Camden District Nursing is a nonprofit organization serving residents of Camden, Lockport, Hope, and Lincolnville, offering a variety of home health care services.
CAMDEN, Maine — In an era of commercial health insurance, soaring medical costs and hospital budget crises, more than 100 seniors in Camden and several surrounding towns still have access to regular and affordable health care in their homes. I am.
This is essentially the care Camden District Nursing has been providing for 104 years.
For the past 15 years, that care has been provided by nurse Judy Lyson.
Judy, who started her career as a nurse in London, said: 'We give them what they need to stay at home and age well, which is not provided by the health system. No,” he said.
Camden District Nursing is a nonprofit organization serving residents of Camden, Lockport, Hope, and Lincolnville that provides a variety of home health care services, including tracking vital signs, dispensing medications, and assisting the bedridden. I am.
Lydon currently serves 115 patients, many on a weekly basis, with the goal of keeping patients at home for as long as possible and not requiring nursing home care. He said he is doing so.
Virginia, who asked that her last name not be used, is one of the regular visitors from nurse Judy. She said these visits have become an essential part of her care in an era when many doctors come and go in the area.
“It's a frustrating system. It's not a good system. Individual doctors may be good, but there's no continuity,” Virginia said, sitting at her dining room table after a nurse's visit. Continuity is very Judy. She knows what's going on each week. “
She said the continuity of care was very reassuring and was entirely a result of the Camden District Nursing Visit.
The visits are regular, so patients can trust the nurse's presence, Judy explained.
The visits are not covered by health insurance or Medicare, but the Camden District Nursing Office said patients don't mind because the fees are so affordable.
“If you can afford it, it's $30 per visit,” Judy said. “If not, we’ll bring it down to something manageable.”
As these fees do not cover all of the costs of providing our services, Camden District Nursing Association is fundraising and receives donations from charities and community groups as well as the towns we serve. We are looking for Each year, board chairwoman Nancy Dowling sends out a fundraising letter to every resident in one of the four towns. They also use funds from bequests given to the organization by the families of loved ones who have benefited from their care.
Budgets have always been tight, but Dowling said he hopes to be able to hire a second nurse and expand in 2025. That person might be able to give Judy Lydon the occasional day off, which she rarely gets these days. She may also be able to dedicate her time to a fundraiser where she speaks passionately about the importance of the care she provides.
The service is a model that only a few other communities in Maine have adopted. The communities of Rockland and Boothbay/Boothbay Harbor also have district nursing organizations that help care for people at home.
Ms Dowling said she thought other places could follow their example and offer similar services. That's because the type of support they provide is essential to many older Mainers.
“It's more important than ever, especially these days. I think it's not just demographics. It's very difficult to navigate the entire system, but nurses and office administrators can help navigate the system as needed. I know you're helping me gate.''I don't know what to do or where to go. ”
