Services in the community enable hundreds of thousands of older persons to maintain dignity and independence within their homes and communities. Community resources available for the elderly include: Transportation- Drivers transport seniors to doctor appointments, grocery store, hair appointments and local errands. Escort- Escort service provides support for older people with limited mobility to obtain needed services. Escort service is often provided by volunteers. It might mean picking up an individual at their home, accompanying them to a doctor's appointment or spending the afternoon together running errands. Senior Centers- There are thousands of senior centers operating in the United States. Senior Centers offer programs of interest to active and independent older people. Seniors can choose to attend based on their interest in the offered programs. Legal Assistance- Legal services help older persons experiencing problems in civil matters to obtain advice, counseling, information or representation. Services are provided either by a licensed attorney or trained paralegal. Types of matters for which help is typically sought include health care, income, public benefits (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, food stamps), employment, consumer complaints, nursing home resident rights, utilities, guardianship/conservatorship, wills and estates. Minor Home Modifications(MODS)-the provision and installation of certain home mobility aides (e.g., ramps, rails, non-skid surfacing, grab bars, and other devices and minor home modifications which facilitate mobility) and modifications to the home environment to enhance safety. Excluded are those adaptations or improvements to the home which are of general utility and which are not of direct medical or remedial benefit to the individual, such as carpeting, roof repair, central air conditioning, etc. Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) - PERS is an electronic device which enables certain individuals at high risk of institutionalization to secure help in an emergency. The individual may also wear a portable "help" button to allow for mobility. The system is connected to the person's phone and programmed to signal a response center once a "help" button is activated. The response center is staffed by trained professionals. Home Delivered Meals (HDM) -A hot, nutritionally balanced meal is delivered five days a week to individuals who are unable to prepare their own nutritionally well-balanced meals. Respite Care (IR) - Services provided to individuals unable to care for themselves, furnished on a short-term basis because of the absence or need for relief of those persons normally providing the care. May be provided inpatient or in-home. Assistive Technology - Assistive device, adaptive aids, controls or appliances which enable an enrollee to increase the ability to perform activities of daily living or to perceive or control their environment. Examples include, but are not limited to, “grabbers” to pick objects off the floor, strobe light to signify the smoke alarm has been activated, etc. Pest Control - The use of sprays, and traps, as appropriate, in the enrollee’s residence (excluding NF, ACLF) to regulate or eliminate the intrusion of roaches, wasps, mice, rats and other species of pests into the household environment thereby removing an environmental issue that could be detrimental to a frail elderly or disabled enrollee’s health and physical well-being. Personal Care Assistance/Attendant - Intermittent provision of direct assistance with the activities such as toileting, bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, eating, meal preparation, budget management, attending appointments, and interpersonal and social skill building to enable the enrollee to live in a community setting. Homemaker- Homemaker service is extended to individuals who are unable to perform day-to-day household duties and have no one available to assist them. Services include light housekeeping, laundry, limited personal care, grocery shopping, meal preparation, and shopping assistance. Chore Service- Chore service is available to persons who are physically unable to perform tasks, such as heavy cleaning, minor repair or yard work, and unable to secure assistance from family or friends nor have the means to pay privately. Adult Day Care - Community-based group programs of care lasting more than three (3) hours per day but less than twenty-four (24) hours per day provided pursuant to an individualized plan of care by a licensed provider not related to the participating adult. Assisted Living Facility - Personal care services, homemaker services and medication oversight provided in a home-like environment in a licensed Assisted Care Living Facility. Home Health- Home health care is recognized as an increasingly important alternative to hospitalization or care in a nursing home for patients who do not need 24-hour day professional supervision. Many people find it possible to remain at home for the entire duration of their illness or at least to shorten their hospital stay. In many cases readmission to the hospital can be prevented or delayed. A variety of health services are provided in a home health care program in the patient's home, under the direction of a physician. Physical Fitness/Exercise. Programs are designed to assist older people stay physically active and healthy. An exercise expert, for example, might come to a senior center, nursing home, hospital or other facility in the community to lead exercises geared especially to older people. Transportation might be provided to the local YMCA/YWCA or other community venue for older persons to attend special exercise classes.
