CVAH Notice regarding the COVID-19 virus
See our COVID-19 Information page for up-to-date resources
Senior Center management and the CVAH Steering Committee are dedicated to doing the best for our members and the community; therefore, the Keene Senior Center will be closed until further notice to protect our members, guests, and staff because of the emerging situation with the coronavirus.
We are taking this step to ensure the health and safety of our employees and their families, and to do our part to help reduce the rate of community transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
For updated information on the virus, please call the NH Department of Health hotline 211, option 3. You will get a live person to answer your questions. Information is also widely posted online.
See below the CV@H policies that been developed to help in prevention of exposure to the COVID-19 virus and are effective immediately.
- For updated information on the virus, please call the NH Department of Health hotline 211, option 3. You will get a live person to answer your questions. Information is also widely posted online.
- Requests for new services have been suspended indefinitely. Exceptions are pickup and delivery of groceries and pharmacy items; and medical appointments that cannot be postponed. CVAH Shift Coordinators will answer the phone as usual, M-F 9:00-12:00.
- Grocery requests will be limited to the “Hannaford To Go” or other To Go service and a driver will deliver to your doorstep. Drivers may also pickup pre-ordered prescriptions.
- Please postpone all non-urgent appointments. Services will be limited to only those that cannot be rescheduled.
- Volunteers will sanitize/clean the passenger side surfaces with disinfectant wipes pre and post ride.
- Avoid public places, shaking hands, and implement social distancing when in public settings.
- We ask that you monitor your health and inform CVAH if you are self-isolating or have any flu symptoms.
- Drivers will not transport members who have a cough, fever, or shortness of breath. If you experience any of those symptoms, please contact your doctor immediately.
- Remember to wash your hands frequently as has been described often in the news. Use hand sanitizer when available in any public place and wash hands thoroughly when returning home.
In light of the current environment, CVAH is asking that volunteers consider their willingness to continue to provide essential services during this period. Please let your wishes be known if you do not want to continue providing services to a Shift Coordinator.
During this difficult time, our sincere wish is that you and your families will remain safe and healthy. Everyone is working to resolve the crisis and hope normal life will resume as quickly as possible. Please be safe and take precautions to protect yourself and your family.
Regards,
CVAH Steering Committee
Cheshire Village at Home
Cheshire Village at Home helps seniors stay in their homes independently, with a little help.
Cheshire Village at Home is a membership organization for people over 50, providing you with a single point of access to a network of trained volunteers. Once you join us, one call sets you up with a ride, help at home, social visits, or wellness calls as often as you want. We also hold free social events such as coffees, ice cream socials, and presentations by local experts.
Cheshire Village at Home is an entirely local program, serving western Cheshire County (see a list of the towns we serve,) and we are not a real estate development nor a retirement community.
For an annual fee of $400 per household*, one phone call provides access to those services which often cause seniors to leave their homes for a more restrictive setting. As a program of the Keene Senior Center, the annual fee for Cheshire Village at Home includes a membership to the Keene Senior Center.
Enrollment is ongoing for anyone who expects to need services shortly, or for those who simply want to support this program to ensure it will be available when needed. Download our application form here.
Call Cheshire Village at Home for more information: 603-903-9680
What we do
Our volunteers:
- give rides within western Cheshire County for medical appointments, grocery shopping, social visits, or any other reason
- help you with occasional minor chores in your home such as changing hard to reach batteries and light bulbs, repairing a loose door handle, or even flipping your mattress!
- make check-in or social calls to you on a daily, weekly, or other basis.
The following are some examples of tasks that we do for our members:
- Accompany you to a medical appointment and take notes
- Hang pictures or mirrors
- Fix/replace a hinge/door knob
- Lubricate door hinges
- Take down/put up a curtain rod/curtains
- Replace light bulbs (12 ft. max height)
- Replace furnace/ refrigerator/ AC filters
- Flip bed mattresses
- Set up TV/cable/garage remotes
- Change smoke alarm or remote-control batteries
- Help with computer issues
- Install PC software or new hardware (only when member is present to enter passwords)
- Program a thermostat
- Reset breakers or GFI…once
- Winterize a foundation (hay, plastic, etc.)
- Attach/remove window film for winter
- Pull down storm windows
- Lift heavy boxes
- Bring things down from attic using pulldown ladder (with second volunteer)
- Put up/bring down seasonal clothing
- Install shower head
- Replace toilet seat, toilet tank flapper, adjust tank water level
- Paint mailbox
- Replace a door screen
- Replace/repair doorbells
- Repair, tighten, bring in, or bring out a garden hose
- Bring in or take out patio furniture
- Repot houseplants
- Weed garden
- Install solar yard lights
Learn More
For more information or to learn if your town is included, call Cheshire Village at Home: 603-903-9680.
Our office hours are:
Monday-Friday
9:00 AM to 12:00 noon
Outside of those hours, please leave a message and someone will get back to you within 1 business day.
INFORMATION SESSIONS
If you would like to attend one of our Information Sessions, the next one will be held on Saturday, August 24, at 11:00 AM.
APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP
OR TO BE A VOLUNTEER
Please scroll down this page to find links to a membership application, and a volunteer application.
* Where do my fees go?
Your fee goes to pay expenses such as staff costs, and the cost of your Keene Senior Center membership (for existing Center members, we always prorate our first year's fee because they have already paid the Center membership fee.) We have 3 part-time employees who work a combined total of 50-60 hours a week performing office duties: answering phones, coordinating all of the service requests, calling members etc.
Other expenses include; technology costs; the software for the system and phone line costs for the system, office supplies like toner, paper, ink, and stamps, expenses for the socials we provide for our members, paying the bookkeeper who monitors our account, insurance, advertising events, printing brochures, and more.
We have a lot of volunteers who provide services that are priceless to our organization and we could not provide the services without them. If we had to pay for all of the rides, calls, and other services, the cost would be huge to our village members.
If you feel that our fee is more than you can afford, we have a limited number of partial scholarships, as well as both a Trial Membership (3-months) and a 6-month membership option. Please call us for details (603) 903-9680
Participants chatting while waiting for a Fire Safety presentation to begin.
Cheshire Village at Home Service Area
Towns Served
Cheshire Village at Home serves members living in any of the the following 15 towns in western Cheshire County:
- Chesterfield
- Gilsum
- Hinsdale
- Keene
- Marlow
- Nelson
- Richmond
- Roxbury
- Spofford
- Stoddard
- Sullivan
- Surry
- Swanzey
- Troy
- Westmoreland
- Winchester
If your town is in the southeastern portion of the county, you may wish to contact Monadnock at Home, a Village that serves the following towns:
- Dublin
- Fitzwilliam
- Hancock
- Harrisville
- Jaffrey
- Marlborough
- New Ipswich
- Peterborough
- Rindge
- Sharon
