June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. “It can be hard to imagine that anyone would deliberately want to harm an elderly person, but unfortunately, elder abuse is a widespread problem. Some instances of elder abuse are intended to exploit the person financially; you’ve probably heard of scams targeting seniors. In other cases, it’s simple negligence”….learn more here. If you suspect someone you know is experiencing elder abuse, you can find a list of resources for help at the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention’s website. (Photo courtesy of Andrea Piacquadio)
Happy Wednesday!
New this week:
Relationship Rewind
Check out the WERU podcast every 3rd Tuesday, 4:30-5 pm, on healthy relationships for youth called “Relationship Rewind.” Find it on NextStep Domestic Violence Project’s website under “Be Informed,” and then “News and Media.” Alli Williamson, NextStep Youth Educator, is looking for guest speakers — 7th grade to college — to talk about relationships. Guest speakers are offered a $50 stipend and school community service hours. Contact Alli at awilliamson@nextstepdvproject.org. This counts for school community service hours requirement.
LSE Medicare Part D Appeals Unit
Legal Services for the Elderly has a Medicare Part D Appeals Unit that helps people of any age who have Medicare but are having trouble getting or affording their medications. If you have Medicare and are having trouble getting your medicine call the LSE Medicare Part D Appeals Unit at 1-877-774-7772 (TTY: 711). The Unit takes calls Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. This assistance is free and confidential.
MCOA’s Community Conversation
The Maine Council on Aging is teaming up with Maine Women’s Lobby Education Fund to host a Community Conversation. Together we hope to create a space for listening and solidarity. We want to hear directly from community members across the state about the gender equity issues that they are facing. Your stories will help us shape the MCOA’s advocacy agenda and the MWLEF’s Policy Roadmap and legislative agenda for gender equity. Together we can address sexism, racism, ageism, and misogyny. Are you interested in joining us later this month?
Sign up for MCOA’s Community Conversation at: Maine Council on Aging. You have two opportunities:
Sign up for MCOA’s Community Conversation at: Maine Council on Aging. You have two opportunities:
- Tuesday, June 21 10:00 – 11:30 am
- Thursday, June 23 2:00 – 3:30 pm
We will be hosting this event on Zoom, and will provide you with a link as soon as you sign up. Stipends are available. If you have any questions contact Kathy Vezina at MCOA kvezina@mainecouncilonaging.org or MWL’s Policy and Programs Coordinator, Ambureen, at ambureen@mainewomen.org. Sign up for this community conversation here.
Find joy in every moment
Lisa Marshall never expected to become her husband’s caregiver in midlife. The couple had lucrative jobs and were excited to retire early. “We thought that we had everything going for us,” Marshall, who lives in Andover, Connecticut, told TODAY. But when he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at 53, she entered a world millions of Americans struggle to navigate every day — from the exhaustion and emotional toll of caregiving, to the huge impact it can take on a family’s finances. Read full article published in Yahoo! News | Published: June 2, 2022
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