From the National Council on Aging (NCOA)
You may wish to contact the local area agency on aging, which is often called the Council on Aging. This agency can provide information about available local services. To get the contact information, please call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116. Also, the local public library may have additional resources for elderly residents living in the community.
NCOA has developed a web-based benefits screening service that may help you to locate services that your parents could qualify for. To find out more about this service and to fill out the anonymous questionnaire, please visit www.benefitscheckup.org. If you don’t have access to the Internet, visit your local library or senior center where there may be computers you can use. BenefitsCheckUp helps thousands every day to find programs for people ages 55 and over that may pay for some of their costs of prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other essential items or services.
There are pro bono programs available to help the elderly. Get as much information as you can from a variety of sources, including further referrals from each organization or agency that you contact. You may need to consult with a real estate attorney on this issue.
If you have a Social Security case and need representation, contact the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) at (800) 431-2804. NOSSCR also maintains a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Social Security Disability.
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 1604 North Country Club Rd., Tucson, AZ 85716, (520) 881-4005
American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
American Bar Association Consumer's Guide to Legal Help on the Internet - The American Bar Association has introduced a website geared toward helping consumers find free or low-cost legal assistance. The Consumers' Guide to Legal Help on the Internet recommends bar-sponsored and/or public-service sources for legal assistance, as well as reliable sources for legal information, tips on legal self-help, links to state bar-funded lawyer referral services and advice in hiring a private attorney.
National Senior Citizens Law Center
Please contact the following organizations for assistance in finding the resources you require:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
(ASHA)
10801 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
1-800-498-2071 (toll-free) (ASHA Action Center)
1-800-638-8255 (toll-free)
Better Hearing Institute
5021-B Backlick Road
Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: 1-800-EAR-WELL (327-9355) (toll-free) (Hearing Helpline)
703-684-3391
Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc.
(SHHH)
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-657-2248
Contact your county or state Department of Health and Human Services or area social service agencies such as Catholic Charities, Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies, and local chapters of voluntary health agencies to find out if they are offer any financial support programs and how to apply for it.
For caregivers of individuals with dementia, the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging offers the Dementia Respite Grant Program. This program provides funds to caregivers, enabling them to have a period of rest or relief from their caregiving responsibilities. This respite time for the caregiver may mean having the person with dementia attend an adult day program or it might be a chance for the caregiver to go to a movie. A wide variety of respite options is available.
Any family member is eligible to apply, be it a spouse or other unpaid primary caregiver providing daily care in the home for a person diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another memory disorder.
Federal Hill-Burton Free Care Program
1-800-638-0742 (message center)
Offers referrals to agencies that offer free medical care.
Medicine Program
PO Box 520
Doniphan, MO 63935
1-573-996-7300
email: help@themedicineprogram.com
A means-tested program for persons who do not have coverage either through insurance
or government subsidies for outpatient prescription drugs, and who cannot afford
to purchase medications at retail prices.
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers
of America (PHRMA)
1100 Fifteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
1-800-762-4636 (message center)
202-935-3400 to speak directly to someone
Provides a patient assistance directory that includes a list of pharmaceutical
company-run programs to help people without insurance or those with a low income
obtain medications.
The Caregivers Marketplace
The Caregivers Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 1206, Charlestown, RI 02813
Phone: 401-364-9100 Fax: 401-364-9933
Toll free: 1-866-327-8340
Offers discounts on the commonly used products for incontinence, nutrition,
bathing, skin care, mobility, aids to daily living and more.
Contact the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging Senior Helpline at 800-642-5119 or info@cvaa.org, your local hospital or clinic (social work department), area adult day centers, social service agencies and/or the local chapter of the health agency that focuses on your loved one’s condition. It is by no means certain that they will offer caregiver support services, but they are good places to check.
Alzheimer's support groups for patients in early stages, families, and support persons meet locally as follows:
National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)
This federally funded program was established to support caregivers of elders.
NFCSP also support seniors who are the primary caregivers for family members
under the age of 18. The Champlain Valley Agency on Aging primarely uses this
program to provide information to caregivers about available services and to
connect caregivers to community programs and services.
National Family Caregivers Association
10400 Connecticut Avenue Suite 500
Kensington, MD 20895
1-800-896-3650
email: info@nfcacares.org
The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) is a grassroots organization
created to educate, support, empower and advocate for the millions of Americans
who care for chronically ill, aged or disabled loved ones. NFCA is the only constituency
organization that reaches across the boundaries of different diagnoses, different
relationships and different life stages to address the common needs and concerns
of all family caregivers. NFCA is the voice of family caregivers. Members receive
the quarterly newsletter, Take Care!, inspirational greeting cards and access
to an experienced staff which provides information, referrals and caregiver support
counseling.
American Self-Help Clearinghouse
Northwest Covenant Medical Center
25 Pocono Road
Denville, NJ 07834
1-973-625-9565
email: info@selfhelpgroups.org
Not caregiver-specific, but serves as an information clearinghouse for self-help
groups of all types and provides information on how to start a support group.
Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) (in
California only)
690 Market Street Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94104
1-415-434-3388
1-800-445-8106 (CA only)
email: info@caregiver.org
FCA is a nationally recognized information center on long-term care and the lead
agency in California's system of Caregiver Resource Centers. FCA serves as a
public voice for caregivers, illuminating the daily challenges they face, offering
them the assistance they so desperately need and deserve, and championing their
cause through education, services, research and advocacy.
Friends Health Connection
PO Box 114
New Brunswick, NJ 08903
800-384-7436
email: info@friendshealthconnection.org
Links persons with illness or disability and their family caregivers with others
experiencing the same challenges.
Well Spouse Foundation
30 East 40th Street PH
New York, NY 10016
1-800-838-0879
A national, not for profit membership organization which gives support to husbands,
wives and partners of the chronically ill and/or disabled. They offer support
group information for spouses.
Contact your county department of senior services or elder affairs, area adult day centers, and/or social service agencies providing services to the elderly.
AARP
601 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20049
1-800-424-3410
Supplies education and information about caregiving, long-term care, and aging,
including publications and audio-visual aids for caregivers.
Children of Aging Parents (CAPS)
1609 Woodbourne Road #302A
Levittown, PA 19057
1-800-227-7294
CAPS assists caregivers of the elderly with information and referrals, a network
of support groups, and publications and programs that promote public awareness
of the value and the needs of caregivers.
Eldercare Locator
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
927 15th Street, NW 6th floor
Washington, DC 20005
1-800-677-1116
Referrals to Area Agencies on Aging via zip code locations. Offers information
about many eldercare issues and services in local communities.
The National Association of Professional
Geriatric Care Managers
1604 North Country Club Road
Tucson, AZ 85716
1-520-881-8008
Geriatric care managers (GCMs) are health care professionals, most often social
workers, who help families in dealing with the problems and challenges associated
with caring for the elderly. This national organization will refer you to their
state chapters, which in turn can give you the names of GCMs in your area.
Last modified August 21 2008 01:53 PM
