DEPARTMENT OF AGING

OFFICE OF SECRETARY

[photo, 301 West Preston St., Baltimore, Maryland]

Heading the Department of Aging, the Secretary of Aging is appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. The Secretary of Aging serves on the Governor's Executive Council; the Interagency Disabilities Board; the Governor's Interagency Council on Homelessness; and the Task Force to Study the Dynamics of Elderly and Retiree Migration Into and Out of Maryland. To evaluate services needed by elderly persons and set priorities for meeting these needs, the Secretary chairs the Interagency Committee on Aging Services and the Innovations in Aging Services Advisory Council. The Secretary also chairs the Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes and Assisted-Living Facilities and serves as advocate for the elderly at all levels of government.

301 West Preston St., Baltimore, Maryland, December 2000. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

The Department of Aging works through five divisions: Client and Community Services; Continuing Care; Housing Services; Planning and Operations; and Program Development. The Department is aided by the Commission on Aging, the Financial Review Committee, and the Innovations in Aging Services Advisory Council (Code 1957, Art. 70B).

COMMISSION ON AGING

The Commission's thirteen members are appointed to four-year terms by the Governor who names the chair (Code 1957, Art. 70B, sec. 3).

FINANCIAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
The Financial Review Committee was created in 1985 (Chapter 752, Acts of 1985). At the request of the Department of Aging, the Committee evaluates the financial condition of providers of continuing care who are experiencing financial difficulty. The Committee then recommends what action the Department should take.

The Committee's seven members are appointed to three-year terms by the Secretary of Aging (Code 1957, Art. 70B, sec. 17A).

INNOVATIONS IN AGING SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL
In October 2001, the Innovations in Aging Services Advisory Council organized within the Department of Aging (Chapter 394, Acts of 2001). The Council advises the Secretary of Aging on the annual Innovations in Aging Services Program Plan. The Plan sets forth priorities for funding innovative aging services and the training of personnel who serve the elderly.

The Secretary of Aging chairs the fourteen-member Council (Code 1957, Art. 70B, sec. 36).

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UNIT
The Information Technology Unit was established in 1998 under the Planning and Operations Division. It was placed directly under the Deputy Secretary in October 2000.

CLIENT & COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

In 1998, the Client and Community Services Division formed from the consolidation of the Client Services and Long-Term Care Division with the Nutrition and Community Services Division. The Client Services and Long-Term Care Division organized in 1995 to direct programs previously administered by the Nutrition and Community Services Division and the former Housing and Continuing Care Division. The Nutrition and Community Services Division was renamed the Community Services and Nutrition Division in 1994 and resumed its original name in 1995.

The Client and Community Services Division oversees six programs: Health Promotion; Senior Advocacy; Senior Care; Senior Information and Assistance; Senior Nutrition; and Senior-Center Capital Improvement.

Health Promotion Programs. These programs provide essential education and services to promote overall health, physical fitness, and mental ability.

Senior Advocacy Programs. Through a system of coordinated services, these programs protect vulnerable or at-risk older persons living at home or in institutions. Programs include Curb Abuse in Medicare and Medicaid, Legal Assistance, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Public Guardianship, Elder Abuse Prevention, and Senior Health-Insurance Assistance.

Senior Care Program. The Program enables seniors with medical disabilities to stay in their own homes. It helps arrange and fund services, such as home delivery of meals, personal care, assistance with purchasing medications, transportation, and adult day care.

Senior Nutrition Programs. Through wholesome meals, nutrition education, and social activities, these programs seek to improve the quality of life of older persons.

Senior-Center Capital Improvement Program. To local governments, this program makes grants that supplement the costs of new construction, conversions, renovations, acquisitions, and/or capital equipment to develop senior centers.

LOCAL AGENCIES ON AGING
Maryland's local agencies on aging were created in 1975 as required by federal guidelines. To administer programs and services tailored to the needs of its elderly citizens, each local governing body designates an agency on aging. The agency may be a unit of local government or a private, nonprofit corporation. The agencies either provide services directly to older persons or contract with public or private units to administer programs.

Local agencies on aging are affiliated with but not subordinate to the Department of Aging. They receive federal and State funds through the Department but also receive support from local government and private sources.

SENIOR INFORMATION & ASSISTANCE
Formerly under the Nutrition and Community Services Division, Senior Information and Assistance became part of the Client and Community Services Division in October 1998.

