April is National Volunteer Month, a time to celebrate the impact volunteers have on the lives of many and encourage active volunteerism for generations to come. While volunteers generously donate a part of their lives to serving others, helping those in need has been shown to improve the lives of volunteers as well, making them happier and even healthier.

According to the Mayo Clinic, volunteering reduces stress and increases relaxation by releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter that increases feelings of happiness. Reduced stress further decreases the risk of many physical and mental health problems - like heart disease, stroke, depression, and anxiety.

The Maryland Department of Aging truly appreciates its many volunteers and recognizes the positive affect they have had on older Marylanders. If you are interested in volunteering with the Department of Aging or one of its19 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), visit aging.maryland.gov or read below to learn more about our programs and possible volunteer opportunities:

State Health Insurance Assistance Program: Volunteers are an essential part of the success of health insurance counseling for Medicare beneficiaries in our state. State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) volunteers are trained and certified to assist Medicare beneficiaries to make informed decisions about their health benefits, including comparing insurance and supplemental insurance options, informing about preventive benefits, finding an affordable prescription drug plan, and applying for extra health benefits to save on out of pocket costs. Volunteers with the Senior Medicare Patrol Program (SMP) help consumers learn about, identify, and report health care fraud, waste, abuse, or error. SHIP counselors are available in all 23 counties and Baltimore City. To find out about SHIP and SMP volunteer opportunities, reach out to your local SHIP office. CLICK HERE for a complete list of SHIP office contact numbers in Maryland.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: Whether through individual contact with residents or systemic advocacy, ombudsmen make a difference in the lives of residents in assisted living and nursing homes, improving resident care and quality of life. Trained volunteer Ombudsmen pay regular visits to long-term care facilities within their region to spend time with residents, monitor conditions, investigate complaints, and protect residents’ rights. If you would like to volunteer for the Maryland Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, click here to access the on-line application or email ombudsman.mdoa@maryland.gov for more information.

Nutrition and Meal Services Program: In an effort to ensure older adults achieve and maintain optimal nutritional status, each county and the city of Baltimore offer congregate (group dining in community settings), home delivered meals (meal delivery services) and nutritional education and counseling. Locations of group dining in your community might include senior centers, senior housing, faith based organizations, and community centers. These programs are operated by the local Area Agencies on Aging with local partners like Meals on Wheels, food banks, and other community food programs. To find out about nutrition services and volunteer opportunities are available in your area, contact your local Maryland Access Point (MAP) office or your local Senior Center:

• CLICK HERE for local MAP numbers
• CLICK HERE for a list of Senior Centers in Maryland

The Maryland Department of Aging encourages and supports "health for all" by funding and monitoring a variety of health services for older adults across the state. Older Marylanders can access health screenings, engage in fitness and yoga classes, use exercise equipment, learn about medication management, and take part in a range of evidence based classes and workshops designed to help with managing chronic diseases. Contact your local senior centers or the Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence. Click here for a list of senior centers or go to the Maryland Living Well Workshop Hub to find virtual or in-person health classes or workshops that are right for you. 

National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day is on April 15, reminding us that it is time to clear out medicine cabinets, nightstands, and kitchen cabinets of unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Once unused medications are collected, disposing of them properly can be a challenge as flushing them or tossing them in the trash can pose environmental or safety risks. The best way to dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medicines is through a drug take back program or a prescription drop-off collection site. 

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will hold its Annual Drug Take Back Day on April 22 from 10:00am-2:00pm when law enforcement agencies, pharmacy collection sites, and other drug disposal locations are available for drug drop offs. Click here for the DEA drug collection site locator by zip code.

Many communities, however, have year-round drug take back programs in place. Check with local law enforcement officials and pharmacies who provide on-site medicine drop boxes or mail-back programs or click here to find a a list of certified drug drop off sites in the state of Maryland. If no drug take back sites or programs are available in your area, or you cannot make it to a drug drop box, there are ways to safely dispose of some medications in the trash. For detailed instructions on how to safely dispose of them at home, click here.

Talking with the people we love about death and dying brings up uncomfortable emotions and often feels like a taboo subject. Yet we will all experience the death of a loved one and, if we understand their end-of-life choices, we will be more prepared to respect their wishes and honor our loved ones.

National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is held on April 16 every year to educate the public about the importance of advance care planning and to encourage providers and facilities to respect end-of-life wishes, whatever they may be.

The Maryland HealthCare Commission, in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland Attorney General, recently released an Advance Directive Information Sheet overviewing the value of advance care planning, options for health care, and how consumers can document and share their medical preferences. Click here to download the guide.

In addition, The Conversation Project, the organization that started NHDD to provide clear, concise, and consistent information on healthcare decision-making, has developed a Conversation Starter Guide Workbook to help relay end-of-life choices. Click here to download the free workbook.

Did you know the average wheelchair or walker has a usable life span of more than five years? Unfortunately, this and other durable medical equipment (DME) are often used for only months before being discarded, taking up valuable landfill space while leaving many without resources to obtain the medical equipment they desperately need. 

“When my wife died five years ago, I had to get rid of her wheelchair and two walkers, which she had only used for about six months,” said Dick Olney, of Crofton, Md. “I ended up putting them on the curb for garbage pickup. It’s a shame because I bet someone else could have used them.”

On Earth Day, the Maryland Department of Aging reminds Marylanders that its Durable Medical Equipment Re-Use center collects and distributes for free DME to anyone in Maryland with a need. While the program was initially implemented to increase the independence and mobility of Maryland residents, it has seen another benefit: reduced waste, contributing to a lower environmental footprint at landfill sites across the state.

Since the program began two years ago at a 51,000-square-foot warehouse located in Cheltenham, Md., more than 17,651 pieces of DME have been collected, sanitized, repaired, and processed. This amounts to 545,082 pounds of waste, or 231,880 cubic feet of space, that is diverted from the landfill. To put it in perspective, this is the same as filling 15 two-story homes from floor to ceiling.

The DME Re-Use program collects equipment via donation from several satellite sites around the state, including collection containers placed at local landfills and waste drop-off sites where residents can put their medical equipment and associated battery donations. The equipment is sanitized, repaired and redistributed free of charge to anyone with any disability or income level. Non-functional equipment is cannibalized for parts that are saved and later used, further minimizing waste.

To find out more about this innovative program, go to dme.maryland.gov, call 240-230-8000, or email dme.mdoa@maryland.govhttps://aging.maryland.gov/pages/DME.aspx.