For Representative Kristen Cloutier, legislative work is never just about bills – it’s about people. Her commitment to Maine’s aging network is rooted in personal experience. Caring for her mother shaped both her perspective and her priorities. That lived experience has driven her to champion policies that strengthen the support systems older adults and family caregivers rely on, from Respite for ME to Paid Family Medical Leave to the Older Mainers Act. Her leadership is defined not just by results, but by a dedication to listening, learning, and building consensus along the way.

This dedication has earned her recognition from Southern Maine Agency on Aging.

“SMAA is proud to recognize Representative Cloutier as the 2025 Champion of Older Adults,” said Megan Walton, CEO of SMAA. “Her empathy, vision, and collaborative leadership exemplify how thoughtful advocacy can transform systems – and lives – for older Mainers and the caregivers who support them.”

Reflecting on the honor, Cloutier emphasizes the collective effort behind her successes.

“I am so honored to be receiving this award because the work that made it possible is so personally meaningful,” she said. “Every person I have had the good fortune of working with on these issues is just as deeply invested. Each of them is committed to community-driven solutions to our challenges and more equitable, interconnected systems of care for aging Mainers, recognizing and respecting that everyone’s journey is different. We are so fortunate to have a team like that leading the effort.”

“Caregiving has always been a priority for me, stemming from my own experience as a caregiver for my mom,” Rep. Cloutier said. “It’s the experience that brought me to the legislature and it’s the focus of much of the work I’ve done since I was first elected.”

Her approach goes beyond advocacy. It’s grounded in collaboration and trust.

“Consensus building has also always been a priority for me, not just because it helps to get policy across the finish line, but because it makes good policy even stronger,” she said. “And good consensus building starts long before you need it. It’s the basis of trusting relationships with my colleagues, partners, and constituents. That trust and those relationships are what allow me to find common ground with folks around the issues that affect us all.”

That collaborative spirit extends to her partnerships with community organizations. Cloutier credits her local Area Agency on Aging, SeniorsPlus, with helping her navigate the early days of caregiving, offering both practical support and first-hand insights that informed her legislative work. She cites the Respite for ME program as an example.

“It was originally designed to provide a tax credit for family caregivers,” she said. “However, upon reflection with partners like the Maine Council on Aging, Maine People’s Alliance, Maine Center for Economic Policy, and the Office of Aging and Disability Services, we decided to transition to a grant program to make things easier for both the AAAs administering the program and the caregivers accessing it.”

Her efforts are guided by a vision of aging in Maine that is dignified, equitable, and accessible. She has become a trusted voice for policies that strengthen not only the services older Mainers rely on, but the community networks that make those services effective.