AARP Maine and UMaine Center on Aging Present:

Changing the Narrative: Communities in Action

June 1, 2026

Thank you for joining us on June 1st for Changing the Narrative: Communities in Action — a day full of energy, connection, and ideas to bring back to your community. From the opening keynote to the afternoon workshops, you heard from passionate advocates, discovered new programs, and connected with fellow age-friendly leaders from across Maine. Below you'll find handouts and resources from each session, so you can dig deeper, share with your team, and put what you learned into action. Whether you're ready to launch a community café, strengthen local advocacy, or connect a neighbor with assistive technology, everything you need to get started is right here. 

Keynote - Ryan Fecteau, Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives

Speaker Fecteau opened the conference with a frank look at Maine's housing crisis and the legislative action underway to address it. Maine needs 84,000 new housing units by 2030 and is currently building at less than half the required pace. He walked attendees through LD 1829, a "light-touch density" law that takes practical steps to increase housing supply — streamlining permitting for smaller projects, making it easier to add accessory dwelling units (like an in-law apartment), reducing minimum lot sizes in areas with public water and sewer, and unlocking financing for construction. A follow-up bill, LD 2173, refined the original with input from municipal planners, giving towns more time to plan and preserving local control over setbacks, design standards, and historical requirements. Speaker Fecteau closed by connecting housing affordability directly to broader economic health — and encouraged attendees to stay engaged by contacting their legislators, visiting the State House, or submitting testimony on issues they care about. 

Panel - Strong Foundations: Housing, Benefits & Economic Security  

Aging at home is what most of us want — but it's only possible when the financial and practical foundations are in place to support it. This panel brought together leaders from three major state and federal agencies to shine a light on programs that can make a real difference for older Mainers and the communities that support them. Attendees learned about resources to help residents afford critical home repairs, navigate healthcare costs, and access tax relief programs that can ease the burden of fixed-income living. Representatives from USDA Rural Development, the Maine State Office of Family Independence, and the Maine State Housing Authority each shared what their programs offer and, just as importantly, how community volunteers and age-friendly leaders can help connect neighbors to these resources. The message was clear: these programs exist and are ready to help — but too many people who need them simply don't know they're there. You can change that.

Resources

• DHHS - Last Tuesday of the Month. The Community Partners Meeting  is an opportunity for social services providers and organizations who collaborate with DHHS’s Office for Family Independence (OFI) to connect with the office on a consistent basis. Their goal is to provide a clear picture of what could be helpful to know on behalf of mutual clients, consumers, and participants. OFI encourages partners to share any of their organizational information that would be beneficial for us to know. Note: the meeting content is not intended for benefit participants; DHHS cannot answer questions about specific cases or individuals during the session.  

• Pro Tip - the best number to use to reach USDA Rural Development is 207-990-9160. Staff from the office will return your call within 24 hours. 

Presenters

• • • Amanda Burke. USDA Rural Development - Maine, Housing Program Director

    • Vanessa DeWitt. Maine State Office of Family Independence, Associate Director of Communications 

    • Erik Jorgenson. Maine State Housing Authority, Senior Director of Government Relations and Communications

    • Facilitator: Elizabeth Gattine. Coordinator, Governor's Cabinet on Aging

Workshop: Fall Prevention and Response for Healthy Aging 

Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults — in 2020 alone, nearly 80,000 Maine older adults fell, and the state's fall-related death rate ranked among the highest in the nation. But the good news is that falls are largely preventable, and this workshop packed in everything you need to know to take action in your community. Pat FitzGerald opened with the science of osteoporosis and fracture risk, explaining how bones change over a lifetime and why the goal isn't just stronger bones — it's preventing the falls that lead to fractures in the first place. She walked through evidence-based strategies including nutrition, appropriate medication, and the types of exercise that actually build bone density, from brisk walking to strength training and jumping. Pat Saunders then brought it to life with practical, ready-to-launch community programs — including Bone Builders, a free, community-led strength and balance class available through RSVP at the Maine Center on Aging, and A Matter of Balance, a proven program offered across Maine that combines gentle exercise with discussion and problem-solving to help older adults stay safe at home. Finally, physical therapist Martina Gerald demonstrated what to do when someone does fall — walking through a clear, step-by-step sequence for helping a person safely get up from the floor, and what to do when getting up isn't possible. Attendees left with practical tools, program resources, and the confidence to bring fall prevention into their own communities. 

