Age Friendly South Portland

Age Friendly South Portland - Mar 11 2026 Agenda Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 6:00 PM South Portland Main Library - Community Room Lower Level (482 Broadway, South Portland) Page A. Opening 1. Call to Order B. Review of Minutes 1. Reading of 2/11/2026 Minutes 2 AFSP Minutes 2.11.26.pdf C. Old Business 1. Emergency Preparedness Updates 2. Winter Programs 3. Heating Assistance Programs updates 4. Proposed Projects for 2026 5. Fall Prevention Program D. New Business 1. AARP Community Challenge Grant E. Public Comment F. Adjournment Page 1 of 6 ​Age Friendly South Portland Regular Meeting​ ​Minutes​ ​February 11, 2026 6:00 PM​ ​South Portland Main Library - Art Gallery, Upper Level​ ​Attendees:​ ​●​ ​Members: Maxine Beecher, Karen Taylor, Rachael Coleman, Nancy Crowell,​ ​Carol Kilroy, Andy Chandler, Jason Ardour​ ​●​ ​Other: Chris Pupke (Staff Liaison), Sue McCormick (public), Lt. Ben Macisso​ ​(SPPD) Kathy Adams (public).​ ​1. Call to Order​ ​The regular meeting of the Age Friendly South Portland was called to order at 6:00​ ​PM by Maxine.​ ​2. Approval of Minutes​ ​The minutes from the previous meeting held on January 14, 2026 were reviewed.​ ​Nancy moved to approve with one correction: Carol’s last name spelling. One L in​ ​Kilroy. Carol seconded. Passed unanimously.​ ​3. Old Business​ ​●​ ​Snow Programs​ ​○​ ​Carol provided an update on the snow shovelling volunteer program.​ ​○​ ​A new volunteer has signed up and a new participant has requested​ ​assistance.​ ​○​ ​There are about 21 participants and 14 volunteers.​ ​●​ ​Senior Resource Fair Planning​ ​○​ ​Kathy led discussion about the start of the planning.​ ​○​ ​Kathy met with Community Center staff and tentatively booked the​ ​room for this year's event for Friday, September 18th, 2026.​ ​○​ ​Nancy moved to hold the Resource Fair on this date. Karen seconded.​ ​Passed unanimously.​ ​●​ ​AARP Community Challenge Grant​ Page 2 of 6  ​○​ ​Nancy presented.​ ​○​ ​Nancy had previously suggested that AFSP use the grant to promote​ ​a project with Greater Portland Metro, but she was unable to make​ ​contact with them so that plan is on hold.​ ​○​ I​n the meantime, Nancy spoke to Julie from the Sustainability​ ​Department who is working on a new project around energy​ ​efficiency. This project would include the Housing Authority. SPHA​ ​has received additional funding for their Home Mod program and is​ ​hoping to work with AFSP and Sustainability on this new project to​ ​avoid duplication.​ ​○​ ​There will be a meeting with Nicole from SPHA and Julie from​ ​Sustainability to discuss applying for this grant.​ ​○​ ​Nancy requested a motion to endorse working on this project. Maxine​ ​made a motion to approve this work and follow through with the​ ​AARP grant if needed, as determined by Lisa and Nancy as they will​ ​write the grant. Carol seconded. Passed unanimously.​ ​●​ ​Balance Work at SPHA​ ​○​ ​Jason presented.​ ​○​ ​Jason has two paths he is working through:​ ​■​ ​First, if someone falls and EMS responds, he will do a​ ​telephone screening with the person to explore why they fell​ ​and discuss steps to avoid this happening again.​ ​●​ ​He has completed 5 screenings and also did a ride along​ ​with EMS/Fire.​ ​■​ ​Second, he has gone to SPHA properties to give a presentation​ ​on balance. He has had good participation and has engaged in​ ​discussions with people who had questions about balance​ i​ssues.​ ​●​ ​Jason thinks he should have a flyer or handout from Age​ ​Friendly to give out at these in person events.​ ​●​ ​Nancy attended one of these events and noted that it​ ​was great and that the attendees seemed appreciative​ ​and engaged.​ ​●​ ​They found that there was almost unanimous agreement​ ​about upgrades and modifications that could be made at​ ​this particular property. Jason suggested that after some​ ​research that perhaps Age Friendly could make formal​ ​recommendations.​ Page 3 of 6  ​○​ ​Kathy noted that Spurwink had a grab bar recycle and reuse program​ ​that can provide help with installing grab bars.​ ​○​ ​Jason asked that the committee think about and recommend anything​ ​to add to his handout for the events.