COUNTY PRIORITY OUTCOMES

• Thriving Youth and Families
• A More Affordable and Welcoming County for a Lifetime

PROGRAM CONTACTS

Contact James Bridgers, Ph.D., M.B.A. of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) at 240-777-4253 or Grace Pedersen of the Office of Management and Budget at 240-773-1088 for more information.

OVERVIEW

The FY27 Recommended Budget includes $40.9 million in tax-supported resources identified for older adults, including funds for community organizations that augment County services for older adults. In addition, the recommended budget includes $21.9 million in non-tax supported resources for older adults.

Enhancements in the FY27 Recommended Budget Include:

• Add staff to perform prompt nursing home inspections in anticipation of the State's delegation of authority, beginning in FY27.
• Increase funding to maintain countywide Senior Nutrition service levels amidst rising food costs.
• Support Adult Medical Day Care providers with an increase to the annual supplement program.

FY27 RECOMMENDED BUDGET

Services benefiting seniors are both incorporated into general department program offerings and offered as target services. Below are some of the major County government programs currently supporting Montgomery County seniors.

Non-Departmental Account Community Grants

• The FY27 Recommended Operating Budget continues $1.4 million in grants awarded to community partners for services benefiting seniors. These community organizations are critical to an effective network of services and are sometimes able to provide these services in a more cost-effective, culturally appropriate, and flexible way. Community organizations are also able to leverage community resources that may be unavailable to County government.

Department of Recreation

• Operate full service senior centers designed to build supportive relationships and positive social connections, enhance learning engagement and mental stimulation, improve health and wellness, and create connections to community services through recreation programs.
• Provide door-to-door Senior Transportation Service providing limited-range, age-friendly access to six senior centers.
• Operate Active Adult Neighborhood Programs for those 55+ to actively participate in their community while meeting their recreation and leisure needs.
• Implement congregate nutrition sites at senior centers and Active Adult Neighborhood Programs in collaboration with DHHS Aging and Disability Services.
• Offer an extremely popular Trips and Tours program to include Senior Outdoor Adventure trips and day trips for 55+ participants and their family and friends.
• Organize competitive 50+ sports and games opportunities in partnership with Maryland Senior Olympics.
• Implement a three-day, multi-session summer camp for adults 55+ focusing on social interaction, adventure and exploration, and mental and physical well-being.
• Offer culturally relevant programming in alternative languages to meet the socialization and recreation needs of non-English speaking participants.
• Implement special events designed to connect senior communities across Montgomery County, providing lifetime experiences and lasting memories in safe and accommodating settings. Examples include World Elder Abuse Day, Cardboard Boat Regatta, cultural celebrations, Active Aging Week, and wellness expos.
• Partner with local hospitals and DHHS to offer evidence-based fitness programs such as Bone Builders and Senior Fit that are designed to improve the healthspan of older adults.

