Area Agencies on Aging in Maine

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If you are not sure which office to call, start with the statewide ADRC line at 1-877-353-3771. You will choose your county. The call can help you find the right Area Agency on Aging, meal program, caregiver help, Medicare counseling, ride options, and local support.

Maine’s OADS AAA page says the five AAAs work as one-stop shops for older adults, people with disabilities, care partners, and family members. They help people find services funded by Medicaid, the Older Americans Act, and state programs.

You can also use Maine’s Access Navigator for a free and private first check. It can help point you toward needs such as food, safety, money management, transportation, and in-home support.

If you need a wider list of state benefits, see our Maine benefits guide while you contact the AAA for local help.

What an AAA can and cannot do

An Area Agency on Aging can help you understand local choices. It can screen for some programs, explain who to call, and help you avoid the wrong office. It may also offer some services through its own staff or through local partners.

An AAA usually cannot approve Medicaid, change a Medicare plan for you, force a housing authority to open a waitlist, or promise a home care worker right away. Those choices depend on other agencies, program rules, funding, and staff in your area.

The best way to use the AAA is to be clear about the main problem. Say if the person needs food, rides, help bathing, a safer home, caregiver relief, Medicare help, or a legal referral. Then ask for the next two steps.

Maine aging facts to know

Maine has one of the oldest populations in the United States. The Maine economist reported a 2024 median age of 44.8 years and said about 23% of the state was age 65 or older.

This matters because many services are local. Rural distance, winter weather, limited rides, and caregiver shortages can make help harder to reach. A person in Portland may have different options than a person in Aroostook County, Washington County, or a small island town.

Area Agencies on Aging do not replace Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, housing offices, or emergency services. Their value is that they know the local map. They can often tell you which office to call next and what papers to gather.

Maine Area Agencies on Aging directory

The table below follows Maine’s official OADS directory checked for this update. Before visiting in person, call first. Office hours can change because of holidays, weather, staffing, or local events.

If you are unsure about your county, call 1-877-353-3771 and choose the county where the older adult lives. This is often easier than guessing from a town name.

For nearby community sites, activities, and meal locations, our Maine senior centers page may help after you find your AAA.

What Maine AAAs can help with

Not every AAA provides every service in the same way. Some services are direct. Some are referrals. Some are run by partner groups. Ask what is open in your county right now.

Meals and food support

What it helps with: Maine’s older adult nutrition programs may help with community dining, home-delivered meals, nutrition counseling, and referrals to food pantries or other food help. The food and nutrition page says home-delivered meals may be available to eligible older people who are homebound, as well as some care partners and disabled people who cannot prepare meals.

Who may qualify: Rules depend on the program. Home meals often look at age, homebound status, ability to prepare meals, and local funding. Dining sites may be more flexible, but locations and schedules vary.

Where to apply: Call your AAA or the statewide ADRC line. Ask for meal screening in your county.

Reality check: Meals may not start the same day. If there is no food at home today, call 211 Maine and ask for food pantries and emergency food options.

Medicare counseling

What it helps with: Maine’s Medicare counseling program can help with Medicare choices, Medicare Part D, bills, claims, enrollment problems, appeals, fraud concerns, and Medicare Savings Program screening. The Medicare counseling page says help is free and private, and counselors do not sell insurance.

Who may qualify: This help is for Medicare members, people close to Medicare age, and people helping a Medicare member.

Where to apply: Call your AAA or ADRC and ask for SHIP counseling. Bring your Medicare card, plan cards, drug list, and recent bills.

Reality check: SHIP counselors can explain choices, but they do not make the choice for you. During open enrollment, appointments may fill quickly. Our Medicare Savings guide can help you prepare questions before your call.

Caregiver and respite support

What it helps with: Maine AAAs administer care partner programs, including caregiver information, counseling, training, support groups, respite, adult day services, homemaker help, and personal care support when funding and rules allow. The care partner page explains these supports.

Who may qualify: Help may be available for family members, friends, or other unpaid helpers caring for an older adult or a person with certain needs.

