Age-Friendly Eliot

The creation of Age-Friendly Eliot was inspired by an AARP Magazine article that caught the attention of Robert Pomerleau, an Eliot Select Board member in 2017. To gather more information, Bob searched both the national AARP and Maine AARP websites and learned more about Age-Friendly Communities. It became clear to him that a focus on how Eliot could enhance the supports available for residents to age in their own home safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level would integrate very well with Eliot’s Comprehensive Plan and the economic and community development goals of the Tax Increment Financing program. 

Bob’s proposal to form an advisory committee was supported by the Town Manager and unanimously approved by the Select Board. He became the Select Board liaison for the young committee.  A town staff member was also assigned to assist Age-Friendly Eliot, a key factor in its eventual success.  In the ensuing years, that firm, supportive commitment has prevailed through the normal changes in municipal leadership. In 2020, the Planning Commission invited the committee to give input into the development of a revised ADU ordinance. The new town planner, also hired in 2021, bought into key elements of the Action Plan and sought their advice, as he developed a comprehensive plan to create safer walking and biking in Eliot.

Age-Friendly Eliot held its first meeting in late 2017. By the next year, Eliot was the 47th Maine town named to the AARP Network of Age Friendly Communities. Seeking this designation so early in its development allowed it to tap into state and national resources and learn from other communities who had already demonstrated success in overcoming the obstacles to aging in place. 

This initiative began with a clear mission and purpose – Age-Friendly Eliot would become advocates for identified and needed changes in Eliot’s physical, economic, and social environments that would enable residents, especially older residents, to live in their homes as long as possible and foster the creation of services and programs geared to keeping all residents engaged and active in the community.

Age-Friendly Eliot established and nurtured a close relationship with the select board and town manager.  Frequent communication with them and other town officials was key to the committee achieving its goals. 

The committee wanted to identify: obstacles to successful aging in place, existing resources and how they could be enhanced, and potential and possible solutions.  To accomplish this, the committee created a survey that was guided by the W.H.O.’s 8 Domains of Livability.

From June to November 2018, committee members distributed surveys at four community gatherings. The 330 respondents identified property tax relief, the ADU ordinance, public transportation, communication, recreational opportunities, and walking and biking safety as key areas for improvement. 

Eighty-four percent of respondents were over 50 in this town of 6747 where 24% of the population is over 60. Survey results were analyzed and presented to the Select Board in January 2019. An action plan was written in 2019 that focused on the domains of Housing, Transportation, Communication and Information, and Outdoor Spaces and Buildings. AARP posted the plan on its website as an example. 

A key asset in securing forward movement was the committee’s adherence to the action plan. It assured that everyone was moving in the same direction and mitigated the potential for conflict and misunderstanding. 

It was created to flesh out and give direction to the full work of the committee over the next several years. We were building this initiative to be sustainable, so members were urged to start small and have a few easy victories. This was a brainstorming endeavor grounded in what was known and what we needed to discover. This action plan is a living document that could be refined or modified to respond to new situations or information as they arose. It was certainly modified during the COVID pandemic!

Volunteers have been essential to these efforts. This includes development of a senior tax assistance program and a comprehensive communication plan that includes a website, monthly newsletters, and Facebook and Instagram accounts. An Age-Friendly Eliot partnership with the Foundation for Arts and Healing created a zoom-based facilitated group to address aging issues through creative art activities. The intention was to minimize the negative effects of social isolation during the pandemic. A committee volunteer has continued to facilitate these groups since the pilot project ended in 2021. Now, volunteers are being recruited to make Eliot a more dementia inclusive community.  

The process of achieving Age-Friendly Eliot mission was facilitated by its connection to AARP Maine, it’s membership in the Age-Friendly Network, having the support from a Lifelong Community Fellow, and funding from an AARP Community Challenge Grant, the Maine Community Foundation, the New England Grassroots Fund, and the Foundation for the Arts and Healing.

In 2020, Age-Friendly Eliot was awarded an AARP Community Challenge Grant to improve the public space at the Eliot Boat Basin by purchasing and installing five new benches. 

Another award from the Maine Community Fund supported the addition of two more benches near the town library. They also enhanced the Eliot Boat Basin landscape by planting and tending perennial flower gardens. Volunteers continue to help maintain the space. Eliot residents sing our praises about the enhanced beauty of this favorite spot.

To further involve residents in celebrating the benches, the committee held “The Benches Writing Contest” which invited Eliot residents aged 8-108 to submit a poem, short story, or essay on what the new benches meant to them. Winners in five age categories received award certificates and $50 gift cards to a local bookstore. The winners were announced at the 2021 Eliot Fall Festival.  It was such fun!!

To further involve residents in celebrating the benches, the committee held “The Benches Writing Contest” which invited Eliot residents aged 8-108 to submit a poem, short story, or essay on what the new benches meant to them. Winners in five age categories received award certificates and $50 gift cards to a local bookstore. The winners were announced at the 2021 Eliot Fall Festival.  It was such fun!!

It has been a frustration that we have been unable to increase the number of affordable, reliable and convenient transportation options. We have learned that this is quite a complex process and continue to explore the potential for creating a volunteer transportation program and to learn from other age friendly communities who have been successful.   

The AIP intends to continue its advocacy role to create change with plans to:

• Implement the plan to make Eliot a more dementia inclusive community

• Continue to collaborate with the town as it works with Kittery, South Berwick, Berwick and York and the Maine DOT to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety in southern Maine.

• Update the action plan based upon the outcomes of the Comprehensive Plan Survey

• Monitor process to assure additional funds are requested in November 2023 to support funding of the Eliot Senior Tax Assistance Program for FY24.

• Explore opportunities to expand the number of affordable, reliable and convenient transportation options, the only goal of the Action Plan not yet achieved.