“Maine people work hard their entire lives and they deserve to age comfortably in the communities they love. With the establishment of the Cabinet on Aging, we can advance policies across state government that make sure the needs of Maine people are met as they age.”
-- Governor Janet Mills
The Cabinet on Aging, created in 2022 by executive order of Governor Janet Mills, comes at a time when Maine’s median age makes it the oldest state in the nation, with tens of thousands of people expected to retire in the coming years, removing them from the state’s workforce and increasing demand for aging-related services.
The Cabinet on Aging will help Maine prepare for and address these demographic changes by advancing policies that will support Maine people in aging safely, affordably, and in ways and settings that best serve their needs.
The Cabinet will bring together State government agencies to coordinate and advance work on issue such as affordable housing and long-term services and supports; financial security and protection against fraud; access to information, broadband, and services; and engagement and employment in Maine’s growing economy.
The Cabinet consists of:
- Commissioner, Department of Health and Human Services
- Commissioner, Department of Labor
- Commissioner, Department of Economic and Community Development
- Commissioner, Department of Administrative and Financial Services
- Commissioner, Professional and Financial Regulation
- Commissioner, Department of Public Safety
- Commissioner, Department of Transportation
- Director, Maine State Housing Authority
The commissioners of Health and Human Services and Labor will co-chair the Cabinet. The Cabinet is administered by the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, and is required to meet quarterly.
Community Connections
The Community Connections program, a signature initiative of the Cabinet on Aging, was launched in 2024 in partnership with Maine’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), the University of Maine’s Center on Aging, and Maine’s Age Friendly communities. The pilot was designed to better align state, regional, and community efforts to improve the welfare of older adults by strengthening local capacity for outreach, relationship-building, and connection to services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
As part of this initiative, twelve age-friendly pilot communities—from York to Caribou—established Community Connector roles. As trusted community members, Community Connectors help bridge access gaps and foster community engagement. While each program reflects local strengths and priorities, all share a common goal of supporting older adults to live comfortably and safely in their homes and communities
Bridging the Gap
Gray/New GloucesterBuilding Trust in Trusted Spaces  |
Saco |
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St. John ValleyUniting Through Acadian Culture 
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Sullivan
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The Community Connections Program also included a mini-grant opportunity open to all Age-Friendly communities to support projects aligned with the Cabinet’s priorities. Over 40 grants were awarded in November 2024 for quick-action projects. Awards ranged from $1,500 to $20,000, for a total of $330,000. An additional $420,000 was awarded in May-June 2025 to 25 communities to support a range of activities and projects.
