. The brain’s neurons are essential to thinking, walking, talking and all human activity. 2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report Thompson and Bathalon are in awe of what they have seen over the past four months since the first meeting of the support group that meets the second Tuesday of each month at Community Health’s Allen Pond location in Suite 403. “The participants at the support meetings are very open with each other and have so much experience and advice to share,” said Bathalon. “They are starting to become friends.” The meeting of up to a dozen Rutland area Alzheimer’s caregivers and family members is one of about 16 Alzheimer’s support groups in Vermont. “It’s all volunteer-led,” said Jordan Cotto, Program Manager for the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “We have about 42 volunteers statewide.” “The team at Community Health has been unbelievable,” Cotto said. “Their model is very unique – It’s a whole team approach.” Bathalon and Thompson are volunteer facilitators, trained by the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. They also are full-time healthcare professionals working as Community Health care managers with patients in Rutland and Addison counties. What Happens at Support Group Thompson and Bathalon said the hour-long caregiver support meetings are actually run by the participants. “They go around the table, each sharing what’s going on in their situation,” Thompson said. “Then other participants offer support. We do too, but it’s guided by the other support members who have a lot of hands-on experience. That’s very helpful for other participants.” “We see a lot of tears and frustration, laughs, funny stories while getting to know each other,” Bathalon said. And the discussions get serious, with recommendations for how to handle delicate situations. “We had a discussion, for example, about places to go where there are family bathrooms,” Bathalon said. “A husband who is a caregiver, can’t go into the women’s bathroom with his wife. That is where the family bathrooms are important.” “You can get the information and educational parts online,” Bathalon said “But you can’t get the comradery that happens in the support meetings. The participants give so much support to each other. They say, ‘Hey, you are doing a good job!’” Who Are The Caregivers? According to the 2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, the number of Vermonters 65 and older diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease will increase 31% by 2025. The report also includes data about who the caregivers are: two-thirds of dementia caregivers are women over half of the caregivers are providing assistance to a parent or in-law with dementia approximately 10% of caregivers provide help to a spouse with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia about 30% of caregivers are 65 and older an estimated 1.2 million additional direct care workers will be needed between 2020 and 2030, more new workers than in any other single occupation in the U.S more than 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for a family member or friend with dementia, a contribution valued at nearly $340 billion Cotto said the staff and volunteers at the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association are truly invested in the mission and typically have experience with someone who has Alzheimer’s or dementia. “I have a really strong group of coworkers and a very strong internship program with UVM.” she said. The national organization also offers a helpline, 800-272-3900. “The helpline is so important,” Cotto said, “because anyone, a caregiver or family member, can reach out for information and be connected with us.” Support Group Information The Community Health Rutland support group has been so successful Bathalon and Thompson said they are considering adding a second meeting. “If the group is a dozen people, there would be a need to split into two groups and offer two different times and days,” Bathalon said. “People have so much to say, share and offer,” Thompson said. “An hour isn’t long enough for a dozen people. Five or six in a group is best. It’s a more intimate group where strong bonds are formed.” Community Health supports the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and will be sending a team to the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s Vermont Chapter in Rutland. Register a team and walk with us on September 23. READ MORE Hearty, Nutritious, Delicious Meals May 2, 2023 Hearty, Nutritious, Delicious Meals Sherry Morgan grew up on a farm where, as a child, she’d pick green beans, strawberries, and cucumbers out of the garden, fresh, delicious, and plentiful. Now at 52, blindness has made her become resourceful and thankful for meal programs Community Health has connected her with. Community Health providers recognize the important link between nutrition, healthcare, and a sustainable local economy to create a healthy community. “The meals are a godsend,” Morgan said. “For years we’ve been struggling. Food stamps are gone – now they give us $60 a month. Without that food program, I won’t eat much.” She and others who