THE OFFICE ON AGING

Rosalie S. Abrams, Director on Aging
Harry F. Walker, Deputy Director

301 W. Preston St., Room 1004
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-5064

The Office on Aging was established by Chapter
261, Acts of 1975, as an independent agency to
administer, consolidate, and coordinate statewide
programs and activities to meet the needs of older
Marylanders. Its predecessor agency was the State
Coordinating Commission on the Problems of the
Aging created by Chapter 1, Acts of 1959. The
name of this agency was changed to the Commis-
sion on the Aging by Chapter 595, Acts of 1971. In
1974 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 Commis-
sion on the Aging staff with the Governor's
Coordinating Office on Problems of the Aging.
The Commission on Aging was reassigned as both
an advisory and policy-making board to the Direc-
tor on Aging.

The Director on Aging is appointed by and
responsible to the Governor. The Director's ac-
tions are subject to the advice, counsel, or approval
of the Commission on Aging.

By Chapter 101, Acts of 1982, the Director on
Aging chairs the Interagency Committee on Aging
Services to evaluate the service needs of elderly
persons in the State, and establish priorities for
meeting these needs. The same law authorizes the
Director to represent the interests of the elderly by
serving as an advocate at all levels of government.

The Office on Aging is divided into two func-
tional areas: the Program area headed by the
Deputy Director and the Administration area
headed by the Assistant Director.

The Program area has three divisions: Programs
Management and Coordination, Planning and As-
sessment, and Nutrition and Community Services.

The Program Management and Coordination
Division is responsible for the senior aides pro-
gram, the public guardianship program, the life
support program, legal services development,
transportation, physical fitness, and interprogram
coordination.

The Planning and Assessment Division is re-
sponsible for program planning and development,
establishment of program priorities, and assess-
ment of program results. It also assists in preparing
legislation.

The Nutrition and Community Services Division
is responsible for overall statewide direction of
local administration of aging programs and ser-
vices. It monitors and gives technical assistance to
a network of eighteen area agencies on aging.
These local agencies receive grants from the Office
on Aging to provide nutrition and community
services to older persons in their local areas. Area
agencies encompass all counties and Baltimore
City. Funding sources for grants include Title III
of the federal Older Americans Act, Section 700 of
the federal Food and Agriculture Act, and State
general funds.

The Program area also includes training and
Gateway I, a coordinated statewide activity to
facilitate access to programs and services for older
persons. A Gateway I project is operated by an
agency in each local jurisdiction or area of the
State as a single point of contact for older persons
seeking services and benefits from public and
private agencies.

GATEWAY I SITES

Allegany County
Cumberland Senior Citizens' Center
19 Frederick St.
Cumberland 21532 Telephone: 724-1141

Anne Arundel County
Arundel Center North
101 Crain Highway, N.W.
Glen Burnie 21061 Telephone: 1-800-492-2499