Maine gets AARP's 'age-friendly' seal of approval

Governor Mills and AARP Maine representatives

Courtesy / Office of Gov. Janet Mills AARP Maine state director Lori Parham, left, with Gov. Janet Mills and others Tuesday in North Yarmouth for the announcement of Maine as an age-friendly state.

Write a Comment

By Staff

Already the oldest state with a median age of 44.6 years, Maine now has the AARP's official seal of approval as an age-friendly state. With the designation, Maine joins a growing network of states and communities that aim to better serve older residents.

Gov. Janet Mills and AARP State Director Lori Parham announced Maine's age-friendliness before a crowd of state and municipal officials and aging organization representatives at the Wecustogo North Yarmouth Community Center.

“Creating age-friendly, livable communities with walkable streets, safe and affordable housing, transportation and access to services will ensure that Maine people of all ages contribute to our state while living with dignity and comfort in the homes and communities they love,” said Mills said in a news release emailed after the event.

“With this designation," she added, "Maine now has access to critical data, technical advice, best practices and organizing tools to help us plan for the future in a thoughtful way and learn from a global network of partners to better serve older Mainers.”

While Maine is the sixth state to receive the designation, it has led the country for years in the number of towns and counties that have joined the network. The count stands at 69 communities in every part of the state.

Parham predicts that the move "will ignite important partnerships at every level from our smallest communities to government agencies, and will make Maine an even better place to live for people of all ages."

Joining the network is the first step in a multi-year process.

Member states and communities are then encouraged to plan and implement strategies that address their aging-related needs and assets. Work focus areas include transportation, housing, public spaces, respect and social inclusion, civil participation and employment, social participation, community and health services, and communication and information.