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Hello Caregivers,
Winter is a time of reflection: The season can inspire deep appreciation for beauty and create a sense of nostalgia or a feeling that everything old is being left behind.
For many, winter can also bring a shift in mood and mental health. While winter can be a time of reflection and renewal for some, others may find themselves struggling with feelings of sadness, fatigue, or anxiety as daylight decreases and routines change.
Create a nourishing environment and make your living space a sanctuary. Use warm lighting, blankets, and scented candles. This can make the transition indoors feel more like a treat than a retreat.
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The Torch has been Passed!
Janice Howard, Life Care Director, officially retired on January 2nd, after 37 years at Cornerstone VNA! We are incredibly grateful for her many years of dedicated service to our caregiver families and for the lasting impact she has made here at Cornerstone VNA. Janice was instrumental in launching the Caregiver Cafés, the annual Caregivers Connect event, and our caregiver annual trainings, initiatives that continue to support and inspire so many. Her legacy here is truly strong, and she will be deeply missed. We wish Janice all the very best and every happiness as she begins this well-deserved retirement. We are excited to welcome Katie Michaud into her new role as our Community and Life Care Director. Katie has been with Cornerstone VNA for 13 years, and is honored to step into this role and build upon the strong foundation Janice has created.
| | | Winter Mental Health Tips | | January is Mental Wellness Month. January serves as a natural pause after the holiday season, allowing individuals to reflect and recalibrate their mental health. The month focuses on emphasizing the importance of mental wellness. It encourages people to adopt small sustainable habits that can enhance their mental health without overwhelming them with strict new year resolutions. We encourage you to try these tools below! | | Winter Tips from Wellness Nurse Sandy | | | | |
Sandy Powers, RN
Life Care Wellness Nurse
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Being a caregiver can be rewarding but it can also be a stressful, anxiety producing and isolating time in your life. When you care for a loved one, you tend to lose yourself along the way, you worry about what your future holds and you may potentially struggle with burnout and depression. This can often lead the way to a pattern of negative thinking. This is not a great place to be for your psyche, and it can spill over into other areas of your life.
One way to overcome this challenging time is to begin a gratitude practice. As you can imagine this can boost happiness, change your outlook to a positive light, improve your resilience, increase overall life satisfaction, reduce stress and anxiety, create a sense of community and improve mental health.
There are many ways to have a gratitude, I'm sure you have all heard of keeping a gratitude journal but there are other ways to show gratitude.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Gratitude Jar:
Write on small pieces of paper some things you are grateful for. It can be something big or small. Fill your jar and go back and read them at a later date or if you are having a tough day take a couple out and read them.
Gratitude Letter:
Write a handwritten letter to a person you are grateful for. Be detailed. Express all the beautiful qualities they have and how they have improved your life. Meet up for lunch and read it to them (bring your tissues)
Gratitude Walk:
Observe the things around you, take it all in!!
I'm grateful for all the caregivers in our community, you are great role models and are making a difference for so many!
| | Life Care Feature from Sue | | |
Caring for others can be deeply rewarding, but it’s equally important to take care of yourself. Take time to recharge — whether that means reading a good book, enjoying lunch with a friend, or simply taking a quiet moment to rest.
Connecting with others who are also caregivers can be especially helpful. Sharing experiences and support can make the journey feel a little lighter. You might also explore wellness programs designed to strengthen the mind, body, and spirit — these can help you manage stress and maintain balance in your life.
Many of you already attend one of our Caregiver Cafés, which is a wonderful place to start. But if you find that you need additional time or support to truly recharge, we’re here for you.
If family or friends aren’t available to give you the break you deserve, our Life Care team of compassionate caregivers is ready to step in. Simply give us a call at 603-332-1133 and ask for the Life Care department.
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Janice Adjutant,
Life Care Manager, Email
| | Caregiver Resources & Support News | |
You’re Not Alone. They’re Here to Help.
Introducing the Seacoast Dementia Hub – A Cost-Free Resource for Caregivers
Caring for someone with dementia can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. The Seacoast Dementia Hub was created to be your trusted, local starting point, offering compassionate support, reliable information, and meaningful connection for caregivers at every stage of the journey.
Here’s how they can help:
- Personalized Care Consultations tailored to your unique situation
- Guidance on Local Resources & Services to meet your needs
- Connections to Support Groups for shared understanding and encouragement
- Assistance Navigating Care Decisions with clarity and confidence
- Educational Opportunities & Guided Learning to better understand dementia, behavioral changes, and the care journey, all in a supportive environment
Whether you’re just beginning your caregiving journey or have been navigating it for years, they are here to help you feel more supported and less alone.