Department of Health and Human Services

• Prevent or reverse nursing home placement for Medicaid-eligible persons of all ages by providing planning, nurse monitoring, and community-based services.
• Transport older adults to County recreation centers and, for residents of a limited number of senior apartment buildings, to grocery stores using Transit Services Ride On buses during off peak hours.
• Provide supportive services to older adults through contracts with nonprofits, including "friendly visitors," grocery shopping, legal assistance, and Alzheimer's support.
• Continue the Escorted Transportation Program with the Jewish Council for the Aging.
• Promote and expand transportation options available to older adults and people with disabilities throughout the County.
• Support a Mobility and Transportation Manager to work with advocates and public and private service providers.
• Offer one-stop, hands-on assistance and outreach to County residents regarding services for older adults, persons with disabilities, and their families and caregivers to clarify their needs and to identify and access resources.
• Help protect County residents in assisted living facilities and nursing homes by maintaining a regular presence, investigating complaints, and advocating for seniors' rights.
• Offer adults over age 60 access to meals, nutrition education, and opportunities for socialization at community and senior centers and senior apartment buildings.
• Provide home-delivered meals to address the nutritional needs of older adults who are home-bound due to illness or disability and cannot get out or prepare healthy meals on their own.
• Deliver services with special consideration for low-income individuals, minority individuals, those in rural communities, those with limited English proficiency, and those at risk of institutional care.
• Investigate complaints of maltreatment for abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation against vulnerable adults; secure resources; and provide surrogate decision-making for adults adjudicated through the courts.
• Provide in-home support services to help vulnerable and older adults remain safe and cared for in the community and to prevent premature and/or inappropriate institutionalization.
• Maintain funding for respite care services for older adults, persons with disabilities, and caregivers.
• Provide heavy chore services to serve older adults with hoarding behaviors to prevent evictions, condemnations, or to correct health and safety conditions for people meeting the criteria of Adult Protective Services and case management programs.
• Provide Senior Mental Health Services for home-bound older adults and coordinate medication with medical providers.
• Provide dental services to low-income older adults.
• Provide caregivers with comprehensive information and assistance regarding available services, accessing those services, and opportunities for support, including support groups, individual counseling, and training.
• Deliver disease prevention and health promotion programs designed to reduce reliance on higher cost medical interventions, with priority given to older adults residing in medically underserved areas and those experiencing the greatest economic need.
• Help meet older adult challenges of remaining independent in their homes as they age in their communities through the "Village" model, a grassroots, consumer-driven, and volunteer-first model. The Village Coordinator assists with current and emerging "Villages" and promotes the creation of new ones.
• Continue the Senior Home Sharing program that matches senior home providers who have a spare room with home seekers interested in a long-term housing option.
• Provide case management through Social Services to Adults for older adults and adults with disabilities to enable client self-sufficiency in the community, reduce inappropriate institutionalization, and mitigate factors that may lead to abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and/or exploitation.
• Offer supervised housing and assistance to older adults and adults with disabilities using certified family homes and small, licensed, assisted living homes in the community through the Adult Foster Care Program. Case management is provided, as well as subsidies when funds are available.
• Implement Coordination of Community Services to provide case management services to individuals including older adults who have been determined eligible by the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration.

Department of Transportation - Transit Services

• Subsidize taxi service for low-income older adults, age 63 and older, to allow for greater mobility and quality of life.
• Provide information and linkage to transportation resources to older adults, maintain a database of resources, help callers fill out forms for transportation programs, and link callers with transportation providers.
• Provide free public transit travel training classes for older adults, increasing their travel options and comfort level with public transportation.
• Continue ongoing advertising campaigns and distribution of senior transportation services.
• Conduct on-site outreach events and presentations about senior transportation options and resources at locations where older adults frequent or reside.
• Provide fixed route service (Ride On) to many senior centers and make Senior SmarTrip cards available through multiple channels.
• Transport older adults to senior centers and grocery shopping trips from 12 residential facilities during Ride On's off-peak period.
• Provide free bus service on all Ride On and select Metro buses throughout Montgomery County each day.
• Improve bus stops as part of Ride On's safety, ADA compliance, and accessibility program.
• Improve pedestrian crossings by re-timing all traffic signals to extend pedestrian crossing times to accommodate slower walking speeds and upgrade some traffic signals to include accessible/countdown pedestrian signals.
• Continue to improve pedestrian access by using a high-visibility ladder-bar style at crosswalks, prioritizing pedestrian access safety in work zones, and continue converting street lights to LED.
• Improve transportation services and address barriers for residents who have disabilities, are seniors, or have limited incomes. Supported by dedicated revenues from Transportation Network Company fees, Transit Services subsidizes wheelchair accessible taxicabs and offers Call-N-Ride co-pay assistance for low-income residents.

