Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 6 : Fall 2010 | Page 36

Maine Veterans’ Homes
CARING FOR THOSE WHO SERVED
by Trish Thibodeau

Maine Veterans’ Homes (MVH) is a non-profit
organization governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of
honorably discharged war veterans. The eleven members
of the Board of Trustees are appointed by the Governor.
The 108th Maine Legislature created MVH to provide
long term care and related services for Maine’s veterans,
spouses, widowed spouses and gold star parents (a parent
who has lost a child in the line of duty).

MVH operates as a separate corporation, working
closely with state and federal agencies, veterans’ service
organizations, the Department of Veterans Administration
and local communities. Construction of the homes is
funded with federal monies and state matching grants.
MVH is certified by Medicare to provide skilled services
to their veterans along with MaineCare. The Veterans
Administration requires that 75% of all beds be reserved
for veterans and provides a daily stipend to qualifying
veterans.

MVH-Caribou is one of six homes in the MVH
Corporation; it is the most northern home and the
second home to be built. Opening its doors in 1990 as a
long-term care (LTC) /skilled nursing facility (SNF), this
marks the 20th year of service to veterans.

At MVH-Caribou the 40-bed LTC/SNF unit is
dual-certified which allows residents to reside in any bed
whether they are receiving skilled services (rehabilitation)
or long-term care services. Dual-certification creates
consistency with care as the resident’s level of care
changes.

The LTC/SNF unit has registered nurse (RN)
coverage at all times. Physician coverage is provided to
MVH-Caribou residents 24-hours per day seven days per
week. Certified nursing assistants are considered primary
caregivers providing assistance with activities of daily
living such as personal grooming, bathing or dressing to
the same residents for weeks at a time.

When recovering from a significant illness or
surgery, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, utilizing a
residents Medicare, can bridge the gap between hospital
and home. An individualized plan of care is initiated to
help regain independence. SNF services include, but
are not limited to; IV medications and hydration, wound
care, surgical aftercare, physical and occupational therapy
(PT/OT), speech-language pathologist (SLP), pain
management, and medical monitoring. Comprehensive
discharge planning is provided for residents that are able
to return home. This may include home assessments,
equipment recommendations and home health services.
34 Maine Veterans' Homes FALL 2010

End of life care is provided for terminally ill residents to
provide them with comfort in their final days. MVHCaribou partners with the Maine Hospice Council and
the Hospice Veterans Partnerships of Maine to ensure
that excellent end of life care is available for veterans and
their families.

Certified activity staff is always bu