Things We Don't Want to Talk About -
Communities Tackle the Challenges of Aging
Photo from FRAME photo contest
This free in-person conference brings state-wide leaders and Age-Friendly, Lifelong Communities together for thought-provoking discussion, networking, and peer sharing.
At this year's conference, we will explore innovative solutions that help us continue thriving in our cherished communities, despite the challenges that aging may bring.
Breakouts provide a deep dive into these topics:
Solo Aging
Driving Cessation
Preparing for End of Life
Healthy Brain Aging
Fraud Prevention
Hoarding
And more - much more!
You will leave with ideas, tools, and connections
to tackle challenges of aging in your community.
Dr. Marilyn Gugliucci
Dr. Gugliucci (Marilyn) is the daughter of a former star first baseman (her mother) and an exceptionally gifted cook (her father). She has inherited fierce conscientiousness, unflagging optimism and only moderately bridled enthusiasm. She is a professor & Director of Geriatrics Education and Research at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM) and founding director of U-ExCEL, an older adult fitness program. She has been in these roles since she had black hair. Her goal in life is to change the world… effecting change so that aging is embraced.
Her unique Learning by Living UNECOM Research Projects offer two tracks: (1) The Nursing Home Immersion that "admits" medical students into nursing homes to live the life of a resident for 2-weeks; and (2) The 48 Hour Hospice Home Immersion where pairs of medical students live in an 18-bed in-patient acute care hospice home to conduct patient care, family support, and post-mortem care. She also conducts research on older adult falls/proprioception and the use of Virtual Reality as a learning modality.
Dr. Gugliucci is a Fellow of four national associations. She served as the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education president (2008-2010) and is serving The Gerontological Society of America as president (2025), and board of directors’ chair (2026). Marilyn serves on a number of local and national boards; has been recognized with a number of state and national awards for her research and teaching; lectures both nationally and internationally; and has multiple publications in the field of aging.
(stay tuned for additional details)
Solo Aging
Presenters - Ken Elliot , Clinical Psychologist
Mary-Lou Ciolfi, Director, Policy and Education, UMaine Center on Aging
Dr. Ken Elliot and Mary Lou Ciolfi explore how communities can support the growing number of older adults without immediate family. Join their dynamic discussion on building social networks, finding suitable housing, and maintaining independence – critical knowledge for creating vibrant, supportive environments where solo agers thrive.
Article Link - Going it Alone. Historic Numbers of Americans Live by Themselves as They Age
Ken Elliot
Ken Elliott was born in 1946 when Los Angeles was surrounded by orange trees and snow peaks. Now 78 years of age he has been living in Mount Vernon since 1979. He’s a faculty emeritus within the U Maine System. Before moving to Maine he was a faculty member at the University of Toronto. Prior to that he served briefly in the Peace Corps after obtaining degrees from Wesleyan University (Ct), The New School for Social Research and. Alliant University in California.
Outside of the workplace, Ken is a home improver, a member of the Mt.Vernon community, a practicing Buddhist and student of Japanese and Czech. As a licensed psychologist he started out at AMHI and taught developmental psychology as well as adult development and aging. His interest in solo aging awoke in the past five years as a blend of “me search” and the discovery that very little seems to be occurring in rural Maine, to recognize and support solo agers.
His hope is that the Maine Aging plan will include this term, that a study group will be piloted for one year similar to Linda Camp’s Backup Plan Task Force in Minnesota and under the aegis of the Maine Governor’s Cabinet on Aging.
Mary Lou Ciolfi
Director of Policy Analysis and Research at the UMaine Center on Aging and Co-Director of the Consortium for Aging Policy Research and Analysis, Mary Lou brings her expertise in policy development and analysis, research and evaluation, and in adult learning to her work with Lifelong Maine. Mary Lou is a trained facilitator for the Gerontological Society of America's FrameWorks Reframing Aging and presents nationally on the topic. To read her full bio, click here.
Driving Cessation and Alternative Transportation
Presenters - Tom Meuser, Clinical Psychologist
Mary Beth Paquette, Volunteer Transportation Fellow, UMaine Center on Aging
Karin Sadtler, Age-Friendly Communities of the Lower Kennebec
Tom Meuser will discuss evaluating driving ability and managing driving cessation conversations. Mary Beth Paquette will then outline how to build and run volunteer driving programs, including recruitment and safety protocols. Karin will reflect on how a regionally active age-friendly organization approaches the goal of launching a volunteer transportation program in 6 neighboring towns. Together, they'll equip attendees with tools to help older adults maintain independence through safe transportation alternatives.
Tom Meuser
Tom Meuser is a clinical psychologist and applied gerontologist. He moved to Maine in 2018 to better support his father who lives with dementia. After a long career in academia, he retired in 2024 to pursue self-employment. He now provides neuropsychological assessment and consultation for older adults concerned about cognitive change. He conducted research on driver safety for many years and led the team which put in place Missouri’s current approach for evaluating medical fitness of at-risk drivers of all ages. Now, in Maine, he works on research and education projects with both the Bureaus of Motor Vehicles and Highway Safety.
