Author: Angie Sykeny

A veteran helping veterans with at-home care

Mark Nalbandian of Bedford is a Navy veteran and caregiver at 360 SHS, a Bedford-based organization that offers home care and pairs senior caregivers with elderly clients in need. He delves into his journey from serving in the military to providing care for fellow veterans and shares his experiences and insights on how this transition has shaped his personal growth and impacted the broader community’s perspective on veteran care.

How has your experience as a Navy Airman shaped your approach to caregiving?

I spent six years in the Navy and during that time I learned quite a few great life skills, such as communication, consistency and the importance of showing up ready to work every day. I have had the privilege to care for three seniors who are Korean conflict veterans. I am currently caring for one of these clients still. It means the world for me to be able to support fellow veterans as they age in place.

What were some challenges you faced transitioning from military service to a caregiving role?

After my time in the Navy, I spent 25 years in commercial concrete, followed by a building contractor and real estate career. I began working with [360 SHS owner] Judy Loubier about five years ago. I got sick in 2008-2009 with stage 4 head and neck cancer. I faced some harsh treatments and needed constant care while I was recovering. Once I recovered, I saw my dad in the hospital. When he was picked up by an ambulance to bring him to the care facility, I inquired about the profession and what an average day looks like and it inspired me to try something new. Now, communication, companionship and everyday chores are a big part of my job. It’s really meaningful to help keep seniors and veterans safe and prevent falls.

What personal significance does caring for fellow veterans hold for you, and how has it influenced your growth since your military service?

I am in my mid to late 60s and the veteran clients like the commonality of and mutual understanding of being veterans. The related experiences are so meaningful and we can converse for hours. I love it. I worked for a few concepts before discovering 360 SHS, and five years later I know this is the last job that I will ever work. I don’t do it for the money. I do it because it is important and I pride myself on being able to support my fellow veterans.

How has your work at 360 SHS impacted the community’s understanding of veteran care?

360 SHS was doing a great job of caring for veterans before I was brought on five years ago. However, I can bring a different perspective, being a veteran myself, and have been able to build great relationships with senior veterans throughout the community. 360 SHS understands the importance of matching veteran caregivers with veteran clients as they are able to create meaningful relationships. It feels good to help veterans — and other seniors — age in place without having to get dragged out to a nursing home. I feel better knowing that they get to stay in their home and not have to leave their life behind after bravely serving our country.

What advice would you give to veterans considering a caregiving career post-service?

Do it! It is a lot more meaningful than when I was building bridges in my previous career. I never saw myself doing this job, but I love it and know I will do this until the day I retire. 360 SHS helps hire active reservists, knowing they might have to up and leave. They provide services for veterans who can get paired with 360 SHS through the VA. 360 SHS offers a lot of recognition and appreciation during Veterans Day and outreach to all veteran clients and caregivers.

Featured photo: Mark Nalbandian. Courtesy photo.

A real estate attorney discusses homebuying

Matthew W. Neuman, Esq., real estate attorney of Bedford-based Absolute Title, discusses crucial home buying steps, the impact of fluctuating interest rates and his innovative approach to the closing process.

What are the crucial steps a New Hampshire homebuyer should follow before diving into the market?

It’s vital any buyer thinking of … using mortgage financing first reach out to a mortgage lender to verify their mortgage eligibility. With rates higher than the historic lows from a couple of years ago, it’s vital they identify their budget and focus on a realistic purchase price point. … Once you establish that price, they need to seek out a Realtor who will help guide them to only properties in their price range.

How are fluctuating interest rates impacting the average New Hampshire homebuyer?

Interest rates have fluctuated from all-time lows a couple years ago to where they are currently, hovering around 8 percent. These current rates are being characterized as very high when in reality they’re almost exactly equal to the historic average rate since 1971 of 7.75 percent, but as rates increase the consumer’s buying power decreases and prices them out of houses they may have been able to afford two years ago. Unfortunately most consumers are holding onto the memory of the historic rates. … It will be another 12 to 24 months before we see much relief in the area of interest rates, so people need to reset their expectations.

What are some common corners buyers are cutting in the current market, and what potential pitfalls should they be wary of?

