Contacts: Deirdra Murphy (deirdraamurphy@gmail.com) & Michele Melanson (mmelanson@ccmaine.org) 

Joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities: 2018-08-01

Structure: Regional approach with an all-volunteer committee

Communities: Bath, Arrowsic, Phippsburg, West Bath, Woolwich, and Georgetown

Highlight of 023: The ADU guidebook we created, which was funded by the AARP 2022 Challenge grant combined with ADU presentations. Recruitment of new members to the steering committee from organizations rooted in the community, overcoming barriers following the pandemic.

Age Friendly Communities of the Lower Kennebec's Initiatives and Accomplishments:

Civic Participation and Employment

• Sponsored candidate night

Communication and Information

• Online resource guide

• Funded by Maine Community Foundation, in partnership with National Digital Equity Center and sponsored by AFCLK this program continues to invite sixteen eligible residents to participate: each person receives a smart device with an internet connection for one year and has the opportunity to learn how to use it in five basic computer training sessions presented locally.  

Community Supports and Health Services

We had a very successful AARP-funded shredding event in Bath in cooperation with age-friendly Georgetown and sponsored by Bath Police Department on Saturday 5/13. We nearly filled the shredding truck and Mike, the driver, said he figured it was ~9,000 lbs. of paper, one of his largest loads ever. We had 158 registered participants.

Housing

With 2022 Challenge Grant funding, we were able to develop a series of ADU videos and an online guide for residents of Bath. 

Outdoor Spaces and Public Buildings

Sponsored by AARP, Davenport Fund, the City of Bath, Bath Regional Career and Technical Center and AFCLK three newly built chess & checkers tables were installed at Elm Street Plaza in Bath in 2021. Two additional chess and checkers tables were installed outside the Bath YMCA in 2023. This partnership helps furnish a space for intergenerational activities for residents and visitors of all ages.