Department of Public Libraries

• Provide programs specifically designed to engage customers over age 50 that promote creativity, learning, education, healthy living, and social interaction. These activities are essential to vital living, and are provided in partnership with Federal, State, and County agencies and departments, nonprofits, and local community organizations.
• Provide diverse programs relevant to the County's population over age 50. Topics include book discussions, intergenerational opportunities, financial security, professional development, business, retirement, taxes, health, employment, technology, consumer issues, English language learning, and others. These programs have the goal of combating and alleviating social isolation.
• Provide online life-long learning services and materials, including an older adults-focused web page, and training on how to use ebooks and computers.
• Offer large print library materials and other accessibility equipment and services for older adults, including assistive technology workstations with desktop magnifiers and computers with screen reading and magnifying software (JAWS, NVDA, and Magic software); adjustable tables; audio induction loop system in meeting rooms (selected branches); and Communication Access Real-Time Translation Services (CART).
• Provide Metro Senior SmarTrip cards at all library branches at no cost to customers age 65 and older.
• Provide Books@Home service, delivering library materials to Montgomery County residents who cannot visit the library because of physical disability, health issue, or frailty.
• Provide volunteer opportunities, which are utilized by older adults at every branch through the Montgomery County Volunteer Center.

Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions

• Provide technology training for older adults through Senior Planet in English, Spanish, and Mandarin. Senior Planet enables older people to use technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and the internet for independent daily living, health monitoring, finances, employment, connections with family and friends, and engagement in the digital world. Program outcomes demonstrate that seniors participating in the program feel more confident using online resources, and staying safe and detecting scams when using email and the internet; feel more connected to families, friends, and their community; have better access to health information; feel more confident in their ability to live independently; and recommend Senior Planet to others.
• Operate Virtual Reality (VR) for Seniors in partnership with the Department of Recreation's senior centers. VR for Seniors trains older adults to use virtual reality headsets, with built-in artificial intelligence accessibility features, at eight senior centers, to improve cognitive function and fitness and to reduce social isolation.
• Develop the Montgomery Digital Resource Network to cost-effectively share resources and expertise, and build partnerships and advocacy for digital skills training and device and internet access opportunities among area nonprofits.
• Pursue grant opportunities to expand the Montgomery Connects training programs through health initiatives and economic development partnerships.
• Pursue grant opportunities to expand Extended Reality (XR) Montgomery deployments at historic African American and other historic Montgomery County sites through partnerships with Montgomery Parks and Montgomery Heritage organizations.

Fire and Rescue Service

• Continue the Mobile Integrated Health Program, which was introduced in 2016 in part to help address the disproportionate increase in the number of repeat low-acuity 911 calls by older adults. This collaborative initiative of DHHS and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) holistically incorporates the skills of fire/rescue personnel, a clinical social worker, and a community health nurse to better meet the needs of patients who utilize emergency medical services frequently. The team has an overall goal of reducing the burden on 911, emergency medical personnel, and emergency rooms while still providing superior care to patients.
• Increase the number and diversity of programs to educate older adults about the benefits of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, escape planning, general fire safety, and injury prevention both in-person and virtually.
• Continue public education campaigns regarding updates to Maryland Smoke Alarm Law and County requirements for carbon monoxide alarms.
• Conduct door-to-door safety awareness campaigns offering smoke alarm evaluations, replacements, and injury prevention education.
• Continue to support the County's "Villages" model designed to assist residents who are aging in place with fire safety, injury prevention, and safety strategies, to reduce risk, and check/install smoke alarms.
• Provide education and training to recruit classes and first responders to increase awareness of health, mobility, and safety risks faced by older adults during emergencies.
• Expand the reach of the Senior Outreach Program, prioritizing communities with higher concentrations of older adults and elevated fire risk indicators.
• Use incident and demographic data to identify strategies that reduce fire risk among older adults and support aging safely in place.
• Identify homebound older adults and residents with disabilities and provide tailored fire safety information and installation of approved smoke and carbon monoxide alarms designed to meet their needs.
• Strengthen collaborative partnerships with County agencies, non-profits, faith-based organizations, hospitals, and professional organizations providing services to older adults.
• Provide appointment-based fire safety evaluations and smoke alarm checks (in-person and virtual) for older adults, high-risk, and low-income residents.
• Support community groups, homeowners associations, and neighborhood organizations in promoting home fire evacuation planning, emergency preparedness, and injury prevention.

