News & Events for Older Adults    •    March 2023

Connect with us Find activities to stay connected in the March issue of the 50+ Connection and our quarterly 50+ Center newsletters: 50+ Connection Bain 50+ Center East Columbia 50+ Center Elkridge 50+ Center Ellicott City 50+ Center Glenwood 50+ Center North Laurel 50+ Center Virtual Fitness Schedule Subscribe to have future issues of these and other publications sent to your inbox. And, don't forget to follow us on social media @hococommunity on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Nextdoor.

A message from Acting Administrator Ofelia Ross Ott In March we salute all the caring and compassionate social workers who emulate the 2023 National Social Work Month theme, "Breaking Down Barriers." Through their work with the Office on Aging & Independence (OAI) and other agencies, social workers are often the unsung heroes in the community who empower, educate and provide resources for older adults to maintain their safety and independence. Their dedication and compassion helps to ensure older adults live the best possible quality of life. Join me in recognizing OAI's social workers, who can be found answering our Maryland Access Point assistance lines, visiting clients in the community or working in our 50+ Centers.

Boost your nutrition at 50+ Centers March is National Nutrition Month, a great time to discover how a balanced, healthy diet provides "Fuel for the Future." Howard County 50+ Centers offer lunchtime meals for you to reconnect with old friends and learn about nutrition, as well as indoor fitness options to improve your physical wellbeing and arts and cultural activities to stimulate your creativity. For a look at what's coming up this month, view the March lunch menus and check out the following events, highlighted by our Center directors, below.

African American Women Artists with International Ties  March 3, 1:30 to 3 p.m. / Elkridge 50+ Center Celebrate Women's History Month in a 90-minute program highlighting women visual artists of African descent from the 1860’s to the present. Learn about their connections to Europe, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Kenya, Mexico, and Nigeria. Free; reserve your spot at the front desk or call 410-313-5192 to register.

Advanced Watercolor Class Thursdays, March 2 - 30, 1 to 3 p.m. Bain 50+ Center / Register Take your watercolor skills to the next level while building upon the basics learned in the beginner class to enhance your watercolor creations. Cost: $38. LaBlast Dance Class Wednesdays starting March 8, 11:30 a.m. / Ellicott City 50+ Center / Register LaBlast, a revolutionary partner-free fitness program based on dances from countries and cultures around the world, fuses ballroom dance with a calorie-burning workout. Get your groove on and join the fun! Cost: $40/4 classes.        Blarney, Bingo & Lunch Friday, March 17, 1:00 p.m. / East Columbia 50+ Center Join us for some Blarney and Bingo while enjoying a corned beef sandwich box lunch. Play bingo Irish-style, and win prizes. See how they do it in the Old Sod. Cost: lunch donation. Call 410-313-7680 to register.

Medically Curious - Vitamins March 23, 1:00 p.m. / Glenwood 50+ Center / Register Should you or shouldn’t you take vitamins? Sit in on Dr. Larry Romaine’s informative presentation to learn more before you whip out your credit card. Woman & Mental Health through history: Taking care of ourselves   March 24, 11 a.m. to noon / North Laurel 50+ Center  Mental health professional, Karen Hull, leads a thought-provoking discussion that highlights how woman's mental health has evolved over time, with an emphasis on currently available options for care and resources. Please sign up at the center front desk. For more information, call 410-313-7466 or khull@howardcountymd.gov.

Leading the way to better nutrition for Howard County's older adults In celebration of National Nutrition Month and Women’s History Month, we recognize the Office on Aging and Independence nutrition team, led by Alison Gerber (pictured, center, with "Jin" Kim, left, and Carmen Roberts, right). Over the past year, Alison and her team served over 14,000 nutritious lunches to older adults in Howard County and managed an ongoing home-delivered meal program to ensure that vulnerable home-bound older adults have access to nutrient-rich meals.   The nutrition team’s commitment to older adults’ health and well-being doesn’t end there. Every month, 50+ Center-based nutrition specialists – Seojin "Jin" Kim (Bain and East Columbia), Cheryl Campbell (North Laurel and Elkridge) and Jodi Bargamian (Ellicott City) – host education classes to teach older adults how to shop for and prepare healthy meals. A registered dietitian, Carmen Roberts, also offers one-on-one nutrition consultations at 50+ Centers. For more information about the nutrition program, visit our website or schedule a one-one consultation.

2023 Resource Guide for Older Adults is now available The 2023 Howard County Resource Guide for Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities includes up-to-date information on a variety of healthy aging programs, aging-in-place resources, and disability services offered in Howard County. In addition to the digital version, paper copies are available at Howard County 50+ Centers, libraries and county government buildings. To request a copy by mail, call Maryland Access Point at 410-313-1234.

