Caregiving

Maryland ranks 12th among the 50 states when it comes to meeting the long-term care needs of older residents and people with disabilities, up from the 23rd spot just three years ago, but AARP warns more must be done to meet changing demographic demands. While the state posted gains in support for family caregivers with measures such as 2016’s passage of The Caregiver, Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act, Maryland continues to lag in the provision of services for adults with ADL disabilities. This, according to a new, comprehensive state-by-state Scorecard from AARP with support of the nation’s leading organizations behind quality long-term care, the Commonwealth Fund and the SCAN Foundation.

AARP is proud to be part of a new Dementia Friendly America (DFA) initiative in Montgomery County. Montgomery County joins seven other communities across the nation in this movement, including Boston, Denver and Prince George’s County, MD. AARP has joined other organizations and community leaders, including the Montgomery County Area Office on Aging and BrightFocus.

Maryland State Delegate Barbara Robinson has recognized AARP Maryland for its commitment to honoring all U.S. military personnel who served during the Vietnam War. Under the leadership and initiative of volunteer and Baltimore resident John Henkel, AARP Maryland has partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense and presented more than 600 Vietnam and Vietnam-Era veterans with an official Welcome Home lapel pin and Presidential Proclamation honoring their service and sacrifice on behalf of a grateful nation.

It should be no surprise that AARP is actively involved in the fight against dementia-related illnesses. A new opportunity to fight these diseases is now available here in Maryland.

Maryland’s CARE Act went into effect Oct. 1, and the AARP state office wants family caregivers to be aware of their rights under the new law.

More than 771,000 Maryland residents are caring for an older parent or other loved one, helping them to live independently at home. These family caregivers have a huge responsibility, and now there’s support in place that will make life a little bit easier for them.

On Wednesday, October 26 and Thursday, October 27, join AARP Maryland and the Baltimore County Department of Aging at the 2016 Baby Boomer and Senior Expo for the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Maryland.

Millersville resident Judy Crane has been recognized with AARP Maryland's highest volunteer honor, the 2016 Ethel Percy Andrus Award, in recognition of her outstanding community service at Anne Arundel Medical Center on behalf of stroke patients and individuals with aphasia.

Marylanders who visit the Power of Age Expo in Baltimore County can get a taste of the many pleasures that being 50-plus has to offer. There will be continuous entertainment, silent auctions, health screenings, a job fair and more.

June is Alzheimer's Awareness month, and it's important to recognize the family caregivers who work to provide loved ones with the best treatment possible. Caregiving is a challenging job, but Maryland legislators recently worked tirelessly to pass a law to improve communication between hospitals and designated caregivers - thus providing caregivers with more knowledge of important tasks.