John Holland will tell you he’s a planner. “I always have been.”

After nearly 40 years in a demanding professional career, he started thinking about what life after retirement might look like and how he wanted to spend his time. He began looking into nonprofit organizations that aligned with his values and would allow him to stay engaged and utilize the skills he had built over his career.

At the same time, he was watching family members struggle to make complicated healthcare decisions. Some of those choices were not the right fit for their situation, and it stuck with him. “That was in the back of my mind: What’s this about Medicare and how can I help them?”

That question led him to volunteer with Southern Maine Agency on Aging, where he served as a volunteer Medicare counselor for 15 years and, over that time, also served nine years on the organization’s Board of Directors.

As a Volunteer Medicare SHIP counselor, John helps older adults navigate Medicare and understand their options through Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Welcome to Medicare seminars and one-on-one counseling sessions.

“Being a Medicare counselor leverages my skills in communication, problem-solving, and empathy to guide individuals through complicated healthcare decisions,” he said.

He begins every conversation the same way, asking, “Would you tell me in your own words what it is you want to do today?”

That simple question helps him understand what someone needs and how they are feeling. Some come in anxious. Others are confused by plan options or prescription coverage. As he puts it, “The challenge is untangling it in a way that someone can say, ‘Ah, okay. That makes sense now.’”

In Welcome to Medicare seminars, he often starts by addressing a few common misconceptions. “People think Medicare is free, it’s not. They think it covers everything, it doesn’t. People think it covers all of their prescriptions… well, maybe,” he laughs.

Sometimes that guidance leads to immediate results, like helping someone find a prescription plan that fits their needs. “In some cases, the right plan can save people hundreds of dollars,” he said.

Other times, the impact is just as important. “Even if we don’t change anything in a counseling session, I try to leave them with enough knowledge about Medicare to feel more confident,” he said. “Knowledge is power.”

What has kept him coming back year after year is both the challenge and the people. “They’re all different,” he said. “Every client that I get to work with, even if there are subtle differences, requires a whole different approach.”

Whether someone attends a seminar or sits down one-on-one, John wants them to know there is a trusted place they can return to for help. “Maybe they’re not 100 percent comfortable yet, but now there’s a trusted resource to go to, Southern Maine Agency on Aging.”

Over the years, John has seen the strength of Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Medicare program in the people behind it. Volunteers bring a wide range of professional experience and a shared commitment to helping others navigate complex decisions.

In 2025, 32 volunteers with Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Medicare program served 1,434 hours, helping 2,308 clients through one-on-one counseling sessions and Medicare seminars.

Today, he continues to volunteer as a Medicare counselor, helping people understand their options before they make critical healthcare decisions. One piece of advice he shares often is simple: “Come to us before you need us.”

After 15 years, he remains proud of the work being done. “The Medicare program and all the programs at Southern Maine Agency on Aging are top notch,” he said. “They really make a difference.”

Learn more about Medicare here.
Schedule a 1:1 Medicare counseling session or attend a Welcome to Medicare seminar here.