As county’s senior population increases, a variety of issues need attention

Sep. 18--The number of Frederick County residents who are at least 85 years old is set to nearly quadruple over the next two decades, and a number of issues already face seniors, according to advocates and people who work with elder adults.

Access to affordable assisted-living housing and the cost of medications are just a few of the problems people face as they get older.

The county-run Montevue assisted living center is beneficial, but it doesn't meet the need in the county for intermediate-level assisted living, said Christina Forbes of Daybreak Adult Day Services.

And while the federal Medicaid system will pay for a nursing home, it doesn't cover assisted living, she said.

"There's this huge gap" in available space, Forbes said.

One of the biggest issues facing seniors is the ability to age in place and stay in their homes longer, but the county has a number of services that can help people do that, said Kathy Schey, director of the county's Senior Services Division.

They include programs to help with energy assistance, as well as workshops on how to apply for Medicare.

Fortunately, technology and other improvements have helped service providers bring more help to people in their homes, said Eric Anderson, executive director of the Western Maryland chapter of the Red Cross.

"We're in a society where you can bring a lot of services to people," he said.

The county also runs a network of senior centers where older adults can stay active and socially engaged, Schey said.

They offer a variety of exercise options such as Zoomba or ballroom dancing, as well as day trips around Maryland and into Pennsylvania.

Those types of activities can make a big difference as people get older and can find themselves more lonely and isolated, as spouses and friends move or pass away.

"Social isolation is huge," said Forbes.

When she does evaluations, one of the questions she asks is what the person does for fun.

"So many times, the answer is, 'It's been so long, I don't even remember,'" Forbes said.

Along with services for aging seniors, providing help for the people who take care of them is also important.

Caregiver burnout and stress is a major issue, Forbes said, often for the spouses or adult children who look after their aging loved ones.

She's seen people leave the workforce to care for a senior, affecting their own lifetime earning potential and affecting their own health as they try to juggle their own lives with providing care.

The county has a caregiver support program to provide help for people taking care of a loved one, Schey said.

As seniors face difficulty finding appropriate housing and services, they must also deal with the problem of paying for the medications they need.

Most seniors need a supplemental insurance plan to go with Medicare payments to cover the costs, but can't afford a plan, said Linda Ryan, executive director of Mission of Mercy.

The organization provides free medical and dental care, as well as pharmacy services for the uninsured and the underinsured.

If her organization can help with medication costs, seniors can put more of their limited incomes toward rent, food and other necessities, Ryan said.

"It costs a lot of money as you get older just to survive. And if you get an illness, it gets even worse," she said.

She talked about a 71-year-old woman who came to them to have a tooth pulled.

The woman tearfully explained that she'd had a heart attack several years before, and had come to Mission of Mercy because she didn't want her son to have to pay another medical bill, Ryan said.

Even as seniors face the problems of aging, Frederick County has a lot of people who are willing to help, Schey said.

"It's a great county, it's a caring county," she said.

Follow Ryan Marshall on Twitter: @RMarshallFNP

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