Southern Maine Agency On Aging

Thanks to USAging for an incredible conference! SMAA CEO Megan Walton and COO Renee Longarini had a wonderful time catching up with colleagues from across the country and collaborating on solutions to the issues older adults are facing today. Pictured: Area Agencies on Aging Directors Panel left to right - Kelly Dearman, San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services; Megan Walton, SMAA; Tauhric Brown, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions; and Rebecca Levine, USAging

"The head of the Southern Maine Agency on Aging told a state commission Wednesday that they want to play a key role in combating social isolation among the elderly. Megan Walton, chief executive officer, said social isolation is linked to an increased risk of stroke, dementia, depression and death... ...Walton said the agencies on aging could serve as a social care coordination hub for physical and mental health care, as well as emotional and social supports." Read more of "Maine agencies on aging look to play key role in combatting social isolation" at the link below.

Sponsorship deadline is July 15! Sponsorship for our Charting the Future event directly benefits Southern Maine Agency on Aging programs for older adults and their caregivers in Cumberland and York counties. If you would like to learn more about becoming a sponsor for this year's Charting the Future, please contact Quinn Lawrence at qlawrence@smaaa.org.

Get to know the faces of SMAA! Interested in joining our team? Visit smaaa.org/careers

Time is running out to score Early Bird pricing on this year's Charting the Future tickets! REGISTER NOW: smaaa.org/ctf2024

More info here: https://lnkd.in/eUC4rWQN Southern Maine Aging on Aging (SMAA) will host two public hearings on its 2025-2028 Area Plan for Older Americans Act (OAA) funded services for older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers in our service area. SMAA serves York County and Cumberland County with the exceptions of Brunswick and Harpswell.

SMAA staff, volunteers, and their families had a great time marching in our first Pride Portland parade on Saturday! We even got to march near our friends from Piper Shores! As we work toward our mission of empowering older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers to live to their fullest potential, we aim to enhance healthy aging, well-being, and dignity for all individuals. We are committed to working together and learning from one another to disrupt historical levels of oppression and exclusion, both within SMAA and within the broader systems that our clients, staff, volunteers, and family caregivers navigate. #HappyPrideMonth

Get to know the faces of SMAA! Interested in joining our team? Visit smaaa.org/careers

BIG NEWS: SMAA is opening a new service hub in Sanford/Springvale! A recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston shows the rapid rate that nursing homes in New England — and especially in Maine — are closing. This data illustrates the importance of strengthening local supports that allow people to “age in place” at home, an option that is not only preferred by over 75% of older adults according to AARP, but also saves money both for their families and taxpayers. This is what Maine’s Agencies on Aging, including SMAA, have been doing for over 51 years. Programming at SMAA’s Sanford/Springvale Hub will include an Adult Day Program for individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, Nutrition Services including Meals on Wheels and Community Cafés, Falls Prevention exercise classes, and Medicare Counseling. Resource Specialists will also be available on site to help older adults and caregivers navigate issues with housing, healthcare, benefits, and other components of the complex network of services available in southern Maine. Learn more: https://smaaa.org/news

Megan Walton, SMAA CEO: "The report is also illustrative of how services for older adults are evolving over time. According to AARP, over 75% of older adults would prefer to age in their own homes. Allowing them to do so saves money both for their families and for taxpayers... Here in Maine, our Agencies on Aging have been working for over 50 years to build stronger local supports so that tens of thousands of people can age well at home and in their own communities."