If a buyer waives their right to perform a home inspection prior to closing, they run the risk of missing significant structural and mechanical defects in the property that could be addressed and negotiated with the seller. Buying “as is” is just that, and any issues go right along with it and more than likely will have no recourse against the seller. Buyers who waive their rights of due diligence for easements, restriction, covenants, etc., will miss the opportunity to verify there are no restrictions on the property that could potentially impair their intended use of the property, such as ‘no livestock’ for people looking to have chickens.

You’ve been credited with creating proprietary software to aid in the closing process. Can you explain how this technology helps the average buyer?

Historically, buyers were limited to one of two ways to bring their funds to closing: either a wire transfer sent from their bank, or bringing a bank certified check to closing. Both of those options are inconvenient, often costly and highly susceptible to fraud. In 2018 we released AbsolutePay, our proprietary and patented payment platform that allows buyers, sellers, Realtors and lenders to transfer the funds required for a closing from their account to ours easily, safely, securely and for free. They can initiate it in a few minutes from their desktop, laptop, tablet or phone.

How does fraud intersect with real estate, and what are some simple steps buyers can take to protect themselves?

Fraud has become quite rampant in the real estate world. The reliance on email as the preferred form of communication has opened the door for fraudsters to interject themselves into a conversation between the parties of a transaction and then steer the parties to make a fatal mistake, such as providing fraudulent wire instructions, which can then result in the loss of these funds. Wire instructions should never be provided through ‘unsecure’ email and should always be verified over the phone. Picking up the phone and having conversations will help to minimize the risk of fraud. Another fraud situation that has recently grown in popularity is the sale of ‘vacant’ land by someone purporting to be the owner but in reality is a fraudster. They will reach out to a Realtor, usually through email, explaining they live out of state or are on vacation and would like to list their property for sale but they don’t want their neighbors to know they’re selling so they instruct the Realtor to not place a ‘for sale’ sign at the property. Once the property goes under agreement, all correspondence with the seller occurs through email, and if not caught in time, the transaction is completed, resulting in funds being wired to the fraudsters. These situations can be avoided by choosing to work with experienced Realtors and title professionals.

Featured photo: Matthew W. Neuman. Courtesy photo.

Demetri Martin and his multimedia comedy show

Blending music and drawings with his signature one-liners and deadpan delivery, Demetri Martin takes the stage at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) on Saturday, Sept. 16. The comedian called in to talk about his current tour, called “The Joke Machine,” why he likes writing on typewriters, and what’s next on his growing list of creative pursuits.

What can audiences expect from your upcoming show?
I’m still mostly telling jokes, but trying to tell them in slightly different ways, with a little music and visual stuff. … There are drawings in the show, but with sort of a different twist on it. … There are a couple personal stories; I’ve been dabbling more in that but touring with jokes is still the most enjoyable, because with jokes it’s easier to switch things up from show to show and try new stuff.

When did you start drawing? How did that make its way into your comedy?
I liked drawing a lot when I was a kid. I remember, in grade school, I was considered one of the better kids at drawing. Then I just stopped until I started doing stand-up in my mid-20s. I carried a notebook around for writing jokes, and I found myself drawing again. Around 1999, I started trying out drawings on stage, at shows around New York City at what were called ‘alternative rooms’ where comics were trying more experimental stuff. … I’ve gotten better at drawing as an adult, and if I really try I can draw in what I think is a pretty respectable style. I don’t know how much that helps for jokes, though. You play music in your shows, though it’s not exactly ‘musical comedy.’

What does music contribute to your act?
As much as I wish I could write songs and sing, it’s not something I’ve figured out how to do. … I can play a couple instruments well enough — and it’s the same with drawing — where it’s not technically impressive, but it can serve a purpose in the flow of the show. I’m still just telling jokes or a story, but [music] can add a texture or shift the mood.

How do you turn a collection of one-liners into a cohesive set?
When I’m getting ready to do a new tour, I’ll do short sets around L.A., where I live, to see what works. … I have found that certain jokes don’t seem to work as well at the beginning of the show; I have to get the audience into a flow with me first. … On a good day, there’s a rhythm, and it’s sort of hypnotic, but when the crowd isn’t digging it, you can never really get it going. If I have set pieces that have endings, it helps. Like, the music and drawings have been very helpful for me in pacing out a show.