To find the non-profit organizations and community based programs for seniors in your local area call the department of aging in your state to assist in locating these resources available to seniors. ALABAMA Alabama Department of Senior Services PO Box 301851 770 Washington Avenue, Suite 470 Montgomery, AL 36130 -1851 (334) 242-5743 or 1-800-243-5463 Fax: (334) 242-5594 ALASKA Alaska Commission on Aging Department of Health and Social Services 150 Third Street, No. 103 P.O. Box 110693 Juneau, AK 99811-0693 (907) 465-4879 Fax: (907) 465-4716 ARIZONA Arizona Aging and Adult Administration Department of Economic Security 1789 W. Jefferson, No. 950A Phoenix, AZ 85007 (602) 542-4446 Fax: (602) 542-6575 ARKANSAS Arkansas Division of Aging and Adult Services Department of Health & Human Services P.O. Box 1437 700 Main Street, 5th Floor, S530 Little Rock, AR 72203-1437 (501) 682-2441 Fax: (501) 682-8155 CALIFORNIA California Department of Aging 1300 National Drive, #200 Sacramento, CA 95834 (916) 419-7500 Fax: (916) 928-2268 COLORADO Colorado Division of Aging and Adult Services Department of Human Services 1575 Sherman Street 10th Floor Denver, CO 80203-1714 (303) 866-2636 Fax: (303) 866-2696 CONNECTICUT Connecticut Bureau of Aging Community & Social Work Services Department of Social Services 25 Sigourney Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 424-5277 Fax: (860) 424-4957 DELAWARE Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities Dept of Health and Social Services 1901 North DuPont Highway New Castle, DE 19720 (302) 255-9390 Fax: (302) 255-4445 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA District of Columbia Office on Aging One Judiciary Square 441 4th Street, N.W., 9th Floor Washington, DC 20001 (202) 724-5622 Fax: (202) 724-4979 FLORIDA Florida Department of Elder Affairs 4040 Esplanade Way Suite 315 Tallahassee, FL 32399-7000 (850) 414-2000 Fax: (850) 414-2004 GEORGIA Georgia Division for Aging Services 2 Peachtree St. N.W. 9th Floor Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 657-5258 Fax: (404) 657-5285 GUAM Guam Division of Senior Citizens Department of Public Health and Social Services Government of Guam P.O. Box 2816 Hagaina, Guam 96932 011 (671) 735-7382 Fax: (671) 735-7416 HAWAII Hawaii Executive Office on Aging No. 1 Capitol District 250 South Hotel Street, Suite 406 Honolulu, HI 96813-2831 (808) 586-0100 Fax: (808) 586-0185 IDAHO Idaho Commission on Aging 3380 Americana Terrace, No. 120 PO Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0007 (208) 334-3833 Fax: (208) 334-3033 ILLINOIS Illinois Department on Aging 421 East Capitol Avenue Springfield, IL 62701-1789 (217) 785-2870 Fax: (217) 785-4477 INDIANA Indiana Division of Aging Family and Services Administration 402 W. Washington Street P.O. Box 7083 Indianapolis, IN 46207-7083 (317) 232-7123 Fax: (317) 232-7867 IOWA Iowa Department of Elder Affairs Jessie Parker Building 510 East 12th St., Suite 2 Des Moines, IA 50319-9025 515-725-3333 KANSAS Kansas Department on Aging New England Building 503 South Kansas Avenue Topeka, KS 66603-3404 (785) 296-5222 Fax: (785) 296-0256 KENTUCKY Department For Aging & Independent Living Cabinet for Health & Family Services 275 East Main Street, 3W-F Frankfort, KY 40621 (502) 564-6930 Fax: (502) 564-4595 LOUISIANA Louisiana Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs PO Box 61 [zip 70821-0061] 412 N. 4th Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (225) 342-7100 Fax: (225) 342-7133 MAINE Maine Office of Elder Services Department of Health & Human Services 442 Civic Center Drive 11 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0011 (207) 287-9200 Fax: (207) 287-9230 MARIANA ISLANDS CNMI OFFICE ON AGING Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands PO Box 502178 Saipan, MP 96950-2178 (670) 233-1320 or (670) 233-1321 Fax: (670) 233-1327 MARYLAND Maryland Department of Aging 301 West Preston Street, Suite 1007 Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 767-1100 Fax: (410) 333-7943 MASSACHUSETTS Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108 (617) 222-7451 Fax: (617) 727-6944 MICHIGAN Michigan Office of Services to the Aging P.O. Box 30676 7109 West Saginaw, First Floor Lansing, MI 48909-8176 (517) 373-8230 Fax: (517) 373-4092 MINNESOTA Minnesota Board on Aging Department of Human Services PO Box 64976 St. Paul, MN 55164-0976 (651) 431-2500 or 800-882-6262 Fax: (651) 431-7453 MISSISSIPPI Mississippi Council on Aging Division of Aging and Adult Services 750 N. State Street Jackson, MS 39202 (601) 359-4925 Fax: (601) 359-4370 MISSOURI Missouri Division of Senior & Disability Services Dept of Health & Senior Services P.O. Box 570 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570 (573) 526-3626 Fax: (573) 751-8687 MONTANA Montana Office on Aging Senior and Long Term Care Division Department of Public Health and Human Services 111 Sanders Street PO Box 4210 Helena, MT 59604 (406) 444-7788 or 800-551-3191 Fax: (406) 444-7743 NEBRASKA Nebraska Health and Human Services - State Unit on Aging P.O. Box 95044 301 Centennial Mall - South Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2307 Fax: (402) 471-4619 NEVADA Nevada Division for Aging Services Department of Health & Human Services 3416 Goni Road, Building D-132 Carson City, NV 89706 (775) 687-4210 Ext 226 Fax: (775) 