Warnings come as part of annual AARP effort to combat financial abuses against older Americans
Maryland Matters – Fraud schemes against older Marylanders continue sharp rise, advocates say
NYTimes – The Big Secret About Medicaid: It’s a Middle-Class Benefit
If you have a parent short on savings, a disabled adult child or a minor with special needs, Medicaid may be your backstop. Plenty of people are unaware.
“I never thought that Medicaid would become an issue in my family, but it has.”
That was the first line of a note I received this week from a retired investment industry veteran whose autistic son receives coverage from the program. A similar email arrived from one of the most affluent towns in California.
Yes, Medicaid primarily serves Americans with the lowest incomes, and you may not count yourself among them.
But now that the program is potentially on the chopping block, as Republicans in Congress seek to make up to $2 trillion in spending cuts, it’s a good time to consider others who qualify.
It could be an aging parent who needs nursing home care, whose significant nest egg has been drained after 20 years of retirement. Or it could be a 26-year-old adult child who can’t be covered on your health insurance anymore but is not yet making much money. Or perhaps it’s a severely disabled child.
Make Your Voice Heard: Frederick County Budget Priorities Survey
The Frederick County FY2026 Budget Priorities page is designed to engage residents in the budget planning process by gathering their input on funding allocations for the upcoming fiscal year. County Executive Jessica Fitzwater has organized a series of public hearings and town hall meetings across various districts to ensure community voices are heard.
Advocates’ Assistive Devices Program Helps Seniors Age In Place
Advocates for the Aging of Frederick County has purchased and installed
more than 2,100 assistive devices in the homes of area older and disabled
adults over the past three years thanks to an ARPA grant through Frederick
County government.
From grab bars in bathrooms to outdoor ramps and a wide variety of
equipment to help individuals get around safely, these assistive devices are
improving the quality of life for those over 62 years old in 897 households
throughout the county as of December 31, 2024. “We know that fewer falls
mean fewer injuries, fewer EMS calls and emergency room trips, and a
higher quality of life for anyone aging in place in our community,” explained
Melanie Cox, president of the Advocates Board of Directors. “And at a time
when Frederick County has limited affordable housing for low-income
seniors, it is extremely important that seniors are able to stay in their
homes and apartments.”
Click here to read our newest blog post for more background on this story.
In addition to a $300,000 ARPA grant from Frederick County, the City of
Frederick, and local foundations, including the Delaplaine and Community
Foundations, have made these direct and often life-saving devices and
equipment available to Frederick County seniors.
Advocates continues to assist low-income seniors needing help. For more
information, please email grabbarsproject@gmail.com or call Sherry Fulton
at 240-741-9853.
Free Tax Preparation For Low-Income Seniors
United Way of Frederick County’s VITA Program
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers FREE tax return preparation for qualified individuals who had income less than $67,000 in 2024. We are committed to helping our ALICE neighbors with low and moderate incomes receive the refunds and tax credits they deserve.
VITA SITES OFFER FREE TAX HELP TO PEOPLE WHO NEED ASSISTANCE IN:
- People who generally make $67,000 or less
- Person with disabilities; and
- Limited English-speaking taxpayers
CALL 211 OR 866-411-6803 TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!
TAX SEASON: JANUARY 27 – APRIL 15
Krista Zodet Joins Advocates Board of Directors
Krista Zodet of Ijamsville, Maryland, has joined the Board of Directors of Advocates for the Aging of Frederick County.
A highly experienced nonprofit executive with a distinguished career spanning nearly three decades in the life sciences sector, Krista is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the HealthWell Foundation where her responsibilities included overseeing substantial administrative and operational budgets while cultivating a positive and inclusive work environment.
Krista earned a Master of Social Work with a specialization in Aging from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. During her graduate studies, she gained practical experience through a practicum at the Office of Services to the Aging in Lansing, Michigan. Upon graduation, she joined the Michigan Peer Review Organization, where her roles included educating beneficiaries, advocates, social workers, and providers on patient rights and responsibilities within the Medicare framework. She also actively participated in the design, implementation, and monitoring of quality improvement projects for Medicare-certified hospitals and the production of informative clinical articles, reports, and newsletters.
Advocates is excited to welcome Krista to the Board of Directors and to put her knowledge and experience to work on behalf of Frederick County residents.
