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May is Older Americans Month and Older Marylanders Month, a great time to recognize and celebrate the positive impact and tremendous value older Marylanders bring to our society. Living longer is a net positive for all of us. Older adults fuel local economies, provide support for families, and contribute to the community in invaluable ways.
Living longer lives is one of the greatest human achievements we've seen in the past 150 years.The longevity revolution has begun, due in large part to advances in science, medicine, and technology. We are living longer, and now we must decide how we will best live those additional years.
My hope is that the conversation about longer lives will deepen and grow, building the required momentum to bring about significant and positive change so we can care for older people today and prepare for older people tomorrow.
To learn more about Longevity Ready Maryland, or LRM, sign up for the REACH newsletter at LRM.Maryland.Gov. To learn more about the Maryland Department of Aging, visit Aging.Maryland.Gov.
 Secretary Roques visited with Columbia residents at the recent opening of the East Columbia 50+ Community Center, supported with capital funds from the Maryland Department of Aging. Photo credit: Howard County Government
In honor of Older Americans Month, Governor Wes Moore has proclaimed May Older Marylanders Month to highlight the tremendous value older adults offer to the Maryland landscape and reaffirm commitments to serving older adults in our communities.
This year's theme, Powered by Connection, focuses on the profound impact meaningful relationships and social connections have on our health and well-being. Connectedness plays a vital role in supporting independence and aging in place by combating isolation, loneliness, and other issues.
"Maryland must ensure that older adults have the resources and support needed to stay involved in their communities, reflecting our commitment to inclusivity and connectedness," Gov. Moore stated in the proclamation.
Click here to learn more about how Maryland's dynamic network of 19 local Area Agencies on Aging is celebrating Older Americans Month and ways you can participate and be connected. Click here to read the full Older Marylanders Month proclamation.
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The Maryland Department of Aging and the National Center to Reframe Aging have partnered to change the way society talks about aging, work to end implicit bias toward older people, and create more age-inclusive communities.
“The attitudes that contribute to age bias are often rooted in falsehoods and have a significant negative impact on society,” said Secretary Roques. “Through this partnership, we look forward to advancing a more productive narrative about aging and the advantages of longer life spans, ultimately leading to the development of policies and programs that benefit all of us, young and old.”
The partnership, formed as part of Longevity Ready Maryland, will include educational workshops, consultation, and technical assistance across a variety of sectors on how to better communicate about aging and the contributions older people bring to society.
To learn more, visit Aging.Maryland.Gov/ReframeAging. For information on Longevity Ready Maryland, visit LRM.Maryland.Gov.
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 The Maryland Department of Aging worked on or supported legislation during the 2024 Legislative Session that directly impacts older people, their families, and caregivers.
"We have been present, forged relationships, and promoted the Governor’s initiatives throughout the process," said Secretary Roques. "The results are several quick wins for Maryland caregivers, community villages, continuing care retirement communities, older workers, and small assisted living providers.”
The Department of Aging supported legislation introduced by the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Labor, the Department of Disabilities, and the Governor’s housing package. The Department also supported bills to improve job quality for home care workers and deliver one-time, common-sense regulatory support to the assisted living sector—particularly small providers. Download a pdf of the legislative flyer here.
 MDOA leadership was pleased to attend the bill signing for Senator Benson's SB202, which establishes a new, discretionary caregiver expense grant program at MDOA. Photo credit: Office of Governor Wes Moore
The Maryland Department of Aging's Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Re-Use program has won The Reusies® 2024 Community of the Year Award for its innovative work to normalize medical equipment reuse and transition from a throw-away economy to a regenerative and waste-free world. Maryland DME Re-Use was one of three programs from across the nation to be recognized by Upstream.
“In addition to the environmental benefits of the program, we are especially proud to provide needed resources to a multigenerational population, ultimately contributing to longer-lived societies and healthier outcomes for so many Marylanders, a primary mission of the Department of Aging,” said Secretary Roques.
Equipment is collected at eight landfill sites and several other partner locations across the state, then sanitized, repaired, and stored for future distribution. To date, more than 8,000 pieces of medical equipment have been provided for free to Marylanders in need regardless of age, income level, or disability. To learn more about how you can donate or receive DME, go to DME.Maryland.Gov or call 240-230-8000.