are homebound receive one nutritious prepared meal a week now. Morgan is one of the dozens of people recommended by Community Heath for Rutland County Eats, a spinoff from the free meal delivery program Everyone Eats started during the pandemic. This month, major federal funding that supported meal programs throughout the country was cut drastically as Covid monies expired. As of April 1, Everyone Eats went from providing 3,000 delivered prepared meals each week, down to 200 per week. “We are going to have a lot of homeless, hungry people,” said Anne Filskov, RN, CCM, Community Health Behavioral Health Care Manager. “It’s scary to think about what’s going to happen.” Filskov, a Behavioral Health Care Manager, connects patients with their primary care and behavioral health primary care providers and community resources like Rutland County Eats, a Rutland County program sponsored by the Vermont Farmers Food Center. Food, Housing, Transportation “I have a lot of people who either don’t have transportation or can’t get out of their house for different reasons,” Filskov said. “Some haven’t left home since Covid started.” Over the past year, Filskov has recommended more than 50 eligible people to the VFFC programs, including seniors, those already receiving 3 Squares state funding, disabled and needy families. Lack of transportation compounds the challenges faced with getting access to healthcare and proper nutrition. “Folks who deal with serious mental health issues; folks who are on the outskirts of town, who just can’t get there – transportation is a big issue in this area. It’s a huge barrier to getting healthcare and food,” Filskov said. “They can’t access anything, so we bring them these nutritious meals.” – Grace Davy, Vermont Farmers Food Center Program Manager Grace Davy, Vermont Farmers Food Center Program Manager, is coordinating the new prepared meal service called Rutland County Eats. Thirty-four homebound Community Health patients receive one meal per week now under the new program which is also continuing relationships with the local restaurants that prepare the meals, and nonprofits that provide hot meals to take out. Along with the meal distribution, Davy said they continue supporting partnerships with nonprofits like the Rutland Methodist Church that prepares nutritious breakfasts. The food programs designed by the VFFC are multifaceted, supporting local farmers and restaurants while providing healthy meals for those in need. “We have guidelines with meal standards. We want the meals to be hearty, nutritious, delicious, low-carb, more medically-tailored – that is our end goal like low salt, low carb, heavy on the vegetables and healthy proteins,” Davy said. The meals also are required to contain locally produced farm products. Delivering Nutritious Meals With reduced resources, part of Davy’s responsibility now is to help deliver the meals. “A lot of people just had a hard time answering their door. We have an aging population. Mobility is a huge problem,” she said. Housing is another challenge now that pandemic support for hotels and transitional housing is also being cut off. The prepared meals were addressing the food insecurity of people who were living in rooms without any cooking facilities. Davy said they will stay in touch with this population as they relocate. “I am so happy I did the deliveries,” Davy said. “Everyone was so grateful for getting the meals. It’s a lifeline to a lot of people to have high-quality nutritious food coming to their door when they can’t go out to get it or afford to get it.” Community Health also partners with VFFC’s Farmacy program which is starting to organize for the 2023 summer produce season. “Food insecurity is a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a family or can last a long time.” – USDA “We had 225 Farmacy program participants last year,” said Emma Hileman, VFFC Program Director. “This year we are planning for 250 shares. At least east 60-70% are Community Health patients. This year, we’ll sign up families instead of just individuals. We know a family of four needs more vegetables.” Farmacy provides a free weekly share of Vermont-grown vegetables, fruit, and herbs distributed at Community Health practices throughout Rutland County. “If you go to a food shelf you have all nonperishable items – it’s all canned, frozen, and boxed and it’s not the healthiest to eat,” Filskov said. “So, if you can supplement with fresh vegetables that’s huge.” Community Health Dietitian Maria Durkee, MS, RDN, CD, agrees that eating well is complicated for those challenged by homelessness, finding cooking facilities, and getting transportation and healthcare. “There is food insecurity and eating disorders, hormonal changes – a lot of complicated things that make healthy food choices not always possible.” But Durkee said being in Vermont does have the benefit of access to locally-grown food. “Local small farmers grow vegetables and it’s a good thing to eat what’s in season because it’s less expensive and it helps sustain local growers as well,” she said. Supporting Rutland County Eats Currently sponsored by a grant from the local Bowse Health Trust, the Rutland County