This story is based on an interview with Megan Walton, 40, CEO of Southern Maine Agency on Aging. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Growing up, I was very, very close to all four of my grandparents. I have many wonderful memories of weekly visits with them.
I recognized what incredible value they added to our lives, such as imparting their knowledge and wisdom, or relieving my parents of caring duties so they could go on a date night together.
My three young children feel the same way about the older adults in their lives. They love spending time with my dad, a lifelong learner who is taking three courses and is active in an exercise group.
And they adore my dynamic mom. Despite having a lot of health issues through the years, she has found so much purpose and connection within the community.
I initially worked in child foster care
She has a different social engagement every other night. We’ll call her, and she’ll say, “I’ll have to get back to you later because I’m having dinner with my friends,” or “I’m playing Mahjong.”
We’re witnessing her openness and expansiveness right before our eyes. She’s a shining example of someone who is fully embracing her season of life.
Getting to know people like my mom is one of the main reasons I love my job. I’m the CEO of a nonprofit that empowers older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers to live to their fullest potential.
We deliver programs, resources, and information so they can age in their own homes and communities, and we help coordinate adult day programs and Meals on Wheels.
I entered the field of health and human services by working for an organization that served kids and families in foster care in Seattle.
It grew significantly while I was there, which gave me the opportunity to grow myself. Then, in 2019, my husband and I decided to move to Portland, Maine, where I was hired by the Southern Maine Agency on Aging.
I was intrigued because, like foster care, there are so many misconceptions about the population we serve.
It’s not a them-versus-us situation because we’re all aging and, at some point, everyone will need more support.
Our communities were not built for us to live well into our 70s, 80s, and 90s. People are in tremendous need of services such as adequate housing and proper nutrition.
My job is rewarding
Thankfully, we are beginning to realize that aging is about everything from housing, transportation, and healthcare to workforce and community design.
Older adults are a huge asset to society and active contributors. We need to instill in the next generation that growing old is great and demonstrate what will open up as we evolve.
It’s incredibly rewarding to work with our clients, 70 staff, and our 500 volunteers, 80% of whom are over 60 themselves.
Many of our Meals on Wheels volunteers are retired and look forward to the days when they’re doing their route. It helps them form relationships and stay socially connected.
I’m looking forward to aging myself
They also acquire new skills. One man was married for a long time before entering another relationship. He never cooked, but now he is cooking all the time. He has a newfound love of recipes.
He’d been fed the belief that he hadn’t been a cook all his life, but he proved it wrong.
Stories like this helped change my attitude toward life and aging. I’m really looking forward to growing older now. I want to still be working in my 80s, maybe not full-time, but staying engaged and giving back.
Thanks to my job, I really do feel like I’m at the beginning of my life right now at 40.
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