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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Articles 1 - 15 of 15

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Aging, Diversity, And Difference In Rural Perspective, Douglas Kimmel Jan 2015

Aging, Diversity, And Difference In Rural Perspective, Douglas Kimmel

Maine Policy Review

Recently, gender identity and sexual orientation have begun to be acknowledged as a dimension of diversity among older Mainers. Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) Maine conducted a needs assessment and determined four key goals that are important for its work: provide support for GLBT elders, create networks of providers who are knowledgeable and affirmative about GLBT aging, increase opportunities for intergenerational GLBT social activities, and develop a referral networks of GLBT-affirmative long-term care facilities and resources.


Margaret Chase Smith Essay: Priorities Of The U.S. Senate Aging Committee, Susan M. Collins Jan 2015

Margaret Chase Smith Essay: Priorities Of The U.S. Senate Aging Committee, Susan M. Collins

Maine Policy Review

Senator Susan Collins of Maine discusses the three major priorities of the U.S. Senate Aging Committee: investing in biomedical research targeting diseases that dispro­portionately affect older Americans, such as Alzheimer’s and diabetes; protecting seniors against financial exploitation and scams; and improving retirement security.


The Demographic Transformation In Maine (And Beyond) Is In Full Swing, Lenard W. Kaye Jan 2015

The Demographic Transformation In Maine (And Beyond) Is In Full Swing, Lenard W. Kaye

Maine Policy Review

The article discusses the demographics of longevity and what it means for Maine. Lenard Kaye, guest editor, introduces the topic and describes the reasons for this special aging-focused issue of the Maine Policy Review.


The Economic Implications Of Maine’S Changing Age Structure, James Breece, Glenn Mills, Todd Gabe Jan 2015

The Economic Implications Of Maine’S Changing Age Structure, James Breece, Glenn Mills, Todd Gabe

Maine Policy Review

The authors analyze the major implications of Maine’s aging population on the state’s workforce and economy. They note that there are steps that can be taken to partially mitigate the negative impacts and capitalize on the opportuni­ties associated with an aging population.


The View From Augusta: Developments Growing Out Of The Speaker’S 2013 Round Table Discussions And 2014 Aging Summit, Mark Eves, Jessica Maurer Jan 2015

The View From Augusta: Developments Growing Out Of The Speaker’S 2013 Round Table Discussions And 2014 Aging Summit, Mark Eves, Jessica Maurer

Maine Policy Review

Mark Eves and Jessica Maurer describe the significant progress made in Maine since 2013 in addressing aging-related issues through collaboration between legislative and community-based efforts. The Maine Aging Initiative, formed in 2014 and coordinated through the Maine Council on Aging and the House Speaker’s office, plays a significant role in supporting these efforts.


Getting From Here To There: Maine's Elder Transportation Challenge, Katherine Freund Jan 2015

Getting From Here To There: Maine's Elder Transportation Challenge, Katherine Freund

Maine Policy Review

Surveys and studies have repeatedly pointed out the problem of transportation for elders in Maine. Katherine Freund reviews Maine transportation studies and policy and suggests that the solution lies in developing private transporta­tion alternatives that are supported by technology and by appropriate public policies.


The Age-Friendly Community Movement In Maine, Patrica Oh Jan 2015

The Age-Friendly Community Movement In Maine, Patrica Oh

Maine Policy Review

Patricia Oh describes how age-friendly communities can provide residents of all ages what they need and want from their communities. She presents the broad guidelines for the integrated community planning necessary to create environments that support optimal aging and gives examples from places in Maine that are adopting the age-friendly community approach.


The Emergence Of Age-Friendly Communities: The City Of Bangor, Benjamin Sprague Jan 2015

The Emergence Of Age-Friendly Communities: The City Of Bangor, Benjamin Sprague

Maine Policy Review

Although Bangor now has the youngest median age of any city in Maine, Benjamin Sprague describes the city’s efforts to engage its older residents, which has led to Bangor being ranked one of the top places to retire by Forbes Magazine and AARP.


