Marilyn Gugliucci and Kira Rodriguez complete first statewide needs assessment of Maine's older adults

Marilyn R. Gugliucci, Ph.D., Department of Geriatric Medicine, Kira Rodriguez, M.H.S., Research Associate at UNE's Center for Community and Public Health, and Shirl A. Weaver, Ph.D. (Consultant) completed Maine's first statewide assessment on aging funded by the Maine Office of Elder Services in conjunction with the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging (M4A).

The 100-page report addressed the question, 'What do Maine's older adults need to remain in their homes?'  It includes results from statewide focus groups (Gugliucci/Weaver) and Caregiver/Service Provider Surveys (Rodriguez). The report was presented by Dr. Gugliucci to state leaders in the field of aging.

Directors and executive directors from the Office of Elder Services, Maine Hospice Foundation, Adult Protective Services, Volunteers of America, Maine Health Care Association, Home Care of Maine, Maine Alzheimers Association, Maine Ombudsman Program, Maine Retirees Association, Maine AARP, Maine Legal Services for the Elderly, and Gould Services of Maine participated in the discussion following the presentation to identify next steps in creating the strategic plan to address aging in Maine, a report that is required by the Administration on Aging in order for Maine to access Older Americans Act funding.

The Maine DHHS has past strategic plans that focused on aging issues based on secondary data sources. This is the first time the state conducted a needs assessment with older adults, caregivers for older adults, and service providers for older adults. The needs assessment will be available on the Office of Elder Services and M4A websites in April, with the final strategic plan available in July 2012.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.