Eats program is looking into ways to support the prepared meal deliveries despite the huge drop in federal funding. “We are working on a fundraiser – a restaurant week – and other ways to support Rutland County Eats,” Davy said. “I have a lot of people who either don’t have transportation or can’t get out of their house for different reasons. Grace has been amazing getting meals to these folks,” Filskov said. The new program will prioritize seniors 65 and older, people already receiving food assistance and those in transitional housing. “We have well over 200 people identified,” Davy said. “If the program goes away then it’s going to be back to food shelves and people are going to be hungry,” said Filskov. READ MORE Primary Care, Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Care Management Working Together April 18, 2023 Behavioral Health offers a broad range of services for pediatric, adult, and geriatric individuals providing psychiatry, counseling, care management, and substance abuse treatment. These services are available at all our locations, with MAT treatment available at the Castleton, Mettowee, Brandon, and North Main Street Rutland locations and through individual primary care providers. READ MORE Homegrown Careers at Community Health April 11, 2023 The demand for Medical Assistants is growing at a fast rate. To help with this demand within our community, Community Health, in conjunction with Stafford Technical Center, created the Medical Assistant Certification training program that has now graduated dozens of Medical Assistants. — Welcome New Providers — Michele Pilz Welcome Chris Cornelius Welcome Nicole Reda Welcome Abigail Farrell Welcome Adelaide Salley Welcome Jacqueline Becker Welcome Oana Ivan Welcome Lisa Hartman Welcome — From Our Facebook Feed — Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction iconsCommunity Health 5 days ago Understanding Population HealthCommunity Health is working to improve our community's health by using data on chronic diseases, risk factors, and outcomes. ... See MoreSee Less What is Population Health? - VTDiggervtdigger.orgMeet Moses Hudson-Knapp, Community Health’s New Director of Population Health and Quality. View on Facebook · Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email View Comments Likes: 5 Shares: 1 Comments: 0 0 CommentsComment on FacebookCommunity Health 5 days ago Be prepared and send away for your free COVID tests.They're back! The federal government is again offering free at-home COVID-19 tests mailed directly to your home! Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 at-home COVID-19 tests. Order yours today at covid.gov/tests ... See MoreSee Less View on Facebook · Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email View Comments Likes: 2 Shares: 8 Comments: 0 0 CommentsComment on FacebookCommunity Health 5 days ago ... See MoreSee Less View on Facebook · Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email View Comments Likes: 0 Shares: 0 Comments: 0 0 CommentsComment on Facebook Load more Community Connection • Recent Issues Community Connection Winter 2022-2023 December 14, 2022 As we look ahead to 2023, we marvel at our tenacity, endurance and optimism. Many families are gathering for the first time in two years by making plans to travel, as well as return to the community events and celebrations that warm our spirits in these winter months. Community Health understands the power of family and community as we continue to connect with the many organizations that provide support and care when you are most in need. READ MORE Community Connection Fall 2022 September 8, 2022 Dear Community Health Family, When I was a kid, I would rely on my parents to take me to the doctor. There was a paper chart. Now, you have a nearly complete medical record available electronically. At Community Health we focus on providing quality, state-of-t he-art services along with brilliant providers who are among the best in the region. (Read about our award-winning staff in this issue.) READ MORE Community Connection Summer 2022 July 22, 2022 Take a few minutes to read through the profiles of the many new providers who we have added to our health care team. Their experience, their personalities and their passions are exceptional. We are so glad to have them join our clinical practices, adding their expertise in behavioral health, social work, dentistry, care management and primary care. READ MORE
