About Us
Mission Statement
The Division of Aging and Independence enriches lives through community connections to services, programs and resources.
Vision Statement
"That all Frederick County residents are empowered, engaged and equipped to live their best life."
Area Plan
Every four years, each of the 650-plus Area Agencies (AAAs) around the country develops an Area Plan, as mandated by the Older Americans Act of 1965. The Frederick County Division of Aging and Independence is the Area Agency on Aging for Frederick County. The plans are updated every year and will be completely revised next year, looking toward the next 4 years, 2020-2024.
Area Plan FY'23 outlines how the federal and some state grant funds will be used toward the provision of services for older adults, caregivers and people with disabilities.
Assessing the Needs of the Older Population in Frederick County
The Seniors First Report was released to the public during Executive Gardner's public information briefing on November 28, 2016.
The Seniors First Committee was tasked to make recommendations on how the county should structurally organize and deliver services, review the Needs Assessment of the Aging Population (executive summary) that was completed on 2013; and implement the action items in the needs assessment.
Aging Statistics
Maryland’s booming aging population will place an unprecedented demand on health, social services, the workforce, and housing accommodations. In 2011, the Baby Boom generation, people born from 1946 to 1964, began to turn 65. As this large cohort ages, Maryland will continue to experience rapid growth in both the number of older adults and their share of the total population. Advances in medicine and longer life expectancy will also contribute to the continued growth of older adults in Maryland. By 2030, Maryland is projected to have over 1.6 million individuals age 60 and older. Well-planned health promotion initiatives and new partnerships with healthcare, private industry, and other non-governmental organizations are critical to stem the growing need of public long-term services and supports.
History
In November 1965, the Frederick County Citizens Commission on Aging surveyed needs and concerns of Frederick County senior citizens and they recommended to the County Commissioners to establish an official Commission on Aging. Patricia B. Throne served as the chairman of that citizens' commission and in December 1965, the Frederick County Commissioners created the Commission on Aging as a county department, which was known as the Department of Aging. In 2018 the Department became the Senior Services Division and then in 2023 the Division's name was changed to the Division of Aging and Independence. The Division is overseen by the County Executive.