Director of Island Health Sharon Daley, RN is a leader in finding best ways to enable aging Maine islanders to live in their homes, communities. Maine Seacoast Mission was a cosponsor of this 2016 Aging on Islands Conference.
In this 38-minute presentation, you will hear Director Sharon Daley and colleagues give the conference audience their Perspective from the Islands. This work, panel Moderator Wendy Wolf reminds the audience, is “work” these professionals do “day-to-day.”
Since 1905, we have played a vital role in connecting residents of Maine’s most isolated islands with medical care. Our Island Health Program carries on the tradition, and there is never a charge for any Mission staff member’s services.
For island residents, accessing even the most basic health care is a significant challenge. Not every island has daily ferry service, and a trip to the mainland, when possible, is expensive and time consuming.
In response, Maine Seacoast Mission offers personal care, modern technology, and educational services. Director of Island Health Sharon Daley, RN, meets with islanders on the Sunbeam V, in their homes, via phone and internet. The Sunbeam state-of-the-art telemedicine facilities offer islanders virtual office visits with mainland doctors. Telemedicine is increasingly important in connecting islanders with mental health and substance abuse counselors.
The Island Health program also arranges for medical specialists to visit the islands. Sharon sets up on-island screening clinics for conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, and arranges educational talks. Each year, Island Health sponsors a free two-day conference focusing on how to help elders from island communities age in place.
The short film below shows a day in the life of Sharon Daley as Director of Island Health.
WORKING ON THE WATER VII A gathering of local mariners sharing their experiences through stories, songs, and poetry.
Saturday, November 12 at 1:00 PM Sail, Power, and Steam Museum
75 Mechanic St, Rockland ME 04841 $5 per person, kids under 12 free
Sharon Daley, R.N., has worked as the Director of Island Health on the m/v Sunbeam for the Maine Seacoast Mission for the past 15 years. The Sunbeam travels biweekly to the islands of Frenchboro, Isle au Haut, and Matinicus, and less frequently to Cranberry Islands, Monhegan, and Eagle Island, providing a variety of services to island residents. Sharon’s work in telemedicine brings health care directly to the islands, linking residents with medical specialists via the internet. “It has been a very special job and an honor to be part of the island communities.” Sharon lives on Islesboro with her husband, Tom. They owned Quicksilver Services Water Taxi for 13 years.
Summer in a Jar: Corn Relish
September 27, 2016
From the garden, Pickles and Preserves
By Sandy Oliver
This recipe came from my island neighbor Sharon Daley, the telemedicine nurse on the Seacoast Mission vessel, the Sunbeam, who somehow squeezes canning time in between trips to Maine island communities. I had not ever made corn relish and for some reason didn’t think I would like it. Sharon handed me a spoonful and changed my mind for me. “I knew I could convert you,” she said. Full Story
BAR HARBOR — Earlier this month, Maine Hospice Council (MHC) and Center for End-of-Life Care Executive Director Kandyce Powell, RN, MSN, traveled aboard the Sunbeam with Mission Director of Island Health, Sharon Daley, RN. Kandyce’s primary MHC responsibilities include improving the quality of life for the dying and bereaved. She is a tireless advocate for the underserved, including rural Maine communities.
Kandyce Powell sent us this photo taken during her August trip with this note:
“My gratitude to Sharon Daley and the crew of the Sunbeam for the opportunity to make a trip to Eagle Island, Matinicus, and Isle au Haut. Learning about the work of the Seacoast Mission has been richly rewarding, giving additional meaning to the phrase ‘rural outreach.’ Meeting the wonderful people who live on the islands, learning of their challenges, and hearing about their appreciation for the kindness, skill, and service of the Seacoast Mission crew is very touching. There’s no doubt this treasured organization with its rich history serves an incredible need for residents of the outer islands.”
Sharon Daley said, “Having done hospice work and knowing of Kandyce’s work, it was a real pleasure and honor having her along. I have always seen similarities between the work of the Mission and hospice. It is all about caring for the whole person: physical, spiritual, and mental. And this is what I see myself and the Sunbeam crew trying to do to the best of our abilities.”
Medicine, Islands & Education #253
Friday, July 22, 2016
How do Mainers access medical care? This depends on many factors, including geographic location and the availability of providers. The diversity of geography—from urban settings to offshore islands—presents some interesting challenges. Today we speak with several individuals who are rising to this challenge: Scott Planting and Sharon Daley of the Maine Seacoast Mission, and Dr. Peter Bates and India Stewart of the Maine Medical Center – Tufts University School of Medicine Medical School Program.
