WHEREAS, Maine is fortunate to have over 400,000 people aged 60 and over who contribute skills, talent, wisdom, and experience to our great State; and

WHEREAS, our communities benefit when people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds can participate fully with the highest level of independence; and

WHEREAS, older Mainers improve our communities through intergenerational relationships, community service, civic engagement, and many other activities; and

WHEREAS, Maine must ensure that as we age, we have the resources and support needed to stay involved in our communities, reflecting our commitment to inclusivity and connectedness; and

WHEREAS, Maine recognizes the valuable role of caregivers and the need to promote programs and services that support and foster their well-being; and

WHEREAS, Maine recognizes the profound impact of meaningful interactions and social connection on the well-being and health of older adults and caregivers in our community; and

WHEREAS, established in 2022, the Maine Cabinet on Aging is working to advance policies that will improve the quality of life, inclusion, and engagement of older adults;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2024 as

Older Americans Month

in Maine, I urge all citizens to celebrate aging and older people to help create a fully inclusive and equitable society that benefits us all.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this seventeenth day of April Two Thousand Twenty-Four