Office On Aging

Tucked away in Howard County neighborhoods, where houses usually feature basketball hoops and bicycles, is an exploding number of homes outfitted instead with extra handrails on the walls and sit-down elevators running along the stairways.In this county, the number of small group homes for the elderly certified by the state Office on Aging has skyrocketed from 10 in 1990 to 56 today, an increase of 460 percent.The number of larger homes licensed by the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene also has increased, although exact figures are not available, state officials said.

At 91, Jane Herrick walks at least five miles a day - up and down hills near her Bel Air home - and often helps cook meals at McFaul Senior Center. Jarrettsville residents John and Anna Flatley, 89 and 92, make time to volunteer and work out at the center on MacPhail Road. Tom Biggerman, 73, coaches recreational sports in his Bel Air community, does aerobics and line dancing at the same center and makes deliveries for Meals on Wheels. These Harford residents were among the dozens of seniors who aced a physical fitness test that the county's Office on Aging is offering to the over-59 set. Herrick, with a pair of stylish sunglasses clasped to the top of her head, glided through all three 30-second exercises.

In an attempt to better serve the county's estimated 18,000 senior citizens, the Office on Aging is reorganizing and expanding its services and programs for the elderly.The reorganization, most of which should be completed by October, will cost about $200,000 at the most, said Vivian Reid, administrator for the Office on Aging, adding those funds have already been appropriated in the county's budget."This has been two years in the planning," Ms. Reid said. In 1992, workers conducted a long-term study to determine how they could serve the growing elderly population by the year 2000, she said.

Summer youth job fair is tomorrow The Howard County Office of Workforce Development and state Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation will sponsor a summer youth job fair from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Columbia Workforce Center, 7161 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite D. Job seekers should dress for interviewing; they can interview with Howard County employers and apply on site. Information: Ramona Andrews, 410-313-6172. Master plan series continues today General Growth Properties Inc. is presenting a "Vision in Focus" series this week as a continuation of the "Many Voices, One Vision" draft master plan.

Matthew L. Tayback, a biostatistician and public health advocate who was the first director of the state's Office on Aging, died of cancer Sunday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center's Gilchrist Center. The Homeland resident was 85. During a long career in public health -- including jobs as deputy Baltimore health commissioner and assistant state health secretary -- Dr. Tayback was in the forefront on such issues as infant mortality, teen pregnancy and tobacco risks. "He was a talented, extremely competent individual with a lot of experience and knowledge," said former Gov. Marvin Mandel, who named him in 1973 to head the Office on Aging, a sub-Cabinet post.

When Nancy Irani first visited Dr. Daniel Devlin in April for an initial consultation with the Ellicott City dentist, she was apprehensive."I was so nervous, I didn't want to sit in the chair," said the 58-year-old Columbia resident.With a limited income and a host of dental problems, the former teacher's aide had put off dental care for too long -- until she learned about the Reduced Fee Dental Program offered by the Howard County Office on Aging.The 10-year-old program, endorsed by the Howard County Dental Association, offers discount dental care to county residents over 60 and their spouses who are under 60.Dr.

The Rev. Donald Leslie Wassmann, a retired deputy director of the state Office on Aging and an early civil rights activist, died Wednesday of emphysema at Howard County General Hospital.Friends said Mr. Wassmann, who was 67, had lived a varied and adventurous life. He served as a naval radioman in World War II and participated in the 1965 voting rights demonstrations in Selma, Ala."He was very, very unusual," said Rosalie Silber Abrams, director of the Maryland Office on Aging.Ms. Abrams worked with Mr. Wassmann at the state office for nearly six years until his retirement in 1991.

The Howard County Office on Aging and the Easter Seal Society for Disabled Children and Adults Inc. are joining forces to launch an $85,000 vision program for seniors with premature sight loss.The Low Vision Rehabilitation Program will be introduced by Easter Seal and county officials at a kick-off reception this morningat Florence Bain Senior Center in Columbia.The program is designed to help the county's fast-growing elderly population, many of whom are forced to deal with a loss of vision -- often caused by strokes, glaucoma, and various diseases.

