On North Haven Island, home is not just a location. It is a way of life. And for many residents, staying at home is non-negotiable.
North Haven Island sits 12 miles off the coast of Maine and is reached by a one-hour ferry ride. It’s close enough to the mainland to see, but far enough that access to healthcare can feel out of reach.
Many residents – like Angela and her mother Jane – have lived here their whole lives.
Angela lives around the corner from her mother. Her father started a construction business which she and her family still run today. Five years ago, when Angela’s mom was diagnosed with dementia, Angela knew she didn’t want to leave her home, but figuring out how they would access care was a concern.
Jane’s condition has progressed in recent years. She can no longer walk and needs round-the-clock care. With the help of 24-hour in-home caregivers and hospice support from Beacon Hospice-Bangor, an Amedisys Company, she is able to remain in the home she has always known.
“I feel very lucky,” Angela said. “On an island like this, you don’t expect care to come to you. The fact that my mom doesn’t have to leave home is huge.”
When Hospice Entered the Conversation
As Jane’s health and needs continued to change, hospice care became part of the conversation in a way that felt natural and community driven.
Angela first learned about hospice through one of her mother’s caregivers, who mentioned that a clinician named Miles was providing hospice care on the island.
That connection made all the difference. 
“It helped knowing someone was already making the trip,” Angela said. “It didn’t feel impossible.”
Jane has now been on hospice service for nearly two years. Each week, Miles Rogals, RN Case Manager, travels by ferry to North Haven Island to provide consistent care and support.
“I pick him up at the boat,” Angela said. “That’s just part of our routine now.”
Care that Supports the Whole Family
For Angela, hospice care means much more than clinical support for her mother. It is a steady source of guidance and reassurance for her as a caregiver.
“Miles supports me just as much,” she said. “He helps me talk through things, grief, worries, all of it. I can say anything to him.”
The weekly visits are something Angela looks forward to.
“He’s easy to talk to. He’s comforting. He always has good information. I really look forward to him coming,” she said.
That sense of trust extends to her mother as well. She understands why Miles is there and enjoys his visits.
“She knows who he is,” Angela said. “She likes him. That matters.”
Staying Home on the Island
For many North Haven residents, leaving the island later in life is not an option they want to consider. The island’s older population is made up largely of lifelong residents who want to remain in their homes and stay connected to their community.
No one wants to leave,” Angela said. “People want to stay where they’ve lived their whole lives.”
Having hospice services available on the island makes that possible.
“It allows people to stay home,” Angela said. “That’s huge for this community.”
Angela knows how meaningful that access is, and she now encourages her neighbors to consider hospice care when the time comes.
“I’ve suggested it to others,” she said. “It’s been such a comfort for us.”
Clearing Up Misconceptions
Like many families, Angela admits she had misconceptions about hospice before her mother began receiving care.
“One of my first questions was, ‘What if she doesn’t die in six months?’” Angela said.
She was quickly reassured when she learned that hospice care is based on what someone needs, not a fixed timeline.
“A lot of people think hospice means someone will be gone in a week,” she said. “That’s just not true.”
For Angela, hospice is about her mom living as fully and comfortably as possible, with support along the way.
Peace of Mind for What’s Ahead
Today, Angela finds comfort in knowing she is not navigating this journey alone.
“I know the day is going to come,” she said. “But I won’t be alone when it does.”
She describes Miles as her safety net, someone who will be there to guide both her and her mother through the hardest moments.
“He’ll tell me what to do. He’ll help me through the end days,” she said. “That gives me such peace of mind.”
Delivering Care Differently
On an island where access can be limited and distances feel greater, hospice care has brought something invaluable to Angela’s family: the ability to stay home, stay together and face what lies ahead with support and confidence.
By delivering care directly in the home, even in remote locations, hospice services help avoid unnecessary transitions to facility-based care, improve the experience for patients and caregivers, and support a more sustainable model of care.
“It’s a blessing,” Angela said.