Presenters

• • • Pat FitzGerald. Health and Wellness Educator

    • Pat Saunders. Age-Friendly Surry & Bone Builder Instructor

    • Martina Gerald. PT, DPT, Northern Light EMMC

    • Facilitator: Tara Mozdziez. Director, RSVP-UMaine Center on Aging

Workshop: Conversations That Matter: Launching a Community Café.

One of the most powerful things a community can do is simply create space for people to gather and talk — and this workshop showed how easy it can be to make that happen. Gail Platts introduced the Habits of Happiness program, a six-week community class grounded in positive psychology research, exploring how practices like gratitude, self-care, meaningful relationships, resilience, kindness, and a sense of purpose all contribute to a happier, healthier life. Lisa White of Mourning Ventures of Maine walked attendees through how to launch a Death Café — a simple, welcoming gathering where people of all backgrounds come together to talk openly about death, dying, and what matters most. Far from being depressing, these conversations help reduce fear and stigma, strengthen community bonds, and help people make the most of their lives. And Tom Mahoney shared the story of ROMEO (Retired Older Men Eating Out), a monthly lunch gathering that started with 10 people in Harpswell and grew into a model for tackling older men's social isolation that attracted statewide attention. Together, these three programs offer a powerful reminder: you don't need a big budget or a fancy venue — just a table, some food, and the willingness to show up for your neighbors. 

Presenters

• • • Gail Platts. Rec. Director and Coordinator, Age-Friendly Scarborough

    • Lisa White. MSW-CC, Founder, Mourning Ventures

    • Facilitator: Tom Mahoney, Community Connector, Harpswell Aging at Home

Workshop: From Awareness to Action: Building Your Community's Advocacy Power

Caring about your community is a great start — but knowing how to turn that caring into real change is where the magic happens. This workshop gave attendees practical tools to do exactly that. Jess Faye from the Maine Council on Aging opened with a legislative update, helping participants understand what's happening right now at the State House on issues that affect older Mainers. Then Ginny Joles introduced the Civic Academy, a proven program developed in Aroostook County that builds everyday people's confidence and skills for engaging with policymakers — no political experience required. Joe Moreshead from Age-Friendly Saco brought the community perspective, sharing what grassroots advocacy looks like on the ground and how even small communities can make their voices heard. Attendees left with a clear picture of the policy landscape, a roadmap for launching advocacy initiatives in their own communities, and the reassurance that speaking up for age-friendly change is something anyone can do. 

Presenters

• • • Jess Faye. Policy Director, Maine Council on Aging

    • Ginny Joles. Volunteer Coordinator, Aroostook Civic Academy

    • Joe Moreshead. Community Connector, Age-Friendly Saco

    • Facilitator: Noël Bonam. Director, AARP Maine

Panel: Hidden Treasures: Discovering Resources for Independence and Inclusion 

Did you know that Maine residents can borrow assistive technology for free, get adaptive phone equipment at little or no cost, or pick up gently refurbished medical equipment for next to nothing? This session introduced three statewide organizations whose resources are often hiding in plain sight. Disability Rights Maine offers no- or low-cost adaptive telephone equipment — from captioned phones to voice-activated devices — to any Maine resident who has difficulty using a conventional phone, along with a free relay service connecting deaf and hard-of-hearing callers with anyone in the world. Spurwink ALLTECH operates an assistive technology lending library and reuse program, where you can try devices before committing, borrow equipment at no cost, or find refurbished medical equipment at low or no cost. Maine CITE rounds out the picture with demonstrations, training, and a statewide lending library at AT4Maine.org covering everything from hearing amplifiers and mobility aids to daily living tools and vision devices. Together, these organizations can help you connect the people in your community with tools that make a real difference in daily life — and all three are just a phone call or click away. 

Resource

• Maine's Assistive Technology device loan program catalog - https://at4maine.org/
  Need a hearing amplifier, a mobility aid, or a tool to help someone manage daily tasks more independently? AT4Maine is a free statewide assistive technology reuse program operated by Maine CITE through the University of Maine at Augusta. The site's online catalog lets you browse gently used assistive technology items — from vision and hearing devices to daily living tools and mobility equipment — available at little or no cost to Maine residents. Whether you're helping a neighbor stay safely at home or looking for resources to share with your community, AT4Maine is a great first stop. Browse available items, connect with participating programs near you, or reach out directly through the site. 

Presenters

• • • Lisa Penney. TEP Program Director Disability Rights Maine

    • Lani Carlson. Executive Director Maine CITE

    • Darren Smart. Program Manager, AllTech

    • Facilitator: Kathy Adams. Age-Friendly South Portland

Conference Sponsors