Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 22 : Fall 2014 | Page 62

and Nancy Duncan, met with a group of friends and they all
shared their own experience. The group decided to explore
options for a better way for families to spend the latter days
of a loved one’s journey. After numerous meetings and a
lot of research, discussion began to focus on the care being
provided in facilities known as hospice homes. These homes
have a proven track record of enhancing the quality of endof-life care for the patient and family. It was from this point
forward that we began our strategy to create The Aroostook
Hospice Foundation and build a hospice home in northern
Maine….the AROOSTOOK ‘House of Comfort’.

to reflect and share inspirational moments. The landscaping
will be adorned with numerous flower gardens, trees, and
walkways with benches that will surely inspire feelings of
love and peace.

Capital campaign to raise $2.54 million: A formal capital
campaign began in December 2013 with the Presque Isle
Rotary Club’s choosing us as their Special Project for its 66th
Annual TV and Radio Auction. A tremendous outpouring
of compassion brought in a little over $407,000. This set
a historical record for the club as the highest amount ever
raised during a rotary auction. This amazing feat echoes the
Need: Although in-home hospice is very self-gratifying for compassion that people feel for those in the county facing
the family, not all families are able to provide hospice care a terminal illness. So many people have come forward to
in their homes. Here are a few instances when a hospice embrace the idea of helping others to cope while facing the
home is needed:
difficult challenges of an end-of-life journey. We are so
thankful for their donations which helped bring our total
• There is no extended family member locally who can donations to date to $814,700. With the help of previous
become the primary caregiver.
large donors and memorial donors, we are nearly half way
• The caregiver has to work or has other family obligations to our goal to begin construction in the Spring of 2015.
and needs to be supported or provided a respite.
• The patient’s caregiver is frail, elderly or has a medical Funds continue to be raised through various “Methods of
condition that prevents them from being able to sustain Giving” listed on our website in our
the demanding 24-hour care necessary.
Capital Campaign Brochure, interviews with private donors,
• The patient’s symptoms change or deteriorate and a fundraising events by several clubs and organizations, and
more active 24-hour intervention is required.
we have a team of grant writers working diligently in
• Pain is unmanageable.
reaching out to other sources of funding.
• The patient has no home.
Fundraiser: Since the auction we have initiated another
With each passing year, the need for a hospice home fundraiser with hospice jewelry. We have utilized the colors
is escalating as we look at a significant rise in the aging and symbols in our logo to create bangle bracelets. These
population. In 2013, 20.6% of Aroostook County’s bangles have been well received by people of all ages. The
population was made up of seniors over 65 years of age (data uniqueness of the bracelet is that it can be “personalized and
provided by the U.S. Census Bureau http://quickfacts. memorialized”. Anyone can have a birthstone bead added
census.gov/qfd/states/23/23003.html.)
to memorialize a loved-one, a sweetheart bead, children’s
birthstones, etc. Individuals have taken great pleasure in
Facility: The hospice home has been designed by Mark Carter knowing that their loved-one is being remembered and that
of North Peak Architecture and will be situated on a parcel their purchase is a donation to the hospice house. These
of land strategically located between the heaviest populated bracelets and other jewelry items can be viewed and ordered
communities in Aroostook County. The physical site is 4.7 through our website: www.aroostookhouseofcomfort.com
acres and located at 255 Caribou Road, Presque Isle and by clicking on Fundraiser and Jewelry Purchases.
was donated by the Robert Irving Family-Cavendish Farms.
The AROOSTOOK ‘House of Comfort’ is a 6-bed facility In closing: We thank all our donors who have given so
that will provide quality, compassionate, palliative and end- generously and all our volunteers who have given their time
of-life care for patients and their families in a comfortable, to make this dream become a reality. We invite everyone
homelike environment with 24-hour care. A Memorandum to share the dream and join in our efforts to build the only
of Understanding has been signed with Visiting Nurses of hospice home in northern Maine. Your donation is a gift
Aroostook/Hospice of Aroostook to provide care within of compassion for your family, friends, and neighbors in
the facility. VNA is the only hospice providing agency helping those who are suffering with a terminal illness.
in northern Maine and have been providing exceptional Don’t count the moments…..make the moments count.
hospice care in the county for over 30 years. The Aroostook
Hospice Foundation will own and maintain the facility and For more information about AROOSTOOK ‘House of
lease it to Visiting Nurses of Aroostook. As patients enter Comfort’ and to find out how you can help as a volunteer
the facility, family and friends will be welcomed and invited or donor, visit www.aroostookhouseofcomfort.com.
for overnight stays with their family member for as long
as care is provided. Young adults with children can visit
knowing that their children are enjoying the Logan Grave’s
Children’s Room which will be equipped with a library, TV,
computer, and an assortment of toys for entertainment. A
chapel will also be available where patient and family can go
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FALL 2014