AgeWise Maine a trusted resource and information source for older Mainers

For 53 years, Maine’s Agencies on Aging have provided resources, information, programs, services and social connection for older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers. As Maine’s population ages and policies shift, it has never been more critical for older adults to access the services, information, and programs that the Agencies on Aging offer to support their health, independence, and quality of life.

As recent federal legislation H.R. 1 begins to reshape how Mainers statewide access health coverage and long-term care, Maine’s Agencies on Aging remain steadfast in its mission to offer resources, support, and connection for older adults as they navigate these changes.

Signed into law on July 4, 2025, H.R. 1 introduces several updates to public benefit programs that will affect older Mainers. These include adjustments to the age threshold for work requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and modifies eligibility criteria for Medicaid (MaineCare), including new documentation requirements, work-related conditions, and shorter retroactive coverage windows.

According to Maine.gov, the state is anticipating more than 31,000 disenrollments in the first year of the new law because of these administrative hurdles, many of whom will be older adults.

“These changes are more than numbers, and they affect real people,” said Megan Walton, Board Chair of AgeWise Maine. “One recent caller shared her worry about balancing her own health challenges while caring for her spouse. What she needed most was reassurance that she wasn’t alone and that there were programs in place to help her manage. That is what we are here for.”

This experience echoes broader concerns across the state. Sharon Foerster, Board Chair of the Maine Council on Aging testified this Spring on behalf of LD 814 The Older Mainers Act that, “Tens of thousands of older Mainers are only one health problem, one unexpected expense, or one home system failure away from crisis.”

Building on decades of service, the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging has launched a new name and website, AgeWise Maine, to make it easier for older residents to access resources and support. The site provides timely information about available services and connects individuals with their local Agency on Aging for personalized guidance.

“We chose AgeWise Maine as our new name to reflect the resilience, wisdom, and dignity of older adults in our state,” said Walton. “In a time when accessing the right support can feel overwhelming, we want to ensure that the Agencies on Aging remain the trusted source that family caregivers and older Mainers turn to for connection, resources, and support.”

AgeWise Maine encourages older adults, adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and community partners to visit www.AgeWiseMaine.org and to connect with their local Agency on Aging to explore available resources and assistance.

About AgeWise Maine

AgeWise Maine, The Maine Association of Agencies on Aging, is a private, non-profit organization that provides a unifying voice for Maine’s Agencies on Aging on issues that promote independence, dignity and economic self-reliance for Maine’s older adults. <