Adult Protective Services/Elder Resources:
To report abuse, neglect or exploitation in a facility licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services, call:
Statewide toll-free 1-800-383-2441 TTY 800-606-0215
What Are Adult Protective Services?
Adult Protective Services is a program within the Office of Elder Services. The Office is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. Its purpose is to provide and arrange for services to protect adults who are unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect or exploitation. If the person has mental retardation, services are provided by the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services. If the person has mental retardation, services are provided by the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services.
Who Is Required To Report?:
Maine law states that certain people must report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of an adult if they believe the adult is incapacitated or dependent.
Persons convicted of failing to report may be fined up to $500. If the person is a professional, the court or the Department also will report to that person’s licensing board or accrediting unit.
Individuals Who Must Report:
| Ambulance Attendant |
Occupational Therapist |
| Certified Nursing Assistant |
Pharmacist |
| Chiropractor |
Physical Therapist |
| Clergy Physician (M.D. and D.O.) |
Dentist Physician’s Assistant |
| Emergency Medical Technician |
Podiatrist |
| Emergency Room Personnel |
Psychologist |
| Humane Agent |
Registered Nurse |
| Law Enforcement |
Official Social Worker |
| Licensed Practical Nurse |
Speech Therapist |
| Medical Examiner |
Unlicensed Assistive Personnel*
*(includes Personal Care Assistant/PCA) |
| Medical Intern |
|
| Mental Health Professional |
|
Other Individuals:
Any person who has assumed full, intermittent or occasional responsibility for the care or custody of an incapacitated or dependent adult, whether or not the person receives compensation; or
Any person affiliated with a church or religious institution who serves in an administrative capacity or has otherwise assumed a position of trust or responsibility to the members of that church or religious institution, while acting in that capacity, whether or not the person receives compensation
Optional Reporting:
Anyone may report suspicion of abuse, neglect or exploitation of a person who is incapacitated or dependent. Making a report is a first step toward providing protection for the adult.
Immunity
Anyone who makes a report in good faith is protected under the law if someone files a suit in a civil court.Confidentiality
Adult Protective Services maintains confidentiality of reporters except in very limited circumstances.
What Can Adult Protective Services Staff Do?
- Investigate reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
- Arrange services to help make adults safe.
- Arrange services to allow adults the most personal freedom possible.
- Seek guardianship and/or conservatorship of adults who are unable to make decisions for themselves and who have no family or friend able to make these decisions for them.
Maine Q & A's on Guardianship, Conservatorship and more.
Additional Elder resources in Maine:
Maine Q & A's : The differences between: Limited Guardianship, Guardianship, Conservatorship, Ward, Fiduciary, Powers/Duties of a Guardian, Living Wills, Probate Courts, etc.
Area Agencies on Aging are the central resource for elder services in your area. They can help you either directly or by referring you to the appropriate agency. Call Elders 1 at 1-877-353-3771 to contact the Area Agency on Aging in your area.
Aroostook Agency on Aging
(Aroostook County)
33 Davis Street, PO Box 1288
Presque Isle, Maine 04769
V/TTY 207-764-3396
Toll Free ..1-800-439-1789
Eastern Agency on Aging
(Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis and Washington Counties)
450 Essex Street
Bangor, Maine 04401-3937
V/TTY ..207-941-2865
Toll Free .1-800-432-7812
SeniorsPlus
(Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford Counties)
8 Falcon Road, PO Box 659
Lewiston, Maine 04243-0659
207-795-4010
Toll Free 1-800-427-1241
TTY ..207-795-7232
Senior Spectrum
(Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Somerset and Waldo Counties)
One Weston Court, PO Box 2589
Augusta, Maine 04338-2589
207-622-9212
Toll Free 1-800-639-1553
Toll Free TTY 1-800-464-8703
TTY 207-623-0809
Southern Maine Agency on Aging
(Cumberland and York Counties)
136 U.S. Route 1
Scarborough, ME 04047
Phone: 207-396-6500
TTY: 207-883-0532
Fax: 207-883-8249
Toll Free 1-800-427-7411
Caregiver information:
End of Life Decisions:
- Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
Provided by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
- Maine Hospice Council
The Maine Hospice Council exists to ensure the continued development of Hospice and Palliative Care in Maine. The Council provides education and technical assistance regarding end-of-life care, as well as advocacy for terminally ill and bereaved persons regarding quality-of-life care issues throughout the state.
