First statewide assessment on aging predicts increased demands on services while funding declines
A report prepared by the University of New England (UNE) shows that the need for services and resources among older adults in Maine is expected to continue to rise as funding for those services declines.
According to the most recent U.S. Census figures, Maine is the oldest state in the nation and is ranked third for the highest percentage (15.9) of adults 65 and over.
The 100-page report, the first statewide assessment on aging that collected data from older adults, caregivers and service providers in Maine, was conducted for the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and funded by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Aging and Disability Services.
It was prepared by Marilyn R. Gugliucci, Ph.D., director of Geriatrics Education and Research at the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine and principal investigator for the project; Kira Rodriguez, MSH, research associate with the UNE Center for Community and Public Health; and consultant Shirl A. Weaver, Ph.D. Read the report.
The researchers gathered information from statewide focus groups and caregiver/service provider surveys to address the issue of what Maine's older adults need to remain in their homes.
"It was an incredible honor to have discussions with older adults across the state, including those who live in the Tribal Nations of Maine," said Gugliucci.
The Administration on Aging defines "old age" as 60 years of age and up. The study revealed that the majority of older adults needing services were those in their 70s and older, suggesting that it may be time for a re-evaluation of the chronological parameters that define old age.
Next Steps
In March, Gugliucci shared results with leaders from agencies throughout the state - including the Office of Aging and Disability Services, Maine Hospice Foundation, Adult Protective Services, Volunteers of America, Maine Health Care Association, Home Care of Maine, Maine Alzheimer's Association, Maine Ombudsman Program, Maine Retirees Association, Maine AARP, Maine Legal Services for the Elderly, and Gould Services of Maine - to identify next steps in creating a strategic plan to address issues related to aging in Maine.
The plan was released October 1 and can be accessed at the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging. The report is required by the Administration on Aging in order for Maine to access Older Americans Act funding.
Services/Resources
Eighteen services/resources were identified as important to Maine's older adults, with transportation, fuel assistance, housing, home care, health and social services, nutrition, and financial assistance identified as most-needed.
Despite a stated need, some counties in Maine do not offer services due to funding constraints or rurality, according to the report. Data from respondents in the UNE study showed that only a small number of Maine's older adults and caregivers are having their needs met. This places the onus on the state to identify the critical needs by region/county and determine how to provide them.
Gugliucci stated, "The steady increase in Maine's aging population, along with the declining number of younger adults to care for them (professionally or informally), presents a challenge for the state. The changing attitudes of baby boomers toward entitled services, together with predicted increased demands for elder care services and organizations, suggest that old assumptions and care systems need to be critically evaluated and new approaches considered."