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  • Bylaws and Minutes
  • Projects & Events
  • Resources

Talbot County Commission on Aging Sponsors Talbot County Council Candidate Roundtable Discussion

The Commission on Aging recently held a Talbot County Council Candidate Roundtable Discussion at Brookletts Place in Easton on October 12 and 13 for the Democrat and Republican candidates running for Talbot County Council. The purpose of the discussion was for the County Council candidates to meet the Commission on Aging and learn more about the programs that the Talbot County Council supports for seniors in the county. Council candidates Pete Lesher, Scott Kane, Keasha Haythe, Phil Jackson, Michele Dappert, Wade Strictland, Dave Stepp, and Lynn Mielke attended.

The Talbot Commission on Aging was established in 2003 to advise the Talbot County Council on issues affecting seniors and to advocate for change. A member of the Talbot County Council sits on the Commission on Aging. Other members include Current members of the Commission are Jenna Marchi, Ellen Taggert, Lee Newcomb, Jennifer Pierson, Marion Donahue, Veda Gibson, Grace Lyons, Megan Murray, Rachel Smith, Kate Stinton, and Ex-Officios Frank Divilio, Andrew Hollis, and Childlene Brooks,

According to Jenna Marchi, Chairperson of the Commission on Aging, Talbot County’s population is aging. The county’s median age is 49.4 years of age while the state of Maryland’s median age is 38.3 years of age. The average age of the populations in Talbot, Kent, and Worcester counties are the oldest in the state of Maryland. She also reported that seven percent of seniors in Talbot County live below the poverty level.

“Talbot County has nearly twice as many seniors as it does children, but those seniors receive only a fraction of our resources. When it comes to ensuring that our seniors have adequate access to information and services, we want to make sure our elected officials understand their important needs and take them into account as they go about the business of government. All too often, our seniors get overlooked and we’re so glad that so many of those folks seeking seats on the County Council chose to participate and discuss these important issues,” Marchi adds.

The Commission shared recent data from a recent University of Maryland Shore Regional Health needs assessment, stating that area seniors identify availability and access to doctors’ offices, transportation, and housing/homelessness as the three most important socioeconomic issues currently facing seniors in Talbot County.

To address some of these needs, the Talbot County Council currently supports Upper Shore Aging, Inc., Talbot Senior Centers, Meals on Wheels, the Senior Care Program of the Talbot County Department of Health, and the Talbot County Department of Social Services. Information on these programs was shared with candidates.

Among other issues facing seniors today that were discussed with the candidates were COVID, increased isolation, less physical activity, reduced life expectancy (excess deaths due to COVID-19 and other causes in 2020 and 2021 led to an overall decline in life expectancy between 2019 and 2021 of 2.7 years for the total population, 3.1 years for males and 2.3 years for females), healthcare access, the increasing county population, closures, lack of providers accepting Medicare, and behavioral health resources (long waits and lack of providers).

Candidate suggestions included providing listening sessions on these issues, further utilizing Delmarva Community Transport with merchants to address the transportation issues, improving the delivery of healthcare in the county, and managing growth with the comprehensive plan.

For further information on the Talbot County Commission on Aging, visit talbotsenior.com.I

Improve Your Memory

New Program Coming to Brookletts Place Senior Center!


Do you know that recent research on memory and brain function indicates that simple brain exercises may help improve memory? 

Brookletts Place-Talbot County Senior Center is pleased to announce that it will launch the StrongerMemory℠ Program on October 3rd. The Stronger Memory  Program, developed by Goodwin House, Inc, a senior living and health care services organization in the National Capital Region, is an innovative brain health program for older adults. Recently, Goodwin House and the Maryland Department of Aging announced a statewide partnership to offer this program in several senior centers in Maryland. 

The program is based on brain research that indicates that brain health exercises that focus on the prefrontal cortex of the brain might help seniors stabilize and improve their cognitive function. The exercises, done daily, include reading out loud, simple math exercises and handwriting. The participant will do the exercises at home and attend a one-hour, weekly session at the senior center. 

The program will be offered free at Brookletts Place Senior Center at 400 Brookletts Avenue in Easton, MD. To learn more about the program, please attend an informational meeting at Brookletts Place on September 19th at  10:00 AM. To learn more or to register for the informational meeting, please call Teresa at 410-822-2869. 

211 MD

211 MD, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, whose mission is to connect Marylanders to the health and human services they need to achieve a more stable life for themselves and their families.

211 MD oversees a statewide network of call centers, providing essential connections to Marylanders when they need it most. Callers are automatically routed to their regional call center for assistance, and 211, Press 1 callers are connected to a larger group of crisis centers.

Check out their website to lean more at https://211md.org/ or just call 211.

Free At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits

COVID is still with us! Get your free at home test kits from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Every home is eligible to order a 3rd round of free test kits.  You can order online at https://www.covid.gov/tests or place an order by calling 1-800-232-0233. Do it today!

Medicare Interactive Website

Medicare has introduced a new interactive website where you can learn all about the Medicare plans, get answers to your questions and view videos on selective topics.

Click on the link below to go there!

https://www.medicareinteractive.org/

Find out more

Senior Supply Drive

Incontinence affects over 60% of women and 25% of men

Supplies Needed

  • Wipes
  • Disposable Gloves
  • Disposable Flat Underpads
  • Female Incontinence Pads
  • Pull-up Incontinence Briefs

Donation Locations

  • Brookletts Place - Talbot Senior Center 
    • 400 Brookletts Ave, Easton
  • Home Instead Senior Care       
    • 8626  Brooks Drive Suite #202
  • Londonderry on the Tread Avon - Community Center       
    •   700 Port St, Easton
  • Pemberton Pharmacy
  • Candle Light Cove
  • Orthopedic Center

September is National Falls Prevention Month

 Falling is not a normal part of aging. You can prevent falls by doing the right exercises, making your home safer, getting regular health checkups, and more. Learn steps you can take to stay safe. Click on this link to learn more about fall prevention from the National Council on Aging .

TCCOA in the News


Talbot County Commision on Aging

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