Power in Aging - Changing the Conversation about Aging in Maine

Most Mainers are living longer, healthier, more productive lives than ever before, but our personal and systemic narratives about aging haven’t kept pace.  From the language we use, to the way we plan our communities and design our systems, we need to be more intentional about seeing our own age-bias and incorporating the new needs of older people into our planning processes.  This presentation will explore the effects of age-positivity and purpose on life expectancy, the impact of ageism on our health and economy, and the benefits of eradicating ageism and building an age-positive culture in Maine.

Refreshments and small bites. Question and answer session. Great company!

Meet Our Speakers

Jess Maurer - Executive Director Maine Council on Aging

Jess advances statewide public policy initiatives that support the health and economic security of older Mainers and provides leadership within Maine’s aging network. As part of this work, she is the Project Manager for the Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging. She co-authored Building a Collaborative Community Response to Aging in Place and Maine’s Blueprint for Action on Aging. A licensed Maine attorney, Jess worked for 17 years in the Maine Office of the Attorney General. She graduated from the University of Maine School of Law and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Don Harden - Catholic Charities Maine

Don Harden is a founding Board Member of the Maine Council on Aging and recently served as Vice Chair and as Coordinator of the Council’s initiatives on reframing aging and addressing ageism. He has been affiliated with Catholic Charities Maine for over 41 years most recently as Director of Aging Services. He was co-leader of the Maine Aging Initiative’s Workgroup on Workforce and the Economy, served on the Legislative Commission to Study Long-term Care Workforce Issues, and is a member of Maine’s Department of Labor Committee on Older Workers. He holds a MS in Counseling from USM.