The impact of the closure of several local long term care facilities continues to reverberate around our coastal community. The ramifications of fewer nursing home beds for our elders in the Knox County area are significant.  Many patients in the hospital and in rehabilitation or assisted living facilities who need long-term care cannot find a bed in the area, and are faced with the unpleasant reality of having to move a significant distance away.  Read a recent Pen Bay Healthcare Press Release.

These patients are our friends, neighbors and loved ones -- and PBH is striving to meet the challenge as creatively and sufficiently as possible.  Our hospital discharge planners, Long Term Care social workers and dedicated nursing staff make every effort to find the most appropriate placement for each patient.  Our administrative and financial departments are constantly reviewing and analyzing what steps our organization can take to bridge the gap.

The Department of Health and Human Services has placed a moratorium on approval of new nursing home beds in the state, making it impossible at this time for the PBH long term care facilities or any other local facility to increase their capacity. This state of affairs may continue for the next several years.  If you or anyone you know is experiencing difficulty and frustration with the lack of nursing home beds available in our local area, please contact DHHS and your state legislator and let them know how this shortage is affecting our community (contact information is below).

If you would like to add information to this page, please email webmaster@penbayhealthcare.org

To view a list of Midcoast state legislators, click here.
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Knox Center for Long-Term Care
6 White St.,
Rockland, Maine 04841
(207) 594-6800
Online: knoxcenter.org
Email: infoknoxcenter@penbayhealthcare.org

Quarry Hill Retirement Community
30 Community Drive (off Route 1)
Camden, Maine 04843
(207) 230-6100
Online: quarryhill.org
Email: qhinfo@penbayhealthcare.org

Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care and Hospice
170 Pleasant Street
Rckland, Maine 04847
(207) 594-9561
Online: kno-wal-lin.org
Email: bmoran@penbayhealthcare.org
Click for an online information sheet.

Alzheimer’s Support Groups
For those coping with a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
disease. 3rd Tuesday of every month, 3-4 p.m., Canteen Conference Room, Knox Center, Rockland and 1st Tuesday of every month, 6-7 p.m., Media Room, Anderson Inn at Quarry Hill, Camden. For information call Cheri Alexander, LSW, at 594-6808 or 230-6237 or e-mail calexander@penbayhealthcare.org. Free.

Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Elder Affairs
11 State House Station
442 Civic Center Drive
Augusta, ME 04333
Online: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/beas/
Phone:  1-800-262-2232

Updated: 8/18/08