The Future Is Now: Legal Planning For Elders, Jennifer Eastman Jan 2015

The Future Is Now: Legal Planning For Elders, Jennifer Eastman

Maine Policy Review

Legal planning for elders focuses on protecting retirement income and finding ways to pay for long-term health care. Jennifer Eastman discusses estate and tax planning and planning for retirement income, Social Security issues, and asset preservation. She notes that protecting elder adults requires planning and advocating for (or against) policy changes that could adversely affect elders.


Organizing Voices In Maine To Support Successful Aging, David C. Wihry Jan 2015

Organizing Voices In Maine To Support Successful Aging, David C. Wihry

Maine Policy Review

David Wihry discusses the efforts of four associations in Maine that are supporting successful aging by organizing the voluntary, private, and public sectors; embracing a multidisciplinary perspective; and bringing together partners from across the state to make a larger impact on policy, attitudes about aging, and the well-being of older adults.


Shaping The Health And Long-Term-Care Infrastructure Serving Older Adults: Historical Trends And Future Directions, Julie Fralich Jan 2015

Shaping The Health And Long-Term-Care Infrastructure Serving Older Adults: Historical Trends And Future Directions, Julie Fralich

Maine Policy Review

Over the last few decades, federal and state policy have been driving a shift away from nursing facility-based long term services and supports (LTSS) toward home and community-based services (HCBS). As Maine’s aging demographics generate increasing demand for LTSS, the state faces a number of significant challenges as it tries to make living at home longer a viable option for more and more older adults who need assistance in order to do so. This article reviews the confluence of demographic and policy shifts that will shape the future of Maine’s LTSS system.


The Aging And Developmental Disabilities Networks: Can The Silos Be Dismantled?, Lenard W. Kaye, Lucille A. Zeph, Alan B. Cobo-Lewis Jan 2015

The Aging And Developmental Disabilities Networks: Can The Silos Be Dismantled?, Lenard W. Kaye, Lucille A. Zeph, Alan B. Cobo-Lewis

Maine Policy Review

The authors discuss the service networks for aging and developmental and physical disabilities, which have traditionally functioned in distinctly separate camps. They present the case for greater crossover between these networks and endorse increased alignment of the aging and disability networks in all arenas, including policy making, program development, education, and research.


The Emergence Of Age-Friendly Communities: Highlighting The Town Of Bucksport, James Bradney Jan 2015

The Emergence Of Age-Friendly Communities: Highlighting The Town Of Bucksport, James Bradney

Maine Policy Review

James Bradney highlights the activities and services available in Bucksport, Maine, that are enabling the town to meet the needs of its older adult population. The town is one that is participating in the Thriving in Place Initiative of the Maine Health Access Foundation.


Immigrant Elders: What Can Maine Learn From Other States?, Linda Silka Jan 2015

Immigrant Elders: What Can Maine Learn From Other States?, Linda Silka

Maine Policy Review

Maine is not yet home to large numbers of immigrants, but that may soon change. Linda Silka presents lessons from elsewhere about elder immigrants and considers their implications for Maine. She suggests that attention to the topic of immigrant elders will help Maine to create policy and opportunity for all elders.


Ready Or Not—Here They Come!, Laurie Lachance Jan 2003

Ready Or Not—Here They Come!, Laurie Lachance

Maine Policy Review

Laurie Lachance, Maine’s state economist, outlines the economic implications of the “tidal wave” of aging baby boomers that will shortly be hitting Maine, and what might be done to prepare for it. She asks whether Maine has appropriate housing, transportation, and health care services to care for the needs of an aging population, and how Maine will fund the needed infrastructure with a smaller labor force. Lachance notes that there is still time to prepare. Seniors are and will be living longer, healthier lives; they are and will be increasingly engaged in social, cultural and educational activities; this and future …