AARP Maine’s News You Can Use

By Joyce Bucciantini, AARP Maine community outreach volunteer

Maine is often described as one big, small town where people are eager to lend a helping hand. When it comes to caregiving, Mainer’s certainly step up to the plate. According to AARP’s most recent Report on Caregiving, 28% of Maine adults, or 324,000 Mainers, are caregivers; everyday people making sure that their loved ones have care that they need.

Just who are family caregivers? AARP’s Report on Caregiving has some interesting statistics about caregivers. Across the New England states 59% of caregivers are women and 40% are men. Seventy percent of caregivers are working while providing care. Over half, 52%, are caring for a parent. Fully 26% of caregivers are a member of the “sandwich generation” meaning they are caring for young children and an older family member. Odds are we all know someone who is a caregiver.

Maine’s family caregivers care for older parents, spouses, neighbors, children and other family members contributing 220 million hours of care annually. This mostly unpaid work is an essential component of our long-term care system providing the care that allows older adults to live more independently at home and avoid costly institutional care. Noël Bonam, AARP Maine sate director, states “the economic value they provide exceeds $5.5 billion annually, yet this care often comes at significant cost to the caregiver’s health and financial security.” Across the New England region 44% of caregivers reported at least one negative financial impact as a result of being a caregiver.

Maine’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave program was developed to ensure Mainers are supported when family or medical needs arise. Beginning in May, qualifying employees can apply for up to twelve weeks of paid time off for medical or family needs. Workers can apply for leave time for important medical needs, to care for a child new to their family either by birth, adoption or foster placement or older family members. PFML includes needed time to prepare for military deployment or safe leave. Employees will be able to focus on their families during these difficult times knowing they have some income and job protection. Employers benefit from keeping valuable employees and using the PFML tools to plan ahead to best support their organizations. Maine’s Department of Labor’s website, Maine.gov/paidleave, has detailed information about PFML for both employees and employers.

PFML helps families during all the stages of a family’s life by providing paid time to care for a child or to assist an older parent or spouse. PFML is an additional tool supporting Maine families in doing what they do best: caring for their families close to home.

As always, please check out the AARP Maine web page to find an AARP event near you. 

Please use the following web address to find more information about AARP Maine and events near you: aarp.org/me, me@aarp.org, @aarpmaine, 866-554-5380.

Bucciantini is a retired middle school educator. She currently coordinates Delta Kappa Gamma’s Read to Me program, is a tutor with Literacy Volunteers-Androscoggin and is an active AARP Maine volunteer. In her spare time, she enjoys her gardens, being outdoors and traveling.