HOULTON, Maine — The town of Houlton may soon become the fourth community in Aroostook County to take on the designation of being an “Age-Friendly Community.”
Members of the Houlton Town Council unanimously agreed Monday, June 14, to draft a letter of support to the American Association of Retired Persons to pursue becoming an age-friendly community.
The designation indicates that a city or town is committed to helping people live there safely and happily as they grow older.
Houlton resident Kathryn Harnish presented the request to the town council, saying that she knew first-hand, from caring for her 77-year-old mother, the challenges and opportunities for those in this age demographic.
“The application process requires us to have support from our elected leaders by a letter of commitment from the town council,” Harnish said. “There is no cost associated with this project for the town.”
Among the benefits to joining the program are receiving technical assistance from the AARP; access to grants that support age friendly projects; and increased collaboration with the numerous stakeholders.
The application process requires the group to detail existing community activities, engagements and collaborations that target older adults and to explain how the group will involve Houlton’s older residents in planning activities.
Once becoming an age-friendly community, the citizen group must build an action plan and report their results to the AARP.
In October 2019, Gov. Janet Mills designated Maine an “age-friendly state,” where all ages can stay active and connected and be able to maintain quality of life.
Locally, Caribou was the first Aroostook County community to adopt the designation back in March 2018. Presque Isle and Limestone quickly followed suit and joined in May 2018. The neighboring community of Danforth, located in Washington County on the border of Aroostook, received the designation in April 2018.
There are more than 70 communities statewide that have joined the cause.
“The common thread among the enrolled communities and states is the belief that the places where we live are more livable, and better able to support people of all ages, when local leaders commit to improving the quality of life for the very young, the very old, and everyone in between,” according to the AARP website.
