Maine Council on Aging

Congratulations to Maine attorney and activist Mary Bonauto for receiving the Presidential Citizens Medal today during a ceremony at the White House. She was recognized for her work to legalize same-sex marriage. Mary is Senior Director of Civil Rights and Legal Strategies at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD LAW). https://bit.ly/4iWq4IZ

Maine Council on Aging’s offices will be closed December 23-27. Individual members of our team will be working on December 26 and 27, so feel free to reach out to them directly during this time. We hope you have a peaceful week with family and friends.

For 104 years, Camden Area District Nursing has been providing affordable in-home health services to older residents in Camden, Rockport, Hope, and Lincolnville. This model helps people age in place. While a few other communities follow this approach, we would love to see it expanded state-wide to help address the unmet needs of older Mainers. https://bit.ly/3Djvqh3

Funding for the Older Americans Act (OAA) is in jeopardy. Contact your U.S. Representative RIGHT NOW and ask them to put OAA funding back into the Continuing Resolution bill, as they will vote on it later today. OAA helps the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging provide important services for older adults. Don't let them down. Thank you! https://act.ncoa.org/a/oaa

Maine women over the age of 75 live in poverty at twice the rate of men. This comes from a lifetime of being paid less than their male counterparts for the same work and working part-time jobs to accommodate caring for family members. This in-depth report by Maine Morning Star discusses findings in the Maine Permanent Commission's Status of Women report and their recommendations to address Maine's persistent gender disparities. https://bit.ly/3ZANtXE

The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed S. 4776, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2024, and we join the National Council on Aging in urging the U.S. House to adopt the legislation so it may be enacted before year's end. Contact your Representative today and ask them to approve S. 4776 and support older people across the United States. https://bit.ly/41DVEVB

Want a great perspective on what it's like to age alone? Check out this panel discussion with five older adults - including one from rural Maine - about their hopes, challenges, and strategies for aging solo. https://bit.ly/49GlIla

Are you a family member or professional providing direct or indirect care to older people living in rural ME, NH, VT or northern NY? Check out this free course: Person-Centered Approaches in Long-Term Care through Project ECHO: Aging, Community, and Equity. FMI and to register visit: https://lnkd.in/eX4EhHA4

Non-medical community homes are a model for providing dignified care to older adults who are unhoused and terminally ill. This new alternative fills a gap for hospice and the health care system, offering end-of-life comfort to people with no place else to turn. https://bit.ly/4izWTeO

Despite Maine women exceeding the national average rate of participation in the workforce, their wages continue to lag, with working mothers’ median annual earnings nearly $20,000 lower than working fathers. Yesterday, the Maine Permanent Commission on the Status of Women and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows released the Commission's Biennial Report, which focuses on Maine women's labor and economic security. It includes recommendations for how Maine can help women support the economy and their families. Rep. Holly Stover noted that "this kind of data-driven insight...allows us to make informed decisions and push for policies that truly reflect the needs of all Mainers." Pictured at the podium is Commission Executive Director Elinor Higgins. Rep. Stover (pink shirt) and Sec. Bellows (green sweater) are in the front row behind the podium. Read the report: https://bit.ly/3OSgbye