How do you craft a joke?
There’s the original way, where an idea arrives pretty nicely structured and seems like a joke. Other times — like leading up to a tour or when I’m on a deadline — it’s very intentional. I’ll write a page of jokes each morning, no matter how bad they are. I use old typewriters a lot because there’s no email or anything to distract me. I can physically see a piece of paper going through the typewriter, and when I get to the end of it, I say, ‘Cool. Got it,’ and then put it in a binder and let them pile up.

If a joke doesn’t land, how do you navigate that on stage?
If you’re telling a longer story, you can move past the parts where you thought people would laugh [but didn’t], and maybe they can’t even tell it was supposed to be a punchline. But when you’re a comic that tells jokes that are clearly jokes, there’s no hiding. … The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve learned to embrace whatever’s happening in real time and be a little less afraid. I’ve bombed so many times, but I’ve had lots of good shows, too, so no big deal.

What’s next for you?
I’ll finally have a new standup special out this fall on Netflix. My plan is for it to be the first in a trilogy — three standard specials that also go together as a larger story. The show I’m touring with now will be part 2. … Then, in the spring, I’m hoping to do my first art show. That’ll be in L.A. It’ll be fine art — paintings — but they’ll all be jokes, like, each canvas is a one-liner without words.

Featured photo: Demetri Martin presents “The Joke Machine.” Courtesy image. Art by Demetri Martin.

Concord grower discusses this year’s harvest

Diane Souther of Apple Hill Farm in Concord provides insight into a frost’s devastating impact on their apple harvest this year.

Can you describe what exactly happened this year with the harvest and how that affected you?

On the night of May 19, we were bracing for the predicted cold spell. We have measures in place to safeguard our crops, like our wind machine and [techniques such as] irrigating the strawberries. Around 11 p.m., Chuck went out to monitor the temperatures. It’s common for the coldest part of these frosty nights to be around 5 or 6 in the morning, but this time, temperatures dropped significantly earlier, starting around 11:30 p.m. and remaining low until the next morning. … [The apples] were past the sensitive blossom stage and had already started forming on the trees, some even bigger than pea size, so we thought they’d be alright. But as the day warmed, the apples just started dropping. They had been frozen solid. There was about three weeks when we just didn’t talk about it. We were hoping that some would just stay on the tree and still survive, but they weren’t. The very few apples that did survive had visible frost rings, a scar-like mark around them. The blueberries, the raspberries, the corn — they all pulled through. But it was just too cold for the apples.

What have you heard from other farms around the state?

The cold spell affected a stretch right down the Merrimack Valley. But the impact varied based on factors like elevation. Seacoast growers, for example, were a bit shielded due to the tempering effect of the ocean. For us, the cold seemed to roll right off Mount Washington and sweep down the river valley, and the orchards in its path felt it the most. However, farms like Carter Hill, which is slightly higher in elevation than ours, experienced slightly warmer conditions — maybe by a degree or two. Even so, they too had challenges to address as the season progressed. What’s the plan moving forward?
Where do we go from here? Luckily, we’ve been in the apple business for a number of years, and we have lots of good friends. … We’ve made calls to them, and they’ve got apples that they’re sharing with us. We’re able to purchase apples from them so we’ll have apples in the farmstand. And we’re trying to keep positive; our vegetable crops are doing great. We grow more than one thing here at Apple Hill: Our corn is coming in, tomatoes are coming in, cucumbers, beans, all of that stuff.

Have you ever had to do that before? Source products from other farms?

