THE OFFICE ON AGING
COMMISSION ON AGING
Chairperson: Margaret C. Schweinhaut, 1979
Appointed members: Reverend Msgr. Leo J.
Coady, 1979; Dominic N. Fomaro, 1979; Viola
M. Gardner, 1979; Betty K. Hamburger, 1979;
Wilson Heaps, 1979; William E. Henry, 1979;
M. Shakman Katz, 1979; Alexander W.
Kramer, 1979; Pauline H. Menes, 1979; Wil-
liam Reichel, 1979; Edwin Robertson, 1979;
Wilbur S. King, 1979
THE OFFICE ON AGING
Matthew L. Tayback, Sc.D., Director
Harry F. Walker, Deputy Director
James F. Chmelik, Assistant Director
301 West Preston Street
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-5064
The Office on Aging was established by Chap-
ter 261, Acts of 1975, as an independent agency
to consolidate and coordinate all ettorts con-
cerned with the problems of older Marylanders.
Its predecessor agency was the State Coordinat-
ing Commission on the Problems of the Aging
created by Chapter 1, Acts of 1959. The name of
this agency was changed to the Commission on
the Aging by Chapter 595, Acts of 1971. In 1974,
by Executive Order, the Governor established the
Governor's Coordinating Office on Problems of
the Aging. The creation of the Office on Aging as
a cabinet-level agency resulted in the merger of
the Commission on the Aging staff with the Gov-
ernor's Coordinating Office on Problems of the
Aging. The Commission on Aging was reassigned
as both an advisory and policy-making board to
the Director of the Office on Aging.
The Director of the Office on Aging is
appointed by and responsible to the Governor.
The Director's actions are subject to the advice,
counsel, and approval of the Commission on Ag-
ing. The Office is divided into two divisions: the
Community Services and Planning and Evalua-
tion Division headed by the Deputy Director and
the Administration Division headed by the Assis-
tant Director.
In the Community Services and Planning and
Evaluation Division are the program officer, the
nutrition program officer, the senior aides pro-
gram officer, the direct service projects coordi-

nator, special assignments coordinator, and sup-
porting staff. They are responsible for administer-
ing 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 Citizens and
CETA, and other special projects. This division
also includes the following services and programs:
Life Support, Legal Services, and Public Guard-
ianship.
The Planning and Evaluation Unit within this
division works on both federal and state planning
and evaluation requirements, assists with prepar-
ing legislation, and provides assistance for pro-
gram staff and grantees.
The Administration Division includes the fis-
cal and personnel services, information services,
housing services, legislative advocate, nursing
home advocate, and various support staff
members. Fiscal services is responsible for the
budget, fiscal planning, fiscal grants manage-
ment, accounting, and office personnel manage-
ment. Information services handles planned
programs of communication as well as voluntary
reporting on aging issues, programs, and services
within the state. Public education involves work-
ing with the elderly and general population in
fostering a positive approach towards the aging
process. The public information unit works di-
rectly with senior citizen groups and on behalf
of individuals in handling specific aged-related
concerns. The legislative advocate works as a li-
aison officer with community-based agencies,
other state departments, and the General As-
sembly. Complaints 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 de-
velop guidelines and standards for sheltered
housing for the elderly, which will serve to gov-
ern 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, insofar 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;
provides leadership in bringing about changes in
the law beneficial to the elderly; investigates com-
plaints concerning the operations of nursing
homes (Chapter 857, Acts of 1975); engages in
training activities for, and provides consultative
and technical assistance to, local units and