The Heron House

The Heron House Everything we do is anchored in the belief that our elders are the wisest, most valuable among us.

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02/16/2026

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Happy ❤️ Day!
02/15/2026

Happy ❤️ Day!

Today we spent two hours in thoughtful planning for the future expansion of The Heron House, the addition of The Frederi...
02/13/2026

Today we spent two hours in thoughtful planning for the future expansion of The Heron House, the addition of The Frederick House, a secure home designed for individuals living with memory impairment.

Every design decision is made with intention. We’re looking at the space as a whole and asking how the environment itself can support dignity, safety, independence, and comfort in ways that feel natural and homelike. Every conversation centered around purpose, how people will experience the home, how families will feel when they visit, and how staff can work efficiently while still creating warmth and connection.

We’re planning spaces that allow for both engagement and quiet, recognizing that meaningful living includes moments of activity as well as calm. Our common areas will include features that encourage comfort, familiarity, and normalcy, helping housemates feel grounded in everyday life.

We also spent time discussing practical elements that are often overlooked operationally. These are the behind-the-scenes details that make daily care smoother, safer, and more supportive for both housemates and staff.

The Frederick House represents more than expansion. It reflects our continued commitment to building environments that are thoughtful, purposeful, and deeply rooted in respect for the people who will call it home. We are not just creating another space. We are shaping the future of how care should feel.

The name Frederick House carries deep personal meaning. It is named in honor of my dad, who received an early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease before the age of 60. Watching someone you love navigate neurological change reshapes how you see care, dignity, independence, and what truly matters in the environments we create for people as they age. This project is not just professional for me. It is deeply personal.

Naming this home after my father is both an honor and a promise. A reminder that every decision we make is rooted in real people, real families, and real experiences. It is a way of carrying forward the love I have for him into something that will support and care for others with the same intention and respect. 🌷

Today at our early Valentine’s Day luncheon at The Heron House, Pop paused to capture the moment. It’s the small moments...
02/12/2026

Today at our early Valentine’s Day luncheon at The Heron House, Pop paused to capture the moment.

It’s the small moments like this that remind us why we do what we do. Not just meals, not just décor, but experiences that feel worth holding onto. Moments that make our housemates want to document them, to share them and to tuck them away in their memories.

We believe in creating days that feel special enough to be remembered. đź“·

Some businesses are built and some are lived.The Heron House has only been ours for four years, but the story behind wha...
02/11/2026

Some businesses are built and some are lived.

The Heron House has only been ours for four years, but the story behind what we do here and how we do it began long before that.

I grew up in our stepdad’s assisted living community in Portland. My mom ran the home and my sister and I started working there nearly twenty five years ago when we were still in high school. Those early years shaped everything and taught us that care isn’t just a job, it’s a calling rooted in dignity and connection.

Fast forward to twenty years ago and Peter was born. He would crawl around the facility while we worked, surrounded by residents who became part of our extended family. Today, he oversees HR at The Heron House, helping guide the people and culture that make this home so special. My sister truly does it all, and my mom comes in to provide meaningful one-on-one support to our housemates, still leading with the same love and purpose she always has.

Three generations, working side by side.

The Heron House may only be four years old to us, but the heart behind it has been growing for decades. And I know without a doubt that our stepdad Pa would be so proud to see where this journey has brought our family today. 🤍

Born in Newton, Massachusetts, Michael was the son of Mary Ann and Charles. One of three children, he grew up in Presque...
02/10/2026

Born in Newton, Massachusetts, Michael was the son of Mary Ann and Charles. One of three children, he grew up in Presque Isle, Maine, alongside his brothers, Shawn and Eddie.

Michael met and married Lucille Bouchard while attending the University of Maine. United by a shared passion for education, they spent 14 years together and raised three children: Lori, Michelle, and Mark. He was also the proud grandfather of three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Michael earned his doctorate from Syracuse University and devoted decades to teaching as a professor of education at the University of Southern Maine, specializing in early childhood literacy and earning the title of professor emeritus.

An avid traveler, Michael spent extensive time in Europe and lived in Canterbury, England, for a year while teaching. He also loved Portland, Maine -he could often be found treating friends and family at his favorite places enjoying laughter, good food, wine, and conversation. He surrounded himself with his art collection painted by his son, which brought his travels to life.

He was deeply passionate about learning and helping others, and he was generous in sharing both.

He was with us for only a short time at The Heron House but left a lasting impression on us all. He will be missed. 🕊️

This morning we brought Pop to his church.The message today was about courageous hope, and one example stayed with me af...
02/08/2026

This morning we brought Pop to his church.

The message today was about courageous hope, and one example stayed with me after we left.

They said hope is like a candle. Courageous hope is carrying that candle into the wind.

