Island Health & Wellness Foundation: Just For The Health Of It Community Discussions

On this Giving Tuesday, we have a gift for you-a bonus podcast episode! This is a conversation that I had with Denise Black and Teri Woodruff, Co-Directors for the Maine Alliance for Recovery Coaching. These ladies personify compassion, competence and community. In our discussion we talk about: 1. What recovery coaching is and how people can become a recovery coach or access recovery coaching serv...

Ronda Dodge, Chairperson of the Island Nursing Home (INH) Board of Directors, and I continue our discussion about the closure of the facility, plans to reopen and what we can all do to be supportive in the meantime.  Exciting news! The INH Board is working on finalizing a contract with an outside agency who will come in and provide an assessment and recommendations for reopening. We will have...

In this episode, I spend a few minutes talking with Sheriff Scott Kane. We discuss the health related work he and his deputies do in this community and he gives all of us some solid safety advice. I came away from this discussion so thankful for people like Sheriff Kane and his fifteen deputies who are willing to serve our community both on the job and in various volunteer capacities off the clock...

Ronda Dodge, Chairperson of the Island Nursing Home Board of Directors, and I continue our discussions about the future of Island Nursing Home. She provides updates and clarifies a recent news article about a Stonington Select Board meeting held last week. Ronda also answers the following questions: 1. How is the “Adopt a Resident” program going? 2. Listener Question:  Is there any way that H...

Ronda Dodge, Chairperson of the Island Nursing Home Board of Directors, and I continue our weekly updates. This week Ronda answers a series of questions, including: 1. Did Matthew Trombley, Senior Executive Director, leave Island Nursing Home? 2. What will the INH Social Worker be doing over the next few months? 3. How is the “Adopt-A-Resident” program going? 4. Will any staff continue working at...

In this week's episode, Genevieve McDonald and I talk all things Island Nursing Home Task Force. She answers my questions, including: 1. What made you want to serve on the Island Nursing Home Task Force? 2. What has the task force done so far? 3. What has been the most surprising part of this process for you? 4. What do you see as the main barriers to re-opening the facility and how are these bein...

Ronda Dodge, Chairperson of the Island Nursing Home Board, and I continue our discussion about the recent news that the nursing home will be closing. In this episode we talk about: 1. The Adopt a Resident Program is up and going. To sign up to adopt a resident, please email dragot@islandnursinghome.org or call 348-6529 (leave a message). 2. An Island Nursing Home initiative to provide support to r...

This week, I talked with Ronda Dodge, Chairperson of the INH Board of Directors, about the upcoming closure of the Island Nursing Home. In this episode, she addresses the following community questions: 1. Matthew Trombley, Senior Executive Director, has announced he will be leaving. What is his timing? Does his contract provide for a severance payment? 2.  What will happen with the Administra...

Emma Weiss is an intern at WERU working on a community project related to health. To say she is a shining star would be an understatement. In our conversation we talk about her Community Wellness Watch program which airs on WERU monthly (archive link is below so you can catch past episodes). One of her latest episodes features Anne Schroth, Executive Director of Healthy Peninsula, Jo Cooper, Execu...

Matthew and I continue our weekly discussions about the upcoming closure of Island Nursing Home. In this episode he updates the community about the two residents and one staff member who were diagnosed with COVID last week. In addition, Matthew  talks very frankly about his decision not to continue in a leadership position at INH following the closure. He also addresses a recent newspaper art...

Today Ronda and I continued our discussions about the upcoming closure of Island Nursing Home (INH). She discusses two current COVID cases among residents and how this will impact placement plans. In addition, we talk about how the community can continue to assist the INH administration and board during this time. We also cover the Task Force and Ronda's role in helping it to succeed. Another impo...

Matthew and I continue our discussions about the upcoming closure of Island Nursing Home. In our fourth discussion, Matthew answers community questions that were raised at a forum held last Wednesday, including: 1. Does the nursing home have a sense of why visiting health care workers are choosing to leave? 2. Has the Board and/or Administration of the nursing home considered being acquired by a f...

