Care Team
Who Provides Care at the Aroostook H
Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, a local Medicare-certified agency, administers hands-on hospice care. The Aroostook House of Comfort and Northern Light Home Care & Hospice collaborate to provide individuals and their loved ones with compassionate care, comfort, dignity, and support on their journey through hospice.
Hospice Circle of Care
This hospice care team surrounds the patient and family with a “circle of care” that includes a hospice physician, nurses, social workers, healthcare aides, a spiritual care coordinator, a bereavement support counselor, and trained volunteers, as well as a primary care physician or specialist. This approach ensures the decision-making process includes the patient and family, allowing greater control over their care.
Consults with other physicians and leads the hospice team in the development of an individualized plan of care.
Evaluate patient and family needs, ensure symptom control and pain management, and provide care tailored to the patient's specific needs. They also coordinate care with the attending physician and facility staff.
Deliver direct personal care to the patient and report specific needs to the care manager. They are also available to offer emotional support to the patient and family.
Provide companionship and non-medical assistance to the patient and family, such as food preparation and emotional support.
Certifies terminal prognosis, prescribes treatment, directs and approves the patient's plan of care, and coordinates with the hospice team as needed.
Evaluate patients’ and families' emotional, social, and financial needs. They can also provide direct counseling or referrals to appropriate local agencies.
Some therapies, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy, can be offered where needed.
Meet the Hospice Care Team
The people who offer a hand to hold and a heart to understand
Gail Phair-Kirk
Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, Hospice Manager
Gail Phair-Kirk, MSW, LSW
Gail Phair-Kirk, MSW, LSW, was born and raised in Aroostook County and currently resides in Caribou. She obtained her Associate's degree in Business Administration in 1996 from Northern Maine Community College, her Bachelor of Social Work degree in 2003 from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, and her Master of Social Work degree in 2006 from the University of New England. Catholic Charities Maine employed Gail from 1989 to 2003, and during these 14 years, she found her passion in working with the elderly, sick, and disabled. In May of 2003, Gail was offered a full-time social worker position at Visiting Nurses of Aroostook and a year later became the hospice manager. Her years of traveling in Aroostook and working with hospice patients and their families have given her extensive experience in resource management and availability in rural areas, long-term care planning, end-of-life discussions, and awareness of complicated grief. When the Aroostook House of Comfort opened in 2018, this allowed her to be more mindful of what patients and families go through during a patient’s final days. She enjoys working with a phenomenal group of dedicated hospice staff and finds it is a privilege to be a part of their journeys.
Robin Haynes
Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, Clinical Team Assistant
Robin Haynes
Robin Haynes, Volunteer Coordinator, Aroostook – Grew up on a small farm in Wade, Maine. She was first introduced to Hospice when her grandfather chose to live out his final days at home and end medical treatment. The Hospice philosophy of care resonated deeply with Robin, leading her to advocate for and work in the field. Robin first worked as a Certified Nurses Aide then Home Health Aide before eventually accepting the Volunteer Manager Position in 1996. The Hospice Volunteer group is full of some of the most incredible people that she has had the honor of working with. Outside of work, Robin finds joy in time with family, fishing, boating, picnic trips, pulling antique tractors and tending to her backyard honeybees.
George McLaughlin
Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, Hospice Chaplain/Spiritual Counselor
George McLaughlin
George McLaughlin is the Hospice Chaplain/Spiritual Counselor at the Aroostook House of Comfort for Northern Light Home Care & Hospice. He was born and raised in the Greater Boston area and graduated from Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School. George later obtained a Bachelor of Theology Degree from Berkshire Christian College in Lenox, Massachusetts. He also received his certification as a Physical Therapy Aide while living in Southern California and working at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. George returned to New England in 1983 to serve as pastor at the Dunntown Advent Christian Church of Wade, Maine, where he served for 34 years. He began working for Visiting Nurses of Aroostook as a per diem Chaplain in 1995, continuing until 2017 when he began working full-time as Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator for Northern Light Home Care & Hospice. Providing spiritual support to our patients and their families is a priority, as well as grief and bereavement support for the families for 13 months following the death of their loved one.
HOSPICE CARE
Compassion & Guidance
Accommodations
The Aroostook House of Comfort provides peace and tranquility in a home-like setting. Amenities include a private patient suite, access to a living room, kitchen, playroom, chapel, outdoor seating, gardens, and gazebo.
Care Team
Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, a local Medicare-certified agency, provides hands-on hospice care. Together with the Aroostook House of Comfort, we offer compassionate support to individuals and loved ones.
Our Foundation
The Aroostook Hospice Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Their mission is to raise awareness of hospice care, secure charitable care funds, and ensure the long-term existence of the Aroostook House of Comfort.
TESTIMONIALS
What People Say About Us
“Once Jim was admitted to the Aroostook House of Comfort, we both felt like a huge weight had literally been lifted off our shoulders. These angels on earth efficiently, compassionately, and lovingly allowed me to be Jim's wife rather than his primary caregiver. The doctors, nurses, aides, and volunteers took care of both of us. They also understood the importance of visitors, family, friends, and even our Golden Retriever Teddy. We were all treated with dignity and allowed to say goodbye as we lost Jim. There was no judgment, and I now think of many of the staff as friends. I have many stories to tell, but suffice it to say that I will forever be indebted to the Aroostook House of Comfort.”
Rosalie Dwyer
“We have a great appreciation for the staff, service, and care provided to our father and our entire family during his stay at the Aroostook House of Comfort. They were easy to work with and took care of every detail so that we could spend our father's final days together as a family. The AHOC staff is kind, compassionate, and cared for our father and all of us with dignity and respect. AHOC provided care for our family well beyond the passing of our father. We cannot thank them enough for what they did for us.”
Jeff Clockedile
