Collaborative Efforts Drive Positive Impacts for Aging in Maryland
Aging can look very different from one person to the next. Anticipating the diverse needs of older Marylanders across a spectrum of income levels, abilities, support systems, backgrounds, and geographic regions requires coordination across many service areas. That’s why Governor Moore’s Executive Order establishing Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM) includes several provisions that direct state agencies to work together to share information and expertise in the development and implementation of Maryland’s multisector plan for aging, Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM). As we begin to apply a longevity lens across all service areas, we recognize how a broader scope of collaboration around the state can pave the way for longer lives and make a positive impact on aging in Maryland.
Maryland Department of Planning
Walktober Webinars
The Maryland Department of Planning celebrated Walktober with a series of webinars to promote the value of creating walkable communities in Maryland. Topics covered safety and infrastructure planning related to walkability, and how walkable communities can improve sustainable growth with more equitable outcomes for all community members, regardless of age or ability. They also promoted Vision Zero Network, a collaborative campaign to increase safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all.
Other collaborating partners included representatives from the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Transportation, the Governor’s Sustainable Growth Subcabinet, and the Center for Disability Rights, among others. Click here for more information.
University of Maryland Extension
Maryland Statewide Digital Equity Summit
The second annual Maryland Digital Equity Summit brought together digital inclusion leaders, practitioners, and advocates from across the state to collaborate on solutions for bridging the digital divide in Maryland. Acknowledging the critical role that digital literacy has in keeping all Marylanders connected to healthcare, education, employment, and services, the Summit reviewed plans and policies to advance digital equity in Maryland for all incomes, ages, and abilities.
Collaborating partners included leadership from the Department of Disabilities, University of Maryland, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, and many others. Click here for important resources for empowering Marylanders through digital equity and accessibility.
Maryland Department of Transportation
Transit Oriented Development
Maryland Departments of Transportation and Housing and Community Development are collaborating to ensure that dense, mixed-use and mixed-income housing developments are built within a half mile of public transit stations. To better address Maryland’s housing shortage of about 96,000 units, the agency's MOU intends to prioritize the development of affordable housing near transit stations to better connect residents to each other, service providers, and employment. The result will increase economic opportunity for residents of all ages, incomes, and abilities.
Other collaborating partners include Maryland Departments of Planning and Commerce. Click here for more information about the plan and potential locations.
2024 Thome Aging Well Innovation Grant Awards Announced
Funding to Support Several Aging in Place initiatives in Maryland
Out of 148 applications, 17 organizations were selected for their exceptional vision and commitment to creating more equitable, joyful, and community-centered approaches for aging. Among them, the following seven were chosen from Maryland.
- Arts for the Aging-Maryland, Inc. for a therapeutic arts program that recruits and trains older artists living in affordable housing communities
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Centro de Apoyo Familar to empower Hispanic elders to become community health workers and environmental advocates
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Enterprise Community Development, Inc. to launch an age-friendly care clinic model with the University of Maryland Baltimore at eight affordable housing communities
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Johns Hopkins University to conduct research on using Low-Income Housing Tax Credit financing for assisted living communities
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LeadingAge Maryland to develop a sustainable financing model that will provide for the services necessary to support the well-being and independence of older adults with lower incomes
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Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, Inc. to empower nonprofits to support low-income seniors through a three-phase program that includes needs assessments, planning, capacity building, culturally-relevant training, and embedding justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion into the nonprofits’ strategies and operations
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Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to expand high impact, low-cost home modification services to low-income seniors in three rural Maryland counties
Click
here for more information about the grant funding and awardees.
