Honoring Elsie Brough

NEWBURGH – Gov. John Baldacci joined the Maine Health Care Association recently to honor the accomplishments of 37 people living in the state’s long-term care facilities, including Elsie Brough of Newburgh, a resident of Stillwater Health Care in Bangor.

MHCA presented a Certificate of Lifetime Achievement to Brough during a ceremony held in the Hall of Flags at the State House in Augusta.

The ceremony was part of a photography exhibit titled “Remember ME,” featuring the black-and-white photographs and biographies of these citizens in nursing homes and assisted living facilities statewide.

Residents are decorated war heroes, mothers, fathers and community leaders such as nurses, teachers, journalists, engineers and small business owners.

The primary purpose of the “Remember ME” project is to salute the people who have spent the best years of their lives supporting their families, building their communities and serving their state and country.

The project urges the public to remember the selfless contributions of the elderly and disabled citizens who now depend on others for their care and safety.

Elsie Brough was honored for co-founding the Hospital Chaplaincy Service of Maine with her late husband, the Rev. Allan Brough. The service has arrangements with nearly 200 long-term care facilities statewide, providing gifts and ministry to 15,000 people annually.

Hospital Chaplaincy Service has been providing comfort and cheer to Maine’s long-term care facility residents since 1960. Throughout their 64 years of marriage and service, the Broughs’ motto remained compassion in action.

Elsie Brough graduated from Hampden Academy and Gilman Business College. She worked in the treasurer’s office at the University of Maine, setting up the first bookkeeping system, which was used until the advent of computers.

She was the driving force that motivated some 4,500 HCS volunteers across the state. Several years into the program, Elsie trained as an occupational therapist to gain a better understanding of the needs of those she was serving.

Most of the comfort and therapeutic items produced and provided through HCS were designed as a direct result of her insights. Over the years, HCS has donated millions of dollars worth of commodities to residents. It currently provides 96,000 small favor-like gifts accompanied with messages from the Scriptures or poems to residents each year.

Brough’s family recently published a book of her selected poems in the hope that many people would enjoy her gentle spirit and clever wit. The oldest living resident of Newburgh, she was awarded the Boston Cane in 2004.

Hearing Expo on May 2

ORONO – The ninth annual Hearing Expo at the University of Maine offers adults free hearing screenings; all the advancements in “assisted listening devices” and other hearing aid technology; and an opportunity to have hearing aids checked and cleaned at no cost.

The expo is scheduled for 5-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, in Dunn Hall on the UM campus. The event is free, but those planning to attend must register by calling 581-2009.

Among the demonstrations will be assistive listening devices and an examination of the potential dangers of iPods. Manufacturers also are loaning the latest assistive hearing devices, including vibrating alarm clocks to be placed under a pillow, and information on amplified telephones.

Sponsored by the UM Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and staffed by graduate students in the department, the Hearing Expo celebrates Better Hearing and Speech Month in May.

The event is an evening of education, prizes and fun, said Amy Engler Booth, the department clinical audiologist and lecturer. More than 150 guests are expected to attend.

Research shows that nearly 100,000 Mainers have a hearing loss. Nationally, that number is 22 to 28 million Americans, 37 percent of whom are over age 65. What is disturbing to physicians and audiologists is that only 20 percent of those with a hearing loss use a hearing aid.

Students at the University of Maine hope the services and education offered through the annual Hearing Expo will help change that national trend.

A unique aspect of this year’s Hearing Expo is the inclusion of a demonstration of the hazardous effects of too much noise from iPods, Booth said. The Hearing Expo typically is tailored to older adults, but the iPod demonstration is expected to generate interest among parents and younger adults.

The expo is not just for those with a hearing loss, but for people who have family members or friends with hearing loss. “It is for anyone who wishes to communicate better with others,” she said.

While students assisting with Hearing Expo activities are studying to become speech language pathologists – a field closely associated with audiology – “they do a wonderful job fulfilling the role of audiologic rehabilitation specialists,” Booth said.

Accessibility and assistive technology

BANGOR – Occupational therapy students at Husson College invite the public to attend a workshop on accessibility and assistive technology.

The workshop will be held 2:30-4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 3, at Dyke Center for Family Business at Husson College.

The workshop is designed to help participants learn what accessibility tools and assistive technology can do to make daily activities, community mobility, leisure and hobby interests easier to do. There is no cost for the program.

For more information about the workshop, call Christine Hubbard at the occupational therapy department, Husson College, at 941-7045 or e-mail hubbardc@husson.edu.

Women in Recovery

The Women’s Addiction Services Council announced that the 27th annual Governor’s Silver Tea Celebrating Women in Recovery will take place 2-3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17, at the Blaine House, Augusta. The event is free and open to the public, though registration in advance is required.

The Silver Tea is held annually at the governor’s mansion during Women and Addiction Awareness Week, proclaimed each year by the governor in May to coincide with National Women’s Health Week. This year May 13-19 will be proclaimed Women and Addiction Awareness Week: Celebrating Paths to Recovery in the State of Maine.

Alcoholism and drug addiction are serious health problems facing thousands of women in Maine. Many of these women encounter multiple barriers as they try to secure treatment and recovery support. The Silver Tea honors women in recovery, who are able to overcome many of these barriers, and celebrates their success over the past months, years or decades.

This year, the organizers of the tea will honor an individual in recovery who has exemplified leadership by unselfishly making a difference in the lives of other recovering women. The Women in Recovery Leadership Award is given to a woman nominated by her peers.

The Women’s Addiction Services Council was founded to enhance service coordination for women adversely affected by alcohol and drug use. To obtain information, or to register for the Silver Tea, call Susan Nichols at 941-1612, ext. 203, or e-mail snichols@wellspringsa.org.

Health grants

Organizations seeking to improve the health and welfare of the Greater Bangor community are encouraged to apply for funding from the Maine Community Foundation’s Penobscot Valley Health Association Fund.

Tuesday, May 15, is the deadline for applying for a grant from the fund. Only nonprofit and public organizations with 501(c)(3) tax status are eligible. Application, guidelines and a list of recent grants are posted at www.mainecf.org.

The average grant size ranges from $7,000 to $10,000. Among the projects funded in 2006 was Dance with Health, a collaboration between the Community Health and Counseling Services and Hermon Elementary School for a pilot program pairing health education with a dance program for fourth-graders.

The fund’s advisory committee, which reviews proposals and awards grants, is particularly interested in supporting efforts to address the overlooked health needs of the community, especially proposals that target the physical and mental health needs of youth.

For information, visit www.mainecf.org or call toll-free (877) 700-6800.

Close to Home Campaign

BANGOR – Join Fusion 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 26, at Acadia Hospital to learn about the Close to Home Campaign, which deals with the problem of opiate addiction in Maine. Hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. For more information, visit www.fusionbangor.com or e-mail events@fusionbangor.com.

Fusion Social with Substance offers a networking opportunity with a little bit of substance. The group meets the third Thursday of nearly every month to mix and mingle while learning about an organization, program or initiative important to the Fusion demographic.

Next month’s Fusion Social with Substance is scheduled for Thursday, May 17, at Ames A/E.

Ibot demonstration

BANGOR – The Physical Disabilities Support Group has been moved from the first Thursday to the second Thursday for May only.

The group will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at Alpha One, 1048 Union St.

The Ibot and the standing frame will be demonstrated.