June is PRIDE Month

Colorful uplifting parades, joyous festivals, workshops, picnics, and parties are some of the fun events taking place in Maryland in celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month. Pride Month commemorates years of struggle for civil rights and the ongoing pursuit of equal justice under the law for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LBGTQ) community.

While many gains have been made by and for the LGBTQ community, Maryland’s LGBTQ older adults still face a higher level of housing discrimination, harassment, and victimization than the younger generation. To ensure the LGBTQ community has a voice, Governor Wes Moore has added the Maryland Commission on LBGTQ Affairs to his newly created Office of Community Initiatives.

"LGBTQ+ Marylanders deserve a governor who will fight for their rights and create a state where every person can thrive," Governor Moore stated on his campaign website. Click here for a list of Pride events taking place across the state. In addition, the national advocacy group SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) hosts an LGBTQ+ Elder Hotline at 1-877-360-LGBT (5428) to support older LGBTQ adults.

Looking Out for Older Adults This Month

Fraud costs Medicare an estimated $60 billion per year. More importantly, it costs Medicare beneficiaries in time, causes stress, compromises medical identities, and can negatively impact health. It also costs families, friends, and caregivers in worry and lost work when helping loved ones recover from falling victim to Medicare fraud.

Everyone - including beneficiaries, caregivers, families, professionals, health care providers, and community members - plays a part in the fight against fraud. Join Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) and the Maryland Department of Aging in recognizing Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, held June 5-11, 2023.

The most effective way to stop Medicare fraud from occurring is to prevent it from happening in the first place. If you are a Medicare beneficiary, start the week by learning how to read your Medicare statements, including your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) and Explanation of Benefits (EOB). 

If you need assistance in understanding your statements or find suspected abuse, contact your local SMP counselor who will provide free, confidential assistance. To learn about others ways to participate in Medicare Fraud Prevention Week and how you can protect yourself or your loved ones from Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse, go to aging.maryland.gov. 

While Medicare Fraud Prevention focuses specifically on Medicare abuse, older adults fall prey to many other types of financial scams as well. In just the past year, 91% of the U.S. adult population has had at least one scam encounter, with Americans losing a record-breaking $8.8 billion to scams in 2022. Of the 2.4 million scam reports submitted last year, impostor scams were the most common.

To educate consumers and spread the word about how to spot a scam or recognize abuse aimed at older adults, the Maryland Department of Aging is taking part in PROTECT Week from June 12-16. The week begins with an AARP press conference on June 12 at 11:00am ET in Annapolis to launch the statewide awareness and public education campaign focused on PROTECT - Protecting Older Americans from Financial Exploitation. 

During the event, Maryland Department of Aging Secretary Carmel Roques will make remarks and present a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Proclamation on behalf of Governor Wes Moore (see below). AARP will also feature daily webinars and interviews with leading fraud experts throughout the week on Facebook, YouTube, and local media outlets. Finally, free document shredding events will be taking place across the state, allowing residents to safely dispose of paper with any personal information that can be used to steal your identity. For more event details or to register go to aarp.org/md.

As Protect Week wraps up, AARP will highlight World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15 with a statewide tele-town hall event, featuring fraud experts who will answer questions during the call-in and online program from 1:30-2:30pm ET. Go to aarp.org/md to register and take part in the town hall.

Considering that an estimated 5 million older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation each year, WEAAD serves as a call-to-action for individuals, organizations, and communities. So what can you about elder abuse? Start by listening to older people and caregivers to better understand their challenges and provide support; learn the signs of abuse and how to get help; always report suspected abuse; build a community that fosters social connections; and reach out to professional services for support.

If you suspect abuse or neglect of a resident living in a long-term care facility, contact your local ombudsman through the Maryland Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Ombudsmen are advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities and will work to resolve problems of individual residents and work to improve residents' care and quality of life. Ombudsmen services are always free and confidential. For more tips and resources on identifying and preventing abuse, click here.

Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month

Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month is observed in June to educate about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and advocate for continued research. In addition, the Summer Solstice on June 21st is known as "The Longest Day," a day when people around the world fight the darkness of Alzheimer's Disease. The number of Americans living with Alzheimer's and other dementia-related brain diseases is growing — and growing fast. An estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are currently living with the disease, a number that is projected to climb to 12.7 million in the U.S. by 2050, barring the development of medical breakthroughs. In Maryland, 12.3% of people aged 45 and older report they are experiencing confusion or memory loss that is happening more often or is getting worse, according to a recent fact sheet from the Alzheimer's Association. For those with worsening memory problems, 38.5% say it has created “functional difficulties” — that is, caused them to give up day-to-day activities and/or interfered with work or social activities. Additionally, nearly 1 in 4 caregivers in Maryland is providing care to an individual with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. The National Family Caregiver Program works in conjunction with state and community-based services to provide support. Learn more at aging.maryland.gov.

June Holidays

Father's Day - June 18

Happy Father's Day from the Maryland Department of Aging! It's no coincidence that Father's Day happens to fall in June, which is also Men's Health Month, a reminder to you and the men in your life to take care of yourselves by eating right, exercising, and taking steps to prevent disease. Here are some simple steps to take charge of your health: Tweak Your Diet - Men's Health Month is a great opportunity to change the way you eat. Cut back on alcohol this month or up your intake of healthy fermented foods like sauerkraut and kefir. You can do anything for a month, and if you do it for a month, you can do it for life! Set Some Goals - Use this month to take stock of your health now and think about where you want it to be. Do you want to lose weight? Gain muscle? Simply eat more vegetables? Set small and achievable goals and work with your doctor to make them a reality. Get Educated - Take this opportunity to read about the common health issues that are specific to men and how you can prevent yourself from getting hurt. Check out the CDC for information on health issues that men face. Pamper Yourself - Lots of things that are good for your body are also good for your soul! Play some golf, get a massage, take an extra long nap, and most of all, have a happy and healthy Father's Day!

Juneteenth Freedom Day - June 19

Juneteenth, our newest national holiday, commemorates the final emancipation of the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. It is an important holiday because it reminds us of what we came through and what we can achieve, and it allows each generation to reflect what more there is to do.  Juneteenth is celebrated with parades, festivals, and a spirit of unity and equity. Go to visit.maryland.org to find a list of the many events taking place across the state celebrating freedom, emancipation, and the journey towards justice and equality.