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Maryland senior help directory
Last updated: 16 September 2026
Maryland has 24 Area Agencies on Aging, covering all 23 counties and Baltimore City. These local offices connect older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and families with meals, rides, Medicare counseling, caregiver services, senior centers, legal help, home supports, and long-term care resources. If you do not know which program you need, Maryland Access Point is usually the best first call.
Bottom Line
Start with Maryland Access Point (MAP) at 1-844-627-5465. MAP can route you to the right local office and service. If you already know you want county aging services or a senior center, use the Maryland Department of Aging state AAA directory below and call the office for the county where the older adult lives.
Urgent Help
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. Do not wait for an aging office to open when there is violence, a medical emergency, dangerous heat or cold, or a person has been left without essential food, medicine, or care.
For suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult, Maryland Adult Protective Services accepts reports at 1-800-917-7383. The APS reporting page also explains how local Departments of Social Services handle reports.
For food, shelter, rent, utility, transportation, or other local crisis help, dial 2-1-1 or use 211 aging resources. For more Maryland crisis routes, see our Maryland emergency help guide.
Start Here
- If you are unsure what you need: call MAP at 1-844-627-5465. The official MAP page says MAP is Maryland’s No Wrong Door entry point for long-term services, independent-living supports, and community resources.
- If you know your county: call the Area Agency on Aging in the directory below. The AAA can explain local meals, rides, caregiver support, Medicare counseling, senior centers, and other services.
- If you want a senior center: use the state senior center directory, then call the center before visiting to confirm hours, lunch rules, registration, transportation, and fees.
| Need | Best first step | Ask about |
|---|---|---|
| Not sure where to start | MAP: 1-844-627-5465 | Which local office handles the problem |
| Senior center or meal site | County AAA or center | Age rules, meals, rides, fees, schedule |
| Medicare questions | Local SHIP office | Coverage, appeals, plan choices, savings |
| Caregiver support | County AAA | Respite, training, counseling, support groups |
| Help staying at home | MAP or county AAA | SOAR, home supports, assessment, waitlists |
| Facility complaint | Long-Term Care Ombudsman | Resident rights and complaint help |
What Has Changed
This September 2026 review found three reader-facing updates or clarifications worth knowing.
- AAA and MAP are not the same list. Maryland has 24 AAAs, while the current MAP page describes 20 local MAP sites. Some local MAP phone numbers differ from the AAA’s main office number. Use the statewide MAP line when you are unsure.
- SOAR is now the main state-funded home-support path. Maryland says three existing state-funded programs were consolidated into Supporting Older Adults with Resources (SOAR) in 2026. SOAR can include case management and limited home and community supports, but eligibility and funding rules apply.
- Senior Call Check expanded. The program is now called Senior Call Check and Social Connections. It is open to Maryland residents age 60 and older and includes a weekly live-call option in addition to daily automated calls or texts.
How Maryland Aging Help Works
Area Agency on Aging (AAA): This is the local aging-network agency for your county or Baltimore City. Maryland’s Department of Aging says each jurisdiction designates an AAA to administer local programs and services for older adults and people with disabilities.
Maryland Access Point (MAP): MAP is a statewide entry point that helps people identify public and private services. It can provide information, referrals, application assistance, screening, and options counseling. MAP services are led mainly by AAAs working with Centers for Independent Living and other partners.
Senior center: A senior center is a local place for activities, health promotion, meals, social connection, benefits help, and referrals. It is not the same as the AAA, though the county aging office may run or support the center.
If your problem is broader than aging services, the Maryland senior benefits guide can help you sort food, housing, healthcare, tax, and other assistance before you call.
Maryland Area Agencies on Aging Directory
The contacts below are the main AAA numbers listed by the Maryland Department of Aging for September 2026. Use the county where the older adult lives. A local MAP, SHIP, or Ombudsman number may be different, so tell the receptionist what kind of help you need.
| County or city | Local AAA | Main phone |
|---|---|---|
| Allegany | Human Resources Development Commission | 301-777-5970 |
| Anne Arundel | Department of Aging and Disabilities | 410-222-4464 |
| Baltimore City | Division of Aging and Care Services | 410-396-4932 |
| Baltimore County | Department of Aging | 410-887-2594 |
| Calvert | Office on Aging | 410-535-4606 |
| Caroline | Upper Shore Aging, Inc. | 410-778-6000 |
| Carroll | Bureau of Aging and Disabilities | 410-386-3800 |
| Cecil | Aging and Disability Services | 410-996-5295 |
| Charles | Aging and Human Services | 301-934-9305 |
| Dorchester | MAC, Inc. | 410-742-0505 |
| Frederick | Division of Aging and Independence | 301-600-1234 |
| Garrett | Area Agency on Aging | 301-334-9431 |
| Harford | Office on Aging | 410-638-3025 |
| Howard | Office on Aging and Independence | 410-313-1234 |
| Kent | Upper Shore Aging, Inc. | 410-778-6000 |
| Montgomery | Aging and Disability Services | 240-777-3000 |
| Prince George’s | Older Adult Services | 301-265-8450 |
| Queen Anne’s | Area Agency on Aging | 410-758-0848, option 2 |
| St. Mary’s | Department of Aging and Human Services | 301-475-4200 ext. 1070 |
| Somerset | MAC, Inc. | 410-742-0505 |
| Talbot | Upper Shore Aging, Inc. | 410-778-6000 |
| Washington | Commission on Aging | 301-790-0275 ext. 203 |
| Wicomico | MAC, Inc. | 410-742-0505 |
| Worcester | MAC, Inc. | 410-742-0505 |
The state directory is the source of record for the AAA names and main numbers. If a call does not connect or you need a program-specific line, use MAP at 1-844-627-5465.