READ MORE Are Your Immunizations Up To Date? June 14, 2023 Measles, mumps, Rubella, pneumonia, polio, HPV, chickenpox, shingles, flu, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis, and covid! Vaccines aren’t just for kids! The pandemic made us more aware of vaccine accessibility and the importance of keeping up to date on immunization. “In Vermont, we are able to robustly provide vaccines at no cost to patients under the age of 65 because insurers pay into the state program that supplies vaccines to provider offices,” said Tracy Upton, RN, Community Health Director of Clinical Operations. If you are over 65, pay attention – Medicare coverage is different. Medicare patients should ask their primary care provider to review their immunizations and then talk about where to get the vaccines they need. “It’s been several years now that pharmacies have been administering vaccines for those covered by Medicare Part D coverage to Medicare patients,” said Upton. “And last year, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress, there now is no copay for vaccines for patients who are on Medicare. This includes shingles, pneumococcal, Tdap and recommended travel vaccinations.” Anyone under the age of 65 can receive some of the adult vaccines without charge from their Community Health primary care provider, such as the shingles vaccine. “You can get the shingles vaccine starting at age 50, so we educate providers to encourage that the vaccine be administered before the patient turns 65 so they won’t encounter a payment issue,” Upton said. An immunization review is included in the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV), available at Community Health for Medicare patients who have been enrolled in Medicare Part B for at least 12 months. The Annual Wellness Visit focuses on prevention and is designed to lower the risk of illness and injury and provide the support needed for a healthy quality of life. Some vaccines could be administered for those over 65 as part of the preventive AWV. Why Get Vaccinated? Vaccines provide protection against serious life-threatening infectious diseases from birth to adulthood. Immunization: Stops the spread of disease Builds community immunity Protects people too sick, too young, or too old to get vaccinated Childhood vaccines offer protection from serious or potentially fatal diseases. But it can be challenging to understand which vaccines are needed and when during a lifetime. The World Health Organization reports that millions of lives are saved each year thanks to immunizations which are available for more than 20 life-threatening diseases. In 2022, Community Health administered almost 37,600 vaccines. What’s the latest on the Covid vaccine? May 11, 2023, marked the end of the federal Covid-19 Public Health Emergency declaration. For two years, primary healthcare organizations like Community Health responded to the health crisis – scheduling clinics, updating equipment for proper storage of the different serums, and equipping and training staff so they could urgently, safely, and effectively address the health emergency. Community Health administered 10,558 Covid vaccines in 2022. The most recent guidance from the CDC is that the Bivalent vaccine, released in the fall of 2022, is recommended for adults and children. To be up to date: Everyone aged 6 years and older should get one updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine regardless of whether they received any original Covid vaccines. People aged 65 years and older may get a second dose of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine four or more months after the first updated Covid vaccine. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine two or more months after the first updated Covid-19 vaccine. Children aged 6 months to 5 years may need multiple doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, including at least one dose of updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, depending on the number of doses they’ve previously received and their age. For details, consult the COVID-19 vaccination schedule for children. Are your vaccines up to date? Vaccines work with your body’s natural defenses to build protection and reduce the risk of getting a disease. When you get a vaccine, your immune system responds. “It’s important to have a discussion with your provider to understand if you are up to date with the recommended vaccines because recommendations do change over time,” Upton said. A good example is the change in guidance with the Hepatitis B vaccine. “Depending on when a person was born, if it was part of the regular vaccine series, or if they didn’t receive it when they were older. They are now recommending that the Hep B vaccine be given to patients 65 years and older. We want vaccines to be like any other part of someone’s healthcare. It is important that patients understand why vaccines are important, and why a certain vaccine might be important for them based on their medical history and their age. The choice to receive a vaccine is a discussion they should have with their provider. The decision is shared between the patient and the provider.” At Community Health, healthcare providers have information about the available vaccines, the recommended age groups, and boosters needed to maintain full protection. Flu shots are available every year starting in October for the whole family. For those with chronic health problems like diabetes or asthma, flu, and covid symptoms can make chronic health conditions worse. If you are unsure what vaccines you have received or if you are up to date on required boosters, check with your primary care provider or your pediatrician. Here are links to more information about vaccines and immunization: Adult immunization schedule and recommendation: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/adult.html Full review of the covid guidance, visit