In: Caregiving, Community, News, Resources

Calm | Calm Together Free meditations, sleep stories, movement exercises, journals, and music.

Centers for Disease Control | Stress and Coping Includes suggestions for parents, people at higher risk for serious illness, people coming out of quarantine, and first responders.

Child Mind Institute | Supporting Families During COVID-19 Topics include supporting children with autism, remote learning, managing anxiety, discipline and behavior, and dealing with loss.

Fred Rogers Center | Support for Helpers During Coronavirus Talking with children about coronavirus, caring for children and yourself, learning with children through play and digital media.

FrontLine WarmLine A new volunteer phone support service for Maine’s first responders and health care workers. Available from 8 am to 8 pm, 7 days a week by calling (207) 221-8196 or 866-367-4440.

G.E.A.R. Parent Network | Parents of youth with behavioral health needs are invited to visit the website or call 1-800-264-9224 for emotional support, resources and referrals, and educational workshops via webinar.

Good Therapy | Psychology, Therapy, and Mental Health Podcasts Suggestions for podcasts on mental health topics to stream during coronavirus. (For more recommended listening, visit Tom of Podcasts.)

Heart Mob | Online Harrassment Resources Being harassed online is never ok, and HeartMob is here to support you in anyway we can. On this page you’ll find links to our guides, information on supportive organizations, and other helpful resources.

NAMI Maine | NAMI Maine’s Response to COVID-19 Info about NAMI Maine’s programs including helplines and support groups, as well as mental health tips. |LGBTQ Resources A collected list of local and national LGBTQ resources. | Teen Text Support Line A peer support text line for youths 12-20 years old available daily 12pm – 10 pm by texting (207) 515-8398.

National Child Traumatic Stress Network | Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with COVID-19 [pdf] Tips on preparing your family and reducing risk, coping with stress, helping children cope by age group, and seeking additional help.

Psych Central | Coping with Coronavirus: Your Anxiety and Mental Health Links to articles, services, podcasts and videos on how to keep mentally and emotionally healthy. Psych Central also hosts a weekly “Coping with Coronavirus” livestream on their Facebook channel every Friday from 1-2 pm.

Suicide Prevention Lifeline | Emotional Well-being During the COVID-19 Outbreak Coping tips, helpful resources, and info about lifeline crisis centers.

University of California, SF | Emotional Well-Being and Coping During COVID-19 Includes resources for dealing with grief, maintaining sleep and physical activity, and stress reduction.

 

In: Caregiving, Community, News

Are you looking for ways to help your neighbors during the COVID-19 outbreak?

The Commons at Central Hall is currently enlisting volunteers for their Community Pulling Together and Calling for the Common Good programs.

  • Community Pulling Together is focusing its efforts to keep higher risk individuals (over age 60! Or anyone with pre-existing illnesses) home safe and out of the stores by taking grocery orders, and having volunteers do the shopping and deliver to their doors.
  • Calling for the Common Good is a telephone outreach program to check in on our neighbors to make sure they are okay and share a few connected, perhaps lighter moments in this dark time.  Anyone with a heart and a phone can do this!

Call or text: 207-343-3018 or email: jmorse@centralhallcommons.org to get involved!

Helping Hands with Heart is working with the Commons at Central Hall, Eastern Area Agency on Aging, Maine Highlands Investment Partnership, Piscataquis Regional Food Center, and United Way of Eastern Maine to recruit volunteers in our community to assist those in need.

To sign up:

United Way also suggests other ways to support our community, including directing people to 211 Maine for information, donating needed items, calling friends and family, and contributing to the Eastern Maine COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

Most importantly, remember to take care of yourself!

Educate Maine is working with teachers and educators to distribute books to students in all 16 counties with their 2,020 Maine Books Challenge. You can help by purchasing an online gift card to one of Maine’s independent bookstores.

AARP is organizing a Virtual Call Center to help address isolation and loneliness.

From AARP:

Isolation and loneliness have always been a concern, particularly for older adults. As we deal with the COVID-19 coronavirus, the problem is more widespread and serious today.  You can help!  AARP has created a new Virtual Call Center that people can call to hear a kind voice and have a friendly chat. 

If you’d like to be part of the effort to respond to these calls, from the comfort of your home, please complete this simple interest form.   

Here’s a description of the opportunity.  We plan to use technology to forward calls to whatever phone you designate during the time you will be available to help with this effort.  Training will also be provided before you are asked to respond to calls. Interested volunteers need to have:

  • Access to a computer with an internet connection
  • A phone that can make and receive calls (unfortunately, reimbursement for long-distance calls or phone service is not available at this time)
  • Basic ability with technology 

Thanks for your consideration! If you have any questions, please email: volunteer@aarp.org.

In: Book Group, Caregiving, Community, Events

Pine Tree Hospice’s Caregiver and Bereavement Book Club will discuss Mitch Albom’s The Time Keeper on Thursday, March 19 at 3:30 pm. This wonderful small book encourages the reader to stop marking off every minute of our lives and to live each  moment.

The Caregiver and Bereavement Book Club is geared toward those who are, or have been, caregivers, and to those who have lost a loved one, recently or in the past. You don’t have to have used Pine Tree Hospice’s services–everyone is welcome to attend.

For more information, please call Pine Tree Hospice at 207-564-4346, or visit them at 883 West Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft. Readings are available at Thompson Free Library.

In: Book Group, Caregiving, Community

Pine Tree Hospice’s Caregiver and Bereavement Book Club is a group for anyone who is or was a caregiver or who has lost a loved one, whether recently or in the past. Our readings are enjoyable and thought provoking.

Our next Book Club meeting is Thursday, February 20th, from 3:30 – 5:00pm at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft.  The reading for the month is The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd, and you can pick up your book at the library after January 23rd.   Bring your questions and thoughts, and enjoy a discussion with a fun group of people

This Book Group is the perfect place to meet new people, connect with friends and enjoy a new reading experience. Please feel free to join us even if you have not had the opportunity to read the material.  For more information, please call Pine Tree Hospice at 564-4346.

In: Book Group, Caregiving

Pine Tree Hospice’s Book Club meets on November 19th from 3:30-5:00 pm at the Thompson Free Library. Our November reading is Juan F. Thompson’s Stories I Tell Myself. This is an engrossing read by the son of Gonzo Journalist Hunter S. Thompson and is for anyone who has cared for, and lost, an important figure in their lives.

This book club is geared towards those who are or have been caregivers, and those who have lost a loved one recently or in the past. The readings center on caregiving and bereavement. You can come to one or all of the book club meetings, there are no requirements to take part!

For more information, please call Pine Tree Hospice at (207) 564-4346.