AARP income tax preparation offered at Howard County 50+ Centers through April 13 AARP and the IRS will offer free personal Federal and Maryland income tax preparation at 50+ Centers, by appointment only. All preparers and volunteers have received IRS-approved training and are certified in tax preparation. This service is available to middle- and low-income taxpayers with special emphasis on those 60 and older. Self-employment returns with more than $5,000 in expenses and complex returns are not eligible for this service. Each appointment is for one single or joint return. Bring Social Security cards for anyone listed on your personal return; 2021 state and federal tax returns; all 2022 tax records; and the purchase cost of investment transactions during 2022 (if any). Call 443-741-2373 to make a tax prep appointment at: Bain 50+ Center: Mon/Tues/Wed/Fri, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. E. Columbia 50+ Center: Tues, 2 to 6 p.m. & Thurs, 1 to 6 p.m. Elkridge 50+ Center: Wed, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ellicott City 50+ Center: Mon/Fri, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Glenwood 50+ Center: Mon/Thurs, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. N. Laurel 50+ Center: Tues/Thurs, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Senior Planet spring classes OAI's partnership with AARP's Senior Planet continues this spring, offering programs to help older adults conduct more productive online searches while protecting the privacy of their personal information. Protect your personal information March 6, 2 to 3 p.m. Howard County Library Central Branch 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia 21044 Learn to protect your personal information online. Get tips to stay safe in cyberspace, create strong passwords, manage spam, recognize email and text scams, and when it’s OK - or not OK - to share personal information online. Free; registration is required.   Search tips to find information online March 22, 2 to 3 p.m. / 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Room 337 Department of Community Resources & Services / Columbia 21046 This hands-on workshop will review how to use effective search terms, evaluate your search results and search within a reliable site for accurate information. Free. Class is limited to the first eight registrants.   To register for either class, contact OAI’s Digital Inclusion Specialist, Malarie Burgess, at 410-313-6542 or mburgess@howardcountymd.gov.

Medicare Lunch & Learn March 31 / 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Elkridge 50+ Center 6540 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge Join the Howard County Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) for a lunch and learn event! Medicare fraud experts will share information about trending scams and tips on how to detect, report and protect yourself against Medicare identity theft, fraud and abuse. Presented by the Howard County Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP). Free; a complimentary lunch will be provided to all registered attendees. RSVP by March 23 at 410-313-5912 (voice/relay) or register online via ActiveNet at A055610.200.

Kathy Wehr appointed to MD Commission on Caregiving Kathy Wehr, program manager for the Caregiver Support Program, has been appointed to the Maryland Commission on Caregiving. Kathy has been a committed partner for over four years, supporting the commission's workgroups and initiatives to better the lives and circumstances of caregivers throughout the lifespan. In her role on the Commission, Kathy will represent Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in Maryland, working on vital projects and legislation which support Maryland caregivers.

Recognize the impact of women as family caregivers  In March, during National Woman’s History Month, let's take a minute to recognize and appreciate the role of women as family/informal caregivers in the United States.   According to statistics shared by the National Caregiver Alliance in 2022, nearly 17% of the U.S. adult population provides unpaid care to an adult over the age of 50. Over 75% of these caregivers are women, dedicating 50% more time providing unpaid care to older adults than their male counterparts. Because of the multi-faceted role women play as family and informal caregivers, they need a range of support services to remain healthy, improve their caregiving skills and remain in their caregiving role. The Howard County Office on Aging and Independence’s Caregiver Support Program provides support through outreach, education, and resources to enhance the quality of life for caregivers.   Hats off to the Howard County women that play a vital role as caregivers! To access tools and local resources to support your caregiver journey, contact Maryland Access Point at 410-313-1234 and ask for Kathy Wehr or Earnestine Thomas.

Developing a positive attitude as you age  OAI’s Livable Communities Program Manager, Morgan Spliedt, is making strides towards destigmatizing "aging." Last month, Spliedt kicked off an Ageism Awareness community series with the Seasoned Sisters group at the East Columbia 50+ Center. A diverse group of older adults, pictured, engaged in honest and transparent conversations about how aging has impacted their life - physically, mentally and socially. Each participant left the session feeling seen, heard and, most importantly, empowered! To learn more about ageism and what you can do to adopt a more positive attitude as you age, visit our website.

Identity Theft: When your credit score isn’t really yours Monday, March 6 • Noon to 1:00 p.m. Virtual via Webex: Register   During National Consumer Protection Week, March 5 - 11, the Office of Consumer Protection (OCF) will host Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Maryland (CCCSMD), the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence and the Office of Human Trafficking Prevention for an informative discussion about identity theft. Learn the definition of identity theft and the Maryland laws that apply; gain insight into the impact of economic abuse on special populations, including children and survivors of intimate partner violence and human trafficking; and find references and resources to help. Free, but advance registration is required. For more information or to request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations to participate, contact OCF at 410-313-6420 (voice/relay) or consumer@howardcountymd.gov.

For more information about the Office on Aging & Independence and 50+ Center programs, visit our website or follow us on social media @HoCoCommunity. If you need assistance, contact Maryland Access Point of Howard County at 410-313-1234 (voice/relay) or visit www.howardcountymd.gov/50pluscenters.

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