What Maryland AAAs Can Help With
AAAs are not cash-grant offices. They help people find and use local programs. What is available depends on county, age, care needs, income rules, funding, and provider capacity.
Meals and nutrition
Maryland aging-network nutrition services include home-delivered meals for people who qualify, community dining, and other food supports. The state nutrition services page says congregate meals are available through more than 190 locations. Call your AAA or MAP and ask about home meals, dining sites, food screening, and what is available while you wait.
Reality check: A program may have intake steps or limited capacity even when you appear to meet the general rules.
Medicare counseling
Maryland’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling. The Maryland SHIP page lists local counseling contacts and help with plan choices, enrollment, appeals, billing questions, fraud concerns, and savings programs. If Medicare costs are the main problem, our Maryland Medicare Savings guide explains the state-specific savings routes.
Reality check: SHIP gets busy around Medicare enrollment periods. Have your Medicare card, medicine list, plan letters, and bills ready.
Caregiver support
AAAs help administer caregiver services across Maryland. The state caregiver support page describes support for family and informal caregivers, including people caring for older adults and some older relative caregivers. Ask about respite, training, support groups, counseling, and local dementia resources. If you are trying to understand paid-caregiver options, see the Maryland caregiver pay guide.
Reality check: Respite and other funded services can be limited. Ask what is open now and what backup help exists.
Help staying at home
Maryland’s Supporting Older Adults with Resources program, called SOAR, was created in 2026 by consolidating three state-funded programs. The SOAR page lists case management and possible supports such as personal care, homemaker help, meals, transportation, minor safety repairs, adult day care, medical supplies, emergency response systems, respite, and partial assisted-living support.
SOAR is not open-ended free home care. The state says it generally serves Marylanders age 62 and older who meet income, asset, and functional rules, including people who do not qualify for Medicaid or are waiting for Medicaid-funded services. Funding is subject to annual availability. Ask MAP or the AAA to screen your situation instead of assuming you qualify.
If disability changes the type of help needed, our Maryland disability help guide gives additional state routes.
Medical equipment and check-ins
Maryland’s DME Re-Use program provides free durable medical equipment to Marylanders with an illness, injury, or disability, regardless of age. The official DME program page explains basic and complex equipment requests. Our Maryland medical equipment guide can help you compare reuse and loan-closet options.
The current Senior Call Check page says the free program is open to Maryland residents age 60 and older. It offers daily automated calls or texts and a weekly live-call option. It is a check-in service, not a replacement for 911 or a medical alert system.
Legal help and facility complaints
Older adults can ask MAP or an AAA about civil legal help. The state legal assistance page also points to abuse, fraud, and legal-aid resources. For a resident of a nursing home or assisted-living home, the Ombudsman page lists local contacts for confidential help with rights and complaints.
Reality check: Legal-aid and Ombudsman programs are not emergency police services. Use 911 first when someone faces immediate danger.
How to Find Senior Centers in Maryland
Senior centers can be a practical local doorway into meals, exercise, classes, benefits help, social activities, volunteer opportunities, and aging-network referrals. Maryland’s statewide directory lists centers by county with addresses and phone numbers.
Before visiting, call and ask about five things: the age or residency rule, membership steps, meal reservations, transportation, and fees. Also ask about accessibility if you need help with mobility, hearing, vision, or language.
Senior center rules are local. One county may call a site a senior center, activity center, 50+ center, or community center. Schedules, weather closures, lunch reservations, and transportation rules can change during the year.
If housing is the main problem rather than activities, use our Maryland housing help guide instead of relying on a senior center referral alone.
How to Start Without Wasting Time
You do not need every document for the first call. A short, organized summary is usually enough to help staff route you correctly.
| Have ready | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| County, age, address, phone | Routes you to the correct local office |
| Main need in one sentence | Helps staff choose the right program first |
| Medicare, Medicaid, insurance | Useful for health and care referrals |
| Income and asset records | Some programs have financial rules |
| Care and mobility needs | Supports screening for home services and rides |
| Urgent notices or letters | Shows deadlines, denials, discharge, eviction, or shutoff risk |
If you need to apply through state benefit systems, the Maryland benefits portals guide explains which official online route may fit.
