NOTEWORTHY NOTES

Executive Commends Council Endorsement of Senior Agenda

The Maryland Department of Planning projects that between 2000 and 2020 the senior population (age 60 and over) of Montgomery County will increase by 74 percent. As a group, seniors are growing at a rate more than seven times faster than non-seniors.

This is why County Executive Ike Leggett recently applauded the County Council resolution, passed December 4, in support of the County�s Senior Agenda. The Council endorsement called the agenda �a blueprint for planning for the growth of the senior population and making �Montgomery County a Community for a Lifetime.�"

Earlier this year, Leggett sent the Council his endorsement of the vision spelled out in the agenda. The County�s Commission on Aging drafted the Senior Agenda to advise the County on its policies and planning for older adults and provide a vision that �Montgomery County will be a Community for a Lifetime -- place for older adults to live safe, healthy and vital lives.�

The agenda calls for action steps in transportation, housing, socialization and leisure, health and wellness, communications, employment, and security and safety.

See the Council resolution and the Senior Agenda.

Read news release.

Go Green in �13 � Recycle Christmas Trees and Greens

The Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services (DSWS) in the Department of Environmental Protection reminds residents that they may recycle their Christmas trees by placing the entire tree at the curb by 7 a.m. on their recycling collection day, as part of the County�s curbside yard trim recycling collection program.

After Christmas trees are collected for recycling, they are shredded into mulch that will be available in January and February for residents to take at County-operated Neighborhood Mulch Preserves located at the following locations: Montgomery County Recycling Center, 16105 Frederick Rd. in the Derwood/Rockville/Gaithersburg area; and at E.E. Halmos Park (use the Bodmer Ave. entrance) in Poolesville. The mulch is free but must be loaded and transported by the user.

Get more information about Christmas tree recycling, the Neighborhood Mulch Preserves and/or using mulch or call Montgomery County's Customer Service Center at 311 (out-of-County, 240-777-0311, TTY:301-251-4850).

Guide Released on Procedures, Decisions Affecting Common Ownership Communities

The Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership Communities (CCOC) has released its �Guide to the Procedures and Decisions of the Commission on Common Ownership Communities.� The publication provides valuable information to County residents on laws affecting homeowners and condominium and cooperative living associations.

The guide is online at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ccoc. Print versions are available at $15 each by calling the County�s Office of Consumer Protection at 240-777-3636.

For more information, contact the Office of Consumer Protection at 240-777-3636.

NOTEWORTHY NOTES

Second Annual Homeless Resource Day

County residents experiencing homelessness are invited to participate in the second annual Homeless Resource Day on Thursday, November 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Bohrer Park Activity Center, 506 South Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg. 

Sponsored by Montgomery County and the City of Gaithersburg, the event will offer a wide range of resources for homeless residents.  More than 30 organizations will provide information and resources for individuals and families such as free medical screening, legal services, financial counseling, employment services, tax assistance, substance abuse and mental health counseling, and social services.

        

Free transportation will be provided from seven locations throughout the County.  Registration is not required and the event is free. 

Volunteers are needed to assist in a variety of roles.  For more information or to register as a volunteer, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HRDor call Gloria Huggins at 240-777-4565.

Recreation Department Winter Coat Drive

Montgomery County Recreation is collecting coats to support the Montgomery County Government/City of GaithersburgHomeless Resource Day.  Interfaith Works, which provides shelter, clothing and food to community members in need, is coordinating the coat drive. There is a lesser need for children�s coats, but they will also be accepted.

Gently used winter coats can be dropped off at the following Recreation facilities through November 8:

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver Aquatic Center, 5900 Executive Blvd., N. Bethesda;
• Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton;
• Jane Lawton Community Recreation Center, 4301 Willow La., Chevy Chase;
• Long Branch Community Recreation Center/Senior Center, 8700 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring;
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Swim Center, 1201 Jackson Rd., Silver Spring;
• Olney Indoor Swim Center, 16605 Georgia Ave., Olney;
• Potomac Community Recreation Center, 11315 Falls Rd., Potomac;
• Upper County Community Recreation Center, 8201 Emory Grove Rd., Gaithersburg; and
• Wisconsin Place Community Recreation Center, 5311 Friendship Blvd., Chevy Chase.

For more information about the Interfaith Works Coat Drive, call Christine Hong, 240-498-7727. 

For information about the Recreation Department donation sites, call Judy Stiles at 240-777-6875.  For information about the second annual Homeless Resource Day, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HRD.

Free Presentation for Public about Affordable Care Act

The public is invited to a free discussion on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) on Monday, November 12, from 6 to 7 p.m., at the Silver Spring Civic Buildingin Downtown Silver Spring. 

           

The Department of Health and Human Services� director, Uma

Ahluwalia, will present an overview of the ACA and how it will impact Montgomery County and Maryland. A question-and-answer period will follow.

Among the questions that will be addressed are: What additional changes are authorized by the ACA?  How is Marylandpreparing for ACA implementation?  What impact will the ACA have within Montgomery County?

For more information, contact Dourakine Rosarian at 240-777-4397. To request sign

 language interpreter services or other assistance to participate in this meeting, call

Shantee Jackson at 240-777-1058 (voice), 240-777-1295 (TTY) or email

shantee.jackson@montgomerycountymd.gov  by November 8.

