Services for seniors, adults with disabilities and caregivers

As of 2019, about 15% of Anne Arundel County's population comprised people 65 years old or older. To serve this large population, the county hosts a number of accessible classes, services and events through its senior activity centers and nutrition sites, even during the coronavirus pandemic.

Below, you'll find a brief overview of some of the programs offered, and how these programs have changed as a result of the pandemic.

For a detailed review of what's available, visit www.aacounty.org/aging or call 410-222-4257 for information about services and programs. You can also view the annually published directory for older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers online or get a free, printed copy at the department's two office sites, senior activity centers, libraries, hospitals and other county sites.

The Department of Aging and Disabilities South is on the fourth floor of The Heritage Complex, 2666 Riva Road in Annapolis. A second location, Department of Aging and Disabilities North, opened in 2017 in the Harry Hein Building at 7320 Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie. Both of these locations closed to the public indefinitely during the coronavirus pandemic. Call 410-222-4257 for information on reopening.

Senior Activity Centers and Nutrition Sites: Senior Activity Centers provide a variety of educational programs, recreational activities, seminars, and classes in arts and crafts, computer use, dance and much more. Here, you can also find social events, bus trips, picnics, card playing and entertainment.

Each of the seven senior centers in Anne Arundel County publishes a monthly newsletter and calendar providing specific information, times and dates. Membership to senior activity centers is free and available to residents age 55 and older. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, except holidays.

Nutrition sites throughout the county provide nutritious meals for adults age 60 and older. The meals meet one-third of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's recommended daily allowance. Days and times of operation vary. Six sites are at the county's senior centers. For more information and to sign up, call 410-222-0256.

All senior activity centers have closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus, but when open again will provide educational, recreational and professional services. Individual schedules are available each month.

* Annapolis Senior Activity Center, 119 S. Villa Ave., Annapolis. 410-222-1818, annapoliscenter@aacounty.org.

* Arnold Senior Activity Center, 44 Church Road, Arnold. 410-222-1922, arnoldcenter@aacounty.org.

* Brooklyn Park Senior Activity Center, 202 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park. 410-222-6847, bpcenter@aacounty.org.

* O'Malley Senior Activity Center & Annex, 1275 Odenton Road, Odenton. 410-222-6227, omalleycenter@aacounty.org.

* Pasadena Senior Activity Center, 4103 Mountain Road, Pasadena. 410-222-0030, pasadenacenter@aacounty.org.

* Pascal Senior Activity Center, 125 Dorsey Road, Glen Burnie. 410-222-6680, pascalcenter@aacounty.org.

* South County Senior Activity Center, 27 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater. 410-222-1927, southcenter@aacounty.org.

All Selected Programs offered through the Department of Aging and Disabilities remain available during the pandemic.

Maryland Access Point (MAP): Maryland Access Point (MAP) offers "one-stop shopping" to older adults, adults with disabilities and their relatives or caregivers of Anne Arundel County. Information and assistance specialists are the single source of reliable, current information, assistance and follow-up. This is the confidential gateway to support services. Anyone can access MAP for information for themselves or for an older relative or friend.

Senior Information and Assistance Specialists help define problem areas and determine eligibility for needed services, sort through options, make referrals, help with forms and follow up to ensure the right services are being used. The trained staff of MAP act as advocates and educate the public about issues relating to age or disability and available resources. They are available for individual consultations or group presentations.

Adult Evaluation and Review Service: Provides comprehensive nursing and psycho-social evaluation. Develops client care plans, identifies needs and makes referrals to appropriate services to assist functionally challenged and chronically ill adults 18 years of age and older function as independently as possible.

Aging & Disabilities Legal and Financial Aid: The Law Project can provide free legal assistance, advice and representation on issues including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, pension benefits, unemployment, housing, credit or other civil matters.

It can also provide advice on other types of issues like credit counseling, long-term care and health care related issues, food stamps, housing and utilities issues, abuse and neglect, age discrimination and guardianship, nursing home and protective service issues.

