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Latest News 

Opening Minds through Art (OMA) offered for people with dementia

(Posted March 1, 2023) Opening Minds through Art (OMA), a fine arts class for people with dementia, will be offered free of charge in Wilton, Norway, and Lewiston starting this month. Through a series of six one-hour classes, OMA engages people living with dementia in creating abstract art, by relying on their imagination instead of memory. OMA strives to bring joy, art, and pride to people living with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

The classes will be presented from 1 pm - 2 pm as follows: Fridays, March 24 through April 28 at SeniorsPlus in Wilton; Fridays, May 19 through June 23 at SeniorsPlus in Norway; and Fridays, July 14 through August 18 at SeniorsPlus in Lewiston. Contact SeniorsPlus at 795-4010 or edcenter@seniorsplus.org to register. This project was supported, in part by grant number 90ADP10036-01-00 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, DHHS, Washington, D.C. 20201.

SeniorsPlus also continues to offer Music & Memory, an exciting, internationally-recognized, evidence-based program targeting caregivers and adults who have dementia and are aging in place at home.

Respite for ME could be for you

(Posted February 6, 2023) Are you an unpaid caregiver who needs a break? Respite for ME is a new grants program designed to help caregivers to access respite care as well as other services. Thousands of Mainers care for family members who are older, have a disability, or are not their biological child. Caregivers can also be neighbors extending a helping hand to an older adult, or someone with Alzheimer’s or related dementias. Eligible caregivers may receive up to $2,000 to access needed services. SeniorsPlus is here to assist eligible caregivers by answering your questions, assessing your service needs and helping navigate the application process. Frequently asked questions are here. Contact SeniorsPlus about Respite for ME by calling 207-795-4010.

We celebrated 50 years, with more to come

(Posted January 6, 2023) Did you miss our 50th anniversary celebration? We produced the video below, highlighting our accomplishments, right from the mouths of those who benefit from them and those who volunteer to help make it possible.

We also published a booklet showcasing our work over the past 5 decades, including archive photos, interviews with past Executive Directors, board members, volunteers, and more. 

We are also launching our completely redesigned website shortly, so be sure to stay tuned for a new look, better navigation, and enhanced functionality. 

All of this was made possible by the support of our 50th Anniversary sponsors:

Gold Sponsors: AARP Maine and Healey & Associates

Silver Sponsors: Bangor Savings Bank, Bedard Pharmacy, Northeast Bank, Richard Brothers Financial Advisors, and Vital I/O

Bronze Sponsors: Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice and Berman & Simmons

Friends Sponsors: Aetna, FirstLight Home Care, Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, and Ouellette & Associates, P.A.

Wilton open house on July 13

(Posted July 6, 2022) SeniorsPlus, Western Maine’s designated Area Agency on Aging, will hold an open house for the launch of its new satellite office space at 284 Main St., Suite 210 in Wilton – just above Cazolaio Pasta Co. – on Wednesday, July 13, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The public is invited to come meet staff of SeniorsPlus, see the new space, and celebrate, while enjoying light refreshments, catered by Cazolaio. In addition, door prizes, including gift certificates to area restaurants, will be given away. 

Summer office hours announced

(Posted June 30, 2022) Following are the Summer Office Hours at each of our three locations:

Lewiston Office (8 Falcon Road) Office hours in Lewiston are 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday, except holidays. If you have a specific concern, we encourage you to make an appointment by calling SeniorsPlus at 207-795-4010. The Caregiver Support Group meets on the second Monday of each month from 5:30pm to 7pm, no appointment needed. Most services are free and open to the public.

Wilton Office (284 Main St.) Office hours in Wilton are available by appointment. Call SeniorsPlus at 207-795-4010 to schedule an appointment for Tuesdays between 8:30am and 12:30pm and Thursdays 1:30pm through 4:30pm. The Caregiver Support Group meets on the first Thursday of each month from 3pm to 4:15pm and no appointment is needed. Medicare support is available by appointment on the third Thursday of the month between 9am and noon.

Norway Office (9 Marston St.) Office hours in Norway are available by appointment. Call SeniorsPlus at 207-795-4010 to schedule an appointment for Tuesdays between 9am and noon, Thursdays 1pm through 5pm, and Fridays 9am to noon. The Caregiver Support Group meets on the fourth Thursday of each month from 2:30pm to 4pm and no appointment is needed. (Please note that due to holidays, the group will meet Thursday, November 17 and December 29  from 2:30 - 4 pm. In January the schedule will revert to the fourth Thursday of the month.) Medicare support is available by appointment on the fourth Thursday of the month between 9am and noon. 

Best Places for Working Parents

(Posted April 20, 2022) SeniorsPlus is proud to be named a 2022 Best Places For Working Parents business. 

New music program aids memory

(Updated January 19, 2022) Music & Memory is an exciting new evidenced-based community program that SeniorsPlus will begin offering this spring. For individuals aging in place at home and their caregivers, research has shown that favorite songs provide respite, ease transitions and reduce caregiver stress. A growing body of research proves how personalized playlists change lives for the better.

To view or print the flyer, please click here. 

