Skill Series

Welcome to the SKILL-BUILDING Series!

The series covers essential age-friendly skills, including outreach, advocacy, volunteer management, communication, and more. Each chapter focuses on a specific skill, equipping Age-Friendly Community leaders, Community Connectors, and other volunteers to confidently work alongside older residents. The material will help volunteers perform many different roles--from leading age-friendly initiatives to transportation to connecting older adults with resources that enhance their well-being and quality of life.

Whether you have a few minutes or an hour, you can access the Skill Training chapters whenever it is convenient. The self-directed format accommodates various learning styles and interests so that you can fully engage with the material without feeling rushed or constrained by a fixed deadline. Take the time you need to absorb and reflect on each chapter, making your learning journey more effective and enjoyable.

Are you wondering about cost? The series is free for anyone interested in taking it.

Throughout each chapter, there are links to complete online reflections. If you are working toward the certificate, please submit these as evidence of your learning journey. When you have completed 10 of the chapters, we will send you a certificate in Age-Friendly Community Development to celebrate your commitment to lifelong learning.

Not interested in getting a certificate or just want to explore a few chapters? We are delighted to have you join us! Whether you take the full series or just a few of the chapters, please email us if you encounter any difficulties.

For more information or to report a technology glitch, email lifelong@maine.edu.

age-friendly community development - the journey starts here

Developing your age-friendly community.

This chapter introduces the principles of age-friendly communities and provides you with the knowledge and skills to enhance your community's livability. You will learn what defines a truly age-friendly community and how to create environments that support active, healthy, engaged aging.

Topics include:

Key Features - the "What" of Age-Friendly
The Process - the "How" of Age-Friendly

By the Numbers - Data to Show Outcomes and short-term impact.

Discover the power of data to showcase impact. Learn the different kinds of data that can demonstrate progress and short-term impact, ensuring your efforts are both measurable and meaningful. We will also explore effective data collection methods and introduce logic models as strategic planning tools. Topics include:

Identifying and collecting Meaningful Data
Organizing for Data-Driven Decision Making

partnering & Keeping the energy flowing.

Partnering in age-friendly communities requires navigating diverse interests, aligning goals, and overcoming resource constraints while maintaining open communication and trust. In this chapter we describe how to identify and engage partners and how to keep collaborations energized. Topics include:

Identifying and Nurturing Partnerships
Energizing Partnerships - Strategic Doing

Resources in Action.

Unlock the hidden potential of your community! Learn to identify and tap into local resources to create a more age-inclusive community. We will also explore strategies to link older residents with resources that are tailored to the individual's unique goals and preferences.

Community Treasure Hunt - Identifying and Tapping into Local Resources
Community In Action - Age-Friendly Coastal Communities, Bridging Neighbors Program
Connecting Residents to Resources

capacity building & Communication skills

advocacy - Proactive Action for Change. Mary Krebs

This chapter emphasizes the key role of advocacy in age-friendly. We explore three key strategies—relationship building, power mapping, and effective messaging—to help you influence policies, programs, and societal attitudes. Topics include:

What is Advocacy and Why Should We Care?
Relationship Building
Mapping Power Relationships in the Community
Policy Analysis
Messaging & Communication around Advocacy
Advocacy-By Us For Us

The fundamentals of ageism. Mary Lou Ciolfi

This chapter explains the basics of ageism and offers definitions and insight into how detrimental it is to our individual and collective health and wellbeing. Information and resources essential for recognizing and reflecting on ageist attitudes towards yourself and others will help you take steps to be less ageist! Topics include:

Defining Ageism
Ageism in Daily Life
Impact of Ageism
Avoiding Ageist Language
Elderspeak
Dignity of Risk

Diversity and creating a sense of belonging: Understanding our unique Selves and What we each bring to the table to create community. Arabella perez

This chapter will guide you through an enriching learning experience designed to enhance your understanding of culture, diversity, and the impact these concepts have on our daily lives. The activities are carefully crafted to help you reflect on your own identity, biases, and how they shape your interactions with others. Topics include:

Culture and Diversity
Diversity and Creating a Sense of Belonging

helping conversations

Coming soon!

