The challenges facing the aging population in Lincoln County, in all of Maine, and in the whole country, are becoming more and more apparent, but it is difficult to get either government or private sector organizations to focus on developing workable, affordable strategies that will enable the elderly to enjoy satisfying lives, according to the speakers at the Lincoln County Democrats monthly meeting June 26 in Wiscasset.

Carla Dickstein of CEI, a nonprofit community development corporation based in Wiscasset, noted that the subject is of particular significance for Lincoln County, which has the highest median age of any county in Maine, which itself has the highest median age of any state in the country.

Both Dickstein and Dr. Chip Teel of Nobleboro, founder of Full Circle America, which uses off-the-shelf electronic technology to enable “virtual assisted living,” emphasized the importance of the social side of the combined set of social and medical services that are needed to meet the needs of older people.

Dickstein has been leading a two-year project to bring together Maine regional planners, healthcare providers, subsidized housing backers, and supporters of nonprofit healthcare organizations, to look at ways to get useful programs underway. A key element to enabling most people's preferred option (remaining in their own home) will be to develop transportation capabilities for the many in Maine who live in rural communities, she said.

Another strategy is to find or build affordable in-town housing, in locations with easy access to local businesses and services. But, she said, only limited funds are available to support development of subsidized housing projects.

Dickstein said the problems of aging are really inter-generational problems that affect whole families, not just the elderly, making it in everyone's interest to find solutions.

Teel led the effort in the 1990s to set up what has become seven residential care homes for the elderly in Lincoln County, beginning with Hodgdon Green in Damariscotta. His focus now is on enabling people to remain in their homes as long as possible.

At the meeting in Wiscasset he displayed a range of small electronic devices that his Full Circle America organization makes available so the elderly can keep in contact with family, friends, volunteers and caregivers. The devices include Skype video calling systems, monitoring cameras, beeper-type signaling devices, and door motion sensors.

These are always supplemented with regular staff visits plus visits or calls from volunteers or friends and family, and with whatever personal services are needed. Older persons themselves are encouraged to be part of the volunteer network as a way to keep connected to the community.

Eventually people may get to the point where they have to be moved to a residential care setting, but in the meantime they live happier lives, and families save many thousands of dollars by going the Full Circle route, Teel says.

While the Holy Grail of elder care is to keep people in their own homes, he said, and there is lots of talk about it, not many are taking steps to actually make that possible.

Lincoln County Democrats chair Lisa Miller announced that the next monthly meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 25. The subject will be this year's Maine legislative session.