Aging Well Committee
The Aging Well Committee is exploring processes for developing
and implementing multi-service senior centers/shared use community
centers in Washington County. The centers, supplementing existing
senior sites and free-standing senior clubs, would provide co-location
of services, educational, fitness, socialization and recreational
opportunities for older persons in the county. For more information,
email Susan MacDonald at sjm@wccoaging.org.
Caregiving and End of Life Committee
Washington County CARES began in October 2002 as a small group
of committed healthcare providers wishing to unite their energies
towards discussing and strategizing on the future care of older
residents and their care providers in Washington County. The
coalition’s primary goal in its early conception was to
bring many of the services offered within the county together
in an attempt to close apparent gaps of care, education and support.
Initially, the coalition selected three key areas for a concentrated
focus. Today, these points remain the Caregiver and End of Life
committee’s primary focus for community education and support:
•
Advance Care Planning;
•
Caregiving; and
•
End of Life Care.
Advance Care Planning
The coalition members have been very active in the community
presenting advance care planning information to civic groups
and organizations seeking further education. The reason the coalition
focused part of its attention in this area was due to the overwhelming
stress created in the midst of crisis when people have not given
thought to their wishes and goals of care and their health becomes
compromised. Too often, we find people not considering options
for how they want to spend their days when they enter into a
medical crisis or the last phase of life. Planning ahead allows
individuals to think about what they want before being presented
with a crisis. Additionally, advance care planning allows family
members and health care providers to know exactly what steps
of care are appropriate given the patient’s wishes. It
can be a blessing for family members to know in advance their
loved ones’ wishes and honor those wishes at the time.
Getting started is the hardest part of advance care planning.
It really needs to start with a conversation with those that
may be acting for you in the event you are unable. Individuals
need to initiate important conversations that express their wishes
or goals with those closest to them and then share that with
the primary care physician. Writing it down is the next step.
This can be relatively simple and many organizations, such as
Hospice of Washington County, Inc. and Washington County Hospital
Palliative Care Services offer assistance for anyone having questions
or needing the forms to complete and advance directive. Then
share a copy with your physician and the person(s) that will
represent you as your medical agent or power of attorney. The
last step in advance care planning is to review your plan periodically.
Some states ask residents upon renewing their driver’s
license if they wish to make changes to their advance directive.
In Maryland, we currently do not have a formal registry for completed
advance directives; however, House Bill 236 has been passed and
is awaiting the Governor’s signature. Bill 236, establishes
an advance directive registry in the Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene; authorizing the Secretary to adopt regulations;
requiring the Department to carry out educational and outreach
efforts about the registry; authorizing an individual to register
an advance directive with the Department; providing for the placement
of a notation on a driver's license or identification card that
a person has made a registered advance directive; etc.
The CARES sub-committee on Caregiving and EOL will continue to
follow the progress of this very important Bill 236.
CAREGIVING
Researchers have found that those providing care for their ill
or elderly loved ones are twice as likely to suffer with some
form of physical or mental decline. Often an individual becomes
a Caregiver overnight without instruction or knowledge on how
to do so. The Washington County CARES, Inc. recognizes that Caregivers
need support to perform the arduous task of Caregiving. Through
offering support to the local community, the Caregiving and End
of Life committee has supported Washington County Hospital’s
Annual Caregiver Conference, a one-day practical learning session
on the basics of Caregiving.
In 2005, CARES produced its first annual Caregiver’s Calendar
that serves as a monthly information and support guide to Caregivers.
Each year the calendar has a theme with inspirational and educational
importance woven throughout. The calendars are provided free
to Caregivers in the community through the generous support of
monthly sponsors. Anyone may purchase a calendar for a $5 donation.
To receive or purchase a calendar, please contact Dawn Johns
at 301-791-6360.
The committee also has a monthly Caregiver’s Support Group
facilitated by Sheri Evans at Somerford Assisted Living on the
first Thursday of each month. To learn more, please contact Sheri
at 301-791-9221.