the CDC link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html Hep B adult resources https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-b.html Shared decision-making vaccines: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/acip-scdm-faqs.html READ MORE Caregivers Support for Alzheimer's June 7, 2023 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Memory loss that disrupts daily life Challenges in planning or solving problems Difficulty completing familiar tasks Confusion with time or place Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships New problems with words in speaking or writing Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps Decreased or poor judgment Withdrawal from work of social activities Changes in mood and personality “I hear caregivers say how guilty they feel,” said Margaret Thompson, Community Health Care Manager and certified Alzheimer’s support group facilitator. “ They tell me they will get upset with their mom because she asks the same question again and again. Then they feel guilty for getting upset.” Thompson said it’s the most common conversation she hears from caregivers – their struggle with guilt. “Dealing with a partner or parent requires so much of their time and support. It’s normal to feel that way,” Thompson said, as caregivers attending Community Health’s Alzheimer’s support group talk about trying to come to terms with their new roles. There is guilt, sadness, grief, and responsibility. “It’s a hard role. People struggle with it,” she said. Changing roles within families is a recurring theme that comes up at the support meetings, said Community Health Care Manager Kelsey Bathalon, who partners with Thompson at the support meetings. “Changes in roles between husband and wife or mom and daughter, the child-parent role reversing,” she said. Self-care is the other issue. “Self-care for the caregivers isn’t selfish,” Bathalon said. “The participants are such good support to each other. Caregivers helping caregivers.” Alzheimer’s disease is a type of brain disease, just as coronary artery disease is a type of heart disease. It is caused by damage to nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. The brain’s neurons are essential to thinking, walking, talking and all human activity. 2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report Thompson and Bathalon are in awe of what they have seen over the past four months since the first meeting of the support group that meets the second Tuesday of each month at Community Health’s Allen Pond location in Suite 403. “The participants at the support meetings are very open with each other and have so much experience and advice to share,” said Bathalon. “They are starting to become friends.” The meeting of up to a dozen Rutland area Alzheimer’s caregivers and family members is one of about 16 Alzheimer’s support groups in Vermont. “It’s all volunteer-led,” said Jordan Cotto, Program Manager for the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “We have about 42 volunteers statewide.” “The team at Community Health has been unbelievable,” Cotto said. “Their model is very unique – It’s a whole team approach.” Bathalon and Thompson are volunteer facilitators, trained by the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. They also are full-time healthcare professionals working as Community Health care managers with patients in Rutland and Addison counties. What Happens at Support Group Thompson and Bathalon said the hour-long caregiver support meetings are actually run by the participants. “They go around the table, each sharing what’s going on in their situation,” Thompson said. “Then other participants offer support. We do too, but it’s guided by the other support members who have a lot of hands-on experience. That’s very helpful for other participants.” “We see a lot of tears and frustration, laughs, funny stories while getting to know each other,” Bathalon said. And the discussions get serious, with recommendations for how to handle delicate situations. “We had a discussion, for example, about places to go where there are family bathrooms,” Bathalon said. “A husband who is a caregiver, can’t go into the women’s bathroom with his wife. That is where the family bathrooms are important.” “You can get the information and educational parts online,” Bathalon said “But you can’t get the comradery that happens in the support meetings. The participants give so much support to each other. They say, ‘Hey, you are doing a good job!’” Who Are The Caregivers? According to the 2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, the number of Vermonters 65 and older diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease will increase 31% by 2025. The report also includes data about who the caregivers are: two-thirds of dementia caregivers are women over half of the caregivers are providing assistance to a parent or in-law with dementia approximately 10% of caregivers provide help to a spouse with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia about 30% of caregivers are 65 and older an estimated 1.2 million additional direct care workers will be needed between 2020 and 2030, more