“I want to stay in my home.”
Every day, elders in our community voice that decision to family members, friends, and medical and home support professionals. With the average cost of assisted living in Maryland at $4,600 per month, that desire is both an economic and a quality of life issue.
For low-income and poor seniors, who have few, if any, alternatives for housing and care, there is a critical need for community-based services that will allow them to stay at home safely with appropriate medical care and a positive quality of life.
The state-wide AERS program conducts in-home evaluations and assessments for aged and/or disabled adults who meet eligibility guidelines, with the goals of helping individuals live independently in their homes whenever possible and reducing unnecessary admissions to long- term care facilities. AERS nurses and social workers provide follow-up assessments by linking clients to home and community-based services, and by providing a continuum of care and oversight once a client’s care plan is in place.
We know that some of the problems seniors face in living independently can be solved with a specific service or product, but often there will be no available funding for that item. It could be as simple as a microwave oven for reheating meals when using a range has become difficult to do, or something larger, such as a wheelchair ramp or an alert system. The goal of the AERS Support Fund at Advocates for the Aging is to provide the resources to meet those specific needs on a case-by-case basis using the expertise of our AERS professionals.
The fund allows individuals and businesses to make tax-deductible contributions, knowing that the funds will be used for these specific community needs that have been determined to be part of an individual’s care plan and are overseen by the AERS staff. And AAFC maintains transparent records available to the public through the organization’s annual financial report.
Gifts to the fund may be made online or by mail. Go to our DONATE TO AAFC page for more information on how to donate.