March 29, 2024
Annapolis, US 39 F

Department of Aging and Disabilities wins prestigious award

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The Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities today announced that its Making the Link program recently received recognition from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) with anAging Achievement Award, an honor presented by n4a to member agencies. The awards program is sponsored by CST your Link to Life (CST-LTL). The Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities was among the 45 local aging programs to receive honors during the n4a Annual Conference & Tradeshow held July 12-16, 2014, in Dallas, Texas.

“I am so proud of all the hardworking men and women in our Department of Aging and Disabilities for enabling our county’s Making the Link program to earn this national recognition,” said County Executive Laura Neuman. “We live in a great county where help is available to everyone who needs it, and this program is an excellent resource in connecting our older residents and those with disabilities to the assistance they need.”

The 2014 n4a Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards recognizes Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Title VI Native American aging programs that develop and implement cutting-edge approaches to support older adults, people with disabilities and their family caregivers. A part of the criteria for the selection of the honorees was the ease with which other agencies could replicate the program in their communities.

“With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act underway, our members are investigating new ways to position themselves in the long-term and health care marketplaces, as well as to strengthen longstanding services to meet the needs of America’s rapidly growing older adult population,” said n4a’s Chief Executive Officer Sandy Markwood. “Our members work tirelessly, and with little fanfare in their communities, and this program enables us to shine a well-deserved spotlight on their ground-breaking work,” Ms. Markwood added.

The Making the Link program is a Maryland Access Point program and works to create awareness of the resources that the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities offers to the citizens of Anne Arundel County. A yellow resource pad, which lists department resources and contact information, is available through many area physicians and pharmacies, as well as various civic, community and religious groups.  The pads are also currently carried by other county agencies such as the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Department of Public Works and Cashier’s Office. Making the Link has also developed a Public Service Announcement, which can be seen in the Primary Care offices at Anne Arundel Medical Center, Anne Arundel TV (Verizon channel 38 and Comcast channel 98), and can be viewed on our website at www.aacounty.org/aging.

“The Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities appreciates the national recognition for the Making the Link program,” said Pam Jordan, Director of the Department of Aging and Disabilities.  “We hope that the program is a gateway to all of the services the department offers to meet the critical needs of Anne Arundel County citizens.”

The 2014 n4a Aging Achievement Awards honored traditional and new strategies in a range of categories including Advocacy, Care Transitions, Caregiving, Community Planning/Livable Communities, Economic Security/Financial Assistance, Elder Abuse/Financial Exploitation Prevention, Ethnic/Cultural Diversity, Health/-Long-Term Services & Supports Integration, Healthy Aging/Nutrition, Home & Community-Based Care, Information & Referral, Technology, Transportation/Mobility Options, Volunteerism/Civic Engagement and “You Name It!”

All winners are showcased in an n4a publication which can be viewed at

http://www.n4a.org/pdf/N4A_report_final_lowres.pdf

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