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Community Connector Spotlight:
The Community Connector Pilot is part of the Community Connections project, a signature initiative of the Governor's Cabinet on Aging, partnering with the University of Maine Center on Aging, Lifelong Maine's Age-Friendly Communities, and Maine's Area Agencies on Aging.
The goal of the Community Connector Pilots is to expand resource connections and increase the capacity of age-friendly communities to connect residents to the services and programs they need to thrive. Each of the 12 pilot projects built on the strengths and needs in their community so each is a little different.
Each month, the Lifelong Maine news will highlight one of the 14 Community Connectors working in the 12 Community Connector pilot sites. To learn more about all of the pilots, visit Community Connector Pilot Sites. This month, we shine a light on Tom Mahoney, Harpswell Aging at Home's Community Connector.
Harpswell Aging at Home (HAH) is fostering deeper community ties through its Community Connector pilot (CC) initiative, designed to partner with older adults to make it easier for residents to lead happy, healthy lives. This coastal town of just over 5,000 residents demonstrates how grassroots efforts can foster engagement and support.
Since its founding in 2015, HAH has mobilized 400 volunteers—about 10% of Harpswell’s population—to provide a wide range of free programs. These include transportation, home repairs, tech support, food-access initiatives, and socialization efforts such as the Neighbors Connecting phone-a-friend program.
One standout program is the Harpswell ROMEOs (Retired Older Men Eating Out), created to combat social isolation among older men, a pressing concern identified by HAH volunteers. As Community Connector Tom Mahoney explains, “Volunteers were seeing many men living alone in our community and brought it to the attention of the HAH Steering Committee (Board).” Funded initially by a CHEF grant through the Maine Council on Aging, the ROMEOs program addresses the serious health risks linked to loneliness, including cardiovascular disease and depression.
Events That Engage and Connect
The ROMEOs host engaging events blending socialization, learning, and healthy meals. For instance, a cookout featuring 22 antique cars inspired attendees to share personal stories about their own vehicles. A baseball-themed lunch brought retired Yankees manager Stump Merrill, who captivated the crowd with tales from his career.
Other events have focused on practical advice, such as a session on financial safety led by the Bath Police Chief and a Cumberland County Deputy Sheriff. Veterans were honored in November, with resources provided by Togus VA Medical Center and a moving account of living with PTSD shared by a veteran alongside his service dog from Maine PAWS for Veterans.
“We get speakers that guys want to hear or activities that are of interest, we serve a meal, provide a forum for them to hang out and talk with friends—new and old—and be among the guys for a few hours,” says Tom.
Growing Impact
With an average attendance of 42 men from Harpswell, Brunswick, and Bath, the ROMEOs program continues to grow. HAH spreads the word through newspaper ads, Facebook, and personal invitations, encouraging attendees to “bring a friend.”
Collaboration and Future Plans
HAH’s success is bolstered by collaboration with Harpswell’s Recreation Department and Community Services program. The Resource Team connects older residents to vital assistance such as home repairs and heating assistance.
Looking ahead, five more lunches are planned from January through March, featuring speakers like a Barbershop quartet, a meteorologist, local chefs, and a television co-anchor.
By providing a space for older men to eat, learn, and laugh together, the Harpswell ROMEOs program addresses social isolation while connecting attendees to essential resources.
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