Lifelong Maine - "How-To" Guide for
building age-friendly Communities

Curious about starting a lifelong community initiative in your town?  We recommend beginning here! You will find information about lifelong community approaches in the 8 domains of livability, guidance for developing a core team, and tips to help you craft mission, vision, and value statements.

Now, it is time to learn about the resources in your community and engage residents, including volunteers. This section includes strategies to conduct a lifelong community assessment, engage residents, and recruit volunteers. 

Ready, set, go!  Plan and implement projects that address the issues that matter most to your community. This section is all about making change--from building an action plan, to finding quick wins, to measuring outcomes and celebrating success.

Sustainable lifelong communities have flexible structures that can respond to changes in your community, strong partnerships, and funds to get the work done. Develop the the structure, partnerships, and financial supports you need with these resources.

Maine is a rural state with many small communities that collaborate regionally on issues such as emergency response, education, and healthcare regionally. Several of our Age-Friendly, Lifelong Communities are also organized regionally. 

Turn to our Library for ideas to implement change in areas that Maine communities have identified as important. We are constantly developing new material. Current topics are dementia inclusion, food security, housing, and more!