We will be highlighting an accessible walk, located in one of the counties we serve, each week on our Facebook page. 

September 30 - Completing our tour of the counties we serve, this week's walk is in Cumberland County, at Maquoit Bay Conservation Land in Brunswick. The 0.7 mile trail follows an old woods road, perfect for walking, which leads to Rocky Point, a unique rocky promontory offering spectacular coastal vistas of Maquoit Bay. Enjoy!
FMI: https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/maquiot-bay

September 24 - The Georges River Land Trust offers many great options to explore in Knox County, but for accessibility we suggest the Langlais Sculpture Preserve which offers a universally accessible 0.3 mile path (and a wheelchair can be reserved ahead of time).
FMI: https://www.georgesriver.org/langlais-sculpture-preserve/

September 16 - Lace up your shoes and head out to Waldoboro - The Osborn Finch Wildlife Sanctuary is a 0.2 mile easy walking trail through a tall spruce forest that opens out to a stunning view with access to the tidal Medomak River. FMI: https://www.coastalrivers.org/trail/osborn-finch-wildlife-sanctuary/ 

September 9 - This week, we're heading to Sagadahoc County for a beautiful walk at the Phippsburg Land Trust's Spirit Pond and MacDonald Sanctuary Preserve. These trails run along the edge of Spirit Pond and past an old mill dam, stone walls, and beautiful views of the Morse River salt marshes. FMI: visit https://phippsburglandtrust.org/ to see a number of other options in the area!

September 2 - One of our favorite walks in Waterville is the North Street Recreation Area Trail. As our tour of walks in our service area continues in Kennebec County, check out this accessible trail and enjoy the scenery!

August 26 -  Check out The Falls in Sandy Bay (in Somerset County), also referred to as Jim Mac Falls, just north of Jackman on 201. The paved area offers a fine road stop for a picnic or a break! FMI here. 

August 19 - we suggest checking out the Belfast Rail Trail, in Waldo County. FMI including directions, parking information, reviews, photos, and more, click here and enjoy.

*Always check the weather before you embark on outdoor adventures, and check with your doctor before starting any new activity or exercise programs*

Scam Alert - Some of our phone numbers have been “spoofed”

Scammers are clever, and they’ve found ways to transmit false information about their phone numbers to hide their identities. Faking a phone number this way is called “spoofing” and when the purpose is to scam someone or cause harm, it is illegal.

Typically, scammers use spoofing to pose as a business (such as Spectrum
Generations and Healthy Living for ME), bank, or government agency in order to trick people into giving up personal or financial information. They choose these types of numbers, that you may be familiar with, hoping that you may already know the business and trust it.

If you answer, scammers use scripts to try to steal valuable personal
information and money, which can be used in fraudulent activity. You may not be able to tell right away if an incoming call is spoofed but here are some tips:

• Be extremely careful about responding to any request for personal
  identifying information.
• Do not respond to any questions, especially those that can be answered with "Yes" or "No."
• Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother's maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious.
• Use caution if you are being pressured for information immediately.

During September, we were alerted to two such instances – one using our Muskie Community Center’s main phone line, and one using the Healthy Living for ME toll-free line. We reported these to the FCC immediately, and are continuing to work hard to stop this scam and educate those in our
communities that we are not the originator of these calls.

If you have questions or concerns, or believe you have been a victim of this scam, please contact us at 1-800-639-1553.

Don’t miss out on enrolling in the Alzheimer’s Respite Program, which is a program designed to reduce the stress levels of those who are helping someone with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or a related condition.

Participants have the potential to receive up to $3,800 in reimbursements for expenses associated with:
      *  In-home services
      *  Adult Day Services
      *  Up to two weeks in a skilled facility
      *  Home Modifications
      *  Assistive Devices (medication  
         dispensers, alarms, etc.

In addition, the CARES Act has made it possible for us to reimburse for groceries, food delivery, and fast food costs.
 
FMI please contact Molly Martin at 1.800.639.1553, to see if the program would be a good fit for you.

During the coronavirus pandemic, AARP Maine has launched an appeal for everyone to “vote safely from home or at the polls."

If you choose to vote from home by taking advantage of the state's absentee voting option, take a look at their tips and resources:

• https://states.aarp.org/maine/election-voting-guide

You can also stay updated on the 2020 election at AARP.org/election2020.

We, like many others, closed our doors a few months ago and modified our services due to the pandemic. More recently, we have been cautiously reopening as we try to return to a normal service level, and are pleased to say that trend continues. Our Adult Day programs in all four locations are open and providing a safe, engaging environment for participants (call 1-800-639-1553 for information).