Where to apply: Call your AAA and ask for the caregiver program. Tell them the county, the older adult’s age, what help is needed, and whether the caregiver needs a break.

Reality check: Respite is often limited. It may not cover all hours a caregiver wants. Ask about backup options, support groups, and adult day programs.

Care at home

What it helps with: Maine home care programs may help some older adults and disabled adults stay at home instead of moving to a nursing home. The home care page lists possible supports such as personal care, nursing, Meals on Wheels, emergency response, respite, assistive technology, home changes, and homemaker services.

Who may qualify: Rules depend on the program. Some programs are MaineCare programs. Some are state-funded. Most require an assessment. Income, assets, disability, daily care needs, and safety at home may matter.

Where to apply: Start with your AAA or DHHS district office if you need help choosing a path. The home care page also lists Maximus at 1-833-525-5784 for long-term care applications.

Reality check: Home care is not the same as 24-hour care. Provider shortages can delay service. If assisted living is being discussed, see our Maine assisted living guide for payment paths and limits.

Legal help for older adults

What it helps with: Maine AAAs partner with Legal Services for Maine Elders. The legal help page says free legal advice may cover health care, MaineCare, Medicare Part D, Social Security, public benefits, powers of attorney, consumer issues, abuse, and guardianship defense.

Who may qualify: The program serves Mainers age 60 and older. The exact help depends on the legal issue and program capacity.

Where to apply: Call the Legal Services Helpline at 1-800-750-5353. You can also ask your AAA for a referral.

Reality check: Legal help is not the same as a private lawyer for every issue. Call early if you have a deadline, hearing date, eviction notice, benefit denial, or debt case.

Emergency help in Maine

Call 911 if someone is in danger now, needs urgent medical help, or is facing violence or immediate harm.

For suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a dependent or incapacitated adult, use Maine Adult Protective Services. APS says mandated reporters should call 1-800-624-8404. Non-mandated reporters may call the same 24-hour number or use the online reporting form.

For food, shelter, heat, rent, utility, transportation, or local crisis referrals, use 211 Maine. You can dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898-211, or search online. If you need more crisis steps, our Maine emergency guide can help you sort calls.

Common reality checks before you call

Many people call an AAA after several things have gone wrong at once. That is normal. The call will go better if you keep the story short and clear.

For housing, rent, or senior apartment questions, use our Maine housing guide as a second step. For repair needs, our home repair guide explains why grants, loans, weatherization, and local programs can differ.

Phone scripts you can use

Write down the date, the name of the person you spoke with, and the next step. Ask if you should call another office before you hang up.

If you prefer online benefit accounts, our Maine benefits portal page can help you find the right state website before you enter private details.

Official resources

• Maine OADS: State office for aging and disability services.
• State Plan on Aging: Maine planning page for aging services.
• Legal Services: Civil legal help for Mainers age 60 and older.
• Ombudsman Program: Help with nursing home and long-term care concerns.
• Eldercare Locator: Federal tool to find aging services by location.

For nursing home questions, call the Ombudsman Program or ask your AAA which local office can help. For senior housing, local housing authorities control many waitlists. For medical coverage, MaineCare and Medicare rules control eligibility.

Resumen en español

Maine tiene cinco Agencias del Área sobre el Envejecimiento. También funcionan como centros ADRC. Puede llamar al 1-877-353-3771 y elegir el condado donde vive la persona mayor. Puede pedir un intérprete sin costo.

Estas agencias pueden ayudar con comidas, transporte, consejería de Medicare, apoyo para cuidadores, cuidado en el hogar, referencias legales y otros servicios locales. No todos los programas están abiertos para todas las personas. Algunos tienen reglas de edad, ingresos, necesidad médica, listas de espera o fondos limitados.

Si hay peligro inmediato, llame al 911. Si sospecha abuso, negligencia o explotación de un adulto vulnerable, llame a Adult Protective Services al 1-800-624-8404. Para comida, vivienda, calefacción, renta, servicios públicos o ayuda local, llame al 211.