Since its launch in October, the GNG Community Connection project has already made an impact, providing opportunities for social engagement and connections to local resources for older adults in New Gloucester and Gray. Activities are free and have included one-to-one private consultations about local resources and supports, a weekly morning coffee hour and afternoon teatime, and talks and presentations.
Funding from the $2.5 million statewide Community Connection initiative supports two GNG Community Connectors: Cindy Slocum and Lori Fowler, longtime New Gloucester residents. They are available to answer questions and connect people to resources on Tuesday afternoons at the Gray Library and on Thursday mornings at the New Gloucester Library.
Already, Cindy and Lori have connected local people to a wide variety of services. They have
- provided assistance to an older resident who needed help getting online to apply for a rebate from Efficiency Maine
- connected a family member whose parent in southern Maine needed transportation to a volunteer ride program in Biddeford
- helped a homebound person find someone to cook some meals
- connected a local resident who needed snow shoveling this winter with a high school volunteer
- referred people to the Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging for community and caregiver services and
- provided information and referrals to people who were interested in understanding and applying for the Medicare Savings Program, and
- connected local residents to the NG Volunteer Rides program.
The GNG Connector program is one of 11 pilot sites across the state that share goals of building connections between older adults and local services, providing opportunities for social engagement, and helping people stay in their homes and communities. Locally, the Town of Gray administers the program in collaboration with BLING (Building Livability in New Gloucester), a volunteer group formed to promote an Age-Friendly New Gloucester.
For those looking for a chance to socialize with others, the GNG connectors have also been providing free coffee, tea and refreshments twice a week in New Gloucester and Gray.
- The coffee hour in New Gloucester is from 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday mornings at the vestry of First Congregational Church on Gloucester Hill Road. Folks have stopped by to share stories (Barbie remembered taking the train from New Gloucester to Portland in the 50’s); enjoy baked goods made by Avis (blueberry muffins were a recent favorite); and compare notes on favorite books. The UMaine Center on Aging has provided a mini-library of books, and each week, people leave and take their favorites. (Rosalie is winning the prize for most books read with Firekeeper’s Daughter and All the Lonely People as top favorites).
- The teatime at the Gray Public Library is from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday afternoons. This is a chance for Gray and New Gloucester neighbors to share information on local resources, learn about the walking paths in Gray, and find out more about the Gray Food Pantry. Mostly, time is spent chatting about fun events, books that people have read, or plans for trips or holidays.
Many local organizations, including the Gray and New Gloucester Food pantries, the First Congregational Church of New Gloucester, the GNG Recreation Departments, and the Gray American Legion, have all stepped forward to provide space and help getting the word out about this new program.
Some other highlights from the fall include:
- In early October, the GNG Connectors brochure was mailed to all households in Gray and New Gloucester. More than 300 brochures were also distributed to Gray and New Gloucester Food pantry members, the American Legion in Gray, participants at the Community Café, both public libraries, NG rides, and others. We are finding that many older adults rely on written materials and mailers for information. Many arrive with the mailer in hand.
- On October 16, Mary Hadlock, the “community ambassador” from the Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging (SMAA), provided a comprehensive overview of the programs and services available to older adults and those with disabilities including the community resources, caregiver resources, nutrition services, and wellness programs at SMAA. See here for the video of the presentation. Twenty-nine people attended this program.
- On November 6, a Medicare Options counselor from SMAA made a presentation at the vestry of First Congregational Church on how to evaluate and choose a Medicare Plan. This covered the ways people can obtain their Medicare benefit either through the regular Medicare program or with a Medicare Advantage Plan, helpful for those entering Medicare or considering changing their plan during open enrollment. Find the presentation slides here or view the video here. In addition, you can use Medicare Plan Finder, an online tool, to explore your Medicare plan options. For assistance with finding a Medicare plan, you can also contact Consumers for Affordable Health Care – Maine at 1-800-965-7476 or the Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging.
- On November 20, the Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging working with Northern Light Health, and with help from the New Gloucester Recreation Department, held a Covid and flu vaccine clinic at the New Gloucester Community Building. This was attended by 12 people from both Gray and New Gloucester.
Through the support of the Maine Center on Aging and the Governor’s Cabinet on Aging, the GNG Community Connectors also have access to many resources and sources of information that they are sharing with people at the coffee and tea times and in one-on-one conversations. Some of the resources that Cindy and Lori have been sharing include:
- New Gloucester Rides Volunteer Transportation Program provides free rides for New Gloucester residents to medical or dental appointments within 30 miles one-way.
- Medicare Savings Program helps pay monthly Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs for those who meet the income eligibility limits. The monthly income guidelines became more generous as of July 1, 2024, and there is no asset test or estate recovery requirements for the program. For more information and help with the Medicare Savings application, go to Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging or call them at 207.396.6500; or go to Consumers for Affordable Health Care or call them at 1-800-965-7476. The GNG Community Connectors have helped people sign up, resulting in significant savings for many.
- Information on Heating Assistance, Home Energy and Home Repair Programs are also available from a number of sources, including the Maine Heating Resources Guide and the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) which helps with heating costs.
- Habitat for Humanity – Critical Home Repair can help with some home repairs and modifications, and The Community Aging in Place Grant Program offers no-cost home safety checks, repairs, and accessibility modifications to eligible applicants.
Community members interested in learning more about Community Connections, or looking to get involved, are encouraged to reach out to either of the GNG Community Connectors: Cindy Slocum (207.572.2594) or Lori Fowler (207.572.6493) or email GNG Connectors at GNGConnectors@gmail.com.
And please feel free to stop by the libraries in Gray (Tuesday afternoon) and New Gloucester (Thursday morning) or stop by for coffee Tuesday morning at the New Gloucester First Congregational Church or Thursday afternoon at the Gray Library.
— Julie Fralich
BLING – Building Livability in New Gloucester