While we know that staying at home and physical distancing have been critical to avoiding exposure to the virus, social isolation has resulted in loneliness for many. We know that many are eager to return to our community centers and engage in the variety of activities we offer.

We continue to aim for a phased reopening of centers in October, and remain committed to everyone’s health and safety. With that in mind, please know that there have been a few changes to how we operate:

• Everyone will be required to answer screening questions before entering the building
• Physical distancing and mask-wearing will be required in accordance with state and local guidelines. If you cannot wear a mask, telephone and virtual services may be available instead.
• All staff and volunteers are involved in increased cleaning and sanitizing schedules
• Handwashing education has and will continue for all staff, volunteers, and visitors

Other changes will be forthcoming as we continue working to open congregate dining and activities as soon as it is safe, which remains our priority for all Spectrum Generations visitors, staff, and volunteers. 

You can also call us at 1-800-639-1553 to connect with a resource specialist for information related to the impact of the Coronavirus. We also provide general resource information for older adults and adults with disabilities on topics such as housing, Medicare, transportation, etc.

We have updated our Mission and Vision statements; both remain aligned with our organizational history and goals, representing our strategic path forward. The changes are truly in semantics and the essence of the work we are doing at Spectrum Generations remains supporting older and disabled adults in the communities we serve. 

NEW MISSION STATEMENT

To promote and advance the well-being and independence of older and disabled adults, with the support of their care partners, to live in their community of choice.

NEW VISION STATEMENT

To be an important and influential community partner, serving older and disabled adults and their care partners, by providing full access to both information and a network of services and supports that addresses social needs, facilitates informed decision making, and enables their most meaningful participation in all aspects of life.

In light of the recent Blackbaud data breach, which many nonprofits use to process online donations and manage donor information, we want to ensure the supporters of Spectrum Generations that we have not been affected by this; we do not use Blackbaud or their products. Further, we do not store credit care or other financial information when you make a donation to us.

You can make secure donations to Spectrum Generations online at http://spectrumgenerations.org/donate

We greatly appreciate the support of our community in helping us fulfill our mission to serve the needs of older and disabled adults throughout central and midcoast Maine.

As COVID-19 began to emerge across the United States, and eventually into Maine, many across our state worried how they, and their loved ones would fare. All of Maine’s Area Agencies on Aging closed to the public, but services – most notably Meals on Wheels – remained open.

To accommodate the diverse needs of Maine’s older and disabled adults who were among the highest risk, services were expanded and modified; new volunteers were welcomed into each Area Agency on Aging to support ongoing needs; community partners stepped in to provide additional financial assistance and offer a variety of supports.

Today, as Maine is cautiously returning to pre-pandemic levels, we are pleased to share statistics showing how we collectively focused our efforts on meeting the needs of vulnerable and older Mainers.

You can view a copy of the PDF infographic here.

You can now check out the latest edition of Spectrum Generations' Wicked Aging Newsletter online here!

If you would like to receive a copy of the newsletter please email your contact information to [email protected] 

Spectrum Generations wants to ensure those who are new to Medicare, or want to review their plans, have information needed to make an educated decision on what is best for hem. Since many throughout the state of Maine are socially distancing themselves, we have created an online Medicare 101 training video that you can watch from the comfort of your own home.

Visit spectrumgenerations.org/medicare; you will need to enter basic information including your name and email address, and then a new window will open. Use the play button to begin the video.

Call our Helpline if you have questions about Medicare, at 1.800.639.1553.

March is National Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Month, and we would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to our Case Management Team who serve these members of our communities. Spectrum Generations has 9 case managers serving 7 counties; we’re here to help you and your family navigate the many complexities of available resources.

The term “intellectual and developmental disability” may refer to a broad range of characteristics or conditions. An intellectual disability is characterized by limitations in functioning and difficulties exhibited in social and practical skills. A developmental disability is attributed to a cognitive or physical impairment that results in limitations such as self-care, language, and mobility. These conditions are often misunderstood, but what should never be in doubt is that all people have the fundamental and inherent right to be respected, valued, and accepted for the contributions they make to their families, their relationships, and their communities.

With effective and responsive coordination, Spectrum Generations’ case managers link  consumers to resources, enhancing their quality of life and inclusiveness in their communities.

We are here to help: 

• Follow the wishes and needs of each individual through a person-centered planning process
• Enable people to explore a full range of options
• Develop formal and informal supports
• Advocate for the interests, preferences, and dreams of the individual
• Assist individuals and families in independently coordinating their own supports and services if they so desire
• Be free from conflict of interest
• Support the development and expression of self-determination and self-advocacy
• Provide a wide range of available resources