Welcome

“It takes a village…”
“No man is an island…”
“Lean on me…”

As these sayings suggest, we all have a need for support and for relationships that offer intimacy and continuity. This is especially true as we age as well as for those individuals caring for aging family members. Community programs and support groups provide an important network of resources, friendships and camaraderie that is the foundation of a caring society.  Similarly, partnering with other organizations establishes strong bonds among those in the community who serve the elderly and those caring for the elderly. This cooperation among community organizations is of great benefit to our older population as it makes access to critical resources easier and helps to smooth transitions.

The Division of Geriatrics at Maine Medical Center partners with Southern Maine Agency on Aging, the Alzheimer’s Association and Partnership for Healthy Aging to offer both educational programs and support groups designed to help Maine’s elders and their families cope with issues related to aging.

Caring for the elderly in the community also requires access to physicians trained specifically in geriatric principles. The Division of Geriatrics includes a nursing home component in which geriatricians take care of patients in local nursing homes. This has produced a strong bond among the geriatric healthcare settings and helped to fill in the gaps that can occur as older individuals transition from one healthcare setting to another.