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Governor Mills tours MaineGeneral Health’s Alzheimer’s Care Center, Promotes new respite program

Governor Janet Mills toured MaineGeneral Health's Alzheimer's Care Center in Gardiner yesterday. The Governor applauded the Center's extraordinary work in providing first-class care and promoted her Administration's forthcoming grant program – Respite Care for ME – that will help caregivers afford respite care for those with Alzheimer's or other dementias

According to the Alzheimer's Association, 29,000 people aged 65 and older in Maine were living with Alzheimer's in 2020. It is estimated that 35,000 Mainers aged 65 and older will be living with the disease by 2025, representing an increase of more than 20 percent.

Through the Governor's Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, the Mills Administration is partnering with Maine's five Area Agencies on Aging to launch Respite for ME this fall. The program will provide up to $2,000 in grant funding to support family caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias, helping them to access respite care, like those services provided at the Alzheimer's Care Center in Gardiner.

MaineGeneral Health's Alzheimer's Care Center is delivering outstanding and compassionate care to people living with Alzheimer's and other dementias – and that is in large part thanks to their dedicated, caring staff. With more people expected to need dementia-related services in the coming years, places like the Alzheimer's Care Center in Gardiner are only going to become more important,” said Governor Janet Mills. “My Administration is working hard to ensure that caregivers across Maine – who dedicate their time and energy to take care of people they love – are able to afford respite care. Later this year, we will stand up a new grant program from my Jobs Plan that will deliver grants to folks to help them access and afford these important services.”

Staff contact: ngrosso@mehca.org