| LD 814, a $9.75M Investment = Statewide Impact and Savings | |
| What the investment could do for older Mainers | Projected financial impact |
| Deliver an additional 336,837 Meals on Wheels to 1,316 new older Mainers, eliminating waitlists | Projected cost-saving to the state = $7,100,000 annually [7] |
| Provide wrap-around navigation services to 1,100+ older Mainers | Projected cost-saving the state = $3,400,000 annually [7] |
| Provide 1,300 more older Mainers with health insurance counseling and information | Projected cost-savings = $3,600,000 in healthcare savings for individual Mainers annually [8] |
| Provide 225+ family caregivers with Respite4ME mini-grants | Pass $1,125,000 directly to family caregivers[8] |
| Support a network of 1,500 dedicated AAA volunteers delivering services statewide | Impact value = $3,578,260 annually in their donated service |
| Annually, LD 814 is projected to save the state well over $10.5 million and put $4.75 million back into older Mainers’ pockets | |
LD 814 is on the Appropriations Table in the 2026 Legislative Session in Maine. Please contact your legislators today to encourage them to fund this impactful bill and provide services to thousands of our community members.
Learn more about LD 814 and ways you can Advocate.
How do I contact my legislators about LD 814?
To advocate for the Older Mainers Act, you can:
1. Find contact information for your Maine legislators here.
2. Email or call your legislators. Here is a template with talking points you can use.
What is LD 814, the Older Mainers Act?
By expanding access to proven home and community-based services at Maine’s Area Agencies on Aging, LD 814 allows all of us to age in the place we choose and deliver significant savings to the state in long-term care and healthcare expenditures. LD 814 would provide an additional $9.75 million in ongoing funding to bolster Maine’s aging infrastructure.
Why is LD 814 needed now?
Maine is the oldest state in the nation by median age, and the population is growing quickly. Alongside rising costs of living, it’s important that the state invest now to create a state where we can all age well, with dignity and connection.
More than 900 older Mainers are currently on the waitlist for Meals on Wheels and hundreds more await other core services each year. Many older adults are living on very limited incomes and struggling to meet basic needs.
How would LD 814 improve services in my community?
Funding LD 814 The Older Mainers Act would provide more services to thousands more older Mainers statewide. This means, more Meals on Wheels routes, more Medicare counseling appointments, more caregiver respite, more resources and navigation support, and more volunteer capacity to expand programming statewide.
LD 814 would invest in Meals on Wheels and eliminate waitlists for the program statewide. Meals on Wheels are one of many services the Agencies on Aging offer that support Mainers so we can stay in our homes and communities as we age.
Volunteer In Your Community
Make a difference in your community by joining the volunteer programs offered by Maine’s Area Agencies on Aging. Whether you have a few hours to spare or are looking for a long-term commitment, there’s a role for everyone. Volunteers assist with delivering meals, teaching classes, providing companionship, supporting caregivers, and much more. Your time and talents can help improve the lives of older adults and individuals with disabilities across Maine.
Each agency offers unique opportunities tailored to their communities. Contact the Agency on Aging in your area to learn more about volunteering in your community.