* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Middleton
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
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Informational Hearing - Office of Aging and CARE Services - Commission on Aging and Retirement Services (CARE)
FOR the purpose of of requesting the Commissioner of Health and the Acting Commissioner of CARE Services to address the City Council on the transition of CARE from an independent entity to a program under the Health Department's Office of Aging and CARE Services; to present information on the services available to the elderly; to share plans to address delivery of services to meet the projected increase in the elderly population; and to discuss the methods used to enable Baltimore City's elderly residents to be aware of and to access federal, state, city, non-profit, and private services and resources.
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Recitals
The Maryland Department of Aging 2009 - 2012 State Plan on Aging introductory message from the Secretary states, in part: "As you know, we face a major demographic challenge in the years ahead. In year 2000, the number of seniors in Maryland was just over 800,000. Today, there are about 900,000, and in five years there will be over one million seniors in Maryland. By 2030, the number is projected to increase to about 1.7 million seniors."
The report addresses the need to plan for the impact that the retirement of Maryland's baby boomers will bring: "Fortunately, not all 1.7 million seniors will be looking to the State for assistance?However as the population increases, so will the actual number of persons who will require some assistance. That assistance may take the form of subsidies to help pay for community-based long-term care in order to avoid less desirable and more costly nursing home care, protection for people who reside in nursing homes, and the provision of programs and services that will keep people healthy and engaged in community life."
Demographic facts and figures included in the Department's Fiscal Year 2010 budget presentation show that:
· Individuals over 85 are the fastest growing segment of the population. This group will grow in number, statewide, from 66,902 in 2000, to 173,355 by the year 2030.
· In 2,000, 67.4% of Maryland seniors resided in Baltimore City and in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince George's counties. In 2030, these will remain the jurisdictions with largest number of individuals over 60.
· Low-income older individuals are concentrated in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. The 2000 Census showed that 63,978 older Marylanders lived in poverty as defined by federal poverty guidelines.
The Population References Bureau's Reports on America: First Results From the 2010 Census, July 2010, in looking ahead to 2020 finds that 1 in 6 U.S. residents could be age 65 or older, as a large number of baby boomers reach retirement age by that year. State and federal studies show that in Maryland, a large percentage, if not the largest percentage of Maryland's elderly, will continue to live in Baltimore City where CARE, in partnership with other senior-serving organizations, is the primary public agency in the City responsible for advocating for and delivering services to them, their families, and care givers.
The Baltimore City Commission on Aging and Retirement, an organization that was created in 1973, by Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council, to advocate for older Baltimoreans by developing, coordinating, and funding programs, services and activities for seniors and establishing a pre-retirement education program, was moved to the Health Department, effective July 1, 2010, to address a City-wide budgetary shortfall. Under the move, City officials maintained that the program would remain "exactly" the same, creating a "one-stop shop" for seniors while saving about $500,000 in the City's 2011 budget.
Baltimore City has a responsibility to make certain that today's and tomorrow's elderly citizens age with dignity and choices that allow for a safe, productive, and fulfilling life as participating members of our communities and to ensure that their well-being is not subject to the vacillations of the City budget.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That The
Commissioner of Health and the Acting Commissioner of CARE Services are requested to
address the City Council on the transition of CARE from an independent entity to a program
under the Health Department's Office of Aging and CARE Services; to present information
on the services available to the elderly; to share plans to address delivery of services to meet the
projected increase in the elderly population; and to discuss the methods used to enable
Baltimore City's elderly residents to be aware of and to access federal, state, city, non-profit,
and private services and resources.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Commissioner of Health, the Acting Commissioner of CARE Services, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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