Last month, I had the privilege of speaking to a group of graduates in Baltimore City who were receiving their CNAs and GNAs (Certified Nursing Assistant and Geriatric Nursing Assistant certifications). It was inspiring to meet the young adults who have chosen to become caregivers and make a positive impact on the lives of many while filling a valuable healthcare need.

Healthcare jobs are growing at a faster rate than any other industry, due in large part to our aging population. In Maryland, people aged 60 and over will represent more than a quarter of our state's population by 2030.

The need to prepare for the challenges and maximize the benefits and opportunities of an aging society has been recognized on a national level by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which recently proposed a national plan on aging (see HHS article below). Maryland is ahead of the game as we began developing our state multisector plan for aging, Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM), at the beginning of 2024. 

Like the proposed national plan, LRM will work to coordinate efforts to ensure equal access to care, services, and social determinants that enable healthy longevity so we can become a state where all Marylanders lead healthy, financially secure, socially connected, and purposeful lives.

I encourage you to learn more about LRM initiatives and sign up for our REACH newsletter at LRM.Maryland.Gov. If you're interested in becoming involved in developing the multisector plan for aging, click here to apply to join an LRM workgroup.

Do you want to make an imp​act on how Maryland enables healthy longevity to become a place where all Marylanders lead healthy, financially secure, purposeful, and connected lives? Consider applying to join an LRM Work Group.

Participants will have the opportunity to identify solutions, shape priorities to reach LRM's four epic goals, and​​​​ inform the Maryland State Plan on Aging. ​​Each Work Group will meet a minimum of four times over a two-month period beginning in September 2024, and members are asked to commit to approximately two hours of work per week during this time. This is a volu​nteer engagement position.

Visit https://aging.maryland.gov/Pages/LRMPlanning.aspx to learn more and fill out an application.

The Maryland Department of Aging in collaboration with the National Center to Reframe Aging continues to work across sectors to change the way society talks about aging, work​ to end implicit bias, and create more age-inclusive communities.

Last month, hundreds of state leaders, policymakers, implementers, decision-makers, and service providers in aging sectors attended a webinar, and communications professionals from several Maryland government agencies took part in an intensive in-person workshop. Participants at both events learned evidence-based methods for communicating on aging issues to positively impact the way older people are perceived and improve how services are provided as we age.

For more information on ways to communicate effectively about older adults or to learn about upcoming programs, visit aging.maryland.gov/reframeaging.

While feeling down now and then may be normal, many older adults suffer from ongoing and untreated depression. 

To increase the number of staff at community-based organizations who can assist with mental health care, the Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence (LWCE) in conjunction with the University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center offers evidence-based training in the Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS).

Social workers, case managers, community health workers, and other front-line providers from Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers, low-income senior housing, cultural and faith-based organizations, and other community-based organizations can become certified PEARLS coaches.

PEARLS coaches learn how to administer a screening tool to measure the severity of depression, as well as how to teach clients problem-solving and behavioral skills to manage depression and reach their goals. PEARLS coaches are also trained to screen for dementia, substance use disorder, and suicide risk, in which case they make immediate referrals. Additionally, PEARLS coaches receive clinical oversight from trained support staff.

Once trained, PEARLS coaches conduct six to eight one-on-one sessions over four to six months with continuous monitoring using the screening tool, and possible follow-up sessions. Sessions can be conducted in the home, at a community location, or via telehealth. There is a fee to become a certified PEARLS coach, receive clinical oversight, and use the data platform. There is no fee for PEARLS participants.

LWCE notes that PEARLS does not replace any existing program or treatment. LWCE is operated through the MAC Area Agency on Aging, which receives federal funding through the Older Americans Act as well as state and local funding. For more information, visit mdlivingwell.org/programs/pearls.

Governor Wes Moore announced the launch of Maryland SUN Bucks, a new program to help families, including grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, buy groceries for eligible school-aged children during summer months.

Building on the state’s existing Summer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Maryland SUN Bucks will serve a record 543,000 children across the state through more than $60 million in new funding from the federal government.

Unlike previous years, families in all of Maryland’s 24 local jurisdictions are able to receive benefits. Most importantly, the program will put $60 million dollars directly into the hands of families across Maryland to spend on healthy, nutritious food. To learn who is eligible and how to enroll, visit DHS.Maryland.Gov/SunBucks. 

July is National Parks and Recreation Month, a great time to experience nature, history, and culture at one of Maryland's many diverse national or state parks. If you are 62 years or older, you are eligible for national and state park senior passes. The National Senior Park Pass provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites across the country, while the State Golden Age Pass entitles you to free day-use entry to all state parks.

Fortunately, Maryland parks offer something for everyone: mountain trails to historic homes, Civil War battle sites to the marshes of the Eastern Shore, or views of the Chesapeake Bay to the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Spending time in any of these environments can benefit physical and mental health and wellbeing, while increasing feelings of connectedness.

Discover new experiences or revisit your favorite parks this month and all year long. Click here for a list of Maryland's 18 national parks. Click here for a list of the 64 state parks with amenities.

On June 20 Governor Moore issued a Declaration of a State of Preparedness for the extreme heat that was anticipated. This first such declaration of the summer may be an indication of what lies ahead, and serves as a reminder that all Marylanders should plan for circumstances of extreme heat and other forms of severe weather increasingly common in the warmer months.

People aged 60 years and older do not adjust as well to sudden temperature changes as younger people do. To stay safe it’s important to have a plan for where to go to cool off. There are cooling centers all around Maryland. Check with your local health department for a list of those available near you. Even if you have reliable air conditioning, have a plan B in case of a power outage or break down. People with reduced mobility or limited access to transportation will need to have someone they can call for help, so it's important to have those plans in place before you need them. Have plenty of water on hand and stay hydrated.

For emergencies that require evacuation, plan your destination, route, and travel partners ahead of time. Pack an emergency preparedness kit that includes non perishable food, water, medications, batteries, and copies of important information like identification cards, insurance cards, and emergency contacts. For more information on ways to prepare, visit Benefits.gov.