Free 2026 Caregiver Expo Offers Practical Help for Families Caring for Loved Ones in Mt. Washington Valley 

October 10, 2026

Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice of Carroll County (VNHCH) and the Mount Washington Valley Adult Day Center (MWVADC) will hold the annual MWV Caregiver Expo 2026 on Saturday, November 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mount Washington Valley Adult Day Center, 987 East Main Street, Center Conway. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. The event is free, and light refreshments and lunch are included. Space is limited to 50 guests, and pre-registration is required at tinyurl.com/CaregiverExpoNH2026.

The Expo is for anyone who is a caregiver for a spouse, parent, relative or friend, or who may be a caregiver in the future. Guests will hear from local medical providers, technology experts, therapists and community organizations, and all will go home with practical resources they can put to use right away.

New for this year, caregivers are welcome to bring their loved ones in need of supervision to the Expo. The MWV Adult Day Center’s staff will provide free, supervised adult day care on site throughout the event, so caregivers can relax and take part in the full day knowing their loved one is in experienced hands nearby. To reserve a spot, simply note that you’ll be bringing a loved one when you register for the Expo. 

“Caregivers often take on significant responsibilities quickly, whether following a change in a loved one’s health or as needs evolve over time,” said VNHCH Executive Director Jessalynn Geerdes. “Our team recognizes the commitment, coordination and care that caregivers provide each day. This Expo is an opportunity to connect caregivers with practical information, trusted local resources and supportive professionals so they feel informed, prepared and supported.”

Getting the most from medical appointments

The first session, Before, During, and Between Visits: Getting the Most from Your Loved One’s Medical Appointments, is presented by MJ Nason, NP, of Saco River Medical Group and Rachel Hamilton, DO, of Memorial Hospital Primary Care. The two providers will explain what to bring to an appointment, how to share or get information when a caregiver can’t attend in person, and the best ways to reach a provider between visits. They will also discuss ways to share sensitive concerns discreetly, as well as how to recognize when it may be time to begin conversations about driving safety. The session also walks through the online patient portals families use in the Valley, including SacoDocs and MyChart/EPIC, so caregivers can message providers, check test results and keep track of appointments.

Technology and tools for caregivers

From Panic to Peace: Upgrading Your Caregiving with Tech and Tools brings together 2 specialists:

• Andrea Libby of Libby Computer will cover how to spot the scams and hacks that often target older adults online.
• Hannah Sparks, OT, an occupational therapist with VNHCH, will share tools and home adjustments that make everyday care safer and easier for both the caregiver and their loved one.

A break for balance

Midmorning, Carolyn Wigmore, of the Gibson Center for Senior Services, will lead a Tai Chi session focused on balance and fall prevention. The movements are gentle, and guests can learn how they or their loved ones can sign up for classes at the Gibson Center.

Film screening: Time Before Goodbye

After lunch, guests will watch Time Before Goodbye: Navigating Eldercare, a 45-minute film from New Hampshire Theatre Project’s award-winning Elephant-in-the-Room Series®. The series won the 2021 NH Governor’s Arts Award in the Arts in Health category. The film grew out of interviews across the state with caregivers, elders, healthcare providers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and state and local health agencies. It clears up common myths about eldercare, explains how New Hampshire’s healthcare and support systems work, and shows the challenges caregivers and their loved ones face along the way. CJ Lewis and Genevieve Aichele of New Hampshire Theatre Project will introduce the film. 

Local resource panel

Lewis and Aichele will then moderate a panel of local caregiving experts:

• Alana Illsley, Community Health Worker, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital 
• Soyla Robinson, Community Health Worker, Carroll County Public Health
• Sonya Frye, owner of Timberland Home Care
• Scott Fields, Executive Director of the MWVADC
• David Smolen, Executive Director of the Gibson Center
• Jessalynn Geerdes, Executive Director at VNHCH

The panel will cover in-home care, adult day programs, community health workers and help with the cost of care and prescriptions. Guests can bring their own questions. 

“We have been proud to be the site of this annual event for several years,” said Fields. “This year we are even more involved and happy to co-present it alongside VNHCH.”

Every guest will go home with a resource bag filled with information from local organizations.

Lunch will be provided by Moat Mountain Smokehouse. 2026 MWV Caregiver Expo is made possible by sponsors Memorial Hospital and Valley Originals.

Event Details

What: Caregiver Expo 2026

When: Saturday, November 7, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (doors open 8:30 a.m.)

Where: MWV Adult Day Center, 987 East Main Street, Center Conway, NH

Cost: Free. Breakfast and lunch included.

Registration: Required, with space limited to 50 guests: tinyurl.com/CaregiverExpoNH2026

About Visiting Nurse Home Care & Hospice of Carroll County and Western Maine

Founded in 1974, Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of the Hills is the only nonprofit home health and hospice provider in Carroll County. It serves families throughout the Mt. Washington Valley & Western Maine, making about 19,000 home visits a year. Its nurses, therapists, aides and community health workers provide skilled home care, hospice and community programs that help people stay safe and supported at home. Learn more at vnhch.org.

About the Mount Washington Valley Adult Day Center

Mount Washington Valley Adult Day Center provides compassionate daytime care for older adults living with dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and other cognitive or physical challenges. Through individualized care, nursing oversight, nutritious meals, transportation, and engaging music, art, movement, and social activities, the Center helps participants experience connection, purpose, and dignity while continuing to live at home. Families gain dependable respite, education, and guidance as they navigate the demands of caregiving. MWVADC is also participating in the CMS GUIDE Model to expand coordinated support for people living with dementia and their caregivers. 

Financial assistance may be available through state programs and the Center’s Family Relief Fund. Learn more at www.mwvadultdaycenter.org.