Baltimore County, MD Time of Your LIfe, 27 Feb 2018

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From YouTube: Maryland Access Point (MAP)

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Michelle Mills, Division Chief, Individual and Family Services, Baltimore County Department of Aging.

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Welcome back to the time of your life., I'm your host, ethel rasmussen., maryland access point is bcda's information, line.

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To learn more about map services,, michelle mills, division chief of individual and family services is on the show.

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To share information about this wonderful resource., welcome to the show, michelle. thanks, ethel., maryland, access point,, referred to as map, is known as a link to health and support services..

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Can you share some background information about map and its relationship to aging and disability resource centers?.

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Oh, sure. this program has always been known for years.

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As the senior information and assistance program.

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Probably, within the last few years, it's become the maryland access point.

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Because over the years,, the number of calls and the types of calls that we have received have changed in their complexity.

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So before,, it really was information and just basic information and assistance.

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Now,, we're really helping folks go through that process of long-term support services planning..

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So at a national level, they decided to change the name.

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To the aging disability resource center and in maryland, we call that the maryland access point.

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Okay. so certified assistance and information specialists.

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Respond to map clients.

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can you share with our viewing audience about these professionals, as well as the type of information and resources people should expect?.

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Oh, sure., our folks, are nationally certified in the information.

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And referral specialist program., so they have learned special techniques and abilities and ways to engage the caller to really drill down on what services.

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And benefits they might be eligible for., so they do a really good job of asking extended questions. If you will.

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Because the client may present with a certain problem but really, we're over here, trying to resolve a different problem.

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So this certification really allows them to professionally.

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And accurately get the person to where they need to go.

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Map is so comprehensive in the information that it's able to provide.

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Can you detail who should make use of map, how they can get in touch with you, both by phone and by email?.

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So when we became an adrc,, the aging disability resource center,.

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We expanded., so we really specialize as well with folks from the disability community.

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As well as our seniors, families, caregivers, professionals.,.

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We even get calls from hospital discharge planners who are looking to look for services for their patients.

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Now,, they also assist people with finding benefits.

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For programs that can help them., can you share some of the programs and benefits that are available?.

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We have over 1,400 services and programs in our database.

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But the top ones that I would say are housing,.

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Maryland energy assistance, programs, medicare, programs,.

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Prescription programs.

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It's just a whole host of different things that we will screen for just to name a few.

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right, now,, we're working on the homeowner's tax credit and the renter's tax credit.. That's a big topic right now for this month. oh,. What a wonderful resource.

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Are there other services that map provides?

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we do., one of our signature services is options counseling.

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Our folks are certified by the state as options counselors.

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And again, what we do is walk our callers, families and caregivers.

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And individuals, through that long-term services planning, stage.

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So it's really kind of looking at the future and the what-if.

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So maybe mom is independent right now in her home.

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But let's look down the road and what services or programs or level of care might she need that will enable her.

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To stay in the community and vital and engaged.

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So we do that., it's a scheduled component that we use and we set up an action plan. Actually.

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We do encourage folks., you don't necessarily have to call map to do this.. We do encourage folks to have these conversations with their families, but we're certainly there to help guide that process.

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Another program that we have that we like to support.

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And engage with is our loan closet..

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We get a lot of calls for folks who need walkers, wheelchairs.

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We have the bath seats that folks use.

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again,. Our goal is to try to provide services and access to programs.

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That will help you stay in the community.

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before we close, is there anything else.

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That you would like to add for our viewers?.

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Just give us a call at 410-887-2594.

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Or you can send us an email at aginginfo@baltimorecountymd.gov.

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Excellent., thank you for being here today and sharing information about map.

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It sounds like such a powerful tool for baltimore county.

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thank you, ethel.. We appreciate it.

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We're going to take a short break.

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When we return, learn about senior center travel, senior box office, and what's happening at your local senior center.

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