In this episode Matthew Trombley, Senior Executive Director of Island Nursing Home and I tackle some tough questions, including: 1. Does he feel that the nursing home tried to communicate their staffing issues to the community before announcing the closure? 2. Does he think workforce housing can help? 3. Were staff required to sign gag orders? 4. How many residents have already been placed in othe...

This is my second conversation with Island Nursing Home (INH) Administration following the announcement it will be closing next month. In this episode, Ronda Dodge, President of the INH Board of Directors, and I discuss updates since we last talked, the appeal process for residents, how staff members are doing, what the INH Community Task Force will do and what will happen to the pets who live on...

Our community received the news on Monday that Island Nursing Home (INH) is closing. In this episode, I talk with Matthew and Ronda about what led to this decision, what is involved in closing a facility and what is being done to find residents safe homes and to help staff find new jobs. We also discuss what the community can do to help, with an eye on the future of this beloved island organizatio...

Over the past few months, the biggest question I have received from community members is "Where can I find in-home assistance for my loved one?" In this conversation I talk with Brian White, owner of One Step Home Care, about the process of getting someone signed up for in-home care, the need for workers in our area and why it might be advantageous to work with an agency. We talk about what kinds...

It has been said that "Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence." Jo is the Executive Director of Friends and Action. In our second podcast conversation we talk about what services Friends in Action currently offers to our community as well as the work it took to plan, build and open an adult playground in Ellsworth. Jo...

Lynne Witham wears a lot of hats in this community. Officially her titles are  Union 76 Coordinator of Grants & Professional Development and Director of Adult & Community Education. She is also a fundraiser, a cheerleader and a shaper of young lives. Join us as we talk about all this, and how each member of the Deer Isle-Stonington community can participate in positively impacting you...

The last time I talked with Paul, Haystack was in the midst of producing and distributing personal protective equipment. Where is that service now? How many people did Haystack serve through that innovative and generous program? What does 2021 (and beyond) hold for Haystack? What does Haystack want to do better? What is bringing Paul and his staff joy right now? Paul is one of those leaders who ex...

Programming Note: We are still recording this podcast via Zoom. For some reason, in my conversation with Dr. Cobb that follows, his voice came through at a much lower volume than mine. Of course, some people would say that it is because I am naturally a loud talker. I made the decision to go ahead and release this episode anyway. The information that he shares on ticks, browntail moths and acupunc...

You have got to listen to the end of this episode! At the conclusion of our discussion, Jessica issues a challenge to our community that will change us all for the better. During our conversation, we also discuss: 1. What is Community Compass and what is its mission? 2. What is the history of this organization? 3. What is a Community Navigator and who are the Navigators on Deer Isle-Stonington? 4....

UGH! Have you noticed an increased number of ticks here in Maine this spring? It is not your imagination. Join my conversation with Griffin Dill of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension as we talk ticks-trends, ways to avoid being bitten, how to safely remove a tick, etc. Griffin approaches his work with a down to earth and enthusiastic attitude. You will come away from our discussion arme...

This week's podcast centers on a conversation that I had recently with Tara Young. Tara is the Drug Free Communities Program Coordinator at Healthy Acadia. Her work involves many components-including mental health advocacy, educating youth and parents about the dangers of nicotine and substance use, and suicide prevention. Tara offers a number of education-specific programs for youth and provides...

Pat Dobbs is new to the island. She is passionate about bringing resources to those experiencing hearing loss through support groups, one on one coaching and educational sessions. In this episode we discuss the following: What is hearing loss? How does hearing loss impact friends and family? How can providers and patients with hearing loss work together? What is Pat's dream in terms of the work sh...

In this episode Lynn and I talk about all things Occupational Therapy, CranioSacral Therapy and Visceral Manipulation Therapy, including: 1. What are each of those things and what illnesses do they treat? 2. What happens at an appointment with Lynn in her office in Stonington? 3. How do  I know if I should add these therapies to my care regimen? 4. Does Lynn take insurance? 5. How has the pan...