Local impact of COVID-19

(Updated September 28, 2020) When the coronavirus hit Maine, thousands in our community found that while the doors at SeniorsPlus may have closed to face-to-face interactions, our services remained open.  

To accommodate the needs of the newly homebound and other clients, SeniorsPlus expanded its services, often in innovative ways through technology and the kindness of others, including volunteers and neighboring businesses. We are grateful for the ongoing support as we all work together to make life better for our community, now and going forward.

Please view attached graphic to see the many ways SeniorsPlus made a difference in our communities. 

SeniorsPlus CEO testifies at U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing

(Posted June 15, 2020) “Combating Social Isolation and Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic” U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing was held on June 11. Betsy Sawyer-Manter, President and CEO of SeniorsPlus, was one of four professionals invited to give testimony at the hearing.

In addition to Betsy, witnesses included: Carla Perissinotto, MD, Associate Chief For Geriatrics Clinical Programs, Associate Professor, School Of Medicine, The University of California, San Francisco, CA; Peter Reed, PhD, Director, Sanford Center For Aging; Professor, Community Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV; Najja Orr, President and CEO, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, Philadelphia, PA.

Click to watch video and download testimony. 

Help define the organization's vision: 2020-2024 Area Plan

(Posted May 28, 2020) SeniorsPlus is holding two public hearings on its 2020-2024 Area Plan, which outlines the organization’s vision to serve the older and disabled adults populations over the next four years.

The public is invited to participate. Comments also are welcome via email or US Mail. Written comments must be received on or before June 27, 2020 via mail to SeniorsPlus, 8 Falcon Road, Lewiston ME, 04240 or via email to hzielinski@seniorsplus.org. For more information, read the draft of the 2020-2024 Area Plan in its entirety here or call 1-800-427-1241.

Area Plan on Aging Public Hearing Dates - VIA ZOOM
Tuesday, June 16th at 10 AM
To register please call 207-795-4010 or 1-800-427-1241

Wednesday, June 17th at 1 PM
To register please call 207-795-4010 or 1-800-427-1241

An advanced draft plan can be reviewed between June 1 and June 17, 2020, or interested parties may request a copy by calling the office of SeniorsPlus at 207-795-4010 or 1-800-427-1241.

SeniorsPlus availability during the coronavirus threat

(Posted April 2020) While our physical offices are not open to the public at this time, we are open and operating our EIM services, Meals on Wheels, Information and Assistance, SPLLC and Atypical Services.

Our phone lines are also open.

But we have had to reduce the number of staff available to answer our phones. We are not staffing our phone lines full-time, but we are checking messages throughout the day. Please feel free to call us with concerns or questions and leave a message at 1-800-427-1241. Be sure to clearly state the person or service area from which you seek support. Thank you for your patience during this unusual time.

Another way to help

(Posted March 26, 2020) We have received word of a community Facebook page, The Help Project, created in an effort to engage people who are interested in helping shut ins, older people, and people who are immune compromised in our area. It provides a place to find volunteers if and when you need them while seeking volunteers to join the group, offer ideas or resources, or offer information regarding someone who could use volunteer help, whether it's to run an errand, pet sit, find resources, or whatever.

Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast 2020 cancelled

(Posted March 25, 2020) As a precaution due to the COVID-19/Coronavirus threat, we are sorry to say that we have cancelled the Volunteer Recognition Event we had scheduled for April 17th. Please contact Deanna Maxfield, our Volunteer Services Coordinator, with any questions at 513-3725 or email dmaxfield@seniorsplus.org. To our many volunteers: thank you for your service, we could not do it all without you.

Caregiver support groups invited to connect by phone

(Posted March 20, 2020) Our Franklin County Aging Well Mini Expo has been rescheduled. It was scheduled for April 30 and we’ve rescheduled for June 4. Additional information will be forthcoming.

SeniorsPlus announces temporary changes to programming

(Posted March 17, 2020) Out of caution and as concerns deepen regarding the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), SeniorsPlus, Western Maine’s designated Area Agency on Aging, has temporarily closed its offices and will no longer be making or holding any appointments requiring face-to-face interaction with clients. Staff will continue to be available electronically and telephonically at 1-800-427-1241. Call to purchase Around Town vouchers. Education classes have been halted temporarily. The Franklin County office in Farmington is now closed indefinitely.

Some non-essential activities, specifically the following programs, have been halted temporarily:

-Social Dining;

-Education classes, including Healthy Living for ME workshops; and

-The Fill the Plate Breakfast to benefit Meals on Wheels. (Tentatively postponed until Fall 2020.)

Meals on Wheels will continue with modifications. Clients of Meals on Wheels will be informed of these modifications.

We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you.

A request for those who may feel ill

(posted February 28, 2020) With the goal of all of us doing our part to keep our community healthy, we've posted the following signs at each of our offices: 

Due to the extended cold and flu season, we respectfully ask that if you are not feeling well, that you reschedule appointments or not attend classes in our Ed Center or other offices. We appreciate your understanding and consideration for all of our clients and staff.

Please call 207-795-4010 if you need to reschedule an appointment.