What to expect from Medicare
The Howard County Department of Citizen Services Office on Aging will offer workshops to review how Medicare works, what the benefits are, how it relates to supplemental health insurance and the gaps in Medicare coverage. Information about Medicare prescription drug coverage will also be discussed. The workshops will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 in The Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. Additional Medicare workshops will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 21 at the Kiwanis Wallis Recreation Center, 10481 Frederick Road, Ellicott City. Registration and information: 410-313-7391.
Blood donations
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the American Red Cross is requesting blood donations. Eligible donors can call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123.
Calendar
Spiritual reflections: Bon Secours Spiritual Center will offer spiritual enrichment programs at 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville. Information: http://www.bonsecoursspiritualcenter.org. Registration: 410-442-1320.
Screenings
The county Health Department's North Laurel Health Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, will offer walk-in HIV/AIDS testing services from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. by appointment only: 410-313-0630. Also, the Columbia Health Center, 7180 Columbia Gateway, Columbia, will conduct HIV testing at 8 a.m. Mondays for the first 20 people. Information: 410-313-7500. Testing is free, anonymous and confidential.
Support groups
Support/In
tervention programs
Offered free at Laurel Regional Hospital, 7300 Van Dusen Road, Laurel: •Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m. Sundays. •Bipolar disorder, 6 p.m. Thursdays. •Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. •Parkinson's disease, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Information: 301-776-3426. •Rehabilitation for strokes and long-term illness, 6 p.m. the second Thursday of the month. Information: 301-497-7914 or 410-792-7636.
Support groups
at the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center, 10710 Charter Drive, Suite G050, Columbia. Information 419-740-7005. •Caregivers for people caring for loved ones suffering from cancer or other life challenging illness meet from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month. •A