The Campaign to Create a Better Day

The Campaign to Create a Better Day is the largest fundraising initiative every undertaken by the Southern Maine Agency on Aging.

To date, over $4 million has been raised to support the Sam L. Cohen Adult Day Center, a state-of-the-art adult day center that serve adults and families living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

The Laurence W. Gross Member Access Fund

The Laurence W. Gross Member Access Fund serves to bridge funding for families who need to enroll a family member with cognitive loss at the Cohen Center. These access funds will relieve the stress of caregiving while families sort out funding issues with state or federal programs such as the Veteran’s Administration or Section 61 of Maine Care.

Attending the center allows the person with dementia the opportunity to socialize, build community and try new experiences in a safe and supportive place. The faster a caregiver is able to enroll their family member, the quicker the person with cognitive loss can begin building community and the caregivers get the benefit of daily respite.

Jennifer & Pauline

Consider the case of Jennifer and Pauline. Jennifer’s mother, Pauline, age 74, was living in the southern U.S. Jennifer’s father passed away suddenly. Jennifer did her best to help her mother rebuild her life and manage her finances while raising her own family and working part time in Maine. Unknown to Jennifer, her mother was in the early stage of dementia. By the time Jennifer realized that the odd conversations, unusual purchases and the timing mistakes weren’t caused by the stress of Pauline’s new life as a widow, it was too late. Pauline had been the victim of a scammer who preyed on new widows. Pauline’s small nest egg was gone as were her valuable family treasures. The scammer and the money were long gone with no hope of recovery.

Jennifer and her husband managed to get Pauline moved to Maine into their spare room. And while having her close was a comfort, they needed to find a way to keep her safe and active during the day while they worked. Jennifer called SMAA to see about enrolling her mother at The Cohen Center in Biddeford. The Cohen Center offer daily socialization in a safe community. Day center members enjoy community and companionship while getting to participate in favorite activities or discover new interests. However, Jennifer explained to our staff that until her mother’s modest house sold, they did not have the money to pay for any type of support. Because of the Laurence W. Gross Member Access Fund, we were able to offer a scholarship to Pauline, providing a bridge until the closing of her home. Pauline could begin attending the Cohen Center for 20 hours a week, meeting new friends, being active and establishing a new community. Jennifer and her husband could maintain balance in working and caring for their children.

Your gift to the Laurence W. Gross Member Access Fund will support families just like Jennifer and Pauline’s.

You Can Help Create a Better Day

In the end, it's not about the centers that we've built - it's about the people we serve. And to do so, we will need your help.

To learn more about giving a gift to the Campaign to Create a Better Day or how you can make a gift to the Laurence W. Gross Member Access Fund, please contact our Development Office at 207-396-6571. You may make a one-time gift or you may arrange a multi-year pledge. The Development Office is happy to assist you.