Persons with legal issues not handled by the Law Project will be referred to other sources of free or low-cost legal assistance. Services are free but contributions are welcome.

Adult Public Guardianship: Provides court-ordered guardianship services to those ages 65 and older with a physical or mental disability, who have no family or friends to assume responsibility for medical and personal decisions. Program provides education and information about alternatives to public and private guardianship and health care powers of attorney.

Aging & Disabilities Resources Database: A database that contains information about agencies, organizations, businesses and facilities in the community providing services and programs to assist older persons and persons with disabilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act Office: Coordinates and serves as a resource for Anne Arundel County government programs and facilities to ensure accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which became law in 1990. The office serves as a resource for other private sector ADA and Federal Fair Housing issues. ADA office staff support and participate in the Anne Arundel County Commission on Disability Issues.

Caregiver Support Group: Caregivers for the elderly or disabled can meet twice monthly virtually to share advice and provide support every third Tuesday of the month, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and every second Wednesday of the month, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. When not closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, meeting would be held at two sites: the Heritage Complex located at 2666 Riva Road in Annapolis on the Tuesday meetings and also at the department's North office located at the Harry Hein Building, 7320 Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie, for the Wednesday meetings. Anyone interested in signing up can contact Mary Chaput at 410-222-4339 or email at agchap01@aacounty.org.

Community Support Groups: See the official link for a list of support groups throughout Anne Arundel County: www.aacounty.org/departments/aging-and-disabilities/forms-publications/community-support-group.pdf . Here is the shortened version of the link: https://bit.ly/2l7wf1g.

Health Insurance Counseling (SHIP, State Health Insurance Assistance Program): Provides health insurance assistance and information to Medicare-eligible persons and their families. Staff and trained volunteers assist clients with understanding Medicare benefits, Medicare supplemental options, Medicare Advantage options and Medicare Prescription Part D options. They also provide options for dealing with health care costs and Medicare billing issues. Available for individual consultations or group presentations.

Home and Community Based Options Waiver (HCBOW): Community Options Waiver enables adults 18 and older to remain in a community setting even though their advanced age or disability would warrant placement in a long-term care facility. The waiver allows services that are typically covered by Medicaid only in long-term care facilities to be provided to eligible persons in their own homes or in assisted living facilities. Under Community Options Waiver, the federal government "waives" certain requirements it imposes on states, such as the requirement that services be provided in a nursing facility. For eligible clients, the state will pay for covered services to enable them to stay in the community.

Home Delivered Meals: Meals are delivered twice per week by Department of Aging and Disabilities staff and volunteers to homebound people, including seniors who are unable to shop or cook for themselves. Meal deliveries are free to senior nutrition program participants.

Housing Assistance: Provides monitoring and offers technical assistance to assisted living facilities. The program administers a subsidy to financially and functionally eligible residents in these facilities. It helps coordinate quality assurance at Congregate Housing service sites, offers public information to professionals, proprietors and consumers about regulatory requirements and housing options for seniors and those with disabilities; and collaborates with Adult Protective Services and the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program to protect the rights and welfare of vulnerable adults residing in community-based settings.

In-Home Aide Services: A Department of Social Services program, it is managed by the Department of Aging and Disabilities. A statewide program, it provides assistance from home aides who can help with personal care, chore and respite services for frail elderly adults and clients age 18 and older who have disabilities.

Long-Term Care Bureau: A service delivery system which coordinates services for the aging and disabled population utilizing public and private agencies. The purpose of the Long Term Care Bureau is to help frail and disabled individuals to remain safely in the community for as long as possible. It is the umbrella in which the following programs and services are provided: Long-term care case management, payment for some services depending on eligibility, spiritual care, bereavement, healing touch, assessment of the client, development of individualized care plans, arrangement for an coordination of services, evaluation of the effectiveness of services, ongoing monitoring, empowerment of the client and their family, continued long-term care.

