Maine is the oldest state in the nation—and that should be a point of leadership, not a warning sign. Yet right now, we are failing too many of our older residents.

The agencies responsible for helping Mainers age safely at home—the Area Agencies on Aging—are stretched beyond capacity. Last year, they supported nearly 53,000 people, but demand continues to grow. With no additional funding in the proposed budget, more people will face waitlists, delays, or go without the support they need.

Consider this: Nine hundred people are already waiting for Meals on Wheels, many of them homebound and living in rural communities. This is unacceptable.

The good news is that a solution exists. The Older Mainers Act (LD 814, An Act to Provide Funding to Area Agencies on Aging for Community-based Services and Programs to Support Older Adults) would strengthen our aging support network and ensure older adults can access services proven to improve quality of life and reduce costs.

By investing $9.75 million, the state stands to save over $10.5 million while helping residents remain independent and engaged.

This is about dignity. It’s about fairness. And it’s about preparing responsibly for our future.As Mainers, we take care of our own. I urge everyone reading this to contact their legislators and ask them to support LD 814.

Let’s make Maine a place where aging well is not a privilege, but a promise.

Pamela Corcoran lives in Belfast