Your gift today will help the next older Mainer rediscover that same spark of connection.
The day Frank first walked through our doors, his son, Craig, held his breath.
For years, Frank’s world had grown smaller. Dementia had quietly narrowed the circle of his days – fewer conversations, fewer outings, fewer chances to feel like himself. His world became quiet, and so did he.
“He was just stuck on the couch,” Craig told us. “We didn’t know what else to do.”
Like so many families, they were doing their best – juggling work, caring deeply, and worrying constantly. What Frank needed most wasn’t more supervision. It was connection. When he joined the Adult Day Program at the Southern Maine Agency on Aging, everything changed.
“It was a little nerve-wracking at first,” Craig said. “But it didn’t last long. I knew he was going to be perfectly fine.”
Because for Frank, it wasn’t just an outing. It was a return to himself. He started coming each week – playing games, sharing stories, laughing, and singing along to music. The spark in his eyes returned.
“That,” Frank said, smiling, “makes my life worth something in my eighth decade.”
And the difference rippled through his family. “It’s amazing to see him out with people again,” Craig said. “Those are things we just couldn’t give him.”
Our Adult Day Program also gives caregivers something priceless: time to work, run errands, or simply rest, knowing their loved one is safe, engaged, and cared for.
This is what you make possible. And thanks to your support, that impact is growing. What began as a single Adult Day Program site in Biddeford has now expanded to Springvale and Portland – reaching even more people who need us.
You may know the Southern Maine Agency on Aging for Meals on Wheels. But that’s only the beginning. Every program we offer – caregiver support, wellness classes, Medicare counseling, community cafés, and the Adult Day Program – shares one powerful mission: to build social connection.
Because social connection isn’t a “nice-to-have.” It’s a public health necessity.
Loneliness can harm health as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It raises the risk of dementia by 50%, stroke by 32%, and heart disease by 29%. But connection does the opposite: people who stay connected age healthier, live happier, and feel a deeper sense of purpose. Connection isn’t a luxury – it’s a lifeline.
We witness it every day:
• A Phone Pal call turning into the moment someone looks forward to.
• Community cafés turning strangers into friends.
• A caregiver finding solace and strength through our support group.
This is the quiet, powerful, life-saving work your gift enables.
But this vital work is at risk. As federal funding becomes more uncertain, more older Mainers are turning to us for help – and your support has never mattered more. Your generosity ensures no one is left isolated or unseen.
As the year ends, I ask you to stand with us. Because the next Frank is out there — waiting for that first call, that first class, that first spark of connection. Your gift today will help bring connection, care, and hope to older adults and the families who love them.
With deep gratitude,
Megan M. Walton
CEO
P.S. Frank told us, “Being here makes my life worth something.” That’s what your support makes possible. Please give today to help another older adult rediscover connection, dignity, and joy.