687-4264 NEW HAMPSHIRE New Hampshire Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services Brown Building - 129 Pleasant St. Concord, NH 03301-3857 (603) 271-4394 Fax: (603) 271-4643 NEW JERSEY New Jersey Division of Aging & Community Services Department of Health & Senior Services 240 W. State Street P.O. Box 807 Trenton, NJ 08625-0807 (609) 292-4027 Fax: (609) 943-3343 NEW MEXICO New Mexico Aging & LTC Services Department 2550 Cerrillos Road Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 476-4799 (main) (505) 476-4738 (direct) Fax: (505) 827-7649 NEW YORK New York State Office for the Aging Two Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12223-1251 (518) 474-7012 Fax: (518) 474-1398 NORTH CAROLINA North Carolina Division of Aging & Adult Services Department of Health and Human Services 2101 Mail Service Center 693 Palmer Drive Raleigh, NC 27699-2101 (919) 733-3983 Fax: (919) 733-0443 NORTH DAKOTA North Dakota Aging Services Division Department of Human Services 600 East Boulevard Avenue Department 325 Bismarck, ND 58505-0250 (701) 328-4601 Fax: (701) 328-4061 OHIO Ohio Department of Aging 50 West Broad Street - 9th Floor Columbus, OH 43215-5928 (614) 466-7246 Fax: (614) 995-1049 OKLAHOMA Oklahoma Aging Services Division OK Department of Human Services P.O. Box 25352 2401 N.W. 23rd St., Suite 40 Oklahoma City, OK 73107-2442 (405) 521-2281 Fax: (405) 521-2086 OREGON Oregon Seniors and People With Disabilities Department of Human Services 500 Summer St., NE, E02 Salem, OR 97301-1073 (503) 945-6478 Fax: (503) 373-7823 PENNSYLVANIA Pennsylvania Department of Aging 555 Walnut Street, 5th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101-1919 (717) 783-1550 Fax: (717) 772-3382 PUERTO RICO Puerto Rico Governor's Office for Elderly Affairs P.O. Box 191179 San Juan, PR 00919-1179 (787) 721-5710 Fax: (787) 721-6510 RHODE ISLAND Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs John O. Pastore Center Benjamin Rush Building, No. 55 35 Howard Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 (401) 462-0501 or (401) 462-0565 Fax: (401) 462-0503 (AMERICAN) SAMOA Territorial Administration on Aging American Samoa Government Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799 011 (684) 633-1251 or 633-1252 Fax: 011 (684) 633-2533 SOUTH CAROLINA South Carolina Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging Bureau of Senior Services 1301 Gervais Street Suite 200 Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 734-9900 Fax: (803) 734-9886 SOUTH DAKOTA South Dakota Office of Adult Services & Aging Department of Social Services 700 Governors Drive Pierre, SD 57501 (605) 773-3656 Fax: (605) 773-6834 TENNESSEE Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability Andrew Jackson Building 500 Deaderick Street, No. 825 Nashville, TN 37243-0860 (615) 741-2056 Fax: (615) 741-3309 TEXAS Texas Department of Aging & Disability Services PO Box 149030 (W-619) Austin, TX 78714-9030 (512) 438-3030 Fax: (512) 438-4220 U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Virgin Islands Senior Citizen Affairs Administration Department of Human Services 3011 Golden Rock Christiansted, St. Croix, VI 00820 (340) 772-9811 Fax: (340) 772-9849 UTAH Utah Division of Aging & Adult Services Department of Human Services 120 North 200 West, Room 325 Salt Lake City, UT 84103 (801) 538-3910 Toll free : 1-877-424-4640 Fax: (801) 538-4395 VERMONT Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living Weeks Building 103 South Main Street Waterbury, VT 05671 (802) 241-2401 Fax: (802) 241-2325 VIRGINIA Virginia Department for the Aging 1610 Forest Avenue, Suite 100 Richmond, VA 23229 (804) 662-9333 Fax: (804) 662-7035 WASHINGTON Washington Aging and Disability Services Department of Social & Health Services 640 Woodland Square Loop SE Lacey, WA 98503-1045 (Physical Address) PO Box 45600 (Mailing Address) Olympia, WA 98504-5600 (360) 725-2260 Fax: (360) 407-0304 WEST VIRGINIA West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East 3003 Town Center Mall Charleston, WV 25305-0160 (304) 558-3317 Fax: (304) 558-5609 WISCONSIN Wisconsin Bureau of Aging and Disability Resources Department of Health and Family Services One West Wilson Street, Room 450 PO Box 7851 Madison, WI 53707-7851 (608) 266-3840 Fax: (608) 267-3203 WYOMING Wyoming Aging Division Department of Health 6101 Yellowstone Road, Suite 259B Cheyenne, WY 82002 (307) 777-7986 or 800-442-2766 Fax: (307) 777-5340
Thanks for the information. Dad takes advantage of several of the above mentioned services. I became his driver since his health issues the end of November 2012. Unfortunately our local cab service closed in December. Council for Older Adults does offer some rides to doctor appointments but you need to give two weeks advanced notice. Dad always plans things on the spur of the moment but we are working on that. I keep telling him I would like advanced notice too but he still springs things on me. He does still live alone but thank God he decided to stop driving.
My father is 91 and still does everything for himself (including driving). We actually checked social services for the elderly in his area but thankfully have not had to use them. The volunteer aspect of care for the elderly in their own homes is a vital part of the service. Thanks for bringing it to people's attention Wyldwynd!
