Research shows that as we age, most of us want to remain in the communities we know and love, with access to essential services that support a healthy, fulfilling life. Yet in The County, as our older population grows, a significant challenge is emerging: not everyone has the support they need to stay in the place they call home. Ensuring that all older adults — not just some — receive what they need to thrive is a matter of justice and a recognition that every person deserves the opportunity to age with dignity, security, and connection to their community.
For more than 50 years, the Aroostook Agency on Aging has been a lifeline for older adults in northern Maine, delivering essential services that promote health, independence and quality of life. But now, flat funding from federal and state agencies, combined with rising program costs, is undermining our ability to meet increasing demand. While all of our programs are affected, the strain is perhaps most visible in our nutrition services, where more than 200 older adults now wait for the critical support of home-delivered meals.
In 2025, the Agency will be able to serve a maximum of 266 Meals on Wheels clients at any time, forcing us to continue a waiting list started in the past year — a step we hoped we’d never have to take. Currently, 70 percent of the people on the waitlist face serious health risks due to poor nutrition, including higher rates of hospitalization and preventable health issues.
Many, like James C., a 79-year-old retired mill worker, have been waiting for over a year to receive meals. Without family nearby, James struggles to shop and prepare nutritious meals, relying on what he calls “cupboard cuisine” — canned soup, boxed mac and cheese, and instant noodles. As a result of poor nutrition, James has lost significant muscle mass and routinely feels fatigued, leading to two fall-related hospitalizations in the past six months. James’s situation illustrates that for many, the wait for Meals on Wheels means much more than food; it’s about staying healthy and independent at home.
Like James, many others are counting on us. But determination alone cannot overcome the financial gaps impacting nearly all of our programs. We are actively advocating for greater funding through the Older Americans Act, setting ambitious fundraising goals, and seeking new ways to stretch limited resources, such as partnering with communities to open 20 local Access Points. These community-based hubs enable us to simultaneously broadcast programs to audiences throughout The County, reducing our costs and allowing us to serve more people with fewer resources.
At our core, we at the Agency believe no older adult in Aroostook County should go without the support they need. Our staff members strive to say “yes” to everyone who reaches out for help, whether for nutritious meals, benefits assistance, complex long-term care management, or respite resources. Yet, given today’s funding constraints, sometimes “yes” is only possible by scaling back elsewhere. Every day, we balance these decisions, prioritizing the need to maximize impact and provide equitable, high-quality support across The County. Without additional funding, however, we simply cannot reach everyone.
This is a call to action for our partners in government, our community and beyond. The people waiting for assistance from us are not just our clients — they are our parents and grandparents; they are the educators who taught us what we know, the farmers who produced our food, and the veterans who proudly served our country. They are truly the best of Aroostook County, and now they are at risk because we, as a society, are not providing the necessary resources to care for them in their later years.
The board and staff of the Aroostook Agency on Aging are steadfast in their commitment to securing the funding and support that The County’s older adults need and deserve. We call on policymakers and community members alike to join us in building a network of support that ensures every older adult has access to life’s essentials.
Meeting the growing demand for services requires collective action: we need your voices in advocating for increased funding, and we welcome your generosity in our upcoming year-end fundraising campaign. Together, we can create a stronger, healthier community and ensure that Aroostook County remains a place to thrive through all stages of life.
Barbara Robertson is the board president at the Aroostook Agency on Aging.
