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SOCIAL SERVICES
There are several agencies in Carroll County dedicated to serving the needs of particular groups in the community, for example, seniors, those with physical or mental disabilities, etc. Some of these agencies are private, non-profit, supported by state and federal funds, while others are privately funded. A 24-hour referral service, Helpline, is able to assist and refer people in need of services to the appropriate social service agency.
For seniors, the Gibson Center for Senior Services provides a variety of programs for seniors including congregate meals, exercise and recreational programs. Other senior services include the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), AARP, Meals on Wheels, Servicelink, and the Elders Program of the Center of Hope for those with developmental disabilities.
The Center of Hope provides services for developmentally disabled adults, as well as the Family Support Program in North Conway. Mental health services are provided by Carroll County Mental Health, while Starting Point offers aid in cases of domestic and sexual violence. Families Matter of Carroll County provides family assistance, parenting information, playgroups and child care referrals.
In addition to the public schools, the preschools in the area include the Bartlett Community Preschool, the Lilliputian School, North Conway Day Care Center, Children Unlimited, Cornerstone Kids, Mountain View Montessori School, Conway Head Start, and Heartside Child Care. In addition to their school programs, Tin Mountain Conservation Center offers summer environmental education camps. Mountain Top Music Center provides music education for all ages throughout the year. There is also an adult tutorial program.
Food pantries are run by the Vaughn Community Services and the Glen Baptist Church. Employment assistance can be obtained from New Hampshire Works, and the New Hampshire Welfare Department. Legal assistance is provided by Carroll County Mediation Program and the lawyer referral service of the NH Bar Association.
HEALTH SERVICES
Memorial Hospital, a non-profit community hospital, is located in North Conway. The original buildings were constructed in 1910, and are presently used for physician and hospital administration offices. The present hospital building was constructed in 1976 and houses medical-surgical, maternity, and intensive care units. Another expansion in 1992 added new space for the Merriman House nursing home, and additional physician offices. Renovation and construction in 2001 enlarged the emergency facility to 8000 sq. ft. A new chemotherapy center and an expanded cardiac rehabilitation and cardiac stress center was completed in 2002.
Diagnostic equipment in the hospital includes x-ray, ultra sound, nuclear medicine, respiratory, a CT scanner and a portable MRI unit that is available three days per week. The entire radiology department is now computerized with data electronically stored, which allows diagnostic test results to be sent to teaching centers on-line for evaluation on emergency cases or complex treatment plans. The hospital also provides physical therapy, a laboratory, and a pharmacy.
The hospital has 35 acute care beds and had a staff of 19 board certified physicians in the following specialties: Family Medicine (5), General Surgery (2), Orthopedic Surgery (3), Obstetrics-Gynecology (2), Internal Medicine (2), Pathology (1), Radiology (1), Pediatrics (1), and Psychiatry (1). Eleven physicians serve on the consulting staff and six additional physicians serve on the courtesy staff representing specialties in anesthesiology, cardiology, dermatology, neurology, ophthalmology, urology and urologic surgery. One oral surgeon and a podiatrist serve on the active allied staff.
The Visiting Nurse Services and Hospice of Northern Carroll County, located in North Conway, provides care to home-bound patients including nursing, home health care, physical and speech therapy, and hospice care.
There are five nursing homes in the region: the Merriman House located at the hospital, SunBridge in Conway, Fryeburg Health Care Center, Mountain View Nursing Home in Ossipee, and Golden View Health Care Center in Meredith.
Other hospitals in the area include Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro, North Cumberland Hospital in Bridgton, Maine, Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, Elliott Hospital in Manchester, and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover.
Family dental care is provided by several well-established dental practices. Also available are doctors who specialize in oral and maxiliofacial surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, and endodontics.
Ambulance service is provided by the Bartlett-Jackson Rescue Service, North Conway Ambulance, Inc., Conway Rescue Service, and Lord Ambulance Service.
VA medical assistance for veterans can be obtained from the Saco River Medical Group.
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