END OF LIFE CARE
Choosing comprehensive care from birth to death is the “norm” in
today’s health driven society. Typically, through modern
technologies and advances patients receive high tech procedures,
medications, and options. The concern that members of the coalition
have expressed is that health care has become challenging, both
for the patient and the provider. It is important that both have
a common ground to express both the patient’s wishes and
the provider’s expertise on care options. Education is
the vital link in trying to understand the medical maze; knowing
when treatments may be futile and comfort care is the optimal
choice.
CARES Caregiving & End of Life committee has supported community
events such as Stranger in a Strange Land sponsored by Hospice
of Washington County, Inc. and the Washington County Hospital.
The 5-week educational program provided participants with information
on the broad spectrum of planning for and experiencing complicated
medical conditions. They have also supported the Annual Palliative
Care Conference and the Senior Living and Caregiving Expo (formerly
the Retirement and Beyond Fair) held each fall at the Valley
Mall in an attempt to provide education to the community on navigating
the rigors of today’s complex health care system.
Contact Us
The Caregiving and End of Life committee meets the 1st Tuesday of each month
at 3 pm at the Hospice of Washington County, Inc. office. If you have interest
in learning more about any Caregiving or End of Life issue, please contact
the committee chair, Dawn Johns, at 301-791-6360 or email us at info@WashingtonCountyCARES.org.
Mental Health Committee
The Mental Health Subcommittee works to address several key needs
identified in Washington County. These include:
•
Reducing stigma associated with Mental Illness often serving
as a barrier to seeking treatment.
•
Increasing available transportation to those seeking mental health
services
•
Providing education to both professionals and the general public
regarding senior mental health issues
•
Advocating for appropriate legislation and funding to enhance
Mental Health services both locally and state-wide, in partnership
with the Washington County Mental Health Advisory Committee
•
Increasing access to medications and assistance with managing
medications
To that end, the Mental Health Subcommittee has taken on several
projects since its inception in November 2005. In recognition
of May 2006 as both Older Americans Month and Mental Health Month,
committee members wrote several informational articles for the “Senior
Life” page appearing in local newspapers and appeared on
NBC25 to promote Mental Wellness. Recently, the subcommittee,
in partnership with Hagerstown Community College, the Washington
County Commission on Aging, and the Washington County Mental
Health Authority has begun working on a grant through the University
of Maryland. This grant will fund a conference in April 2007,
to increase the approaches professionals use to address behavioral
issues that arise in the older population who suffer from various
mental illnesses and personality disorders.
Additionally, the
Mental Health Subcommittee stays abreast of the other Subcommittees
work, promoting awareness and incorporation
of mental wellness efforts in each of their respective projects.
The Mental Health Subcommittee meets the 4th Tuesday of each
month at 8:00 a.m. Meetings are held at Easter Seals Adult Day
Services on 101 East Baltimore Street in Hagerstown. For more
information, contact the subcommittee chair, Mindy Propst at
301-745-3828, or email info@WashingtonCountyCARES.org
Resource Planning Committee
The Resources Planning group was formed to work on reimbursement
issues & financial abuse of older persons.
The current focus is on educating older persons regarding financial
and legal issues related to health care. A Senior Summit workshop
is planned for October 4th 2006 at Robinwood to provide information
and discussion to the community regarding Long Term Medicaid
Changes, Medigap Insurance, Advanced Directives, Power of Attorney,
Trusts and guardianships. For more information visit us at www.WashingtonCountyCARES.org.
and click on calendar of events or register by calling 301-790-8907.
Transportation Committee
The Transportation Committee is a subcommittee of the Washington
County Disability Advisory Committee which was formed several
years ago to advise the Board of County Commissioners on needs
in our community. It is the committee's mission to improve transportation
for all of our citizens by recognizing the potential coordination
opportunities of existing client services. The ultimate goal
of coordination is to reduce service duplication and expand service
while lowering operations costs. This effort is supported by
the Maryland Transit Administration through consulting services
and grants.
