Leonardtown, MD – 2015 marks an important milestone in the history of how this country supports its older citizens. In July 1965 President Lyndon Johnson signed the Older Americans Act (OAA) into law. For the past 50 years, the OAA has provided programs that allow millions of older Americans to live and thrive in communities of their choice for as long as possible.

Through a national network of aging services and funding, the OAA offers a wide range of supports, including home-delivered and congregate meals, caregiver support, preventive health services, transportation, Medicare counselors, and elder abuse prevention.

This anniversary offers an opportunity to emphasize how older adults can access the home and community-based services they need to live independently in their communities. It is also an occasion to highlight how older adults are engaging with and making a difference in those communities.

“The Department of Aging & Human Services recognizes the importance of community engagement to encourage the well-being of older adults and how their contributions may lead to making a positive impact in the lives of others,” said Lori-Jennings Harris, Director. “Our Department is the local authority for programs serving more than 10,000 people aged 50 and older throughout many years.”

The theme of this special observance is “Get into the Act.” Leading up to OAA’s anniversary in July, the St. Mary’s County Department of Aging & Human Services will conduct activities and provide tips on how to access programs and services designed to maximize the independence of older adults in  our community.

Support Services
Support Services and Senior Activity Centers are central to helping older adults remain independent in their homes and communities. St. Mary’s County has three senior activity centers throughout the county. Transportation Services assists older Americans who can no longer drive, or who may not own a vehicle, to conduct essential shopping and travel to medical appointments.

Nutrition Services
The oldest, largest, and best known of all OOA programs is Nutrition Services. These aim to prevent and end hunger and malnutrition. The Home-Delivered Meals program utilizes volunteer drivers to deliver meals and check on the well-being of people who are homebound. The Senior Activity Centers serve meals to older adults under the Congregate Meals program. Meals are prepared fresh and served Monday – Friday at the centers. Donations are accepted from anyone aged 60 years and older. Meals cost $6 for those under 60. 

Caregiver Support
These programs provide information, counseling, support groups, training and respite care to assist family caregivers. Caregivers can become overwhelmed by the physical and emotional burden of caregiving. The National Family Caregiver Support Program helps caregivers balance caregiving with other responsibilities, which allows more adults to remain in their homes and communities.

Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
This program supports efforts to engage in evidence-based interventions and various outreach activities in community venues. Outreach activities vary widely, but include chronic disease self-management, fitness activities, mental health supports and other interventions effective in enhancing health. The New Beginning newsletter is a great resource to find out about these activities. To receive the bi-monthly newsletter by mail, call 301-475-4200, ext. 1073 to register. The newsletter and Senior Activity Center calendars are also available online at www.stmarysmd.com/aging.

Aging with Dignity and Independence
People enjoy a better quality of life when they are able to live at home. Community living also makes financial sense. The average cost of a shared room in a nursing home is nearly $75,000 per year, and residential facilities for people with disabilities can cost three times as much. When people cannot afford these costs, Medicaid is the primary payer. By contrast, supportive services provided under the OOA at the local level can enable people to remain in their homes and avoid or delay these expensive services.

In recent years, efforts have been made to streamline access to long-term services and supports for both older adults and people with disabilities. In 2006, the OOA was amended to support the implementation of the Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC). The Aging & Disability Resource Center/Maryland Access Point in St. Mary’s County became active in 2013. The goal of the ADRC/MAP is to ensure people who seek assistance encounter “no wrong door” to the system and serve as a viable and trusted entry point, helping to find information and providing one-on-one, person centered counseling to help them access the long-term services and support they need.

Aging Well into the Future
As the largest generation in U.S. history, “Baby Boomers” born between 1946 and 1964, age into eligibility for programs. Relationships and partnerships fostered over the past 50 years provide a foundation for ensuring older adults have the opportunity to age with dignity, purpose, and respect.

Join us in commemorating this milestone anniversary! We are looking for stories about everything from the benefits of home-delivered meals to transportation services; elder abuse prevention efforts to caregiver respite; and anything else you care to share about how St. Mary’s County Department of Aging & Human Services programs has improved your life.

To make this celebration truly successful, we’re seeking help from the community. Submit your stories/videos/pictures via email to Jennifer.Stone@stmarysmd.com. These may be shared via tag or wall post on our Facebook page: keyword, St. Mary’s County Department of Aging & Human Services. Stories may also be featured on our website, Facebook page and shared with local print and online media.