Monday, November 16, 2020

Learn About Transportation Options, FREE INFORMATION SESSION, Tuesday Novem ber 18, 2020

Join Montgomery County's Departments of Transportation, Health and Human Services and the County's partner Jewish Council for the Aging's Connect-A-Ride program for an informative transportation presentation via Zoom on November 18, 2020.

Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation and Department of Health and Human Services invite residents to learn about the many transportation options and resources available to them during a virtual event on November 18, 2020 from 4:30-5:30pm.

Together with our partner, Jewish Council for the Aging’s Connect-A-Ride program, representatives from these departments will discuss transportation resources inside and outside of County government. We will also talk about making transportation decisions during the COVID health emergency. While all residents need to remain cautious about their travels during the COVID pandemic, medical appointments and other vital activities cannot be completely avoided.

Participants will learn about transportation resources of the County and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), as well as private providers, non-profit organizations, volunteer transportation providers, and taxis. After a one-hour presentation, speakers will answer questions from 5:30 – 6:00 p.m.

To participate, residents can Click here to join
Meeting ID: 916 6676 5222
Passcode: 828741

One tap mobile
+1-301-715-8592,,91666765222#,,,,,,0#,,828741# US (Germantown)

DOT Contact: Sam Oji, 240-777-5895 or samuel.oji@montgomerycountymd.gov
DHHS Contact: Shawn Brennan, 240-777-1350 or shawn.brennan@montgomerycountymd.gov

Friday, November 13, 2020

An Update from Governor Larry Hogan

Dear Marylanders,

Today, Maryland state health officials reported a record high 1,869 new cases of COVID-19, and total hospitalizations were at their highest levels since June 11. The weeks and months ahead will be the most difficult we have faced, and our primary goals must continue to be saving lives and preventing our hospitals from overflowing.

From day one of the pandemic, I have never hesitated to take the stepsI believed were necessary to keep the people of Maryland safe and I will continue to do so. The following actions were announced this week:

Indoor dining. Indoor operations for bars and restaurants have been reduced from 75% to 50%. Bars and restaurants are permitted to be open for seated and distanced service only, with strict capacity restrictions.
Indoor gatherings. With contact tracing data showing an uptick in cases resulting from family gatherings and house parties, state health officials have issued a public health advisory strongly discouraging indoor gatherings of 25 people or more.
Travel advisory. Marylanders are strongly advised against traveling to any state with a positivity rate above 10% or any state with average case rates above 20 per 100K. Anyone traveling from these states should get tested and self-quarantine while awaiting results. Marylanders are advised to postpone or cancel travel to these areas until their positivity and/or case rates decline.
Mandatory telework. A period of mandatory telework has been implemented across state agencies, except for essential direct public-facing services and other essential personnel. State officials strongly encourage all businesses to take immediate steps to expand telework.
Hospital surge capacity. State health officials have issued an emergency order expanding hospital surge capacity that provides state EMS officials with the flexibility to shift patients to alternate care sites and to add capacity at those sites if the need arises.
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities. State health officials have issued new guidance for slowing the spread of COVID-19 at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Marylanders should stay home if sick and get tested before they visit their loved ones.

I also want to remind Marylanders that we have a statewide masking order in effect. It requires everyone to wear masks or face coverings in the public spaces of all businesses across the state and at outdoor public areas when it is not possible to maintain physical distancing.

Or to put it simply, just wear the damn mask.

Stay safe, stay #MarylandStrong.

Sincerely,

Signature: Larry Hogan

On November 10, the Maryland Department of Health launched MD COVID Alert, a contact tracing app for Marylanders to opt into COVID-19 exposure notifications on their smartphones. MD COVID Alert uses Bluetooth to notify users who may have been exposed to someone who tested positive for the virus.

View this message as a URL: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MDGOV/bulletins/2ac6b11

Monday, November 9, 2020

Free Virtual Caregiver Conversation on November 12

Maryland Commission on Caregiving Webinar Series: Day to Day, Moment to Moment: A

Conversation with a Caregiver on Her Journey Each family caregiver has a unique story to share. Join the Maryland Commission on Caregiving in a facilitated discussion between Lisa Washington, who cares for both her mother and father, and Kathy Wehr, Caregiver Support Program Manager at the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence. Through their conversation, Lisa and Kathy will explore the themes of self-care, planning ahead, establishing a support system, and the myriad of emotions that accompany caregiving. This virtual event is free and open to the public. Thursday, November 12, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM To participate in this virtual event please send an email to: Naomi.duffort@maryland.gov

Below are the direct links to the 11/12 webinar social media posts that have just been published on DHS's Facebook and Twitter pages. Please feel free to share these links as you see fit.
· https://www.facebook.com/MDHumanServices/posts/10158600191928859
· https://twitter.com/MDHumanServices/status/1325853156320796673?s=20

For those of you who are active with twitter and facebook please feel free to connect and share these links as well.

Click here to view with flyer

Monday, November 2, 2020

Arts for the Aging - Newsletter

Did you see our feature in The Washington Post on Sunday? It's about Arts for the Aging's senior improv dance company Quicksilver -- an antidote to isolation and loneliness.

We celebrate columnist Theresa Vargas for caring about, as Justice Ginsburg once described of our founder, the right things.

Plus! Must see TV, below.

Quicksilver Featured in The Washington Post

"As isolation takes a deadly toll on older adults, a senior dance group finds a new way to connect"

By columnist Theresa Vargas

Since 1988, Arts for the Aging has engaged older adults and caregivers in health improvement and life enhancement through regular participation in multi-disciplinary, therapeutic group-arts programs which take place in partnership with professional artists, community and residential care settings, museums, and cultural institutions.

Arts for the Aging, Inc. | (301) 255-0103 | 15800 Crabbs Branch Way, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20855

www.AFTAarts.org

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Senior Planet - November Class Schedule

Welcome to Senior Planet Montgomery!

Senior Planet helps seniors learn new skills, save money, get in shape, and make new friends. Their courses, programs, and activities are changing the lives of older adults far beyond technology. Won’t you join in?

To view all classes in November, click here

To learn more about Senior Planet, click here