Loading...
Free personalized senior living guidance for families
(858) 283-4504Loading...
Maine · Everything here is free · Reviewed July 2026
Growing older in Maine, especially far from a city, can feel isolating when money is short and care is needed. But Maine has a genuinely caring network of free programs for older adults — help paying for care at home, covering medical bills, buying groceries, and making Medicare understandable. Many families never learn these exist until someone points the way.
Not sure where to start? Call for free1-877-353-3771One call reaches your local Area Agency on Aging. Follow the prompts to pick your county. They help with in-home care, meals, caregiver support, and benefits counseling.
Everything on this page is free. There's no fee to call these numbers or use these services. They're funded to help Maine seniors stay safe and independent.
You don't need to have it all figured out. Just make one call to start.
Tap what fits. You'll jump straight to the right help — no reading through the rest.
Still not sure? Just make the call above — they'll help you figure it out. One call is a great start.
Start here for most families
Most people would rather stay in their own home. MaineCare offers a program for exactly that.
Call to learn more or apply. Note that MaineCare usually doesn't pay the room-and-board rent of assisted living, but a waiver may cover the care services — ask what applies to you.
MaineCare covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and long-term care — including nursing facilities and services that help you stay in your own home.
For seniors, eligibility depends on income and assets. The limits are lower than many expect, but there are protections for married couples and special rules for long-term care, and things like your home and one car usually don't count. These limits change every year, so don't rule yourself out — call and check.
Apply by phone (TTY dial 711) or online at mymaineconnection.gov.
Free help completing a MaineCare application.
Free help completing a MaineCare application.
If you're on Medicare
Two programs can lower your Medicare costs, and many who qualify never apply:
In Maine these are handled through the Office for Family Independence.
Apply for the prescription drug subsidy through Social Security.
SHIP can help you apply for both programs.
Maine SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) gives free, confidential, one-on-one Medicare help. Counselors compare drug and health plans so you pay less, help you enroll on time and avoid penalties, untangle billing problems, and check whether you qualify for cost-saving programs. They don't sell anything — helping you is their only job.
Free, confidential, one-on-one Medicare help from trained SHIP counselors.
Everyday essentials
Run by the Office for Family Independence. SNAP adds money to a card each month for groceries.
Available through your Area Agency on Aging — reach them via the ADRC.
Worried about rent, heating bills, or staying safe at home? These can connect you with senior housing, heating and utility assistance (including LIHEAP), and home repair help.
Dial 211 for housing, rent, and utility help in your area.
Connects you with senior housing, heating and utility assistance, and home repair help.
Guidance & protection
Maine has five regional Area Agencies on Aging covering the whole state, each offering Meals on Wheels, caregiver support, transportation help, and benefits counseling for people 60 and older. Reach yours through the statewide ADRC line, or use the national Eldercare Locator.
One call connects you to the Area Agency on Aging that serves your county.
National service that connects you to local aging resources.
Statewide helpline offering free legal advice to Mainers 60 and older on health care, Medicare, MaineCare, Social Security, housing, consumer issues, and more.
You can also reach legal help through the ADRC at 1-877-353-3771 or by dialing 211.
If a loved one lives in a nursing home, assisted living, or gets home care and something isn't right, the Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a free, confidential advocate. They work to resolve complaints and protect residents' rights.
A free, confidential advocate for residents of long-term care facilities.
You can also find help at theconsumervoice.org.
Free, statewide help for almost any need.
Connects you to trusted local aging resources.
Call the ADRC at 1-877-353-3771 and tell them what you need — home care, help with bills, or just answers.
Call for free1-877-353-3771MaineCare is Maine's Medicaid program — health coverage, including long-term care, for people with limited income and resources.
Usually not. Medicare covers short-term medical care, not ongoing long-term care. MaineCare and its Home and Community Benefits waiver are what help with that.
Very possibly. Many people on Social Security qualify for MaineCare or a Medicare Savings Program. Limits change yearly, so call 1-855-797-4357 and check.
Ask about Medicare Savings Programs through the Office for Family Independence (1-855-797-4357) and Extra Help through Social Security (1-800-772-1213). SHIP can help you apply.
Yes — MaineCare's Home and Community Benefits waiver is designed for that. Start with the ADRC at 1-877-353-3771.
Yes. The ADRC, SHIP, Legal Services for the Elderly, and 211 are all free. You never pay for guidance.
Asking for help is a wise, loving step — for yourself or for someone you care about. The people answering these Maine phone lines want to help older Mainers stay safe, warm, and independent. Make one call today, and let them guide you.
Program details, income limits, and contact information can change. The agencies linked above can confirm the most current specifics for your situation. This page is for general information and isn't legal or financial advice.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Program details, income limits, and contact information can change — the linked agencies confirm the most current specifics.