MDOA Awards $100K to Help Older Residents Stay in Their Homes and Communities
July 6, 2026
| For Immediate Release July 3, 2026 |
| Maryland Department of Aging Awards $100K to Help Older Residents Stay in Their Homes and Communities |
| BALTIMORE, MD — The Maryland Department of Aging (MDOA) today announced $100,000 in aging-in-place grants awarded to six local organizations across the state. Each project directly aligns with Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM), which focuses heavily on supporting residents to help them age in their homes and communities of choice. The selection process was highly competitive, drawing $1.6 million in requested funding and backed by $3.2 million in local matching funds. Notably, more than 44% of this grant funding will directly support Villages, which are volunteer-run groups where neighbors help neighbors. Expanding Villages empowers older adults to remain in their homes or communities, live independently, and successfully age in place—all key priorities of LRM. “Investing in grassroots initiatives like those at Neighborhood Companions and Tamarack Triangle Village allows us to build stronger and more connected communities right where people live,” said Delegate Sarah Wolek, lead sponsor of the recently passed Multigenerational Third Places Act, which allows Villages to use funds for rental costs of community spaces that foster connection. “By creating vibrant, intergenerational spaces like community gardens and hosting monthly suppers, we directly tackle isolation and give our older residents the local, resident-driven support they need to flourish.” The funding reaches both dense urban centers and historically underserved rural populations, and supports creative programs that help older Marylanders reduce social isolation, improve financial security, and access care that respects their diverse cultural backgrounds. The grant recipients include: Tamarack Triangle Village, Inc. in Silver Spring received $29,486 to map out local neighborhood resources and create a three-year plan to grow their neighbor-to-neighbor volunteer network and keep older adults connected. Chinese American Parent Association of the Baltimore Community received $20,202 to create an AI-powered app called Community Connect that pairs low-income Mandarin-speaking older residents with college students to help them navigate health care using Mandarin translation tools. Neighborhood Companions, Inc. in Turner Station (Baltimore County) received $15,202 to bring different generations together to fight loneliness through community spaces like shared gardens and monthly Second Sunday Suppers. Resilient Health Communities, Inc. in Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Charles Counties received $14,702 to run a public Brain Boost Boot Camp that uses proven mental exercises—like reading aloud, quick math, and writing—to help older adults keep their minds sharp. Friends of Calvert County Seniors, Inc. received $10,202 to give low-income older residents financial help to get off waitlists for critical dental care, helping to stop severe infections before they cause bigger health problems. Vietnamese Americans Services, Inc. in Montgomery and Anne Arundel Counties received $10,202 to expand a local Senior Club that offers complete, language-friendly support, including health care guidance, English classes, and transportation. “This funding is a direct investment in our neighborhoods, making it easier for Marylanders to live comfortably and safely in their own homes and communities,” said Maryland Secretary of Aging Carmel Roques. “By supporting a mix of nonprofits and neighborhood volunteer networks, we aren’t just supporting isolated programs—we are implementing the vision of LRM to build a stronger, interconnected ecosystem of support for our growing older population.” To learn more about these grants and LRM’s efforts to drive community-based aging in place efforts, visit Aging.Maryland.gov/Supportive-Communities and LRM.Maryland.gov. |