and Planning and Evaluation Division
headed by the Deputy Director and the
Administration Division headed by the As-
sistant Director.
In the Community Services and Planning
and Evaluation Division, are the program
officer, the nutrition program officer, the
senior aides program officer, the direct
service projects coordinator, special assign-
ments coordinator and supporting staff.
They are responsible for administering the
Title III and Title VII programs under the
Older Americans Act, as well as the Senior
Aides Program funded under a special grant
from the National Council of Senior Citi-
zens and CETA, and other special projects.
The Planning and Evaluation Unit within
this division works on both federal and
state planning and evaluation requirements,
assists with preparing legislation, and pro-
vides assistance for program staff and
grantees.
The Administration Division includes the
fiscal and personnel services, information
services, housing services, legislative advo-
cate, nursing home advocate and various
support staff members. Fiscal services is re-
sponsible for the budget, fiscal planning,
fiscal grants management, accounting, and
office personnel management. Information
services handles planned programs of com-
munication as well as voluntary reporting
on aging issues, programs and services
within the state. Public education involves
working with the elderly and general popu-
lation in fostering a positive approach to-
wards the aging process. The public relations
unit works directly with senior citizen groups
and on behalf of individuals in handling
specific aged-related concerns. The legisla-
tive advocate works as a liaison officer with
community-based agencies, other state de-
partments and the General Assembly. Com-
plaints about nursing home practices are
received and acted upon by the nursing
home advocate in accordance with Chapter
857, Acts of 1975. The housing unit has
authority by Chapter 143, Acts of 1976 to
develop guidelines and standards for shel-
tered housing for the elderly which will
serve to govern certification of such housing
in Maryland. |
The Office on Aging coordinates, assesses
and evaluates all state and local programs
and services, both public and private, inso-
far as they relate and are important to the
well-being of the state's aged. The Office on
Aging administers programs and activities
delegated by the federal government to the
state under the provisions of the Older
Americans Act of 1965, as amended; pro-
vides leadership in bringing about changes
in the law beneficial to the elderly; investi-
gates complaints concerning the operations
of nursing homes (Chapter 857, Acts of
1975); engages in training activities for, and
provides consultative and technical assist-
ance to, local units and agencies conducting
programs for the aged; and under Chapter
143, Acts of 1976, develops, certifies and
assists in the operation of sheltered housing
for the elderly. The Office on Aging carries
out its responsibilities to meet the problems
and needs of older persons through the
following goals by encouraging independent
living through legislation and programs
which affect income security, housing, trans-
portation, nutrition, employment and other
services. It also minimizes institutionaliza-
tion for those who are disabled by encour-
aging community-based services designed to
meet their needs to include day care, com-
munity home care and geriatric evaluation
services. Finally, it assures a dignified level
of living for the institutionalized elderly
through life enrichment activities.
THE COMMISSION ON AGING
The Commission on Aging consists of
thirteen members appointed by the Gover-
nor. Each member serves a four-year term,
and may serve a maximum of two consecu-
tive terms. One Commissioner must be a
member of the Senate and one a member
of the House of Delegates. The remaining
eleven members are selected to reflect geo-
graphical representation and because of
their interest in the problems of the aging.
Of the thirteen members, no less than seven
must be fifty-five years of age or over (Code
1957, 1970 Repl. Vol., 1975 Supp., Art.
70B).
Staff: 1976, 33 full-time, 2 part-time;
1977, 35 full-time, 2 part-time. |
