Programs aim to cover all the basics; Offerings help meet health, housing, nutritional,; legal needs and more

Older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers have numerous options for accessible classes, services and events at Anne Arundel County's seven senior activity centers and 19 activity-nutrition sites.

For a detailed review of what's available, visit www.aacounty.org/aging or call 410-222-4464. Online, view the annual publication "Services for Seniors, Adults with Disabilities and Caregivers" or obtain a free printed copy at the Department of Aging and Disabilities' two offices, senior centers, libraries and other county locations.

The department's southern office is on the fourth floor of the Heritage Complex, 2666 Riva Road in Annapolis. A second location recently opened in the Harry Hein Building at 7320 Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie.

Centers and Nutrition Sites

Senior centers offer a wide range of educational programs, recreational activities, health screenings, nutritious noontime meals, social interactions and access to information about services for county residents 55 and older. Senior centers are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 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. Seven sites are at the county's senior centers.

All senior centers provide educational, recreational and professional services. Individual schedules are available each month.

*Annapolis Senior Activity Center, 119 S. Villa Ave., Annapolis. 410-222-1818, [email protected].

*Arnold Senior Activity Center, 44 Church Road, Arnold. 410-222-1922, [email protected].

*Brooklyn Park Senior Activity Center, 202 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park. 410-222-6847, [email protected].

*O'Malley Senior Activity Center & Annex, 1275 Odenton Road, Odenton. 410-222-6227, [email protected].

*Pasadena Senior Activity Center, 4103 Mountain Road, Pasadena. 410-222-0030, [email protected].

*Pascal Senior Activity Center, 125 Dorsey Road, Glen Burnie. 410-222-6680, [email protected].

*South County Senior Activity Center, 27 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater. 410-222-1927, [email protected].

Selected programs

*Maryland Access Point, or MAP: For those with questions, MAP offers "one-stop shopping" to the county's older adults, adults with disabilities and their relatives or caregivers. Information and assistance specialists offer reliable, current information, assistance and follow-up. This is the confidential gateway to support services for seniors and adults with needs, but, 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 also acts as an advocate for seniors. In addition, MAP staff members educate the public about issues relating to age, disability and available resources.

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 challenged and chronically ill adults 18 years of age and older to 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, 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 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 Resources Database: 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. Serves as a resource for other private sector ADA and Federal Fair Housing issues. 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 to share advice and provide support. One meeting is at the Heritage Complex at 2666 Riva Road in Annapolis, the other, starting Sept. 13, will be at the department's new offices at the Harry Hein Building, 7320 Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie. The meetings are usually from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at the Heritage Center, and on the second Wednesday at the Harry Hein Building.

*Community Support Groups: These are two of several volunteer groups that provide weekly visits to residents of nursing homes and assisted living sites. Volunteers of all ages share time each week to enrich older people's lives. People and Animals Who Serve and Mom and Me are complementary visitation approaches that operate under Department of Aging's same volunteer program.

*Foster Grandparents Program: Intergenerational volunteer program engages income-eligible people 55 and older to mentor children with exceptional needs. Volunteers help guide children by serving 20 to 40 hours at Head Start centers, family support centers, public schools and other facilities. Eligible volunteers receive a tax-free stipend, vacation and sick leave, and transportation.

*Health Insurance Counseling through the Senior 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: A statewide program, it provides services to eligible individuals 18 and older to enable them to remain in the community, either in their own homes or in assisted-living facilities rather than in nursing homes. Medical, financial and technical qualifications must be met.

*Home Delivered Meals: One hot and one cold nutritionally balanced meal are delivered each weekday by Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland volunteers to homebound people, including seniors who are unable to shop or cook for themselves. Fees are on a sliding scale.

*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 statewide Department of Social Services program, managed by the Department of Aging and Disabilities, it provides up to 20 hours per week of 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.

*Medical Assistance Personal Care Services Program: Federally funded program supports residents of Anne Arundel County who have Community Medical Assistance, and are elderly, have disabilities 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 support 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): Receive and resolvs 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.

*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.

*Senior Care/In-Home Aide Services: Provides in-home services and case management for persons who are frail, elderly, over 18 years of age but physically disabled, at risk of abuse or 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 Congregational Liaison and the Diabetic programs.

*Senior Center Plus: Provides specialized activities for adults 55 and older in four of the county's seven 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. This is a fee-for-service program.

*Senior Citizen Nutrition Program: This program provides a lunch meeting one-third of the U.S. recommended daily allowance to seniors and some with disabilities five days a week. Participants 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 providing public education to increase senior awareness of health care fraud issues. One-on-one assistance is available in reporting suspected Medicare or Medicaid fraud and abuse. Available for group presentations.

*Taxi Voucher Program: Provides coupons for discounted taxicab service within the county to residents 55 and older as well as to people 18 or older with a disability. When using the program, the passengers pay the metered amount in coupons when they reach their destination. Tips must be paid by the passenger - coupons cannot be used for this purpose.

*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.

*Transportation: Provides rides on a curb-to-curb, donation-supported basis to seniors age 55 and older, and adults with disabilities age 18 and older to senior centers, nutrition sites, medical appointments and for other purposes. Wheelchair vans are available. Reservations required.

Credit: By Wendi Winters - [email protected]

Caption: The Showstoppers dance group practices to a Michael Jackson song at the South County Senior Activity Center in Edgewater.

From left, Pat Ross, Julian Segovia and Charline Catlin take part in an intergenerational musical program at the Annapolis Senior Activity Center.

By Joshua McKerrow/Baltimore Sun Media Group

Valia Bradshaw/HANDOUT