"This is the most important recommendation I can give after my 20+ years of family caregiving." — Woody Sponaugle, Founder
No diagnosis or referral is required. They are not a medical service, but a community-based support system built by caregivers, for caregivers. Visit SeacoastDementiaHub.org to get started. Simply fill out the brief inquiry form with your name, email, and short message. Director Ashley will personally reach out to connect with you and help guide your next steps.
Proudly grant-funded by the Foundation for Seacoast Health, Granite United Way, and the Seacoast Women’s Giving Circle.
| | Wellness Drumming Circle, January 26 | | Virtual Caregiver Café Winter Support | | 2nd Annual Valentine Event! | | Cornerstone VNA Monthly Caregiver Cafés | | Our monthly Caregiver Cafés meet in person! The Caregiver Cafés provide support, education and companionship to family caregivers in the community. No RSVP Required. | | | |
Hill Library
1151 Parker Mountain Road
Strafford, NH
1st Wed. of the Month
10:30 am
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Dover Public Library
Temporary location during library renovations starting in October: Dover Chamber of Commerce Meeting Room
550 Central Avenue, Dover, NH
3rd Wed. of the Month
10:30 am
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Goodwin Library
422 Main Street
Farmington, NH
2nd Fri. of the Month
1:00 pm
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Wolfeboro Public Library
259 South Main Street
Wolfeboro, NH
4th Thurs. of the Month
1:00 pm
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North Hampton Public Library
239 Atlantic Ave.
North Hampton, NH
2nd Tues. of the Month
10:30 am
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Barrington Public Library
426 Calef Highway
Barrington, NH
4th Tues. of the Month
11:30 am
| | Community Activity Centers | | Special Messages From Our Café Facilitator Team | | Each newsletter, we ask our wonderful volunteer Caregiver Café Facilitators to share a poem, quote, resource, event or tip with you all. See below! | | |
Autumn C.
Wolfeboro
Caregiver Café Volunteer Facilitator
| | We are here to support and help you Find Your Joy! | | |
Jeanmarie P.
Farmington
Caregiver Café Volunteer Facilitator
| | We continue to open the Farmington Caregiver Café meeting with the practice of using the square/box breathing which allows us all to be in a calm state to help us maximize our ability to support each other. | | |
Louise B.
Strafford
Caregiver Café Volunteer Facilitator
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"If you have had the privilege of meeting a 'Caregiver' count yourself blessed, you have been in the presence of a true hero."
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorns have roses.” Alphonse Karr
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Pam R.
Dover
Caregiver Café Volunteer Facilitator
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JoAnn V.
Dover
Caregiver Café Volunteer Facilitator
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I've recently had to take on a Caregiver Role for both my father and my stepmom. And they both had medical emergencies at the same time! It challenged me to "practice what I preach" at the Dover Caregiver Café - to ask for help, to take care of myself, and to accept imperfections in myself and my parents.
During the most challenging moments of the past month, I've remembered that "weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning" (a favorite verse from Psalm 30). It is always worth laughing together with my parents to keep from giving in to discouragement. Practicing joy is great medicine!
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Janet
North Hampton
Caregiver Café Volunteer Facilitator
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"I've enjoyed the caregivers we've met so far!"
Janet also took part in the Pre-Dead Social Club's wonderful workshop, Beyond the Bedside-Who Cares. Caregiving realities and care teams were discussed from a wider lens as well as gaps and next steps based upon priorities of current or future situations. She will take her experience as well as the WHO CARES care-book and share it with family caregivers in 2026!
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Lee M.
North Hampton
Caregiver Café Volunteer Co-Facilitator
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“What is mentionable is manageable."
A caregiver’s support group encourages us to mention the difficulties we are experiencing and the group will share the different coping skills they have found that work for them!
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Lisa
Barrington
Caregiver Café Volunteer Facilitator
| | We LOVED these ornaments that Lisa made for her caregiver group! What a fun idea, we wanted to share it! | |
Stay safe and well...
Ann
Ann Vennard
Assistant Director of Advancement
603-994-6941
| | If you have a product or resource that has helped you in your caregiver journey, please email it to Ann so that we can share it next time! | | Home Care. Hospice Care. Palliative Care. Life Care - Private Duty. Community Care. | | |
Cornerstone VNA | Website | 603-332-1133 | |
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