Hospice volunteer training
BANGOR, Maine — Beacon Hospice will offer its seven-week volunteer training July 8, 15, 22, 29, and Aug. 5, 12 and 19, at the Beacon Hospice office, 289 State St. The free training will prepare volunteers to support patients and their families. Led by the volunteer coordinator, a team of registered nurse case managers, licensed clinical social workers, clergy and bereavement specialists, the training will provide the informational tools needed to provide compassionate support for hospice patients and their families.
During the training, volunteers will learn the history and philosophy of hospice, medical issues at the end of life including pain and symptom management, communication, family dynamics, grief, loss and spiritual care.
For information, call Roanne Austin, volunteer coordinator at 942-2920. We do recommend that surviving family members and caregivers wait at least one year following a loved one’s death to serve as a direct patient care volunteer, Austin said.
Falls Risk Assessment
BANGOR, Maine — A Falls Risk Assessment event, sponsored by the Eastern Area Agency on Aging will be held 9-11 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, at EAAA, 1129 Union St. Specially trained staff will determine how likely participants are to fall and provide advice and tips to avoid falling. There will be a short interview and a reach test, vision test and simple mobility test. Participants will receive a personalized report which will describe balance related deficiencies and suggest ways to improve.
For information, call Gateway Seniors, 889-3031.
Medical collaboration
BREWER — Eastern Maine Medical Center Cancer Care announced that it is working with The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine to conduct a clinical observation study of the JAX Cancer Treatment Profile for solid-tumor patients without standard treatment options.
Patients eligible for the trial will have their tumors’ DNA profile analyzed in the clinical diagnostics laboratory at JAX GM. Based on DNA sequencing data and a painstaking gene curation process, a custom report will be issued by JAX GM that can be used by EMMC Cancer Care doctors and their patients in constructing a treatment plan.
For information, go to emmc.org or jax.org.
Safety Grade
BANGOR — Eastern Maine Medical Center announced that it recently earned its seventh consecutive Hospital Safety Score “A” rating from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national organization that helps community members make informed decisions about hospital safety.
EMMC is one of only 11 hospitals in Maine to score an A and one of only seven hospitals in Maine to never receive a rank below an A.