The Empowered Middle: A New Approach to Aging Decisions

Yesterday, I spent the day at an event — a home and energy show — where I had the chance to talk with dozens of people about aging, care decisions, and the questions so many families face.

Something surprised me.

The people who were drawn to my table weren’t just curious — they were excited.

They were relieved.

One woman even said, “You have to meet my friends — they need this so badly,” and asked if I could come speak at her home.

It wasn’t about politics.

It wasn’t about sales.

It was about something deeper: a feeling that maybe, just maybe, there’s a better way to approach aging.

⸻

For most families, aging decisions have felt like a two-option game:

• Trust the system — and hope the facility, the discharge planner, or the case manager has your best interests at heart.

• Go it alone — and navigate an overwhelming, complicated maze of care options, costs, and risks without a map.

Neither feels right.

Neither protects your loved one’s dignity the way they deserve.

Standing there yesterday, watching people’s faces light up as we talked, I realized:

There’s a third way.

And it’s exactly what I’ve built Maine Aging Partners around.

I call it The Empowered Middle.