HC Caregiver 2016-digital.pdf

13 / 56

• Medicare and other health insurance
• Budget counseling
• Respite options
• In-home care options
• Aging in place
• Home modification
• Adult in-home evaluation
• Health and wellness programs
• Employment resources
Who handles calls and
in-person contacts?
• Information and Resource Specialists
are located at the main office of the
Office on Aging and Independence
which is located on Columbia Gateway
drive. Specialists are also at the Bain
Center. Korean bilingual specialists
serve the needs of a growing Howard
County Korean population. Three of
our specialists are licensed, clinical
social workers (LCSW-C) and one
is a designated a Caregiver Support
Specialist.
What is the information most
frequently requested?
• The highest percentage of requests
are about available Howard County
transportation options, housing
options and in-home services. More
and more people want to ‘age-in-place’
by remaining in their homes and they
are turning to MAP for help with long
term support planning that will help
them achieve this goal.
Does MAP receive requests about
financial assistance?
• Many folks are finding it difficult to
make ends meet and have trouble
paying energy bills, paying prescription
drug costs, or buying food. MAP
works in partnership with other social
services agencies and together we do
what we can to assist those in greatest
financial need. The Office on Aging and
Independece’s State Health Insurance
Assistance Program (SHIP) is one
resource for Medicare beneficiaries to
seek help with Medicare-related issues.
Other partners with whom MAP works
include Community Action Council,
Department of Social Services,
churches, food pantries, Salvation
Army and many other to seek further
information about eligibility for benefit
assistance.
• Maryland Access Point information
and assistance specialists are available
to help you with understanding better
how to budget your money and to help
you determine if you are eligible for
public benefits. Financial literacy is a
key skill in today’s economy.
What are MAP’s available hours?
• Phone lines are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
• Consumers can walk-in to our
Gateway or Bain Center locations
during business hours, or make an
appointment to meet at their local
senior center.
• Information Specialists also make
home visits to help those who are
unable to leave their homes or who
need special attention within their own
home setting.
• MAP can be reached at their e-mail
address .
What about after hours?
• The Maryland Department on Aging
offers a public searchable database,
, that
offers information and resources for a
variety of topics 24 hours a day, seven
days a week.
HOW CAN I
CONTACT MAP?
MAP services are accessible
from a variety of locations and
consumers are served in a
number of ways:
f
BY PHONE:
410-313-1234 (local) or
toll-free, 844-MAP-LINK
(844-627-5465)
U
IN PERSON:
Walk-in or by appointment at the
Office on Aging in the Gateway
Building, the Bain Center, and if
needed, in-home visits will gladly
be arranged.
T
ONLINE:
This Maryland Department of
Aging sponsored searchable
database gives consumer
the opportunity to look for
needed services 23 hours
a day, seven days a week.
13