Message from Secretary Roques

I have been working in the aging sector my entire career, and caring for parents and in-laws who suffered from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's, and ALS, I personally understand the sorrow and hardship this means for families. National Family Caregivers Month is an ideal time to recognize the value of family caregivers, support their efforts, and plan for the challenges and opportunities ahead as people live longer lives.

In Maryland, some 760,000 unpaid caregivers provide an estimated 710 million hours of care at a value of $12.5 billion per year, according to the AARP Valuing the Invaluable Report. The majority of them are women, and 60% work full- or part-time and risk losing income due to their caregiving responsibilities.

Through the Older Americans Act, the Department allocates $3.3 million per year to Maryland’s 19 Area Agencies on Aging to fund the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) at local levels. The program provides supplemental one-time funding for daycare, respite services, medication, supplies, groceries, or miscellaneous needs to support their ability to provide care in the home. NFCSP also refers caregivers to other long-term care support services.

With more than 464,000 Marylanders expecting to become a caregiver in the next two years, we recognize more needs to be done. Looking ahead, our work with the Maryland Commission on Caregiving, housed in the Department of Human Services, will be enhanced as we fund dedicated Commission staffing and work to implement better ways to get tools, resources, and support directly to caregivers who need them. We will continue to collaborate across state and local governments, public and private sectors, and philanthropies to help Maryland prepare for the growing care workforce. This is a top priority of Longevity Ready Maryland, currently under development. 

Maryland's caregivers are resilient, but what we are now asking of them is of an entirely different magnitude than in generations past. We must be committed allies in the sacred work of caring for those we love and cherish.

MDOA's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Director Julia Shreiber joined other experts, policymakers, and advocates on the "Bang for Your Buck" panel discussion hosted by The Hill in Washington, D.C. Panelists discussed key changes and updates for Medicare Open Enrollment including the $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, a new program designed to help enrollees spread out their medication costs, the new Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, and how SHIP can assist Medicare enrollees.

Medicare Open Enrollment, which runs through December 7th, is your time to review Medicare health and drug coverage and decide if you want to make changes. Because Medicare costs and benefits can change each year, comparing options could help you find better coverage and save money. Visit aging.maryland.gov/SHIP to find trained SHIP counselors in your area who can provide free, unbiased assistance as you compare your current plans with new options.

Pictured from left: Julia Schreiber, MDOA SHIP Program Director; Dr. Gary Puckrein, National Minority Quality Forum President and CEO; Amy Niles, PAN Foundation Chief Mission Officer; Tom Kornfield, MAST Health Policy Solutions Founder & CEO; and Bob Cusack, The Hill Editor in Chief. Photo credit: Kristoffer Tripplaar.

Secretary Roques was pleased to moderate a panel discussion hosted by the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD to explore opportunities for expanding the CAPABLE model of care. CAPABLE (Community Aging in Place–Advancing Better Living for Elders) is a participant-directed, home-based program offered by Johns Hopkins in Baltimore City to increase the mobility and function of older adults in their home environment. The program integrates services from an occupational therapist, a registered nurse, and a handy worker who collaborate with older adult clients to set goals and direct action plans that change behaviors to improve health, independence, and safety.

Similar programs that use a care coordinator rather than a nurse are offered in Baltimore and Howard Counties and Baltimore City, and the program is being developed in Garrett County, Southern Maryland, and the Lower Shore with funding from the Department of Housing and Community Development. To find out if there is a CAPABLE or similar program near you, contact Maryland Access Point at 1-844-MAP-LINK (1-844-627-5465) or marylandaccesspoint.211md.org​.

Top left: Morning panel moderator Orriel Richardson (back to camera), Jenny Zhang, Dawn Alley, Mark Antilla, Sarah Ruiz; Top right: CAPABLE client Edward Murray; Bottom left: Afternoon panel moderator Sec. Roques; Bottom right: Members of the CAPABLE team with Sec. Roques - Front row: Amanda Goodenow, Sec. Roques, Sarah Szanton, Ally Evelyn-Gustave; Back row: Deborah Paone, Alice Bonner, Tricia Ford.

Secretary Roques joined the Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame (MSCHF) Board of Directors to honor 25 outstanding older adult volunteers for their dedication and commitment to building stronger communities, improving civic engagement, and contributing to making Maryland a place where we all want to live and age together.

"Today’s honorees have begun the work of improving social connectedness through service, leading to longer-lived, healthier, and happier societies as a whole," said Sec. Roques in her keynote address. "Your volunteering makes a meaningful impact in people’s lives and promotes the abilities and contributions of older Marylanders."

The 50-plus population in Maryland contributes an estimated $2 billion in volunteering activities with the average person spending 44 hours per year volunteering. In addition, people aged 50 and older invested in volunteering 300% more than those under 50, according to AARP's Longevity Economy Outlook.

