Maine House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, will attend the White House Conference on Aging on Monday in Washington, D.C., where he will spotlight the Legislature’s efforts to help older Mainers live more independent, healthy and secure lives.
Eves has led a bipartisan effort during the last three years to address the many socioeconomic challenges facing Maine because it has a rapidly aging population. Eves hosted a series of round-table talks and a statewide summit on aging issues. He also sponsored bipartisan legislation this session to address shortages in senior housing and homecare.
“The nation is rapidly aging and Maine is at the epicenter,” Eves said in a news release. “I hope by coming together with top national leaders on aging issues, we will find more opportunity to help older adults in our state.”
Maine is the oldest state based on median age (43.5 years) and the second-oldest based on the proportion of people 65 and older (17 percent), according to the U.S. Census. Florida is No. 1 with 18.2 percent.
Maine also has the highest proportion of baby boomers – 29 percent of its 1.3 million residents were born in the period from 1946 to 1964. By 2030, more than 25 percent of Mainers will be 65 or older.
President Obama and several senior administration officials will deliver remarks at the conference. The White House has held a Conference on Aging each decade since the 1960s to identify and advance actions to improve the quality of life of older Americans.
Eves will participate in conference meetings throughout the day, including sessions on helping family caregivers, increasing financial security and technology.
A Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram investigative series, The Challenge of Our Age, uncovered existing and growing shortages in senior housing, home care, long-term care, transportation and other areas that threaten to cripple the state economically and socially as its senior population increases.
Kelley Bouchard can be reached at 791-6328 or at:
Twitter: KelleyBouchard
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