GEORGETOWN — Georgetown residents are getting older, and the town is trying to find ways to make it easier for them to stay in their homes and improve their quality of life.
In 1993, approximately 19% of the Georgetown population was 65 or older, but today that figure is closer to 35%. Maine is the oldest state in the nation, with a median age of 44.6 years old, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Jim Peavey, co-chairman of the Georgetown Age-Friendly Committee, said many in Georgetown want to stay in their homes after retirement because of Georgetown’s low property tax rate of $7.70 per $1,000 of valuation. However, the housing stock in Georgetown is getting older, requiring more maintenance. Complicating matters, there is no public transportation, which threatens the independence of those who don’t drive.
“Georgetown is rural and we don’t have a lot of services in our communities,” he said. “We have to go to Bath for gas, groceries and medical appointments.”
Georgetown is one of 65 Maine municipalities working under the guidance of AARP to become more age-friendly. AARP gave the Georgetown Age-Friendly Committee a $3,000 grant to distribute surveys to the towns 1,000-plus residents and spark efforts to make improvements. About 350 surveys were returned. The committee will discuss what it learned from the survey results at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Robin Free Meeting House.
“When we think about an age-friendly community we want that community to have safe, affordable housing, public transportation, and opportunities for social participation,” said AARP Maine Director Lori Parham.
To aid the transportation issue, Georgetown residents have access to People Plus, a volunteer-run transportation network that provides free rides to people who need it, but Peavey said many choose to rely on family and friends for transportation.
In addition to needing a safe place to live and access to transportation, Parham said access to outlets for social interaction is necessary in an age-friendly community.
“Not having a social support network and a lack of social interaction with others can be debilitating from a social and cognitive perspective,” said Parham.
Two subsequent meetings to discuss age-friendly initiatives are planned for 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 11 at the Georgetown Community Center and 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 22nd at the Georgetown Working League.
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