BAR HARBOR, ME — This week’s shout-out of Mission Love goes to the Island Eldercare Network. With skill and caring, this group of dedicated individuals from 10 unbridged islands supports seniors aging well in place and in island eldercare facilities.
Meeting weekly via Zoom, they share knowledge to maintain the well-being of island seniors. The importance of their work has never been more evident than today.
Check out this video from their January retreat which addressed issues ranging from dementia care to self-care.
BAR HARBOR, ME — Maine Seacoast Mission partnered with [Area Interfaith Outreach (AIO) Food] Pantry & Emergency Services to send a shipment of perishable and pantry items to Matinicus [Island].
ROCKPORT, ME — Maine Seacoast Mission spent last weekend at the 45th Maine Fishermen’s Forum. The Sunbeam crew and Mission President John Zavodny, took turns at the Mission booth, reconnecting with old friends, and meeting plenty of new ones. The accompanying photo shows (L-R) Sunbeam Engineer Storey King, Island Health Services Director Sharon Daley, RN, and President Zavodny.
The Mission booth highlighted the Sunbeam crew’s work among island unbridged communities. The Forum was also an opportunity for the Mission to provide informational updates on the Sunbeam‘s routine major refit.
L-R: Island Outreach Director Douglas Cornman, Island Health Director Sharon Daley
www.fishermensvoice.com
February 2020 Volume 25, No. 2
O U T H E R E I N T H E R E A L W O R L D
Truck Calls
by Eva Murray
The history of nursing on Matinicus Island goes way back.
Sharon is on the island.
Even those of us who are pretty convinced that we don’t need anything are on Sharon Daley’s radar. She’s the registered nurse associated with the Maine Seacoast Mission—to most of us, “the Sunbeam”—and she’s the closest thing a few islanders have to a primary care provider. Checking on her island patients she’ll often just stop by to visit, or we’ll drop by aboard the Sunbeam when they’re in the harbor, to visit with her, even if we don’t need anything. That’s how health care ought to work.
At the moment the 75’ vessel Sunbeam is in the shipyard, so our pleasant visits aboard (focused largely on steward Jillian’s cookie jar) will have to wait. The ‘Beam’s telemedicine unit, where a patient on the island—in a private area aboard the boat—can interact in real time with a physician, counselor or other provider over a high-resolution video link, has changed the nature of “isolation.” Folks who don’t go to the mainland much can have greater access to medical care and advice than ever before. Still, a videoconference is not the same as a conversation with a human being, particularly when that human is a trusted friend, an experienced nurse who knows a thing or two about the real world.
Heather LaFramboise, from Avita, provides insights and practical advice on working with elders with dementia – a Positive Approach to Care!
We learn about the extreme changes to vision experiences of individuals with dementia.
We are so grateful to Nebo Lodge (North Haven) for their generosity in hosting our Island Eldercare retreat. That’s what caring community is about.
The Seacoast Mission is so grateful for the participation of these island residents in the annual Island Eldercare Retreat. We heard from super presenters offering wisdom on dealing with grief, dementia, Maine’s death with dignity law, and elder abuse. And all participants were able to exchange information about what they are doing to create positive change in their own communities.
The inspirational Peggy Akers talks about harm reduction strategies for substance misuse.
Island elder caregivers are reminded about self-care! Time for some movement.
Island Health Director, Sharon Daley, inviting perspectives on what’s going well in eldercare and what challenges are most pressing for the islands.
BAR HARBOR, ME — The 2020 annual Island Eldercare Retreat wrapped up its second and final day on Thursday, January 9, 2020. Hosted by Maine Seacoast Mission at Nebo Lodge on North Haven island. Mission Island Health Services Director Sharon Daley, RN again served as master of ceremonies.
This visionary group of Maine island community members is spearheading personal, effective care for the elderly on Maine unbridged islands. The group is dedicated to improving on its already remarkable record of enabling island elderly to age in place, spending their final years with family and friends on their islands.
Island Eldercare Retreat presenters included Dr. Lauren Michalakes, a hospice and palliative medicine specialist; Chris Wolff, Elder Abuse Institute of Maine Director of Community Engagement, and Heather LaFramboise, Program Director for Avita of Brunswick.
“The Seacoast Mission is so grateful for the participation of these island residents in the annual Island Eldercare Retreat. We heard from super presenters offering wisdom on dealing with grief, dementia, Maine’s death with dignity law, and elder abuse. And all participants were able to exchange information about what they are doing to create positive change in their own communities,” said Mission Director of Development Chris Stelling.
“Maine boasts one of the largest senior populations in the nation, per capita. This means more experience from which to learn. And while aging islanders have different needs, they also have a hard-won knowledge and unique perspective that is an incredible resource,” said John Zavodny, Maine Seacoast Mission President.
“The caregivers and thought leaders who attended the Seacoast Mission retreat are also powerful advocates for — and obvious fans of — our most senior generation. And we at the Mission are grateful to be able to support their work through the Island Eldercare Retreat and network,” President Zavodny said.
During the year, between Island Eldercare Retreats, this group of island community members stays connected through, among other means, monthly check-ins via the internet and conference calls.
Director Sharon Daley said of the retreat, “We’ve had great presenters who generously offered their time and expertise to the group. We’ve all learned a lot, shared a lot. It’s a dedicated group of people who give a lot to their communities. It’s really nice to gather them together and give them a bit of a special time to learn from each other,” Daley said.
To learn more about Maine Seacoast Missions Island Health work, visit us online here.
