Isolation is one of the hardest battles for caregivers. It doesn’t have to be.
Maine Caregivers Turn to Respite Programs to Combat Isolation and Burnout
In Caribou, Maine, 67‑year‑old Cathyann Adams spent winter months calling the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging as the advanced stages of her husband Chris’s Lewy body dementia pushed her toward a breaking point. “I was alone,” she told the agency. “I didn’t know how I was going to go forward.”
Chris Adams, a 71‑year‑old former Fort Fairfield resident, had moved with his wife a few years earlier as part of a “homecoming” for him. After the move, a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia followed, and his condition deteriorated rapidly. The couple’s home, once a place of companionship, became a center of care work, leaving little space for social connection. Chris died on July 23, a month after his wife found a lifeline in local respite services.
Maine’s aging profile underscores the urgency of such services. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state’s median age is the highest in the nation at 44.9, with 24.6 % of residents aged 65 or older. At the same time, 61.5 % of Maine’s population lives outside of designated urban areas, and harsh winter weather and limited public transit make it difficult for people in rural communities to reach care facilities.
“Isolation is a serious problem,” says Ruth White, family caregiver program coordinator at the Aroostook Agency on Aging. “You have an array of emotions—happiness, pride, frustration, resentment, anger—constant stress is exhausting. Caregivers need a break, and that’s why we encourage them to use our adult day respite center.”
White’s suggestion led Adams to a day program where she could leave Chris for a few hours, giving her time to get a haircut, take a walk, or simply cry. In addition to respite care, the agency offers classes such as Savvy Caregiver, yoga, and online support groups, and pairs volunteers with caregivers to share in the duties. “It felt like a divine appointment when I called,” Adams recalled, adding that a rural community “needs a community” that the Agency on Aging can provide.
Respite day programs are not unique to Caribou. Bath‑Brunswick Respite Care, located in Bath, has run its 38th year of operation. Executive director Ashley Butterfield reports that the program served about forty families last year. “It’s so important for caregivers to walk away from caregiving for a while and get back into the world,” she says. “Every caregiver understands what they’re giving up. If you don’t take time out, isolation deepens.”
Butterfield stresses that caregivers should not wait until burnout occurs. “It doesn’t need to be bad in order for a caregiver to need to maintain their own sense of self,” she explains. “No caregiver should wait until they’re burnt out.”
Beyond Bath, the Southern Maine Agency on Aging operates a day program in Springvale that has helped families such as the Turners. 71‑year‑old Terry Turner has been caring for her husband, 75‑year‑old Jack, who was diagnosed with dementia three years ago. “He thinks he works there. That’s the only thing that gets him going is ‘OK, I gotta go to my job,’” Terry laughs, noting that Jack’s sense of purpose has remained stable. The program has given Terry time to pursue cardmaking and a Bible study group, ensuring she continues to socialize and enjoy life.
The Turners have also converted their Springvale home into a duplex, allowing their 40‑year‑old daughter to live nearby and help with care. “I’m OK with it because maybe that’s what God wants me to do,” Terry says, reflecting on previous experience caring for her father’s dementia.
For counties lacking day programs, the state is experimenting with “pop‑up” respite care. The Alzheimer’s Association recently provided a nearly $100,000 grant to launch a 12‑week pilot called “Dementia Respite Without Walls” at the Casco Community Center. The program aims to reach residents in Bridgton, Raymond, Windham, and Harrison, who might otherwise find the distance to