Help Seniors Help Themselves

The Senior Connection of Montgomery County, Inc. links older adults to services and resources so they can live as independently as possible while remaining integral members of their community.

Volunteers can help by:

• Escorting an individual or couple to the store; assisting them with reading labels, reaching items from the shelf, delivering them home and helping put them away; or
•  Shopping for someone who may not be able to go to the store.

Senior Connection volunteers are matched with a senior for regularly scheduled grocery shopping assistance and find that fitting in a weekly or bimonthly grocery shopping trip can be accomplished even with a full time job. 

To learn more and/or to download an application, visit www.seniorconnectionmc.org or contact Marcia Custer at 301-962-0820, ext.14 or email marcia.custer@seniorconnectionmc.org.

Consumer Protection Wants You to Know about�the County�s Domestic Worker Law 

Do you have a nanny�a housekeeper� or a companion for a sick or elderly family member?  If you answered �yes,� Montgomery County�s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) wants to remind you of the County�s Domestic Worker Law.    

If you employ someone as a nanny, housekeeper, cook or a companion, you may be required to offer that individual a written employment contract and abide by state wage and workers� compensation laws.  Failure to comply with the county�s law may result in a civil penalty of $1,000 for each violation.  The Domestic Worker Law applies if the worker:

•  works primarily in a Montgomery County residence
•  works at least 20 hours per week for at least a 30 day period
•  performs primarily childcare, housekeeping, cooking, cleaning or laundry-type work
•  works as a companion to a sick, convalescing, disabled, or elderly individual
• has an employer that is an individual or an employment agency

To learn more about the Domestic Worker Law, contact OCP at 240-777-3636 or visit  http://bit.ly/Domestic_Worker_Lawfor additional resources. 

Respect the Space. They need it. You Don�t!

There�s a new state-of the-art tool available to law enforcement agencies throughout Maryland in the fight against the illegal use of disability parking placards. Changes to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration�s (MVA) vehicle registration database now provide police with information regarding disability parking privileges.

Since August, law enforcement officers across Maryland have been able to access the Motor Vehicles Administration�s (MVA) database which allows them to stop offenses when fraud, theft and the abuse of disabled parking privileges occur. With that information, law enforcement can see the vehicle records and determine to whom a disabled parking privilege belongs. Included in the information is a photo of the person to whom disabled parking access has been granted.

Joining County Executive Ike Leggett for the announcement of the new procedure were MVA Administrator John Kuo and Police Chief J. Thomas Manger.  

In November 2011, Leggett announced the Countywide �Respect the Space� initiative created to raise awareness about the proper use of accessible parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities.  The initiative was suggested by the County�s Commission on People with Disabilities whose members were concerned about non-disabled people parking in reserved accessible spaces and the abuse of disability parking placards.

Get more information about obtaining a disability parking placard and guidelines for its legal use., click on www.mva.Maryland.gov and look under �Vehicle Services� - Disability Placards. 

Learn more about the �Respect the Space� initiative.

How to Live and Thrive in Montgomery County for Those 60 and Older

Living & Thriving in Montgomery County -- a guide for residents 60 and older -- was designed to inspire local seniors and/or caregivers to plan ahead and head in the right direction regardless of personal circumstances or those of loved ones.  There are more than 150,000 adults age 60 and older in Montgomery County. And, nearly 50,000 individuals serve as caregivers for frail or disabled seniors.

The online guide contains information about services and resources available in the County and offers tips on where to learn more. There is basic information about a range of core topics for seniors and caregivers, such as Planning Ahead, Living in the Setting of Your Choice, Staying Healthy and Staying Connected.

Living and Thriving in Montgomery County was produced by Aging and Disability Services in the Department of Health and Human Services.

• Learn more about Living and Thriving. (pdf)
• Check out senior services and resources in Montgomery County.

September is Falls Prevention Month -- Leggett Highlights County Safety Initiatives for Seniors

County Executive Ike Leggett, Fire Chief Richard Bowers and Grass Roots Organization for the Well-Being of Seniors (GROWS) President Susan Wranik recently announced a number of safety initiatives aimed at the County�s growing population of seniors.

In 2010, with nearly 120,000 seniors living in Montgomery County, there were 3,294 calls to 9-1-1 attributed to falls by individuals over the age of 60.  In turn, nearly 2,100 of those falls were by individuals over the age of 80.  While falls are the leading cause of injury-related emergency room visits and hospital admissions for Marylanders over the age of 65, they are highly preventable.

The County has partnered with GROWS to promote educational activities and events throughout September, Falls Prevention Month. Check out a  schedule of remaining activities.

In addition, the departments of Health and Human Services and Recreation sponsor Bone Builders classes that help seniors increase their strength and balance.  For a schedule, visit the County�s Calendar page and enter Bone Builders in the search function.

The Fire and Rescue Service also provides the �Safety in Our Neighborhood� program which has firefighters visiting communities, going door-to-door to check smoke alarms, helping residents develop escape plans and pointing out potential �trouble spots� in a home.  Firefighters will point out tripping hazards and offer suggestions on making homes safer such as installing grab bars, repairing hand rails and adding night lights.