Mary Beth Paquette
Mary Beth Paquette has worked in the nonprofit field for 45 years -- the last 10+ for organizations that provided volunteer transportation. In that capacity she designed guidelines, budgets, policies, forms, orientation materials and evaluation tools for use in transportation provision. Mary Beth is currently a volunteer for Lifelong Maine and enjoys assisting Age-Friendly communities as they work to provide rides for their neighbors. She can be reached at marybethpaquette4@gmail.com
Karin Sadtler
Karin moved to Maine in 2017 after working as small animal veterinarian in Germany for 30 years. She joined the “Age-Friendly Communities of the Lower Kennebec” in 2018. In 2025, the regionally active group launched an independent volunteer transportation program in Arrowsic and Georgetown. Karin led a dedicated volunteer transportation subcommittee to develop the program. She considers herself a lifelong learner and loves to volunteer to build strong community connections and create real solutions. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities, reading, cooking, and sharing food with friends.
Advanced Care, End of Life Planning
Presenters - Lisa White, Social Worker and Thanatologist
Sharon Berz, Age-Friendly Limestone
Renee Wheaton, Coordinator Mount Washington Valley Age-Friendly
Navigating end-of-life decisions takes skill and sensitivity. Lisa will equip age-friendly leaders with practical tools for guiding advance care planning conversations. Renee Wheaton introduces an innovative document organization system, while Sharon Berz demystifies the Maine Care Long-Term Care application process.
Lisa White, , LMSW, MA, CT
Lisa holds a master’s degree in social work with concentrations in both clinical and macro areas of practice. She also holds a master’s degree in thanatology (dying, death, and bereavement), is certified in thanatology (CT), and has earned a graduate certificate in gerontology. She is passionate about the care of families and individuals across the lifespan who are facing advanced illnesses, end-of-life issues, and those who are bereaved. She is also an advocate and educator for advance care and end-of-life planning.
Sharon Berz
Coming Soon
Renee Wheaton
Coming soon
Tips for Living Well with Dementia
Presenters - Susan Wehry
Coming Soon
Learn practical approaches to support and understand people living with dementia in your community. This interactive session equips leaders and volunteers with essential skills to create inclusive, welcoming spaces where everyone can thrive. Together, we'll explore simple yet effective strategies for building understanding and connection
Susan Wehry
Susan Wehry, MD, a geriatric psychiatrist, is Chief of Geriatrics at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. She has authored research and articles on aging and mental health, including the Oasis 2.0 curriculum and a recent study published in JAMA, “Association of a Communication Training Program with Use of Antipsychotics in Nursing Homes.” Dr. Wehry is a nationally recognized speaker and workshop facilitator on depression, dementia, and healthy aging and her presentations combine over 30 years of experience with wisdom, compassion, and common sense, to engage attendees, help build skills, and use proven techniques.
For a full profile, visit https://www.susanwehrymd.com/
Modern Scam Prevention
Presenters - Jennifer Misek, Special Agent, FBI Boston - Bangor Resident Agency
Coming Soon
Jennifer Misek will share practical tools to recognize and thwart financial exploitation. Through a discussion of ever-evolving scams types, participants will learn to identify warning signs, safeguard assets, and create community awareness to protect vulnerable adults from sophisticated fraud scheme.
Jennifer Misek
Since joining the FBI in 2016, Special Agent Jennifer Misek has worked in the FBI New York City Field Office, the FBI San Juan, Puerto Rico Field Office, and is currently assigned to the FBI Boston, Bangor Resident Agency. Special Agent Misek currently works criminal matters, to include investigating elder fraud financial crimes.
Andy Chandler
Andy Chandler is a retired Cybersecurity Professional. He was security manager and advisor for banks and corporations, most recently for Tyler Technologies, where he worked for almost ten years. On behalf of the Cybersecurity profession, Andy wants to apologize to you, the user of all things Internet. You shouldn’t have to be so super-cautious about using the Internet, but due to the way it was designed, you must be “Cyber Aware”.
As an individual with a life-long hearing loss, Andy has always been fascinated by technology that helps him “hear” better. With the advent of Computers & the Internet – Texting! Email! Caption apps! – he was enthralled. He is also fascinated by Internet scams and is fully aware that he is only a click away from being scammed himself.
Andy loves educating users on Internet Scams and hopes to leave his audience with a jaundiced eye. Did you really win the lottery? Is your grandchild really in jail? Is your new overseas romantic partner real? Nope, nope, nope. Quick lesson: “Be Skeptical. Always
Understanding and Supporting Individuals with Hoarding Disorder
Presenters - Tom Meuser, Clinical Psychologist and Applied Gerontologist
Amber Harrison, Age-Friendly York
This session will equip age-friendly volunteers with evidence-informed strategies to assist those affected by hoarding. Learn about hoarding disorder, effective communication approaches, harm reduction techniques, and how to build collaborative relationships while maintaining professional boundaries and safety protocols.
Tom Meuser
Tom Meuser is a clinical psychologist and applied gerontologist. He moved to Maine in 2018 to better support his father who lives with dementia. After a long career in academia, he retired in 2024 to pursue self-employment. He now provides neuropsychological assessment and consultation for older adults concerned about cognitive change.
Eric Grainger
Coming soon!
Amber Harrison
Amber joined York Community Services Association in January of 2023 as the Housing Innovation Manager. She has worked for the last decade for the Town of York as the Director of Code Enforcement and Local Health Officer. Amber’s varied experience included implementing ordinances on land use and development, as well as collaboration with Town leaders, businesses, and social services to perform Health Officer duties often with those most in need in our community. She looks forward to continuing her Health Officer role for the community while creating and advocating for an increase in affordable housing, age-friendly initiatives, and community service opportunities in Southern Maine.