Aging Maine requires proactive approach

Maine has the oldest population of any state — a trend slated to continue in coming years. This demographic reality requires a proactive approach from both lawmakers and our communities.
A quarter of Mainers statewide are projected to be over age 65 by 2030. Here in Aroostook County, we face even greater challenges, with higher rates of poverty and an older population than the state as a whole.
We know the challenges our elderly face are likely to become more serious as the state and county continue to age. The good news is that we can take action now.
Maine House Speaker Mark Eves has made this a priority, working with the Maine Council on Aging to produce the Blueprint for Action on Aging. The Blueprint identifies strategies to improve the lives of older Mainers through more affordable housing, better health care and home-based care, prevention of abuse and neglect and more. The next Legislature will have an opportunity to take action on these strategies and a responsibility to lead on the issues that matter most to aging Mainers.
Community organizations play a vital role in helping Mainers age safely and with dignity. Aroostook Area Agency on Aging (AAAA) provides a number of programs to support older Mainers and the people who care for them. They range from Meals on Wheels to in-home assistance, and AAAA can also help connect seniors and caretakers with other existing resources. To learn more, call AAAA at 1-800-439-1789 or visit www.aroostookaging.org.
Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP) is another valuable resource that can provide support in a variety of ways. Many older Mainers find it difficult to manage housing costs, particularly when living on a fixed income. ACAP can help identify ways to relieve some of this burden, including weatherization and finding financial assistance. Other programs include the Aroostook Regional Transportation System public bus. For more information, visit  www.acap-me.org or call ACAP’s Presque Isle office at 1-800-432-7881.
MaineHousing’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program can help defray the cost of home heating for eligible Mainers. Eligibility is expanded for those susceptible to hypothermia, including the elderly, to 170 percent of federal poverty guidelines (currently $26,367 in annual income for a household of two). Call MaineHousing at 624-5778 to learn more.
Sadly, abuse and neglect are too often among the challenges faced by seniors. Elder abuse is on the rise and can be especially hard to detect. It includes physical abuse as well as neglect and financial exploitation. There are a number of state agencies and organizations dedicated to preventing elder abuse, but only one in 14 cases is reported to the authorities, according to the National Research Council.
Learn the signs of elder abuse at www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads/aging/aps/recognizing.shtml. If you suspect a senior in your community is being abused or neglected, I urge you to report your suspicions to Adult Protective Services by calling 1-800-624-8404.
During my first term in the Legislature, I worked with fellow lawmakers on measures that begin to address the challenges faced by older Mainers. I co-sponsored a bill to boost the Property Tax Fairness Credit, which will help low- and middle-income Mainers, particularly over the age of 65, manage housing costs.
We also passed a supplemental budget that addresses funding shortfalls to provide nursing homes that care for our seniors with a total of $38 million in state and federal funding.
These measures are a start, but the next Legislature has a lot of work to do. The challenges we face in Aroostook County and across Maine require collaboration between state and local government, community organizations and our neighbors. With a shared vision and proactive approach, we can improve the lives of Maine’s seniors.
    Rep. Robert Saucier represents part of Presque Isle.