Agency to share how communities can become age-friendly

6 years ago

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Aroostook Agency on Aging, in partnership with AARP Maine, invites citizens from across Aroostook County to attend one of three informational sessions in October to learn how their community can become an Age-Friendly Community.

The informational sessions are open to the public and will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 3, from 9 to 10 a.m. at Houlton Regional Hospital’s Center for Community Health Education; on Thursday, Oct. 4, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Madawaska Town Council Chambers; and on Oct. 4 from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Fort Fairfield Library’s community room.

Age-Friendly Communities make a commitment to plan and advance efforts to help people of all ages live safely and comfortably. They encourage older people to take an active role in making their community a better place for people to live, work, play and do business. AARP Maine currently works with 59 local age-friendly teams across Maine, providing them with support, education, networking and recognition. Four of those teams — Caribou, Danforth, Houlton and Limestone — also work closely with the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging.

Joy Barresi Saucier, executive director, of the Aroostook Agency on Aging, said, “We believe that Age-Friendly Communities bring people together to look at community needs, plan solutions and build community support structures. It is this proactive, inclusive approach that makes profound differences in the community, helping all members to live a better life.”