Community Personal Assistance Services/Community First Choice: Federally funded program supports residents of Anne Arundel County who have Community Medical Assistance, and are elderly, have disabilities and/or are chronically ill, through assistance with activities of daily living and advocacy for services that promote choice and safeguard their dignity as they age in place. Personal assistance services are rendered in the eligible individual's home or community residence by agency employed providers.

National Family Caregiver Support Program: Provides services and support to caregivers caring for loved ones age 60 or older. Also provides services and supports to grandparents and relative caregivers age 55 and older who have responsibility for children younger than age 18. Services include information, assistance, caregiver training, family counseling, support groups, respite for caregivers and supplemental services. Educational workshops and support groups also are available to caregivers regardless of the age of the care recipient.

Ombudsman Program (Resident Advocate): Receives and resolves complaints made by or for residents of long-term care facilities. Advocates for residents' rights and quality care. Educates public on long-term care facilities and services. Protects identity of residents and individuals who make complaints. Promotes volunteer opportunities.

People and Animals Who Serve (PAWS): P.A.W.S. is a program that matches single individuals, parents and their small children, and/or people with pets to visit residents of nursing homes and assisted living sites in our community.

Respite Care Referral Program: Maintains a registry of screened and trained self-employed home care workers. Workers are available during day, evening and night hours to provide assistance to the elderly, ill, frail or those with disabilities in their homes. Services provided are determined by the family's need and may include personal care as well as light housekeeping. There is no charge for the referral service. This is a self-pay program: clients and workers negotiate the fee.

Living Well Series: Offers workshops that provide tips and advice on how to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Workshops are held at various senior activity centers around the county and are offered at no cost.

Senior Care/In-Home Aide Services/Evidence-Based Programs: Provides in-home services and case management for persons who are frail, elderly, over 18 years of age, physically disabled, at-risk of abuse/neglect or need help during an illness in order to continue living at home. Services may include personal care, housekeeping, doing laundry and meal preparation. Financial and medical criteria must be met. Special programs include the Diabetic programs.

Senior Center Plus: Provides specialized activities for adults who are age 55 and older in all of the county's senior centers. Special staff is available to a small group of seniors who may have impairments, but do not require medical intervention, to help them maneuver the busy center environment. The service costs $20 per day.

Congregate Meal Program: This program provides a lunch that meets 1/3 of the United States Recommended Daily Allowance to seniors and some with disabilities five days a week. Participants (see eligibility guidelines) of this program are not charged for the meals though donations are accepted to help offset the cost. Reservations a week in advance are required. Those under 60 years of age must pay full price for the meal.

Senior Farmers Market: Coupons are available to low-income seniors enrolled in certain federal and state programs. These coupons are to be used at authorized farmers markets and with authorized farmers. The coupons are only to be used for locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables.

Senior Medicare Patrol: A grant-funded project to combat fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid, program provides public education to increase senior awareness of health care fraud issues. One-on-one assistance is available in reporting suspected Medicare/Medicaid fraud and abuse. Available for group presentations.

Shop N'Eat Program: (Subsidizing Healthy-food Options Plus Nutrition Education and Training) educates and provides opportunities for developing healthy eating habits for senior residents through the use of subsidized grocery cash cards.

Participants must be 60 years or older, Anne Arundel County resident (must show proof) and participate in nutrition education each quarter.

Telephone Reassurance: Provides daily phone calls at a specific time of day to seniors who may be frail, isolated or living alone. Volunteers check in with senior clients 365 days a year. Clients may call ahead to a 24-hour message line to inform volunteers of schedule changes. In case of emergencies, all clients authorize volunteers to confirm their well-being by consulting neighbors, family or police.

Caption: Anne Arundel County Police Academy Recruits and officers carry boxes of food to cars at the Brooklyn Park Senior Center.

Tricia Ford, center, with the Brooklyn Park Senior Center, checks in with residents as they receive food.

Paul W. Gillespie/Capital Gazette

Paul W. Gillespie/Capital Gazette