Quarry Hill

CAMDEN, JULY 22, 2010  — Legendary American writer and humorist Mark Twain will come to life for one magical afternoon this summer, when actor Richard Clark presents “And Now….Mark Twain” on Thursday, August 12, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm at Camden Public Library. The event is the next in Quarry Hill’s Adventures in Living Well series for adults age 55 and better and will be cosponsored by the library.

Clark’s solo portrayals of the famous and the fallen, including writer Ernest Hemingway and thespian John Barrymore, have brought rave reviews and earned the Boston area–based actor a devoted local following. For August, he promises a performance full of the wit, wisdom, and storytelling genius that made Mark Twain an American treasure.

Admission is free and includes light refreshments. Reservations are required; to register, call Quarry Hill at 230-6114.

Following the July program, the summer/fall 2010 Adventures lineup will continue with:“The Art of Maine,” presented by art historian Stephen May, Wednesday, September 1, 10:30 am to 12 noon at Quarry Hill; “Diabetes: How to Manage It, How to Avoid It,” with Eileen Molloy of Pen Bay Healthcare’s Diabetes &Nutrition Care Center, Wednesday, October 20, 1:00 to 2:30 pm at the Camden Public Library (cosponsored by the library); “The Art and Science of Sleep,” presented by Cindy Roth, lead sleep technician for Pen Bay Healthcare’s Center for Sleep Medicine, Wednesday, November 17, 10:30 am to 12 noon at Quarry Hill; and “The Gift of You: Discovering Your Legacy,” with author and motivational speaker Lee Ann Szelog, Friday, December 10, 10:30 am to 12 noon at Quarry Hill (snow date:Wednesday, December 15).

CAMDEN, ME, JULY 22, 2010—Technologies recently introduced at the Gardens, Quarry Hill Retirement Community’s 39-bed short- and long-term nursing care center in Camden, are making patients’ and residents’ day-to-day lives more comfortable, streamlining care, and improving outcomes.

Commenting on the developments, Quarry Hill director of nursing Nancy Marcille, RN, BSHA, pointed to a range of enhancements that includes new patient lifts and improved diagnostics as well as expanded  wireless connectivity to the Internet.

Patient lifts

A new system of portable motors and ceiling tracks helps individuals with mobility challenges get out of bed and navigate hallways more safely and independently, Marcille said. Part of the Safe Patient- and Family-Centered Care initiative underway throughout Quarry Hill’s parent organization Pen Bay Healthcare, the system promotes dignity, speeds recovery, and reduces the risk of injury for patients, residents, and staff. Ultimately, the director reported, Quarry Hill expects to offer the system in all Gardens rooms.

On-site diagnostics

Marcille said that diagnostic equipment newly installed at Quarry Hill has meant fewer unnecessary trips to the hospital. She said EKGs, which measure electrical impulses in the heart, can now be performed at the Gardens under physicians’ orders, thus eliminating a hospital visit. What’s more, she added, the results often allow doctors to rule out conditions that would require a lengthier inpatient stay.

Another new tool, the ultrasound bladder scanner, allows specially trained nurses to measure the amount of urine in a person’s bladder and, if necessary, take steps to relieve retention. Marcille said retention can lead to urinary tract infections, which can be particularly dangerous for frail or elderly patients. Catheterization, previously used to prevent retention, is uncomfortable and can itself lead to infection, she explained.

Wireless access

Wireless web access, now available throughout the Gardens, not only enhances patients’  and residents’ day-to-day lives, said Marcille, but has surprising therapeutic benefits as well.

“Today, more and more of the people we serve are web-savvy,” the director commented. “We’ve found that those who stay connected to friends, family, and the larger world tend to be happier and recover more quickly.”

The Gardens at Quarry Hill provides 24-hour licensed nursing care in a home-like setting. Last fall, it became the only center of its kind in Maine to offer patients and residents the services of an on-site senior services physician.

In addition to nursing care, Quarry Hill Retirement Community features independent  living and traditional assisted living, plus secure assisted living for those with memory impairment, creating a continuum designed to meet the needs of residents as they age. The community is a member of the nonprofit Pen Bay Healthcare family of services.

CAMDEN, ME, JULY 2, 2010—Quarry Hill Retirement Community in Camden has promoted Nina Cunningham, RN, of Tenants Harbor to the position of Assisted Living Manager. In her new role, she oversees the community’s traditional and memory-impairment assisted living centers, with responsibility for staff supervision, documentation, and quality of care for approximately 84 residents.