Department of Housing and Community Affairs

• Continue partnering with Rebuilding Together and Habitat for Humanity by funding the Home Accessibility and Rehabilitation Program (HARP) that provides accessibility upgrades for low-income homeowners, focusing on the incorporation of accessibility features. Most of the homeowners are seniors and unable to undertake home repairs on their own.
• Provide gap financing to preserve and produce more affordable housing units through the Sanctuary at Takoma Park for eligible senior residents.
• Continue partnering with the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County and directly with other senior facilities to provide rental assistance to low-income older adults.

Office of the State's Attorney

• Aggressively prosecute crimes against seniors and vulnerable adults through the Crimes Against Seniors and Vulnerable Adults Unit of the Office of the State's Attorney.
• Continue to collaborate closely with Adult Protective Services and the Montgomery County Police Department to address crimes against seniors in an efficient and timely manner that holds offenders accountable for their criminal activity.
• Continue to chair the Montgomery County Elder/Vulnerable Adult Abuse Task Force, which brings together representatives from County agencies to discuss cases of concern and hosts an annual event on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to promote education/prevention of senior abuse.
• Collect data and metrics that include the number of investigations opened, interagency collaborations, and prosecutions.

Community Engagement Cluster

• Partner with community organizations to provide free tax preparation assistance to low-to-moderate income Montgomery County residents with special attention to adults age 55+.
• Support opportunities for adults age 55+ to increase access to community activities, socialization, and lifelong learning.
• Provide services to connect seniors to meaningful volunteer opportunities (50+ Network).
• Recognize senior volunteer contributions annually by honoring two older adults with the Neal Potter Path of Achievement Award and provide volunteer appreciation services to senior volunteers.
• Continue the Senior Fellows program which taps the experience and skills of retired older adults to support outreach, training, and other services at the Volunteer Center.

Office of Consumer Protection

• Create community forums that actively spotlight the challenges and concerns experienced by seniors, fostering open discussion and collaboration to identify solutions and promote greater awareness of their needs.
• Strengthen partnerships with legislators and consumer organizations to develop, refine, and advocate for laws that safeguard older adults from deceptive trade practices, ensuring their well-being and financial security remain a community priority.
• Maintain active recruitment efforts aimed at engaging older adults and retired professionals as volunteers within the Office of Consumer Protection.

Department of Environmental Protection

• Offer an alternative point of collection for curbside refuse and recycling services to any individual who, because of physical limitations (disability or age), is unable to bring containers to the curb.

Office of Public Information

• In partnership with the Commission on Aging, produce "50+ in Montgomery County," a monthly cable television show highlighting services and programs of interest to seniors.
• Manage the County's seniors website, a central portal offering timely information to seniors and caregivers about County services and programs: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/senior/.
• Produce full-page communications in The Beacon newspaper (targeted for people over 50) to deliver County messaging campaigns to its monthly readers.
• Support the Commission on Aging (COA) by using established social media platforms to get their messaging out to the community.

Montgomery County Police Department

• Maintain the Keeping Seniors Safe Program, a dedicated crime prevention outreach initiative designed to actively engage and support our senior community through presentations and other media. All presentations are delivered by trained Montgomery County Police Department Keeping Seniors Safe Volunteers, ensuring consistent, informed, and community-focused messaging. The program operates under the department's Community Volunteer Services Unit, reinforcing its role as a structured, mission-driven public safety effort.
• Conduct home security surveys in seniors' homes.
• Implement the Autism/IDD/Alzheimer's Outreach Program, which provides information and videos to educate the community on interacting with individuals with cognitive impairments.
• Administer elder abuse prevention efforts, which provide contact information for reporting neglect, financial exploitation, and physical or sexual abuse.
• Operate the Elder Abuse and Domestic Violence Unit, which is dedicated to investigating instances of criminal assaults, abuse, and neglect against the elderly and vulnerable adults.
• Assist in planning and implementing a large-scale safety summit for World Elder Abuse Day.