At 91, Jane Herrick walks at least five miles a day - up and down hills near her Bel Air home - and often helps cook meals at McFaul Senior Center. Jarrettsville residents John and Anna Flatley, 89 and 92, make time to volunteer and work out at the center on MacPhail Road. Tom Biggerman, 73, coaches recreational sports in his Bel Air community, does aerobics and line dancing at the same center and makes deliveries for Meals on Wheels. These Harford residents were among the dozens of seniors who aced a physical fitness test that the county's Office on Aging is offering to the over-59 set. Herrick, with a pair of stylish sunglasses clasped to the top of her head, glided through all three 30-second exercises.

George Shehan, president of the Home Builders Association of Maryland, and Rosalie S. Abrams, director of the Maryland Office on Aging, are teaming up to present "Senior Housepitality" -- a project designed to provide home repair services to low-income senior citizens in the Baltimore metropolitan area.The official kickoff for Senior Housepitality got under way at the 71st annual banquet of HBAM on Nov. 30 at Stouffer Harborplace Hotel. At that time, HBAM members were asked to volunteer their time, talent, materials and expertise to make needed improvements on homes owned by senior citizens.

Program helps seniors face life As one of the few men living in the 55-plus community of Hickory Crest in Columbia, Verdan Wiedel, known as "Buzz," liked to help his neighbors by changing the occasional light bulb or hanging drapes. But about four years ago, he suddenly found that his hands trembled so badly as he tried to install shelves for a neighbor that he couldn't get the screwdriver in the screw. He was diagnosed with COPD - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. "In a month's time, I went from doing everything to doing nothing, which brought on a lot of depression," he said.

Office on Aging to hold workshop "Living Well ... Take Charge of Your Health," a free six-week workshop for people with chronic conditions, will be offered by the Howard County Office on Aging at Heartlands, the Bain Center and Ellicott City Senior Center. The class will focus on techniques to manage symptoms, communicate effectively with doctors, lessen frustration and fatigue, make daily tasks easier and get more out of life. "This is a research-based program developed by Stanford University, and what it shows is that people who go through this series will have fewer days of hospitalization, will report that they are more active and have a better quality of life," said Phyllis Madachy, administrator of the county Office on Aging.

The Morgan State University Dance Ensemble and local gospel choirs will appear in concert from 6 p.m. to 9:30 April 1 in the Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia. Proceeds will benefit the County Howard Office on Aging's Vivian L. Reid Senior Assistance Fund and the local Omega Psi Phi Fraternity's scholarship fund. The Reid fund helps senior citizens facing eviction, utility shut-offs or helps with problems paying for medicine. The fraternity's scholarships go to local children.

"I think a big wasted resource in this county is senior citizens," says Bob Spongberg, 79, a retired engineer who lives in Columbia. That is why he has volunteered to work with pupils at Harper's Choice Middle School as part of a new collaboration between the school and the county's Office on Aging. The tutoring sessions pair seniors with pupils for an hour once a week. If the program goes well, other schools might add it. "This particular program is kind of a microcosm of what we envision," said Judi Bard, program specialist for the Howard County Office on Aging.

Financial-legal session set at Bain Center The Howard County Department of Citizen Services' Office on Aging will present a seminar on understanding and evaluating the financial and legal situation relating to later life, "Legally Secure Your Financial Future: Organize, Communicate, Prepare," from 8:10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. The cost is $10. To register, send a check or money order to Howard County Cooperative Extension Advisory Council, 3525 Ellicott Mills Drive, Suite L, Ellicott City.

As a kindergarten teacher in Howard County public schools, Debbie Vail set hundreds of children on the path to learning. Retired now for seven years, Vail, 67, still lives by the principle she taught her pupils: Education is a journey that can last forever. Vail and her husband, William, 71, also retired, live and breathe the philosophy of lifelong learning. The Fulton couple spend several days a week in college classes, attend summer programs and nurture their creative talents in a variety of programs designed for senior citizens in Howard County.

The county Office on Aging has limited money available to help disabled individuals in obtaining assisting devices.An assisting device is any piece of equipment used to increase, maintain or improve thefunctional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.Information: 730-7697.

Matthew L. Tayback, a biostatistician and public health advocate who was the first director of the state's Office on Aging, died of cancer Sunday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center's Gilchrist Center. The Homeland resident was 85. During a long career in public health -- including jobs as deputy Baltimore health commissioner and assistant state health secretary -- Dr. Tayback was in the forefront on such issues as infant mortality, teen pregnancy and tobacco risks. "He was a talented, extremely competent individual with a lot of experience and knowledge," said former Gov. Marvin Mandel, who named him in 1973 to head the Office on Aging, a sub-Cabinet post.