Services Available

States and communities offer a range of supportive services to residents 60 years of age and over. Local Information, assistance programs, and/or Area Agencies on Aging can assist older adults and their families in locating the services they need. Some of the services available include:

• Caregiver Programs: The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides programs and services for caregivers of older adults and limited services to grandparents raising grandchildren.

• Elder Abuse Prevention Programs: Allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of senior citizens are investigated by highly trained protective service specialists. Intervention is provided in instances of substantiated elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

• Financial Assistance: Benefit counseling programs that can be accessed through the Information and Referral/Assistance Specialist at local Area Agencies on Aging.

• Home Health Services: Home health care includes activities such as changing wound dressings, checking vital signs, cleaning catheters, and providing tube feedings.

• Home Repair: Programs that help older adults keep their homes in good condition before any problems become major. Volunteers may visit a home to patch a leaky roof, repair faulty plumbing, or insulate drafty walls.

• Home Modification: Programs that provide housing adaptations and/or renovations to increase ease of use, safety, security, and independence. Some local, state, Federal, and volunteer programs provide special grants, loans, and other assistance for modifications.

• Information and Referral/Assistance Information Services (I&R/A): Information Specialists are available to provide guidance and connections to available services and resources.

• Legal Assistance: Legal advice and representation is available for certain legal matters, including government program benefits, tenant rights, and consumer problems.

• Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: Long-Term Care Ombudsmen are advocates for residents of nursing homes, board and care homes, assisted living facilities, and similar adult care facilities. They work to resolve problems of individual residents and effect change at the local, state, and national levels to improve resident care and quality of life.

• Nutrition Services: Home-delivered meals, popularly known as Meals on Wheels, are nutritious meals delivered to older adults who are homebound. Congregate meals provide opportunities for people to enjoy a meal and socialize with other seniors in their communities.

• Personal Care: Personal care services assist individuals with functional impairments to bathe, dress, shop, walk, housekeep, and eat. Services also include general supervision, provision of emotional security, and assistance with securing health care from appropriate sources.

• Respite Care: Respite is a specific period of relief or rest from the continual supervision, companionship, therapeutic, and/or personal care of a person with a functional impairment.

• Senior Center Programs: Senior Centers offer a variety of recreational and educational programs, seminars, events, and activities for older adults with varying activity levels.

• Transportation: Door-to-door transportation for older adults and people with disabilities who do not have private transportation and are unable to utilize public transportation.

• Volunteer Services: There are numerous programs and opportunities available for older adults to volunteer in their community such as meal delivery, daily telephone reassurance, friendly visiting, and insurance counseling.