Top left: MSCHF Dir. Donna Copenhaver, Sec. Roques, Hall of Fame Inductee Barbara Barzyk of Baltimore County, Oak Crest Senior Living Associate Director Todd Sullivan; Top right: Sec. Roques provides opening remarks; Bottom left: Donna Copenhaver, Sec. Roques, Hall of Fame Inductee Johnetta Joy Alford of Prince George's County; Bottom middle: Latino Providers Network Member/State Farm Agent David Rosario, Sec. Roques, MSCHF Dir. Albert Muehlberger.

MDOA has received the SAGECare LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency Training National Credential and is now identified as a SAGECare provider organization, letting Marylanders know we are welcoming, inclusive, and prepared to provide exceptional services to LGBTQIA+ older adults and state employees. 

MDOA is one of 9 state agencies to be recognized at the recent LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Symposium hosted by the Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs with the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives. In addition to our internal cultural training efforts where 100% of our staff completed a series of online courses, MDOA also has a dedicated web page providing LGBTQIA+ resources and information.

The Department plans to continue its work with SAGE to train staff at the local Area Agencies on Aging and Maryland Access Point, and to incorporate the needs of LGBTQIA+ Marylanders into the Longevity Ready Maryland Multisector Plan on Aging.

MDOA staff has enjoyed the beautiful fall weather this month, participating in Walk Maryland Day and Baltimore's Walk to End Alzheimer's. Walking is Maryland's state exercise and has many benefits. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance.

The Maryland Department of Veteran and Military Families (DVMF) invites you to participate in Operation Green Light by displaying green lights as a symbol of appreciation and support to veterans and their caregivers. In honor of National Family Caregiver Month, the 2024 campaign shines a light on caregivers who provide invaluable support to our veterans and service members. Join us from November 4-11, 2024, as we continue to raise awareness, share resources, and show appreciation for the caregivers who dedicate their lives to those who have served. Click here to learn more about veteran resources in Maryland.

The Maryland Department of Labor’s Office of Financial Regulation has launched its SecurityScorecard cybersecurity monitoring service to enhance supervision of Maryland financial institutions and increase consumer protection. Older adults are often the target of cyber crimes due to assumptions they're wealthier and less tech-savvy than other age brackets. SecurityScorecard will be used to conduct continuous, real-time monitoring of cybersecurity threats to state-regulated banks, credit unions, and other financial service companies. Click here to learn more on how to protect yourself.

The National Center to Reframe Aging has released an Advocacy Quick Start Guide offering a comprehensive overview of key principles to help reframe aging and address ageism through an advocacy lens. As the 2025 Maryland Legislative Session approaches, the guide can help elevate communications to advance state and local policy that supports healthy aging. The Center released the new tool around Ageism Awareness Day to draw attention to the existence and impact of ageism in our society and how it influences everything from personal interactions to public policy. Click here to download the guide.

Prince George's County Seeks Input on Aging Services

The Prince George’s County Department of Family Services, Aging, and Disabilities, in partnership with George Washington University Institute of Brain Health and Dementia, is asking for input from Prince George's County residents to gain a better understanding of the needs of the aging community, what services they use, and what they would like to see the county provide in the years to come.

If you live in Prince George's County, consider filling out this short, anonymous survey

to provide feedback on your experiences. Click here for the English version. Click here for the Spanish version. You can also contact Jasmine Wood at jasmine.wood@gwu.edu or call 708-439-2023 for assistance filling it out. Wednesday, November 13th is the deadline for completing the survey.

Howard County SHIP Counselor Featured on MPT

Howard County Office on Aging and Independence State Health Insurance Assistance Program Manager Ayse Tokbay was featured on Maryland Public Television's Direct Connection on Monday, October 28. During her interview with news Anchor Jeff Sulkin, Tokbay shares tips to help Medicare beneficiaries during Open Enrollment. Click here to listen to the segment and learn about Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and how Medicare interacts with other employer and retiree health benefits. 

Need durable medical equipment (DME)? Maryland DME Re-USe provides FREE walkers, wheelchairs, and other DME to Marylanders with any illness, injury, or disability, regardless of age, at no cost: Visit DME.maryland.gov

Want to send texts to and receive messages from Governor Moore? You can subscribe to their new messaging service by texting “Hi” to 1-301-750-3111. Msg/data rates may apply: Click this link

Are you ready for respiratory season? The Maryland Emergency Preparedness Network has these helpful resources: Flu Resource Roundup, RSV Resource Roundup, COVID-19 Resource Roundup

Have you donated to the hurricane relief effort? Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has issued a consumer alert warning of fraudulent charities and scams: Click here to learn more

Do you have insurance questions or concerns? The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) offers a wide range of consumer resources for older adults and caregivers: MIA Resources for Older Adults