SOUTH PARIS – Maine Veterans’ Homes has hired Matthew Lessard as administrator of its South Paris facility. He has a background in long-term care as well as clinical knowledge in the care of Alzheimer’s patients. having completed a thesis on the subject in a master of science degree program in health policy and management.

His experiences in long-term care started as a social worker coordinating home-care services for Elder Independence of Maine. He began working with Maine Veterans’ Homes through an internship program, in which he assisted with the implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act requirements.

After his internship, he participated in a six-month, multilevel long-term care administrator in training program at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough. Last year, after completing the Maine requirements for an administrator license, he was hired as administrator of Windward Gardens in Camden with another organization.

The Maine Veterans’ Homes’ care including skilled nursing and rehabilitation, long-term care, Alzheimer’s/dementia care and residential care to qualified Maine veterans; their spouses, widows and widowers; and gold star parents.