During Older Americans Month, we recognize the experiences, contributions, and lasting impact of older adults in our communities, and the many ways they continue to champion their health through connection, purpose, and engagement. 

For many, one of those ways is through volunteering. In Dianne Cote’s case, that commitment spans generations. 

Volunteering is not something she discovered later in life. It is something she grew up witnessing. Her parents were two of the five original Meals on Wheels volunteers at Southern Maine Agency on Aging in 1972. But long before she understood the significance of that, she saw what it looked like to care for the people around you. 

Her father spent 30 years as a Little League coach and helped build the Westbrook Little League Complex. He didn’t just coach, he paid attention. If a child needed something, he made sure they had it. 

“We were brought up to be aware of what our neighbors needed,” Dianne says. “My father would hand-deliver uniforms to see if anyone needed anything. Looking out for others is what I know.” 

That same spirit carried into their work with Meals on Wheels. Her parents volunteered together, and one memory has stayed with her all these years: delivering a rose on Valentine’s Day along with a meal. It was a small gesture, but one that left a lasting impression. 

“In the ’50s, there was a song, ‘Little things mean a lot,’” she says. “That has always stuck with me. In life, through volunteering, it’s those little tiny things that cost nothing that make a difference in people’s lives.” 

Her mother continued volunteering for 35 years, from 1972 to 2007, and that level of commitment helped shape Dianne’s path. She went on to spend her career in the nonprofit sector and as a special education teacher, work that centered on understanding people, adapting to their needs, and helping improve quality of life in meaningful ways. 

Today, in her 80s, she continues that commitment as a Senior Companion volunteer through The Opportunity Alliance at Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Biddeford Adult Day Program. “It makes me feel good that I’m still able to help others,” she says. “I feel very blessed. I hope I can do it until I’m 90, like my mother.” 

At Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Adult Day Program, Dianne sees every day how much these moments of connection matter. Members spend their time engaged in activities, conversation, and shared experiences. “Even if they don’t remember parts of the day, they’re playing games, they’re engaged the entire time,” she says. “There’s a gentleman who spends time chatting with other men like himself. His life is full in those moments, even if he can’t always recall them later. And there’s another member who doesn’t talk much, but when they play music, she sings along and knows every word.” 

For those hours, she says, quality of life improves. Minds are stimulated, people are moving. It is a reminder that staying engaged and connected plays an important role in overall health. And behind it all is a team that makes it possible. “Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s staff… it’s incredible how kind, innovative, and comforting they are.” 

For Dianne, the experience is deeply personal, not just because of what she gives, but because of what she receives. “It’s another layer. I’m their age, so they see me as a peer. There’s an immediate relationship,” she says. That connection goes both ways. “It gives back to them, but I think it does more for me, because I can’t wait to go.” 

Her background in special education continues to shape how she shows up, especially when working with members experiencing cognitive changes. “It helps me observe and adapt, to find another way to reach someone when the traditional way doesn’t fit,” she says. “It’s such a good fit for me to work with people with cognitive changes because I understand it. It’s a gift that I can be part of it.” 

In many ways, her story has come full circle. The same organization her parents helped build more than 50 years ago is now where she gives her time, continuing that legacy in her own way. “I’ll never fill their shoes,” she says. “The goal is to help create a better quality of life for older adults. When life is difficult, we all need those little moments when everything feels a little smoother and happier.” 

In showing up for others, she is also showing what it means to stay engaged, connected, and well. 

That belief continues to guide her. “Giving back is my happy place.”