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Joy Barresi Saucier is a national Health and Aging Policy Fellow and executive director of the Aroostook Agency on Aging. Noël Bonam is state director for AARP Maine. The authors gratefully acknowledge the valuable insights and support of Tran Bich Thuy and Chu Viet Nga of HelpAge International, Patricia Oh of the University of Maine Center on Aging, and Vijeth Iyengar of AARP International.
Maine is well known for its healthy skepticism of anything that comes “from away.” But as the state’s population begins to age, solutions from outside could offer Mainers opportunities to grow old at home, and to thrive while aging — especially when those solutions build on the deep, community-based connections that Maine is also well known for.
In the coming decades, Maine will be home to more older adults than ever before. The state economist projects that in just six years, nearly a third of Maine’s entire population will be over 65. In many rural communities, like those in Aroostook County, this is already the case.
For many older Mainers, aging well means aging at home. That requires the financial resources to manage household expenses, as well as the ability to access home supports if needed. But today, more than half of Maine’s over-65 population is unable to meet basic living expenses. In addition, almost a third of Mainers are aging alone. These factors cause many to fear that they will not be able to afford or access the care necessary to live out their old age at home.
Maine is far from alone in facing these changes, and can benefit from what others have learned. Innovative solutions are being implemented around the world to support older adults during their later years.
One approach that we believe could translate well to Maine communities comes from Vietnam. To help meet the needs of the country’s aging population, Vietnam has formed Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs (ISHCs), that bring communities together to provide a support network for aging residents. The approach currently engages more than 500,000 individuals through over 9,000 clubs across the country.
The model is simple: Community members organize themselves into a self-managed club of intergenerational volunteers. Coming together to help each other thrive as they age, every club member has a purpose, ensuring that individual strengths are leveraged to meet varied needs. Some club members focus on economic well-being, while others seek to improve access to health services, provide caregiving support, or foster local cultural activities.
When an aging resident of the community needs support, the dots are easily connected by club members who understand how to help. Say, for example, a club member would like to generate additional income by starting a small business, many ISHCs offer club-administered micro-loans to help give fledgling enterprises a start. They can connect aspiring entrepreneurs to fellow club members who can offer counsel from years of related business experience.
Similar connections exist for social engagements, educational opportunities, and — importantly — in-home support. Club members who need help at home can be connected to local volunteer caregivers who offer daily support with basic tasks for those in need of assistance.
An evaluation of the impact of ISHCs shows that virtually all members experienced health improvements, enhanced knowledge, and increased community connectedness. Additionally, more than 80% of members reported increased income. To build on this success, the Vietnamese government has included these clubs in its National Strategy for Older Persons, with plans to scale to 12,000 clubs nationwide by 2035.
These intergenerational clubs could work in Maine because they are built around what Maine’s people do best: pull together as a community. Operating at the hyper-local level, clubs give individuals a nearby, trusted circle of support, so help is available when needed. Local operation also means that costs are kept low, allowing clubs to become self-sustaining after only two years, through nominal membership dues, earnings from club administered loans, and voluntary contributions. In addition, ISHCs build upon existing community strengths, such as senior groups or municipal efforts. Today Maine is home to nearly 100 existing age-friendly communities, where ISHCs could easily take root.
As Maine’s population continues to age, its communities could benefit from ISHCs and other global innovations — particularly solutions that have proven successful in rural areas with growing numbers of older adults, inadequate formal services, and limited financial resources.
We think this is the right moment to pilot ISHCs in Maine’s rural towns. With support from municipal leaders, local businesses, nonprofits, philanthropists, Age-Friendly Communities, and others, pilot programs can help Maine’s communities adapt the ISHC model to enable neighbors to lend a helping hand. They can help show how an idea “from away” can make a profound difference for individuals who want to age well at home, while celebrating the “Maine way” of neighbor helping neighbor.