Phone Scripts
Calling MAP
“I live in [county] and I am calling for myself or an older adult. The main problem is [meals, rides, home care, Medicare, caregiver stress, housing, or safety]. Which local office should I contact, and what should I ask for first?”
Calling an AAA
“I live in [county]. I need help with [problem]. Can you tell me which program handles this, whether there is a waitlist, and what information I should have ready?”
Calling a senior center
“I want to visit your center. What age or residency rules, membership steps, lunch reservations, transportation options, fees, and accessibility supports should I know before I come?”
Calling about caregiver help
“I care for an older adult in [county]. I need help with respite, training, or support. What caregiver services are open now, and what should I do if there is a waitlist?”
Reality Checks
- County rules differ. The state oversees many programs, but local offices manage intake, providers, schedules, and service capacity.
- One phone number may not do everything. AAA, MAP, SHIP, and Ombudsman contacts can be different within the same county.
- Funding can be limited. Home support, respite, rides, meals, and other services can have waitlists or provider limits.
- Senior centers are local programs. Do not assume a center is free, open every day, or provides transportation without confirming.
- AAA help is not a cash grant. Many services are referrals, counseling, meals, transportation, care coordination, or provider-paid support.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling the county where the caregiver lives instead of the county where the older adult lives.
- Assuming the AAA’s main number is also the local MAP, SHIP, or Ombudsman number.
- Waiting for a routine aging-service callback when there is an immediate safety emergency.
- Going to a senior center without confirming its current hours, meal reservation rules, or registration process.
- Assuming a program is available because you meet a general age rule. Financial, functional, residency, and funding rules may also apply.
Denied, Delayed, or Overwhelmed
If the first program cannot help, ask what happens next before ending the call.
- Ask why. Is the problem eligibility, funding, a waitlist, missing documents, or the wrong service area?
- Ask for the next route. Request another county program, nonprofit, benefits office, meal site, transportation service, or legal-help referral.
- Ask about review rights. If you receive a written denial, ask whether that specific program has a reconsideration, grievance, or appeal process and what deadline applies.
- Call MAP again. Tell the specialist which service turned you away and why. That can change the referral.
- Use 2-1-1 for immediate basics. Food, shelter, utilities, rent, and other crisis needs may have separate community routes.
Older veterans and surviving spouses may also have separate benefit paths. Our Maryland veteran benefits guide can help identify those routes.
Official Resources
- Use the MAP resource search to look for aging, disability, caregiver, and long-term support services.
- Use the Maryland Department of Aging programs and services page when you want to see statewide aging programs before calling.
- Call the Maryland Department of Aging at 410-767-1100 or 1-800-243-3425 for state administrative questions. For individual service navigation, MAP or the local AAA is usually the better first step.
Resumen en Español
Maryland tiene 24 Agencias del Área sobre el Envejecimiento para los 23 condados y la ciudad de Baltimore. Estas oficinas ayudan a personas mayores, adultos con discapacidades, cuidadores y familias a encontrar comidas, transporte, ayuda con Medicare, apoyo para cuidadores, centros para personas mayores y servicios en el hogar.
Si no sabe dónde empezar, llame a Maryland Access Point al 1-844-627-5465. Si hay peligro inmediato, llame al 911. Para abuso, negligencia o explotación de un adulto vulnerable, llame al 1-800-917-7383. Para ayuda local urgente con comida, vivienda o servicios públicos, marque 2-1-1.
Antes de llamar, tenga listo el condado donde vive la persona, su edad, el problema principal, información de Medicare o Medicaid si corresponde, y cualquier aviso urgente. Pregunte si hay lista de espera, qué documentos necesita y qué alternativa existe si el primer programa no puede ayudar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first number to call for aging help in Maryland?
Call Maryland Access Point at 1-844-627-5465. MAP can connect older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and families with local services and the appropriate county office.
How many Area Agencies on Aging are in Maryland?
Maryland has 24 Area Agencies on Aging: one for each of the 23 counties and one for Baltimore City.
Is Maryland Access Point the same as the AAA?
No. MAP is Maryland’s No Wrong Door entry system for aging and disability services. MAP services are led mainly by AAAs and partners, but the current state page lists 20 local MAP sites while Maryland has 24 AAAs.
How do I find a senior center in Maryland?
Use the Maryland Department of Aging senior center directory or call your county AAA. Call the center before visiting to confirm hours, age rules, meals, transportation, registration, and fees.
Do Maryland AAAs give cash grants to seniors?
Usually not. AAAs mainly connect people with services, counseling, referrals, meals, transportation, caregiver support, senior centers, and other local programs. Some programs may pay for a service when a person meets the program rules.
What should I do if a program has a waitlist?
Ask to be placed on the waitlist, ask what help is available while you wait, and request another referral. You can also call MAP again and explain why the first service could not help.
About This Guide
Sources: This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources linked in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced under the GFS Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources. GFS is not affiliated with a government agency and is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Despite careful verification, errors may occur. Readers may email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, funding, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the responsible official program before acting.
Last updated: 16 September 2026 · Next review: 16 January 2027
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