St. Francis rehab alumni gather for 1st reunion since COVID pandemic

LACONIA — For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center held a Rehab Reunion luncheon, recognizing their rehabilitation team and former rehab clients, on June 24.

Patients typically stay at St. Francis anywhere from two weeks to two months, sometimes longer. For the reunion, anyone who completed a rehab stay and returned home was invited back to enjoy a meal, and and reconnect with friends.

The reunion, held at the center overlooking Lake Winnisquam, shows appreciation for the whole rehab department, made up of physical, occupational and speech therapists. Brenda Buttrick, nursing home administrator at St. Francis, said the event was filled with “lots and lots of hugs,” and had a “family-like feel.”

About a dozen former patients came back for the event.

“When they’re here at St. Francis, it can be a long stay, and we develop relationships with those folks. They were really excited to come back, because they made really good friendships, relationships, and it was a lot of fun for them to reconnect with our rehab staff,” Buttrick said.

Among the returning rehab patients was retired priest Father Dick Thompson, who recovered from his knee surgery this year at St. Francis. In 2021, when the annual Rehab Reunion was put on pause due to the COVID pandemic, Thompson came to visit patients on Ash Wednesday, distributing ashes to all who wanted them.

As most of the patients who come into the rehab center are over 85 years old, the staff takes great satisfaction in seeing them go on to live independently once more, and even drive their cars again.

Nancy Beckley, a long-term patient at St. Francis three years ago, attended the reunion with her husband, Denny. Beckley’s stay lasted one year and one day, and she continues to advocate for and speak very highly of the facility. After three separate, detrimental issues, Beckley had to start back at square one, more than once.

“Somehow, she was strong enough, and we were there for her enough that she got through it,” said Nikki Dickson, social services and admissions director at St. Francis. “She’s always telling people about St. Francis and how she loved it, how they fixed her up. Her husband will say that we saved him, and saved her.”

Like many former St. Francis patients, Beckley is doing very well, and goes out on her own now. She was one of the first people Dickson admitted when she started work there more than three years ago, and their husbands just so happen to be friends.

“I still see her out all the time at stores and things, so it’s a good reminder, and she’s a great advocate for us,” Dickson said.

St. Francis, operated by Catholic Charities, has 25 long-term independent living apartments and 51 beds, with a specific number for rehab patients. There are about 10-15 rehab residents at St. Francis at a time.

“When people come to us, they’re coming to us very vulnerable. They’ve either had a significant event, like a fracture, or even a stroke, so they come to us at a very vulnerable time in their lives,” Buttrick said. “They might come in on a stretcher from the hospital, but when they’re walking out, then it’s a very good feeling to be able to help people like that.”

At this year’s reunion, Denny Beckley pulled Buttrick aside, and said, “You gave me my wife back. I thought for sure she wasn’t going to make it.”

Beckley's story is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of the St. Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center staff. After holding a successful Rehab Reunion post-pandemic, Buttrick and Dickson are eager to reinstate the community gathering as an annual event, and look forward to next year’s luncheon.