Baltimore County, MD Time of Your LIfe, 3 May 2017

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: Older Americans Month and Volunteerism

Description

Alison Vogrin, RSVP Project Director
Baltimore County Dept of Aging

A

( ♪♪♪ ).

A

Welcome to the time of your life with the baltimore county department of aging., I'm your host, ethel rasmussen..

A

Today's show keeps you in the know, by conveying important and interesting information about the contemporary topics that impact you, our viewing audience.

A

our show covers. A celebration, provides important resources,.

A

And offers inspiration for all.

A

with us today is karen straughn,, director of the mediation unit.

A

For the maryland attorney general's office.

A

karen provides information about consumer safety by offering strategies on how to protect yourself from scams.

A

The show continues with guests who demonstrate their daily lives,.

A

How they are reimagining aging,, which is bcda's 2017 initiative.,.

A

Carol: castle,, a member of the liberty, senior center, and albert muehlberger,, a member of the essex senior center,.

A

Will share their secrets for living life to the fullest.

A

Learn about their inspiring accounts of how they are reimagining, aging.

A

In their retirement years., the show continues with debbie orlove, community business liaison.

A

At the baltimore county department of aging.

A

debbie provides information about senior center travel,.

A

Senior box office, and what's happening at your local senior center.

A

Older americans month is celebrated each may to honor the many important contributions made by older adults.

A

It is also a time when those contributions imagine aging stereotypes.

A

Here to talk about older americans, month, volunteerism,.

A

And ordinary people doing extraordinary things is alison. Vogrin,.

A

Rsvp project director at the baltimore county department of aging.

A

Welcome to the show, alison.

B

Thanks, ethel, for having us on the show once again.

A

Let's talk about the background about older americans, month.

A

Can you talk about the history of the origin of this great celebration?.

A

Sure! so, older americans month started back in the early '60s.

B

Under the presidency of john f. kennedy and he, in collaboration with the national council of senior centers,.

B

Decided that they wanted recognize the contributions of older americans.

B

And what they have to pave the way for society and what they'll continue to do.

B

So,, each year in may, it's acknowledged as a time.

B

To celebrate and support all that older americans are doing.

B

So around the nation, agencies, people, communities.

B

Are taking action by hosting ceremonies, events,.

B

And engaging in volunteer activities.

A

Baltimore county's, retired and senior volunteer program, known as rsvp,, is a volunteer program for older adults.

A

Can you talk about the program and what it offers?.

B

Sure. so, around the same time that older americans month started--.

B

Or the idea got established,, there was a movement.

B

Towards recognizing what seniors can do in terms of getting more programs.

B

And services for them -- an initiative that came out of a pilot program.

B

In new york was that, when connected with senior volunteer, work,.

B

Seniors not only had an intrinsic value found in the benefits.

B

Of what they can get from the work,, but they demonstrated that they could do amazing things in their communities.

B

So,, what was launched in 1971 was the retired and senior volunteer program.

B

And it's a program under the larger program, senior corps.

B

It's federally funded as a grant program and here in baltimore, county.

B

It's run through the baltimore county department of aging.

B

so, we're grant based, we've established partnerships.

B

With nearly 40 agencies across the county, and our goal is to link people 55 and over with those agencies.

B

To do meaningful work throughout the community.

A

The stations registered with rsvp provide an assortment of volunteer opportunities., knowing there's an opportunity for everyone,. What type and range of volunteer positions are available?.

B

Well, there's definitely a comprehensive list.

B

unfortunately,. I don't have enough time to go through all the opportunities.

B

However, they do range from-- anything from being indoors to outdoors;.

B

Working with people and not working with people.

B

so,, the federal grant has core focus areas.

B

And these can include hunger, alleviation,.

B

Providing economic opportunity to the disadvantaged,.

B

To environmental,, improving our waterways and national parks, -- or local parks.

B

So,, it's really a diverse range for people, --.

B

Whether they're looking for something a few hours a week or something that they can make into a task, they do every day.

A

Baltimore county's rsvp program demonstrates a committed, volunteer, workforce.

A

How many registered volunteers are in the program and how many hours are logged in by rsvp volunteers?.

B

So we happen to be one of the largest programs in the maryland and delaware territory and we have 1,200 registered volunteers.

B

who are serving throughout all of baltimore county,.

B

So it's quite impressive. and together collectively they documented over 202,000 hours.

B

Last year, alone, so...

B

and I should say these volunteers --. Our group is part of a much larger corps.

B

Across the nation of more than 300,000 volunteers.

B

so,, as you can see,, there's many people dedicated to serve us across the country.. That's quite an impact. yes.

A

As you know, bcda's initiative, reimagine aging is about challenging the stereotypes of older adults..

A

Let's talk about some of the ways in which older adults can reimagine aging through volunteerism.

B

So volunteerism provides people who have a lifetime of skills.

B

And experience and knowledge to give back to agencies in need.

B

So,, even though the program's not focused solely on those who are retired,.

B

We find that a majority of our volunteers who are retired are looking to get involved so that they can continue to share their talents and to give back and to find a purpose and meaning in their lives,.

B

And it's also a time for those who are finding--.

B

Who want to do something completely different that what they've done in their lives. so,, I'm thinking, one of our partners, glenn l., martin aviation museum.,.

B

Volunteers can work on aircrafts dated back to world war ii.

B

So if you wanted to restore and repair, it's very unique,, it's something someone may have always wanted to do, but didn't have time to before.

B

and for those who are working still and want to be a part of the program,.

B

It's a great time to balance the work and volunteerism.

B

And to be able to give back.- and I was thinking, in conversation with a volunteer recently,.

B

She had mentioned that after retiring, she was not sure what to do with her time.

B

people had suggested that she volunteer at the senior center.

B

She was very hesitant., senior centers are for old people., they don't want to do anything;, they just sit there.

B

and it took much encouragement, but she went,.

B

And I'm thinking now, 16 years later, she is volunteering on a daily basis.

B

And really talks about how much being a part of the senior center.

B

And doing all the behind the scenes stuff, there really made an impact on her life.

B

And that's the importance of volunteerism.

B

again,. I can't emphasize -- these individuals have so many talents.

B

That they can share and continue to give, and we have so many people out there in need in vulnerable populations.

B

That are looking for their support.

A

So, if you've inspired our viewers into action and they'd like to learn more about rsvp opportunities,, who should they contact?.

B

Well, we welcome anybody over the age of 55, who does have the desire to reach out to their community and make a difference,.

B

And they can contact our office directly..

B

We are at 410-887-3101.

B

We are located in the towson bykota senior center,.

B

So people can drop by, and we're trying to have more of a presence.

B

At community events as well,, but we encourage anybody to contact us,.

B

Even if they're just thinking about it,, there's no commitment just to inquire.

A

Wonderful. thank you, alison, for being here to showcase rsvp.

B

Thank you for the opportunity.

A

We're going to take a short break. when we return, learn how to protect yourself against scams.

A