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Honor Our LGBT Elders Day on May 16 recognizes the thousands of older people in the LGBTQIA+ community who have paved the way for access and social acceptance.
More than 250,000 residents, or 4.2 percent of Marylanders identify as LGBTQIA+, each of whom makes meaningful contributions to our communities, economy, culture, arts, and history. According to UCLA's Williams Institute, 7 percent of LGBTQIA+ residents in Maryland are aged 65 or older.
Despite advances, LGBTQIA+ older adults often face an array of unique barriers—like discrimination, lack of equitable care, social stigma, and isolation—that can stand in the way of a healthy and rewarding later life. The Maryland Department of Aging is committed to improving the quality of services and supports offered to LGBTQIA+ older adults, their families, and caregivers. For helpful information and resources, visit Aging.Maryland.Gov.
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The Maryland Department of Aging is accepting grant applications from nonprofit organizations and Area Agencies on Aging to expand Maryland’s aging-in-place programs.
“Older adults have the right to live safely, independently, and comfortably in communities of their choosing,” said Secretary Roques. “By prioritizing initiatives that help older Marylanders remain independent, we cultivate an environment of inclusivity that supports everyone’s right to self-determination as we age and makes communities stronger.”
The competitive funding opportunity aligns with the Department’s commitment to empower older adults to live in the homes and communities of their choosing, regardless of age, income, or ability level. Learn more at Aging.Maryland.Gov.
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Mental Health Awareness Month is a national observance held every May to address the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. The hope is to eradicate stigma, foster education, and advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of people affected by mental illness.
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Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium
The mental health needs of older adults are often unique and can be exacerbated by loneliness and social isolation. The 7th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium, hosted by the National Council on Aging, the Administration for Community Living, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will address the most pressing needs in older adult mental health, including information on available supports and evidence-based prevention and treatment. Learn more at ncoa.org about this free, virtual event to be held on May 2.
Light Up Green Maryland
To highlight that mental health is health, and support equitable access to care for all Marylanders, the Maryland Office of Suicide Prevention and the Mental Health Association of Maryland invite you to join the Light Up Green Maryland campaign, lighting buildings and landmarks green (the color of mental health) from May 13th-19th. Learn more at mhamd.org.
2024 Commit to Connect Summit
Social isolation can affect almost every aspect of mental health. The 2024 Commit to Connect Summit is a free, virtual conference hosted by engAGED and the National Center on Elder Abuse on May 14 & 15, 2024 that will focus on innovative ways to help older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers stay connected. Learn more at engagingolderadults.org.
Help is Available
If you are having a mental health crisis and need help, call 988 to be connected to the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for behavioral crisis services, including mental health and substance use problems. You can also dial 211 any time of day for a free and confidential service providing information, community resources, and referrals for a variety of health and human service issues. For more information and resources on mental health, visit aging.maryland.gov/brainhealth.
Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging and the Family Caregiver Alliance are offering a free, 30-minute walk-through on May 9, 2024 at 2:00pm to introduce their online resource portal for caregivers. The portal, Best Programs for Caregiving, provides detailed information about proven programs and support for dementia caregiving available locally, nationally, online, and by telephone. Visit BPC.Caregiver.Org for more information on the portal or click here to register for the online demo.
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The Maryland Centenarians Committee invites all Maryland citizens 100 years of age and older, and persons who will be age 100 by December 31, 2024, to the 31st Annual Maryland Centenarians Recognition Luncheon on Thursday, May 9, 2024 from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm at Martin's West in Baltimore. To register, visit mdcentenarians.org or call 410-664-0911 or 443-290-4669.
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The Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence is offering the Powerful Tools For Caregivers series from May 22 to June 26 to help caregivers develop a wealth of self-care tools. The six 90-minute classes will focus on how to reduce personal stress, change negative self-talk, communicate needs to family members and healthcare service providers, communicate more effectively in challenging situations, and make tough caregiving decisions. Learn more or register at mdlivingwell.org.
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The Maryland Gerontological Association is offering a Social Determinants of Health: Challenges and Opportunities for Interventions with Older Adults virtual webinar on May 23 from 4:00-5:00 pm. The program will define and review social determinants of health, how they impact older adults' health and wellbeing, and explore opportunities and interventions. Click here to learn more or register.
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