Senior Information and Assistance directs older persons and their families to services and benefits available through their local agency on aging or private agencies. In each county and in Baltimore City, these offices assist the elderly in obtaining information about community services, health care, housing, income and financial aid, as well as transportation; employment and training; and legal services. The offices also refer senior citizens to these services.

SERVICES & BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR OLDER PERSONS IN MARYLAND

Community Services:

Daily Meals
Senior Citizens Centers and Clubs
Volunteer Opportunities

Frail Elderly:

Adult Day Care and Home Care
Assisted Living
Needs Assessment
Nursing-Home Care

Health:

Adult Day Care
Geriatric Evaluation Services
Medicaid
Medicare and Medigap Insurance Counseling
Nursing-Home Information and Complaints
Pharmacy Assistance
Respite Care

Housing:

Continuing Care
Energy Assistance
Home Equity Conversion
Low-Cost Housing
Tax Credit for Home Owners and Renters
Weatherization and Home Repair

Income & Financial Aid:

Food Stamps
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)
Social Security
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Tax Advice and Preparation
Unemployment Insurance
Veterans Benefits

Other:

Counseling
Education
Employment and Training
Legal Services
Physical Fitness
Protective Services & Guardianship
Transportation

CONTINUING CARE DIVISION

Within the Department of Aging, the Continuing Care Division formed in August 1999. Formerly, its functions had been carried out by the Housing Services Division.

The Continuing Care Division regulates continuing-care retirement communities. These communities may not offer continuing care, enter into or renew continuing care agreements, begin construction for a new facility, begin construction of an expansion to or renovation of an existing facility, or collect deposits for continuing care in Maryland unless certified by the Division (Code 1957, Art. 70B, secs. 9-11).

Continuing-care retirement communities are specific types of retirement housing which offer a combination of housing and services, including access to medical and nursing services or other health-related benefits. These are offered to individuals who have paid a substantial entrance fee and signed contracts covering a period of more than one year (usually for life). Health-related benefits may include full coverage of nursing care in an on-site nursing center at no additional fee or may be limited to priority admission to a nursing home with additional fee for services. The substantial entrance fee and contracts covering a period of more than one year are the features that distinguish these communities from others. Services are offered to individuals, age 60 or older, who are not related to the provider.

The Division also regulates continuing care at home, which includes health services and assistance with the maintenance of a person's dwelling. Services are offered for the life of an individual, or for a period of more than one year where a written agreement has been executed between an individual and the provider, and the transfer of assets and/or a substantial entrance fee is required (Code 1957, Art. 70B, sec. 22A).

HOUSING SERVICES DIVISION

The Housing Services Division started as the Housing and Continuing Care Division. When it was assigned functions of the former Long-Term Care Division in 1993, it was renamed the Housing and Long-Term Care Division. In 1995, it became the Housing Services Division.

Through the Division, a Medicaid waiver may allow community care for elderly persons who otherwise would require nursing homes. In addition, continuing-care retirement communities which provide housing and health-related services (for the payment of an entrance fee and a monthly service fee) are regulated by the Division. The Division also is responsible for the Senior Assisted-Living Group-Home Subsidy Program, and Congregate Housing Services.

Senior Assisted-Living Group-Home Subsidy Program. This program subsidizes eligible residents in assisted-living group homes.

Congregate Housing Services. The Program combines housing with support services for frail residents of senior apartment projects.

PLANNING & OPERATIONS DIVISION

The Planning and Operations Division began as the Planning and Evaluation Division. It reorganized as the Planning and Intergovernmental Affairs Division in 1993 and resumed its original name in 1995. The Management Division merged with the Planning and Evaluation Division to form the Planning and Operations Division in 1997.

For the Department, the Division provides fiscal services, grant management, general administration, planning, and procurement and program evaluation. It conducts research and reviews plans of local agencies on aging.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

In 1998, the Program Development Division was created. The Division oversees new projects and services administered by the Department and identifies new funding sources for them.

To enhance aging services, the Division establishes partnerships with public and private agencies. It also creates new aging services and products, and helps local agencies on aging identify and obtain grants and other sources of support.

Senior Employment Program. Directed by the Division, the Program arranges on-the-job training for persons aged 55 and above with limited incomes who wish to improve their job skills or learn new skills. These part-time, paid training assignments in community service are coordinated with nonprofit or government agencies and may last up to two years. The Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, as authorized by Title V of the federal Older Americans Act.

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