BETHEL — With more people in Maine, and Bethel, turning 65 annually, To Your Health of Western Mountains Senior College (WMSC) took on the challenge of presenting a program, “Aging in Place.”

Aging in place refers to living where you have lived for years, using products, services and conveniences that allow you to remain in your own home safely and independently as you age and your circumstances change.

A large capacity audience of 66 heard speakers discuss methods used by other communities in Mane to address the issue. Speakers included Peter Morelli, consultant for AARP’s “Age-Friendly Communities,” Joe Perkins representing the nine communities of “At Home Downeast,” and Julie Allaire, representing “Kennebunk: No Place Like Home.”

Morelli explained how AARP is helping communities prepare for Maine’s changing demographics through the Age-Friendly Community Network. The network is expanding regularly as more communities make the commitment to become age-friendly. AARP advances efforts to help people live easily and comfortably in their homes and communities, and it encourages older residents to take an active role and have their voices heard. Communities in Maine who have already joined this network include Paris, Ellsworth, Portland, Kennebunk and Bowdoinham.

Allaire, as the founding director for “No Place Like Home,” said it supports town efforts to become more age-friendly. A volunteer board of directors provides strategic oversight, and a working group of skilled people conducts activities for the community. Membership is open to people in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel. The organization does focus groups, surveys, and community meetings to provide direct help to older adults in areas they identify. These services may include home safety inspections, errands, help with chores, groceries rides and other services.

An “Age Friendly Community” also lends itself to a “village model,” as explained by Perkins. He said the village model is a member-based program supported by volunteers. The program provides residents of the nine towns around the Blue Hill Peninsula with essential services, empowering them to continue to live safely in their own homes as they age. He added that “At Home Downeast” was the first member in Maine of the nationwide Village to Village network. While each village model is unique, they share community-based, grass roots origins to address the commonly shared desire to “age in place.”

Membership guarantees rides to medical appointments, scheduled twice-monthly nonemergency home visits from a licensed health care professional for a check in, weekly grocery and prescription delivery, initial home safety assessment and information on and referrals to local resources. The annual membership fee is on a sliding scale based on income and ranges from $130 to $1,300.

Patricia Oh, representative from the Bowdoinham project, was unable to attend the meeting. However, she shared the most important item in her experience in starting any kind of aging in-place program. She said older residents need to be consulted to learn what they see as the strengths and weakness of the community for aging in place. Their lifetime of experience will enhance any program.

A follow-up survey conducted by To Your Health confirmed interest, and it is expected that a new community group will be formed to address the issue. The program was presented as a community service by To Your Health of WMSC with the collaboration of Bethel Family Health Center and SAD 44/Continuing Education.