May 2025

We Need Your Help! Speak Up for Older Mainers – Your Voice Matters!

As the Federal 2026 Budget is being debated, critical programs and services that support millions of older adults and caregivers are at risk. A recent reorganization within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services eliminated the agency responsible for administering many of these services. This shift could fragment essential support systems, potentially reducing their efficiency and effectiveness.

If you're reading this, you know how vital these programs are—whether for you, a loved one, or someone in your community. Now is the time to speak out.

Take action today! Contact Senator Collins, Senator King and Rep. Golden and urge them to:

• Protect services for older Mainers
• Keep these programs within one agency
• Ensure they receive full funding in the 2026 Federal Budget

Your voice can help protect the services older Mainers rely on—don’t wait, reach out today!

Volunteer Highlights

Do you have questions about available resources and would prefer a friendly face-to-face conversation? Walk-in hours at our Calais Access Point are Tuesday 9-3 for Family Caregiver, and Wednesday 9-3 for the Resource Center.

Take the Calais Access Center Programming Survey here!

View the flyer here!

11:30am at the

Durgin Center

274 State Street, Brewer

Held on the first Monday of the month, the Alzheimer’s Association’s

The Empowered Caregiver trainings help caregivers gain skills, build confidence, and feel more prepared to handle the challenges that come with caregiving. Call EAAA's Family Caregiver Program at 941-2865 to learn more!

In Person at the

Durgin Center:

Monthly every second Friday 9-10:30 a.m.

Monthly every fourth Friday 10:30-12 p.m.

In Person at the

Ellsworth Library:

Monthly every second Thursday 2-3:30 p.m.

Zoom Support Group:

Jan., April, July, Oct.

Third Thursdays 2-3:30 p.m.

In Person at Calais United Methodist Church:

Monthly every fourth Wednesday 2-3:30 p.m.

Caregivers come together to share their experiences in a confidential and supportive setting. These support groups help caregivers gain skills, build confidence, and learn about helpful community resources.



Call (207) 941-2865 to register

Medicare Information

Have you received a call saying you can get free food if you just give them your Medicare number?

Unfortunately, if it sounds too good to be true, it is. This is a scam. If you have given your Medicare number over the phone, please report it to the SMP.

You can call 877-808-2468 or fill out a form at smpresource.org/reportfraud.

New to Medicare? Attend EAAA's Medicare 101 class! Click the image above to learn more.

Dear Marci,

I’m having trouble getting my prescribed medication paid for when I go to the pharmacy. What can I do?

Bernadette (Salisbury, NC)

Read Marci's answer!

NUTRITION NEWS AND INFORMATION

Community Cafés

Click here to view Community Café dates and locations.

Office Closures

Eastern Area Agency on Aging offices will be closed May 26th for Memorial Day.

NEWS FROM OUR COMMUNITY

To view larger or to read the flyer, click on the images.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1.   mail:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

2.   fax:

(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

3.   email:

[email protected]

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.