Time is flying by, and aging comes with it. Nearly everyone asks the same questions and has similar needs as the birthdays accumulate. The good news is that there are wonderful places to seek out services and support in our own community. Some may even surprise you.
Harpswell Aging at Home and its partners, People Plus, Bath-Brunswick Respite Care, and Spectrum Generations, provide a host of services. You may already know that if you need a ride to pick up groceries or get to a medical appointment, Harpswell Aging at Home can get you there in partnership with People Plus. What about occasional meal deliveries? Or a friendly call from a neighbor to brighten your day? HAH has you covered.
But what if you temporarily need a wheelchair or a walker, shower seat or commode? Harpswell Aging at Home and People Plus have borrowing programs for “durable medical equipment.” Not only can you get what you need, but when you have recovered, you can donate your extra equipment for others to borrow.
Do you live alone? Harpswell Aging at Home and People Plus offer a free safety call through their Good Morning Program. Participants are given a number to call every day by 9:30 a.m.. If you don’t make that call, a call goes out to your contact person. If they can’t be reached, a call is made to your local police, who will check on you.
Memory issues concern us all. Don’t wait until you or someone you love is struggling with those challenges. Explore solutions now. Bath-Brunswick Respite Care’s Adult Day Program offers support for both individuals with memory issues and their caregivers.
The Adult Day Program, referred to as “The Club,” specializes in the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other age-related cognitive issues. Club members meet up to five days a week to socialize, exercise, do crafts, garden and enjoy themselves. Caregivers get time to take care of errands and restore their energy.
Bath-Brunswick Respite Care board member Jay McCreight said she has been “overwhelmed by watching the way the staff interacts with each individual member, how thoughtfully they engage and respond to their needs.”
There is a cost for this service, but Bath-Brunswick Respite Care will work with each applicant to find funding. Harpswell Aging at Home also hosts a group that supports caregivers in Harpswell.
People Plus in Brunswick supports engaged, healthy and independent lives. Executive Director Stacy Frizzle-Edgerton said, “We not only offer activities at the center, but also provide in-home support. We serve over 1,500 members and invite anyone interested to come for a tour and even sample every class we offer once for free.”
Popular offerings include an art class, chair yoga, table tennis, a history book club and a writers workshop. You can learn to play bridge and/or join a club for fiber arts, foreign languages or even world affairs.
People Plus provides free grocery and pharmacy pickup, special breakfasts, lunches and some take-home meals. There are resources to help with finding housing and downsizing. There is an annual membership fee of $45. Scholarships are available for those who need one.
Sharing a building with People Plus in Brunswick, Spectrum Generations provides lifelong learning, health, wellness, nutrition, caregiver support services, assistive technology and tools, Meals on Wheels, and Medicare counseling. Their community-based workshops improve functional fitness, health knowledge and social engagement. They offer personal support services too numerous to list.
I have just scratched the surface of the wealth of help and information available to residents. For more information about these programs, go to their websites or call to speak with someone who can help: Harpswell Aging at Home, 207-295-9088 or 207-833-5771, Ext. 108, hah.community; People Plus, 207-729-0757, peopleplusmaine.org; Spectrum Generations, 207-729-0475, spectrumgenerations.org.