Not to this extent, no. We’ve always supplemented a bit. We go back and forth: if we had a good year and had lots of Honeycrisps, some of these farms that we’re purchasing from this year are ones we used to sell apples to. This year, we’re buying apples from them. It’s a great support system, the fellowship of the farmers here in New Hampshire, and even extending to New England. They’re a fantastic group of people. When one is struggling, the others will step up and assist as much as they can. With the “pick your own” option affected [Apple Hill will not offer pick-your-own apples, according to its website] this year, do you have alternative experiences for visitors at the farm?
Absolutely. We have a few hiking trails. We feature pollination plots, which are fascinating to wander through as different flowers bloom and attract various pollinators as the season shifts. We’re anticipating the arrival of fall raspberries, though I can’t provide an exact date. It depends on having about 10 days of sunlight. Our grapes are another attraction; while the initial batch was affected by the frost, the second blooming — often referred to as a secondary set of fruits — managed to thrive.

How have your customers responded to the situation?

It took us a while to address it … but we announced it on our website. The overwhelming support from our customers has truly uplifted our spirits. Many expressed their sympathy as if we’d lost a family member when they heard about our apple loss. They’ve been supporting us by buying our other products. The community has been great.

Diane and Chuck Souther of Apple Hill Farm. Courtesy photo.

Telemonitoring patients at home

Granite VNA, New Hampshire’s leading home health care provider, has launched a telemonitoring program for patients with chronic illnesses. Leveraging advanced tech tools, the program aims to empower patients to proactively monitor their vital signs. Suzanne Olszak, RN, who has more than 30 years of experience in home health care and manages the program, discussed its impact, benefits and future.

Can you provide an overview of your program and its significance in the context of home health care?

We operate a telemonitoring program at Granite VNA, having launched it almost a year ago in October. With my 30 years in home care and a decade in telemonitoring with other agencies, this new program encompasses 50 telemonitoring units. … We provide these patients with a tablet, scale, blood pressure cuff and pulse oximeter for home use. They’re trained to daily monitor and record their weight, blood pressure and oxygen levels. The tablets, equipped with Bluetooth, transmit this data directly to our telemonitoring nurse’s computer. This allows for immediate tracking, enabling us to detect any detrimental trends. … Typically, we monitor patients for approximately 60 days. … If any alarming trends emerge, we communicate with both the patient and their health care providers to proactively intervene and adjust their care plan, to prevent potential hospitalizations.

Who is this program specifically designed to serve and support?

Our focus is on high-risk patients with chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure (CHF), COPD, and high blood pressure, particularly those with medication changes or frequent rehospitalizations. … We solely cater to patients from Granite VNA who have been recommended for skilled nursing or physical therapy. This telemonitoring service complements the assistance provided by their home care nurses and therapists.

What is the primary purpose and intended outcome of this program for high-risk patients?

Our goal is twofold: reduce hospitalizations and empower patients to be more engaged and informed about their health. … The objective is to instill in these high-risk patients — CHF, hypertension, COPD patients — the significance of daily vitals monitoring. We educate them about diet and the critical aspects of their specific condition. Ultimately, we want patients to become autonomous in managing their health, particularly in identifying when they need medical attention. … Our hope is that with this knowledge and monitoring, patients can become more proactive and independent in managing their conditions.

How are the patients adapting to using this technology?

Many patients initially feel nervous about using the new technology, primarily because the majority of our users are elderly. However, they adapt surprisingly well. We provide hands-on guidance, having them practice while we’re present in their homes. The process is relatively simple for most — stepping on a scale or using a pulse oximeter. The biggest challenge tends to be the blood pressure cuff, as it requires positioning the arm correctly and tightening the loop, but we’ve designed it to be as user-friendly as possible.

Does this program help in freeing up time for the nurses?

Absolutely, it does. Instead of requiring multiple weekly visits for nurses to see a patient, the frequency can be reduced to once a week or even every other week. This is possible because a nurse constantly monitors the vitals, and this data is transferred to the patient’s matrix care chart, which is their home care record. … Additionally, patients appreciate this setup since they don’t have to always wait for a nurse to visit, yet they’re reassured that someone is monitoring their vitals throughout the program duration.

Do you plan to extend the program to other medical conditions or broaden its reach in any way?

The decision is primarily made on a case-by-case basis. If a nurse reaches out to me about a patient with a complex situation whom they believe would benefit from this technology, I’m fully on board with setting it up in their home.

Featured photo: UNH system libraries are located in Manchester, Durham, Keene and Plymouth. Courtesy graphic.