Home care? Hospice? What are my options? Northern Light Home Care and Hospice can help guide you through what services are available for home healthcare.
Whether you are anticipating a total joint replacement or orthopedic surgery, have a slow healing wound, have an infant or child with medical needs, or facing a terminal illness, knowing your care at home choices are important and can help you, or your loved one, have a better, and faster, recovery, regain independence quicker, or have enhanced quality of remaining life with compassionate end-of-life care.
“We work one-on-one with patients and provide individualized care, family caregiver education, and build rapport to help the patient regain independence.”
Tim Mousette, PT, Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, Waterville/Pittsfield
“Our goal for the patient receiving home care services is to help them to safely remain in their home and to regain their independence within the community,” shared Brian Horgan, OTR/L, occupational therapist and clinical services manager for Northern Light Home Care and Hospice, Waterville/Pittsfield region. “This often reduces unnecessary trips to the hospital or emergency department.”
“For hospice care, our goal is to provide clinically excellent and compassionate care for individuals and families at the end of life,” said Erin Kerns, LCSW, licensed clinical social worker and manager of clinical services.
“It is an integrated process between the home care and hospice teams with the goal of meeting the patients’ needs and keeping them out of the hospital.”
Kathy Kelley, RN, Hospice Nurse, Northern Light Home Care & Hospice
“We are essentially an extension of the hospital but come to you, providing skilled care in your home for all ages,” explained Horgan. “We find patients are happier healing at home surrounded by loved ones and their pets, seeing faster recoveries and less infection risk than in a hospital.”
Dedicated to patient care, the Northern Light Home Care and Hospice, Waterville/Pittsfield region team is comprised of 36 compassionate and skilled clinicians who work alongside you and your family in your home. They cover the greater Waterville, Pittsfield, Skowhegan and Unity areas. Northern Light Home Care and Hospice has additional locations in South Portland, Brewer, Ellsworth, and Presque Isle.
“I returned to home care because of our wonderful team and the ability to spend one-on-one time with our patients.”
Morgan G., RN, BSN, Clinical Lead Nursing Education, Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, Waterville/Pittsfield
OBTAINING HOME HEALTH OR HOSPICE CARE SERVICES
If you feel you need home health or hospice services, you will need a referral from either your surgeon, primary care or specialty care provider or from the hospital.
WHAT SERVICE IS RIGHT FOR YOU OR YOUR LOVED ONE?
Home Care
Skilled Nursing
Care for all ages including complex medical patients requiring IVs, wound care, chronic disease management and post-surgical, including total joint replacement and orthopedic surgeries.
Telehealth
At home remote monitoring by experienced nurses caring for patients with congestive heart failure or COPD, significantly reducing re-hospitalization rates.
Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapies
- Total joint replacement (knees, hips, shoulders)
- Orthopedic and back surgeries
- Patients with impaired mobility independence; moving from one surface to another, balance, stair training, home management tasks
- Neurological rehabilitation for patients who have experienced a stroke
Social Work
Social workers make referrals to outside agencies to help patients successfully remain at home after a home care services discharge. They help connect the patient with the right resources to remain at home. Social workers can help navigate complex medical or long-term care systems, guide you through Advance Care Planning, and end-of-life decisions, with a compassionate, listening ear.
Home Health Aide
Assist patients with self-care tasks (bathing and dressing); if under hospice care, home health aides can provide companionship and sit with your loved one while you run errands or take a nap.
Hospice Care
Hospice care is a choice made when you have a terminal diagnosis and decide to stop curative treatment. Hospice takes a multi-disciplinary approach to care you receive ensuring physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Focus is on maintaining quality of life and dignity while providing comfort to you in your home, including pain and symptom management, emotional support for you and your family, and bereavement support for loved ones afterward.
Pediatric Program
For medically compromised children (ages 0-18), services include pediatric specific nursing assessments, physical and occupational therapies, and medical social work services for short-term illnesses, injury or chronic/serious illnesses.
To learn more about Northern Light Home Care and Hospice services, please call 1.800.757.3326 or visit northernlighthealth.org/HCATHOME.
