An estimated 5 million, or 1 in 10, older Americans experience elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Through our collective networks, we can generate awareness and foster action to end elder abuse. Let’s work to keep everyone safe as we age. Visit The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) for more information and ways to help protect older adults.

Across the U.S., millions of people care for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Early recognition of these conditions is key to improving and managing care for older patients. Watch the National Center for Equitable Care for Elders’ recent webinar, Recognizing Dementia Early With the Help of Family Caregivers, to discover how health centers can work with informal caregivers to identify early signs of dementia and address other factors that contribute to cognitive impairment. Also, download our publication, Partnering with Caregivers to Recognize Signs of Dementia, for practical strategies to engage caregivers in the early detection of cognitive decline that may lead to a dementia diagnosis.

This June, Porter Memorial Library’s StoryWalk® features Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen. In this whimsical rhyming adventure for young readers, Mr. Magee and his dog Dee’s peaceful day of boating turns into a wild ride.  Learn more at Healthy Acadia.

As the weather warms and gardens come to life, Maine gardeners have the opportunity to support pollinators while enjoying their outdoor spaces. Simple steps, like planting native flowers that bloom all season, removing invasive species, and preserving nesting habitats, can transform any garden into a pollinator haven. To guide and inspire these efforts University of Maine Cooperative Extension offers two resources to help gardeners support pollinators: the Pollinator-Friendly Gardening course and the Pollinator-Friendly Garden Certification.  The self-paced online course helps participants create gardens that provide food, water, shelter and protection for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Residents in Maine and New Hampshire can also apply to have their gardens certified as pollinator-friendly. Certified gardens receive a certificate and may purchase a UMaine or University of New Hampshire Extension garden sign to promote pollinator conservation. More information about the course and certification are available on the program website. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Rebecca Gray at 207-356-1348 or extension.gardening@maine.edu.

The Hope Fund Committee is not accepting applications at this time.  Once we replenish the fund, we will resume accepting applications and will post an announcement in this newsletter and on our website.

“The Support I Wish I Had When Caring for My Mom with Dementia is Finally Available and Here’s How to Get it”: I’ve recently learned that Medicare is testing a groundbreaking new program called GUIDE—Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience. The more I explored it, the more I realized how much it could have changed my life as a dementia caregiver – and how much I hope it can change yours… .  Read more.