maine leads age-friendly innovation 

Recently, AARP published a series of articles on rural livability. Unsurprisingly, Maine communities are front and center. Towns like Bowdoinham, Saco, South Portland, and Danforth are being held up as examples for the rest of the country.

These aren't just feel-good stories. They're proof that the work age-friendly leaders and volunteers are doing every day is transforming our communities, making it possible for older community members to live healthy, connected, and engaged lives. The work you are doing is worthy of a national spotlight.

Maine communities are featured in five of the articles:

• Traffic Calming — featuring Bowdoinham

• Housing — featuring Saco

• Resilience — featuring South Portland

• Economic Development — packed with ideas for your community

• Placemaking — featuring Danforth

Each article is filled with actionable ideas you can bring back to your own community. Read them, share them, and see yourself in them.

The national recognition doesn't stop there. This past week, Lifelong Maine's volunteer-powered programs took center stage at two major national conferences. On April 28, Rachel Coleman presented our Echo Dot distribution program at the American Geriatrics Society pre-conference, reaching Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Programs from across the country. And at the American Society on Aging annual meeting, Patricia Oh shared the impact of our Community Connectors project — a program that exists because of the dedication of volunteers who show up, connect neighbors, and build community one relationship at a time.

None of this happens without you. The volunteers engaged in these projects are the reason Maine leads in making our communities places where people can thrive at all ages.