Contact: Meg Campbell-Kotler, 240-777-1123

For Immediate Release: June 12, 2001

Vital Living Steering Committee Holds
Retreat To Develop Future Plans;
Conference Report Now Available

County officials, including Charles L. Short, director of the Department of Health and Human Services, today joined representatives from senior organizations, members of the Commission on Aging and community leaders to review accomplishments since the November 2000 conference on Vital Living: Making Montgomery County the Best Place to Age and set the course for future action. Vital Living Montgomery was created to develop recommendations that will enable senior citizens in Montgomery County to maintain and increase their participation in all facets of life.

Conference participants generated more than 40 recommendations for programs and activities that would enhance the quality of life for senior citizens in Montgomery County. Recommendations addressed housing, transportation, life long learning, volunteerism, employment, emotional and physical wellbeing. Seven priority recommendations were selected by the Vital Living Steering Committee for immediate action. Those priorities are to:

• Develop a Leadership Montgomery program for Seniors;

• Expand outreach to seniors on volunteer opportunities in the community;

• Develop an employment and career transition counseling center for seniors;

• Develop transportation alternatives similar to those found in Portland, Maine;

• Expand outreach to ethnically diverse seniors; and

• Provide funds to support family caregivers