new workers than in any other single occupation in the U.S more than 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for a family member or friend with dementia, a contribution valued at nearly $340 billion Cotto said the staff and volunteers at the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association are truly invested in the mission and typically have experience with someone who has Alzheimer’s or dementia. “I have a really strong group of coworkers and a very strong internship program with UVM.” she said. The national organization also offers a helpline, 800-272-3900. “The helpline is so important,” Cotto said, “because anyone, a caregiver or family member, can reach out for information and be connected with us.” Support Group Information The Community Health Rutland support group has been so successful Bathalon and Thompson said they are considering adding a second meeting. “If the group is a dozen people, there would be a need to split into two groups and offer two different times and days,” Bathalon said. “People have so much to say, share and offer,” Thompson said. “An hour isn’t long enough for a dozen people. Five or six in a group is best. It’s a more intimate group where strong bonds are formed.” Community Health supports the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and will be sending a team to the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s Vermont Chapter in Rutland. Register a team and walk with us on September 23. READ MORE Hearty, Nutritious, Delicious Meals May 2, 2023 Hearty, Nutritious, Delicious Meals Sherry Morgan grew up on a farm where, as a child, she’d pick green beans, strawberries, and cucumbers out of the garden, fresh, delicious, and plentiful. Now at 52, blindness has made her become resourceful and thankful for meal programs Community Health has connected her with. Community Health providers recognize the important link between nutrition, healthcare, and a sustainable local economy to create a healthy community. “The meals are a godsend,” Morgan said. “For years we’ve been struggling. Food stamps are gone – now they give us $60 a month. Without that food program, I won’t eat much.” She and others who are homebound receive one nutritious prepared meal a week now. Morgan is one of the dozens of people recommended by Community Heath for Rutland County Eats, a spinoff from the free meal delivery program Everyone Eats started during the pandemic. This month, major federal funding that supported meal programs throughout the country was cut drastically as Covid monies expired. As of April 1, Everyone Eats went from providing 3,000 delivered prepared meals each week, down to 200 per week. “We are going to have a lot of homeless, hungry people,” said Anne Filskov, RN, CCM, Community Health Behavioral Health Care Manager. “It’s scary to think about what’s going to happen.” Filskov, a Behavioral Health Care Manager, connects patients with their primary care and behavioral health primary care providers and community resources like Rutland County Eats, a Rutland County program sponsored by the Vermont Farmers Food Center. Food, Housing, Transportation “I have a lot of people who either don’t have transportation or can’t get out of their house for different reasons,” Filskov said. “Some haven’t left home since Covid started.” Over the past year, Filskov has recommended more than 50 eligible people to the VFFC programs, including seniors, those already receiving 3 Squares state funding, disabled and needy families. Lack of transportation compounds the challenges faced with getting access to healthcare and proper nutrition. “Folks who deal with serious mental health issues; folks who are on the outskirts of town, who just can’t get there – transportation is a big issue in this area. It’s a huge barrier to getting healthcare and food,” Filskov said. “They can’t access anything, so we bring them these nutritious meals.” – Grace Davy, Vermont Farmers Food Center Program Manager Grace Davy, Vermont Farmers Food Center Program Manager, is coordinating the new prepared meal service called Rutland County Eats. Thirty-four homebound Community Health patients receive one meal per week now under the new program which is also continuing relationships with the local restaurants that prepare the meals, and nonprofits that provide hot meals to take out. Along with the meal distribution, Davy said they continue supporting partnerships with nonprofits like the Rutland Methodist Church that prepares nutritious breakfasts. The food programs designed by the VFFC are multifaceted, supporting local farmers and restaurants while providing healthy meals for those in need. “We have guidelines with meal standards. We want the meals to be hearty, nutritious, delicious, low-carb, more medically-tailored – that is our end goal like low salt, low carb, heavy on the vegetables and healthy proteins,” Davy said. The meals also are required to contain locally produced farm products. Delivering Nutritious Meals With reduced resources, part of Davy’s responsibility now is to help deliver the meals. “A lot of people just had a hard time answering their door. We have an aging population. Mobility is