Community - Meeting Diverse Needs

aging and Mental health - Honoring personal Narratives & Needs. Tom Meuser

Mental health is vital for healthy aging, affecting overall well-being and resilience to age-related challenges. This chapter promotes understanding and support for older adults, emphasizing potential for growth throughout life. Topics include:

Ageism, Life Events, and Resilience
Positive Mental Health and Personality
Challenges to Mental Health
Conclusion - Mental health and the Whole Person

To enhance your knowledge about structuring conversations with older residents seeking resources and support, explore "Interviewing for Advocacy: Purposeful Engagement, Respecting Boundaries, & Creating Mutual Direction." Note: Both the Aging and Mental Health and Interviewing Chapters count as one unit to the required 10 chapters to achieve a certificate of completion.

dementia inclusive communities - What it is. why it matters. how to be it. susan wehry

Dementia inclusion is vital for people living with dementia to live with purpose and meaning in our communities. In this chapter, you will explore what dementia is, why dementia inclusion matters, and how to become a community where people experiencing cognitive changes can thrive. Topics include:

Dementia Inclusion - What It is
Dementia Inclusion - Why It Matters
Dementia Inclusion - How to Be It

elder abuse - Awareness, response, action. Elder abuse institute of maine

Elder abuse is a growing yet often invisible problem. The National Council on Aging reports that nearly 1 in 5 older Americans experience some form of abuse. Despite its prevalence, our communities often struggle to acknowledge and address this issue. Topics include:

Elder Abuse - Awareness
Elder Abuse - Response
Elder Abuse - Action

Grief and Mourning for Age-Friendly Communities. Lisa joy white

Are you intrested in starting a community initiative to support end of life issues, including grief and mourning? This chapter starts at the beginning, offering a basic understanding of grief, loss, and mourning and then provides some helpful tips to support those who are experiencing grief (including yourself) and ideas for raising awareness of the issues in your community.

An Introduction to Hoarding Disorder for age-Friendly communities. Amber Harrison

A two-part exploration of hoarding disorder in older populations, examining psychological foundations and unique age-related challenges. Part one defines hoarding and its prevalence, emphasizing compassionate approaches. Part two highlights community-based treatments involving multiple stakeholders, considering AI's potential role in support systems. Includes practical reflections and resource guidance.

Resources - Connecting for success

your local Area Agency on Aging - A Collaborator for Aging Well. Carly Williams

This chapter covers Maine's five Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), detailing their services, and how age-friendly communities can tap into these resources. Learn how you can collaborate with your local AAA to enhance the lives of older residents in your community. Topics include:

Maine's Area Agencies in Aging
Leveraging AAA Services in Your Community

Introduction to Grant writing. Mary Krebs

Grant writing is a powerful tool for funding age-friendly programs, services, activities and operational costs. Grants can be leveraged to pilot new ideas and strengthen the work you have already started. Are you new to grant writing? We will explore all the basics and offer some pro-tips!

Steps in the Process
Strategies to Help Qualify for and Identify Funding Opportunities
Composing Mission and Vision Statements
Resources for Identifying Potential Grantors

VOlunteer Management

Building community muscle - Engaging VOlunteers. Anna Guest

In this chapter you’ll learn about essential components of volunteer engagement, age-friendly strategies for recruitment, and explore a variety of topics to help you strengthen your retention of volunteers. We’ll discuss how to have difficult conversations, and how to measure and celebrate volunteer impact. Topics include:

Essential Components of Volunteer Engagement
Laying the Groundwork
Strengthening your Team
Measuring and Celebrating Volunteer Impact

Boundaries - Honoring Autonomy Between People. Anna Guest

This chapter examines boundaries: their definition, importance, and maintenance in age-friendly communities. Discover resources for self-reflection and boundary-setting, and practice skills to navigate real-life situations effectively. Topics include:

Boundary Basics - Professionalism, Safety, and Trust
Understanding Our Own Needs & Boundaries
Responding to Common Boundary Challenges
Boundaries in Action

confidentiality - Respecting our Neighbors. Anna GuesT

In this chapter, we’ll explore how to build trust and honor our neighbors’ dignity by practicing confidentiality. Learn about privacy, protected information, and the importance of confidentiality. Discover strategies to safeguard sensitive information and practice through real-world scenarios. Topics include:

What is Confidentiality?
Considerations in Your Community - Strategies for Protecting Confidential Information
Confidentiality in Practice - Scenarios

If you have any questions as you are going through the material, please email: lifelong@maine.edu.

The Lifelong Maine Skill Building Series was developed as part of the Community Connections project.
Funding for the project was provided through support of the Governor's Cabinet on Aging and Office of Aging and Disability Services.
We are deeply grateful for the funding and for the thought leadership provided by Elizabeth Gattien, Coordinator of the Governor's Cabinet on Aging.

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