- On Our Own Terms
A companion to the PBS series hosted by Bill Moyers
- Taking Charge of Your Health Care
A description of Maine law on Health Care Advance Directives, including Advance Directive forms, provided by the Bureau of Elder and Adult Services
- Aging: Taking Care of Business
A guide for older people, families and friends regarding:
- Health Care Advance Directives
- Durable Powers of Attorney for Finances
- Guardianship/Conservatorship
- Other Related Information
General Resources for Seniors
Guardianship
Health Care
Home Care
Legal issues
Long-term care
Resources for the Elderly
Misc. that might be needed for your elderly parent :
Animal Hoarding
No state-specific resources known at this time
Cleaning Companies & Organizers
Maine Listings
New England Professional Organizers
Midcoast Maine - Crisis Organizing Help (C.O.H.)
Coming home from the hospital and need pathways for a walker or wheelchair, or preparing for visiting nurses (mandated reporters) to come in? Email: Contact.
Phone: 207-406-0254. Family members of hoarders helping other family/hoarders. (this site's webmaster)
(Tips if you can't find a cleaning company in your area:
•Check the online classifieds oncraigslist.org for “junk removal” services
•Check your local churches to see if they have volunteer groups to help clean out
•Post on Freecycle.org
•Search "crime scene
clean-ups" or "meth lab clean-ups.")
Codes/Legal/Housing:
Legal Assistance
Legal Resource Sites
Hoarding Task Forces:
Online resource center-Hoarding Task Forces
seeking state-specific information
Hoarding Support Group:
Anxiety Solutions of Northern New England
PLLC 104 Webbs Mills Road
PO Box 70 Raymond, ME 04071-0070
(207) 655-2737
"We offer a free Adult Anxiety Support Group that meets here in our waiting room at 7PM on the 2nd and 4th Thursday nights of each month (except only the 2nd Thursday night in November and December). Quite a few members have OCD, and several of them are struggling with hoarding, so the topic often comes up for discussion and other adults struggling with hoarding would be welcomed." -Gordon P. Street, PhD
National-check for a local listing
Clutterers Anonymous, ClutterLESS Recovery Groups
OCD Foundation Affiliate:
seeking information
Therapists:
Paul Gervais, PhD
16 Julianne Lane
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: (207).622.0713
Tom Hansen, PhD, LCSW
PO Box 5081
Ellsworth, ME 04605
Phone: (207) 664-0097
Francine Blattner, MD
222 St John Street
Suite 118
Portland, ME 04102
Phone: (207) 761-5876
Fax: (207) 799-8156
Debra Bunce, Ph.D
Psychodiagnostic Services of Southern Maine
17 Bishop Street
Portland, ME 04103
Phone: (207) 595-0479
Lee Fitzgibbons, PhD
Anxiety Solutions of Northern New England,
PLCC
104 Webbs Mills Road
Raymond, ME 04071
Phone: (207) 655-2737
Gordon Street, PhD
Anxiety Solutions of NNE, PLLC
PO Box 70
Raymond, ME 04071
Phone: (207)655.2737
Email: gpstreet@anxietysolutions.net
James Claiborn, PhD
6 D Street
South Portland, ME 04106
Phone: (207) 799-0408
Fax: (207)767.7002
Email: CBT4OCD@maine.rr.com
Thomas Moyer, PhD, ABPP
PO Box 2000
York, ME 03909
Phone: (207) 363-7142
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Additional/Misc. Related Information
When Kitchens are not functional:
Sendameal.com:
Not local, but can be ordered online for delivery. Just need an accesible microwave.
Meals on Wheels near you.
Maine.gov's page: Meals on Wheels
Nutrition for older people in Maine: Info about home delivered meals and community dining sites
Maine's nutrition program helps older people remain healthy and active. In many communities, area agency on aging volunteer and paid staff run meal programs that offer hot meals to hundreds of older people. Meals are nutritious and tasty. No fee is charged but donations are requested. Search for a dining site in your county.
Comments sent in by site visitors:
1/2008: I contacted Maine Housing Authority and asked what resources there are in Maine, do any Task Forces exist, etc.
This is what they wrote me:
"I am not aware of any Hoarder Task Force in Maine but you may want to contact Pine Tree Legal Assistance for advice. PTL offers legal assistance to low income families in Maine and can be reached at 207-774-8211. Another option may be to contact the the welfare director through their local town office for advice."
Best,
Louise Patenaude Housing Referral Specialist
Comment sent in by site visitor:
Maine Medical Center held a training for nurses about compulsive hoarding in 2004-maybe they will know of some resources?(sorry, I know that is a bit vague-if you contact Dr. Claiborn in Portland he will likely know of somewhere to direct you.)
James Claiborn, PhD
6 D Street
South Portland, ME 04106
Phone: (207) 799-0408
Fax: (207)767.7002
Email: CBT4OCD@maine.rr.com