a huge problem,” she said. Housing is another challenge now that pandemic support for hotels and transitional housing is also being cut off. The prepared meals were addressing the food insecurity of people who were living in rooms without any cooking facilities. Davy said they will stay in touch with this population as they relocate. “I am so happy I did the deliveries,” Davy said. “Everyone was so grateful for getting the meals. It’s a lifeline to a lot of people to have high-quality nutritious food coming to their door when they can’t go out to get it or afford to get it.” Community Health also partners with VFFC’s Farmacy program which is starting to organize for the 2023 summer produce season. “Food insecurity is a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a family or can last a long time.” – USDA “We had 225 Farmacy program participants last year,” said Emma Hileman, VFFC Program Director. “This year we are planning for 250 shares. At least east 60-70% are Community Health patients. This year, we’ll sign up families instead of just individuals. We know a family of four needs more vegetables.” Farmacy provides a free weekly share of Vermont-grown vegetables, fruit, and herbs distributed at Community Health practices throughout Rutland County. “If you go to a food shelf you have all nonperishable items – it’s all canned, frozen, and boxed and it’s not the healthiest to eat,” Filskov said. “So, if you can supplement with fresh vegetables that’s huge.” Community Health Dietitian Maria Durkee, MS, RDN, CD, agrees that eating well is complicated for those challenged by homelessness, finding cooking facilities, and getting transportation and healthcare. “There is food insecurity and eating disorders, hormonal changes – a lot of complicated things that make healthy food choices not always possible.” But Durkee said being in Vermont does have the benefit of access to locally-grown food. “Local small farmers grow vegetables and it’s a good thing to eat what’s in season because it’s less expensive and it helps sustain local growers as well,” she said. Supporting Rutland County Eats Currently sponsored by a grant from the local Bowse Health Trust, the Rutland County Eats program is looking into ways to support the prepared meal deliveries despite the huge drop in federal funding. “We are working on a fundraiser – a restaurant week – and other ways to support Rutland County Eats,” Davy said. “I have a lot of people who either don’t have transportation or can’t get out of their house for different reasons. Grace has been amazing getting meals to these folks,” Filskov said. The new program will prioritize seniors 65 and older, people already receiving food assistance and those in transitional housing. “We have well over 200 people identified,” Davy said. “If the program goes away then it’s going to be back to food shelves and people are going to be hungry,” said Filskov. READ MORE Primary Care, Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Care Management Working Together April 18, 2023 Behavioral Health offers a broad range of services for pediatric, adult, and geriatric individuals providing psychiatry, counseling, care management, and substance abuse treatment. These services are available at all our locations, with MAT treatment available at the Castleton, Mettowee, Brandon, and North Main Street Rutland locations and through individual primary care providers. READ MORE Homegrown Careers at Community Health April 11, 2023 The demand for Medical Assistants is growing at a fast rate. To help with this demand within our community, Community Health, in conjunction with Stafford Technical Center, created the Medical Assistant Certification training program that has now graduated dozens of Medical Assistants.
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Community Connection Winter 2022-2023 December 14, 2022 As we look ahead to 2023, we marvel at our tenacity, endurance and optimism. Many families are gathering for the first time in two years by making plans to travel, as well as return to the community events and celebrations that warm our spirits in these winter months. Community Health understands the power of family and community as we continue to connect with the many organizations that provide support and care when you are most in need. READ MORE Community Connection Fall 2022 September 8, 2022 Dear Community Health Family, When I was a kid, I would rely on my parents to take me to the doctor. There was a paper chart. Now, you have a nearly complete medical record available electronically. At Community Health we focus on providing quality, state-of-t he-art services along with brilliant providers who are among the best in the region. (Read about our award-winning staff in this issue.) READ MORE Community Connection Summer 2022 July 22, 2022 Take a few minutes to read through the profiles of the many new providers who we have added to our health care team. Their experience, their personalities and their passions are exceptional. We are so glad to have them join our clinical practices, adding their expertise in behavioral health, social work, dentistry, care management and primary care. READ MORE
