LEWISTON — If you want to weigh in on efforts to make the city more age-friendly, watch for a survey to be released “soon” by the city’s Senior Advisory Council.

The survey will be used to establish priorities for the council, appointed by the mayor to address the challenges of those older than 50.

The city has joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network of States and Communities, of which Maine has been a member — the sixth state in the nation to join — since 2019.

Becoming a member of the age-friendly community will help Lewiston become “better equipped to be a great place to live for residents of all ages,” Donna Gallant, the chairwoman of the Lewiston Senior Advisory Council, said in a statement to the news media.

The distinction gives the city better access to resources through AARP Maine and the Center for Aging, which share expertise and technical assistance.
Lewiston Age-Friendly Program Coordinator Stephanie Cote said in a recent interview that her job is “to create new opportunities for the 50-plus population, as well as support the existing opportunities in the Lewiston Armory.”

Fifty Plus programs are housed in the armory and administered by the Recreation Department, Cote said.

“The department serves the population from (ages) 3 to 100,” she said. “Since the mission of the Recreation Department is to promote healthy living, the list of consistent activities are chair yoga, walking, canasta, dominoes, free seminars, tai chi and van adventures.”

Recreation Director Nicole Welch said creating “accessible recreation and leisure opportunities for Lewiston residents is a large part of the Age-Friendly Community puzzle.”

Municipal recreation departments can play a large role in social connectivity, Welch said.

“It often starts by helping people find common interests: Physical fitness programs, half-day trips to a museum, and free classes bring people together who have commonalities,” she said.

By offering recreational opportunities for older adults, “we are making Lewiston a more age-friendly place to live,” she said. From finding a new hobby to combating loneliness, there are dozens of benefits that come from positive social outlets.”

The Rec Department “plays a significant part in social participation, respect and social inclusion, and community and health services, which are three of the eight domains of livability,” Welch said.

The other domains established by AARP to help communities become more age-friendly are: outdoor spaces and buildings; transportation; housing; work and civic engagement; and accessible communication and information.

Maine’s list of domains includes natural resource management as part of the outdoor domain, according to the Office of Gov. Janet Mills.

The Mills Administration announced its Age-Friendly State Plan in February 2021 as a “comprehensive strategy to help Maine’s older residents live well and safely in their communities.”

The state plan “confronts the reality” of Maine’s population being the oldest in the nation, according to the administration, “by offering strategies for how Mainers can age in their homes and communities as long as possible while continuing to contribute to the economy and live healthy lives.”

In 2023, AARP.org listed 88 age-friendly communities in Maine, including Auburn, Bethel, Fryeburg, Gray, Greenwood, Hanover, Hartford, Lewiston, Mount Vernon, Newry, Paris and Woodstock.

Lewiston Rec’s age-friendly program development is still in its infancy, Welch said.

“(Cote) has done a fantastic job in networking with organizations that share similar goals, resulting in a more robust program offering,” Welch said.

She said the department is working to make sure Lewiston residents have the tools to live healthy and happy lives.

“By supporting the goal of making Lewiston age-friendly, we focus on intentionality behind the work we do,” she said. “Friendships, mental/physical stimulation and community are important parts of life at any age, and our department is grateful to be a part of that journey for our neighbors.”

Those interested can contact Cote at scote@lewistonmaine.gov if there is a program they would like to see or if they would like to run an age-friendly program.

Or they can wait for that survey from the Senior Advisory Council.

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