Cunningham headed Quarry Hill’s acclaimed 24-bed Courtyard program, tailored to the needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, from its inception in 2002 until her appointment to the new post. She began her nursing career as an aide at the former Camden Health Care Center while still a student at the University of Maine at Augusta School of Nursing. After completing her degree, the Prospect, Conn., native worked as a team leader on a medical/surgical unit at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth and as a public health nurse in Belfast. She became a case manager for the Central Area Agency on Aging before returning to Camden Health Care Center as a charge nurse in 1990.

“I’m impressed with the quality of our nurses and nursing assistants and am excited about supporting them in their commitment to patient- and family-centered care,” Cunningham said.

Quarry Hill director of Nursing Nancy Marcille, RNC, BSHA, commented: “Nina has been pivotal in maintaining excellence in residential dementia care, team building, and supporting families. Her years of experience and genuine love of residents will bring continuity, quality standards, and professional guidance to both arms of our assisted living program.”

CAMDEN, JUNE 10, 2010  — How does Quarry Hill director of nursing Nancy Marcille, RN, BSHA, describe the approximately 75 certified nursing assistants (CNAs) who care for residents and patients at the Camden retirement community?

“They’re worth their weight in gold,” said Marcille at the start of a week of activities planned in celebration of Certified Nursing Assistant Appreciation Week, June 10–17.

Marcille praised the dedication of Quarry Hill’s CNAs. She noted that while the annual turnover rate for nursing assistants at long-term care centers nationwide typically falls between 60 and 90 percent, the rate at Quarry Hill as of March 2010 was just over 10 percent. “And some of that attrition reflects CNAs going on to become registered nurses or other healthcare professionals,” she explained.

“CNAs are the foundation of senior care,” Marcille said. “They’re the people who are at the bedside, ready to help, to listen, to fill in for family when family can’t be there, to share news from the larger community. They’re the eyes and ears of our professional nursing staff, helping us pick up on subtle changes related to each person’s well-being.”

“Residents’ faces light up when a CNA comes through the door,” she added.

Plans for CNA Appreciation Week at Quarry Hill include an ice cream social and outdoor barbecue.

Camden, ME— Quarry Hill Retirement Community was voted The Best Retirement Home in Knox County for the seventh consecutive year as part of Village Soup’s annual Best of Knox County Area Poll.  The award categories consisted of people, places, businesses, stores, restaurants, and services, among others.

 Quarry Hill is honored to have been elected number one in our respective category and greatly appreciate the continued support of our neighboring businesses and community members.

Quarry Hill is a member of the Pen Bay Healthcare family of services, which also includes Pen Bay Physicians & Associates, Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care and Hospice, Penobscot Bay Medical Center, and the Knox Center for Long Term Care. Through these organizations, more than 1,700 healthcare professionals and more than 100 outstanding physicians care for the people of Midcoast Maine with services that begin at birth and continue throughout their lives. For more information, visit www.penbayhealthcare.org.

 For more information about Quarry Hill or to arrange for a visit (available Monday through Friday during normal business hours), please call 230-6116 or visit www.quarryhill.org.

May 21, 2010. Camden, ME—The area’s Parkinson’s Disease Support Group promises continued fellowship and learning through summer 2010, with a series of monthly meetings beginning June 1.

The group meets regularly on the first Tuesday of each month, from 12 noon to 1:45 p.m., at the Anderson Inn at Quarry Hill Retirement Community in Camden. Participation is free and open to all those living with Parkinson’s, as well as their family members, friends, and caregivers. Except where otherwise indicated, attendees are encouraged to bring bag lunches; Quarry Hill provides beverages and desserts. The dates and topics of upcoming meetings are as follows:

·         June 1: JointWise®

Pauline Wilder, RN, MSN, AHN-BC, will discuss JointWise®, a holistic mind–body aquatic exercise and education program offered at Lily Pond Aquatic Therapies in Rockport. The program is designed for people with chronic pain, inflamed joints, fatigue, and restricted range of motion due to disease, injury, or post-surgical treatment.

·         July 6: Indoor Picnic

Instead of following its usual format, the group will hold its sixth annual indoor barbecue picnic. For $3 per person (payable at the door), Quarry Hill will supply hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, and condiments, with members contributing side dishes, desserts, and beverages. To sign up, please call Quarry Hill health services coordinator Suzanne Miller at 230-6224 by Friday, July 2.

• August 3: Driving

Occupational therapist Susie Kelley, OTR/L, of New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland will discuss professional driving evaluations, resources available to improve driving skills, the role of healthcare providers in determining when it’s time to stop driving, and more.

• September 7: Anniversary Celebration

In honor of the group’s sixth anniversary, participants will enjoy a special showing of Easing the Burden, a recent MPBN documentary concerning resources for people with Parkinson’s disease. Support group members participated in the making of the documentary.