ANNOUNCEMENT: MAINE RECEIVES APPROVAL OF OLDER AMERCIANS ACT (OAA) STATE PLAN ON AGING

Maine Department of Health & Human Services sent this bulletin at 09/25/2020 08:35 AM EDT

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ANNOUNCEMENT: MAINE RECEIVES APPROVAL OF OLDER AMERCIANS ACT (OAA)

STATE PLAN ON AGING

The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Administration for Community Living approved Maine’s 2020-2024 State Plan on Aging, as required by the Older Americans Act. A copy of the 2020-2024 State Plan on Aging and the approval letter can be found at the link below. The 2020-2024 State Plan on Aging includes goals, objectives, strategies, and performance measures to be conducted by the Office of Aging and Disability Services, Maine’s State Unit on Aging, and Maine’s five area agencies on aging for the period of October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2024.

The overall goal of Maine’s State Plan on Aging is to assist older adults and their care partners to maintain their independence and to live where they choose safely. To achieve this, Maine will:

  • Support older Mainers and their care partners to remain active and healthy in their communities of choice.
  • Enhance the quality of programs through data standardization, program evaluation, and outcome measurement.
  • Prevent and improve response to abuse, neglect, and exploitation while preserving the rights and autonomy of older Mainers.

Starting in July 2019, OADS convened a diverse group of community stakeholders to form a Maine State Plan on Aging Advisory Committee to elevate the voices of older individuals, especially low-income minority older individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas. OADS also contracted with the University of Southern Maine Muskie School of Public Service to conduct a statewide needs assessment in the fall of 2019 consisting of eight listening sessions, a statewide telephonic survey, an online care partner survey, three focus groups with underserved populations (New Mainers, LGBT older Mainers, and grandparents raising grandchildren), and key informant interviews with representative from Maine’s tribes.

OADS looks forward to working with aging services network partners to address the needs of older individuals and their care partners in Maine.

For a full copy of the 2020-2024 State Plan on Aging and the approval letter, please visit:

https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads/about-us/policy-planning

Please contact James Moorhead at 207-287-9200 regarding Older American Act services and programs in Maine.