Hope, by itself, is gentle, quiet and something we hold onto when things feel uncertain. But courageous hope asks more of us. It asks us to protect the light even when conditions are hard and when life feels unpredictable, heavy, or overwhelming. It means choosing to keep showing up with kindness, integrity, and compassion even when it would be easier not to.

Right now, the world feels heavy for a lot of people. There is so much noise, so much uncertainty, and so many moments where doing the right thing doesn’t feel simple or comfortable.

But courageous hope reminds us that our actions still matter.

It looks like taking the extra time to listen.
It looks like offering patience when someone is struggling.
It looks like choosing dignity, respect, and gentleness, especially when life feels messy or hard.

We don’t always control the wind. But we can choose to carry the light anyway. 🙏

I turned this photo of Michael and Catherine into a watercolor. This picture doesn't need a caption, it's beautiful.
02/07/2026

I turned this photo of Michael and Catherine into a watercolor. This picture doesn't need a caption, it's beautiful.

No one ever expects what is to come when you begin losing someone you love.One day you look at them and they are still t...
02/06/2026

No one ever expects what is to come when you begin losing someone you love.

One day you look at them and they are still the person you’ve always known- the safe place, the steady presence, the one you trusted would always be there. Life moves forward. You grow up, you build your own world, and somewhere along the way you realize your parents have grown older or that your spouse has aged quietly beside you, year by year, without you fully noticing.

Everything feels normal until suddenly it doesn’t.

You notice small changes at first. Less energy. A different look in their eyes. Maybe a hint of fear where confidence once lived. Their face looks more tired. Conversations shift. They begin talking about “when I’m gone.” And before you’re ready, the person who once felt like your anchor begins to feel distant, like someone you’re trying desperately to hold onto while time keeps moving forward.

If you have ever sat beside someone at the end of their life, you understand something profound: when they leave, a piece of you goes with them.

At The Heron House, we carry deep respect for the journeys our housemates and their families are living every single day. We have said goodbye to so many special people, and even as caregivers, it never becomes easy to walk alongside someone, and their loved ones, through the end-of-life transition.

Families often wrestle with grief, resistance, and denial, and that is deeply human. Our role is never to rush that process, but to gently remind families that the disease, the decline, the suffering, this is not the whole story of who their loved one was. They do not have to suffer endlessly through profound memory loss, immobility, or the loss of purpose that illness can bring.

We meet each housemate and each family exactly where they are, with compassion, patience, and respect.

To our families, we see your love, your fear, your hope, and your heartbreak. There is no right way to navigate this journey.

And to our caregivers, thank you. Thank you for showing up with tenderness, strength, and dignity for people during some of life’s most vulnerable moments. The work you do is quiet, sacred, and deeply meaningful.

Because the truth is, death is never easy, even when someone has lived a long and beautiful life. 🤍

This photo shows our team walking a housemate out after they have passed, a tradition we hold deeply at The Heron House to honor and respect each life entrusted to our care. Just as we welcome every housemate into our home, we make sure we are there to gently see them out.

There’s a quiet kind of beauty in moments like this.I’ve always had deep respect for my elders. It has always mattered t...
02/03/2026

There’s a quiet kind of beauty in moments like this.

I’ve always had deep respect for my elders. It has always mattered to me that even as health changes and days become harder, people are still given opportunities and moments of purpose—to feel, to experience, and to engage with the world around them.

Even if that moment of purpose is chucking a snowball at Mollie’s back.

This is what it’s all about. ❄️

Jessica has worked in this home for over 13 years. Today she stands as one of our house managers.Jess takes immense prid...
02/02/2026

Jessica has worked in this home for over 13 years. Today she stands as one of our house managers.

Jess takes immense pride in her work. She truly knows our housemates on a personal level, supports families with the care and respect they deserve, and leads our team with a whole lot of heart, patience, and love.

She has worked incredibly hard to earn her place, and along the way she has made a lasting impact on countless housemates, families, and teammates.

We're really grateful for the steady presence she brings into this home every single day. I especially appreciate her attention to fluffing the couch pillows multiple times daily. 🙏

We said goodbye to Mrs. Goodwin early this morning.She has been with us since before we became The Heron House. I rememb...
02/01/2026

We said goodbye to Mrs. Goodwin early this morning.

She has been with us since before we became The Heron House. I remember when we took over, she and her husband came to our introductory meeting and sat front and center, listening closely, taking in important information. Once again in her life, she was accepting change while remaining in charge. That never changed.

Myrtle remained in charge of her care, her diet, and everything she could, because that’s who she was.

She loved the daily newspaper and would often share updates with me about food and health she had read about that day. She took pride in her independence.

I always looked forward to visiting her in passing at her spot at the dining room table. We're really going to miss her.

Myrtle walked this earth for 98 years.
She is now in Heaven with Myron. 🕊️

Address

92 US Route One
Cumberland Foreside, ME
04110

Telephone

+12077812408

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