$862,000 for Aroostook Agency on Aging Secured by Senator Collins in Funding Bill

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $862,000 for the Aroostook Agency on Aging in the Fiscal Year 2023 Health and Human Services appropriations bill.  

The omnibus funding package passed the Senate by a vote of 68-29.  It will now be passed by the House before heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Aroostook Agency on Aging provides seniors in The County with a variety of health and wellness services that emphasize self-care, independence, and preventative measures for social isolation,” said Senator Collins.  “By ensuring that resources and tools are readily available in the communities where older adults live in Northern Maine, this important investment will help Aroostook County seniors live longer, healthier lives.”

“Through the Access Points for Aging project, the Aroostook Agency on Aging will focus on strengthening the aging network in Aroostook County that assists older people to lead independent and meaningful lives in their own communities and homes,” shared Joy Barresi Saucier, Executive Director.  “The project will achieve this by partnering with up to 20 rural communities to establish access points that provide a local connection to services, consultation, education, recreation, and enrichment for the County’s older population.  The Agency is grateful to Maine’s federal delegation for understanding the importance of this project and supporting its development.”

The funding will support the Aroostook Access Points for the Aging Project, which is focused on creating and strengthening the aging network in Aroostook County to assist older persons to lead independent and meaningful lives in their own communities and homes. 

The project will achieve this by adding or enhancing access point infrastructures, locations, and technologies that will provide localized connections to services, consultation and meeting space, recreation, and enrichment for The County’s older population. The project will strive to develop access points in 15-20 Aroostook County communities, including Fort Kent, Madawaska, Van Buren, Caribou, Ashland, Presque Isle, Fort Fairfield, Houlton, Danforth, Island Falls, Eagle Lake, Frenchville, Washburn, Easton, Limestone, Mars Hill, Littleton, and Hodgdon and others.

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