For Immediate Release: Thursday, March 31, 2016
Montgomery County Councilmembers Sidney Katz and Roger Berliner will host a Senior Forum and Resource Fair at Asbury Methodist Community in Gaithersburg from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon on Friday, April 8. The program will focus on protecting seniors from scams, addressing signs of elder abuse and neglect and promoting ways that seniors can contribute to the community through volunteering. It will be accompanied by an informational resource fair showcasing a wide range of service providers to seniors.
Both the Senior Forum and resource fair are free and open to the public. The resource fair will be open from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Councilmember Katz, the former Mayor of Gaithersburg, serves on the Public Safety Committee. That committee has jurisdiction over the County’s consumer protection programs and public safety issues affecting seniors. Councilmember Katz’s district includes the Asbury Community.
Councilmember Berliner is a member of the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee that has jurisdiction over senior-related issues, and when he served as Council President, the Council approved the Senior Agenda.
Councilmembers Katz and Berliner said in a joint statement: “After hosting a very successful Senior Forum last fall, we are excited to be holding another one for our seniors in and around the Asbury community. We know that stopping senior abuse, avoiding scams and promoting volunteerism are important issues to seniors, and that is why we are pleased to yet again bring together our County’s leading experts in these fields. It is our hope with this forum that our seniors will receive timely and relevant information and see the community resources available so they can continue to live safe, full, and enriching lives.”
The experts that will present during the forum include:
At the resource fair, representatives from community-serving organizations will have information and materials for forum attendees. Organizations confirmed to be in attendance include: Office of Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh; the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection; the Office of Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; the Montgomery County Volunteer Center; Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service; Montgomery County Police Department’s Elder Abuse Unit; the Montgomery County Department of Recreation; the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington; the Jewish Social Services Agency; the Senior Connection; ElderSAFE; Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland; the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County; NAMI-Montgomery County; the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition; Washington Metropolitan OASIS; Montgomery College and Aspire Counseling.
The event will be in the community rooms of the Rosborough Center. Residents who do not live in the community are welcome to attend by using the main entrance at Odendhal Avenue and Asbury Drive. Follow the signs beyond the security gate.
For more information on the forum, contact Lindsay Hoffman in the Office of Councilmember Katz at 240-777-7817 or at lindsay.hoffman@montgomerycountymd.gov.