When Southern Maine Agency on Aging opened its new Adult Day Program in Portland, Lynda saw an opportunity that felt both familiar and hopeful.

“The Adult Day Program at the Portland Center has been amazing for my mother, Joan,” Lynda shares. “I used to own a caregiving agency back in the early 2000s, so I was already aware of Southern Maine Agency on Aging. I saw in their newsletter that they were opening a program in Portland and realized it was so much closer to where we live, and that really sparked my interest.”

Joan was diagnosed with dementia about a year and a half ago, and everything changed.

“My sister was living with her at the time, but she moved, and my husband and I both work full time,” Lynda says. “I realized how alone my mom really was. She’s a people person. She wants social interaction. I thought, ‘okay, I’m going to look into this.’ I needed a break, and I wanted her to be interacting and participating in the various programs they offer.”

What surprised Lynda most was how quickly her mother began to open up and take on a meaningful role within the program. “The most interesting thing to me was that she started talking to me about the other members there,” she shares. “She said there was a woman who joined recently who was shy, so my mother would go over and talk to her. Her mission is always to get people to smile and laugh.”

Now, Lynda says, her mother feels proud of the way she connects with others. “She’s been helping other members come out of their shell, and she does it in such a gentle way. That’s an added bonus, especially being with people who have the same diagnosis she does.”

The structure of the day has also been a good fit. “I had my care plan meeting the other day, and they were giving her rave reviews,” Lynda shares. “The timing works really well for me as a caregiver. I like the later drop-off time and having her there for six hours allows me time to do my own activities.”

Emotionally, the impact has been profound. “I think the first time I went to the Adult Day Program, I left with tears,” Lynda says. “It felt good to finally know I had some help, and it was help from people that I trusted.”

Most importantly, Joan has found new connections. “She has a circle of friends, but they live further away,” Lynda says. “Going to the program, she has formed friendships there.”

Lynda does not hesitate to recommend the program. “I’m happy to be an ambassador for the Adult Day Program and share our experience,” she says. “Southern Maine Agency on Aging is helping my mother be part of a close-knit community.”

To learn more about Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s three Adult Day Program locations or to enroll, please visit our Adult Day Program page.