Dirigo, our state motto which means "I lead," certainly holds true when it comes to Maine's Age-Friendly movement, which has become a national exemplar.

Age-Friendly is one of the most exciting developments of the 21st century! The term refers to intentional community efforts to make Maine's cities and towns more  responsive to longer, healthier lives and inclusive of people living with chronic illness or disability. Our shared mission is for communities where everyone can lead active, healthy, and engaged lives throughout their lifetime. 

Dozens of towns, cities, counties, regions, and the State of Maine have embraced the importance of shaping great places for people to age by joining the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. 

All across Maine, local groups are working together to make their towns better places to live and age. Some of these groups are part of the AARP Network, while others are following their own path with the same goal in mind.

These community leaders are using what they already have in their towns to tackle real problems that matter to residents. They're working to make buildings more accessible, help people learn new technologies, ensure everyone has convenient access to healthy food, repair homes, improve transportation options, and foster community connections.

The best part? Local volunteers and community organizations team up directly with their town governments. This partnership helps them make changes that really fit what their community wants and values.

What makes a community age-friendly? Start by taking this quiz to learn how age-friendly your community already is. Interested in joining the Age-Friendly community movement? Learn how by checking out our skill chapter - Getting Started with Your Age-Friendly Community and visiting the Lifelong Maine Guide to Building Age-Friendly Communities.

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