​ ​4. New Business​ ​●​ ​Presentation on Senior Walks​ ​○​ ​Lt Macisso presented. PD has started a new program called Senior​ ​Walks starting April 6th.​ ​○​ ​These will be outdoor walks (weather permitting). It will afford an​ ​opportunity for seniors to get walking, see some scenery, visit some​ ​of the City’s greenspaces and meet and talk with SPPD officers.​ ​○​ ​Nancy recommended they look into holding a walk at the Land Trust.​ ​○​ I​t will be a 30 minute walk in and a 30 walk back with refreshments​ ​served at the end.​ ​○​ ​Karen suggested having points along the walking path where people​ ​who cannot do the full walk can stop and wait.​ ​○​ ​Nancy suggested that PD promote that they will be prepared to​ ​address and help anyone who falls or has trouble with the walk.​ ​○​ ​Currently they are planning on holding the walks on Monday​ ​mornings but are open to suggestions.​ ​○​ ​Andy noted that there should be consideration for the different types​ ​of walks: flat, even trails and more wooded trails/hikes. Andy​ ​suggested perhaps having hiking poles available.​ ​○​ ​Also discussed was accessibility for people who do not have​ ​transportation to the walk, but they have considered operating a​ ​shuttle as some officers have their CDL and could drive a bus.​ ​○​ ​Nancy noted that Portland Gear Hub might have equipment.​ ​○​ ​Jason indicated that this program is the sort of thing that helps make​ ​a community healthier and is really supportive of the program. People​ ​he works with often indicate a desire to walk if they only had​ ​someone to walk with. He also noted that when he hosted similar​ ​walks, pacing was definitely a consideration because everyone will​ ​walk at different paces/speeds. Jason also noted that planning for 10​ i​s a good idea as it’s achievable.​ ​○​ ​Nancy noted that she knows of other communities that received an​ ​AARP Challenge Grant to install benches along a trail that was used​ Page 4 of 6  ​for a similar walking program. Maxine suggested that this be kept in​ ​mind as a possible future Committee goal.​ ​○​ ​Jason suggested that from a marketing perspective, it might be best​ ​to consider using a name other than Senior, such as Older Adults.​ ​○​ ​Nancy moved that Age Friendly should endorse this program. Carol​ ​seconded. Passed unanimously.​ ​●​ I​ntro to Solo Agers​ ​○​ ​Andy presented. This program is a study by University of Maine​ ​Center on Aging that led to a report about solo agers (older adults​ ​who live alone)​ ​○​ I​t looks at issues such as needing transportation, financial planning,​ ​making connections and networks.​ ​○​ ​This led to the creation of a group that provides resources for and​ ​encourages connections and networking for solo agers. They hold​ ​monthly virtual meetings.​ ​○​ ​For the future, the hope is that other groups will form in other​ ​communities.​ ​●​ ​Upcoming Events​ ​○​ ​The Statewide Age Friendly Conference is upcoming.​ ​○​ ​Andy noted that he is hosting an event called AI: Not As Mysterious​ ​as it Appears, focused on discussing using AI for older adults.​ ​○​ ​South Portland Library is holding several events throughout the​ ​months of February and March for older adults.​ ​5. Public Comment​ ​●​ ​Members of the public were invited to share comments or concerns related​ ​to the Age Friendly South Portland Committee.​ ​○​ ​Nancy noted that she has connected with the CIty’s Communication​ ​Director about designing the resource magnet with funding from​ ​AARP.​ ​○​ ​Andy noted that tomorrow at USM will be a Black History Month event​ ​that includes several presentations that would be of interest to older​ ​adults.​ ​○​ ​Maxine wanted to reiterate her thanks for PD’s discussion from last​ ​month about general personal safety and situational awareness, and​ ​suggested that PD considers coming up with a handout or flyer and​ ​that the Committee think of ways to help get this info out.​ Page 5 of 6 ​6. Adjournment​ ​A motion was made by Nancy to adjourn the meeting at 7:25. The motion was​ ​seconded by Jason and passed unanimously.​ ​Minutes submitted by Chris Pupke, Director of Social Services, Committee Staff​ ​Liaison and interim Secretary.​ Page 6 of 6