AUGUSTA - Rep. Michele Meyer, D-Eliot, delivered the keynote address at the Excellence in Long-Term Care Awards Luncheon on Nov. 9. The event, hosted by the Maine Health Care Association in partnership with the Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, honored 14 caregivers for their dedication and performance. Among the honorees was Durgin Pines MDS Coordinator Kathryn Derosiers, who was recognized for her clinical expertise and dedication to her residents.
"Those of you being honored today represent so many of the important roles that exist across the delivery of care in Maine," said Meyer. "We celebrate nurses, direct care and essential support workers, social workers, dietary specialists and those providing spiritual care. Each of you deliver the highest quality work, maintaining the dignity of those you serve with respect, adaptability, intentionality and compassion."
The demands of caregiving can take a toll emotionally, physically and financially on caregivers, often leading to burnout. To help alleviate some of these pressures, the Legislature has made significant investments in long-term care in recent years, including $20 million this year in additional funding to nursing and residential facilities.
"The Legislature and the Mills administration are aware of the deep and ongoing financial stressors our long-term care industry is experiencing," said Meyer. "We recognize the critical services provided to Maine people, and we are committed to working with the industry to address recruitment and retention along with the costs of providing care, which remains affected by the impact of the pandemic as well as inflation."
In her work in the Legislature, Meyer has been a staunch advocate for patients and caregivers and was recently honored by the Maine Council on Aging with their Legislator of the Year Award. This session, she also introduced a bill to provide an education benefit to health care workers to encourage recruitment and retention. The bill awaits further action when the Legislature reconvenes in January.
Rep. Meyer is the House chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and is serving her third term in the Maine House. She represents District 150, which includes Eliot and parts of Kittery and South Berwick.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Meyer], c. 305-965-2744
Photo: Rep. Meyer (second from right) joins the recipients of the Excellence in Long-Term Care Award.