Greater Bath Elder Outreach Network

A volunteer based effort to locate and contact vulnerable older adults who are isolated and/or who live alone, to create socialization opportunities, and to link them to any needed resources such as long-term care supports.

Description:
The Greater Bath Elder Outreach Network provides free services to the elderly, disabled and homebound individuals living in Sagadahoc county and the Brunswick area, to help them remain independent in their homes. Screened and trained volunteers, depending on their individual availability, donate an hour or two of service to elderly and disabled people every week or every other week. After receiving and assessing a referral the Greater Bath Elder Outreach Network Program staff matches the client with a volunteer. Matches are based on the client's need for service and the volunteer's availability for the service he/she has elected to provide.

History:
The Greater Bath Elder Outreach Network was developed based on the needs of elder residents as identified in a survey conducted by the United Way of Mid-Coast Maine's Task Force on Community Solutions for the Elderly in the Spring of 2003. In this survey, service providers and seniors in the Greater Bath area reported that older residents in their community face significant physical, mental, financial and social problems that are not being addressed. Issues related to loss, loneliness, isolation and concerns about children and spouses were reported, such as, feelings of sadness, loneliness, worry, discouragement, or fear, and a need for help with safety issues, as when ill or when the power is out.

Contact people:

Martha Cushing, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Wendy Russell, Program Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (207) 443-9772

Address:

Greater Bath Elder Outreach Network (GBEON) 171 Congress St. Bath, ME 04530 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.ccmaine.org

Directions:

Our office is in the Jesse Albert Memorial Dental Center In Bath.

Last updated on April 28, 2009