Committee adds language on health care and senior services gap in public-services chapter

Members of the Rangeley Comprehensive Plan Committee told staff to add language to the public services and capital improvements chapter describing local gaps in health care and senior services and the potential effects on the town’s ability to retain residents.

What committee members said: Selectman Sam White, committee members Sam and others noted that Rangeley’s population is aging and that the lack of local health-care, hospice and assisted-living options can push long-time residents to relocate. "If we want to keep our population going and staying, we should focus on getting assisted living and, and health facilities, pharmacies, and all that stuff," Sam said.

Context and committee direction: members said the issue is broader than housing — health services, transportation, and elder supports affect whether residents remain in town at older ages. Staff member Donna said she had already added a paragraph into the public services and capital improvements section noting the gap and possible directions; committee members asked that material be reviewed and expanded as needed. Suggestions included exploring incentives to attract medical services, coordinating regional hospice coverage, and examining mutual-aid or shared-service arrangements with nearby towns.

Outcome: staff will refine and expand the draft public-services language and bring it back to the committee for review. The committee did not set a formal action beyond requesting additional language and research.

Ending: the committee asked staff to identify potential partners, and to consider housing, transportation and other quality-of-life measures together with any health-care strategy to retain and support aging residents.