Available Services for Elders

Home and Community-based Services
Like most older people, you may want to live in your own home. But you may also need help and support in order to stay there. Home and community-based services can help you with personal care (help with things like bathing, dressing, going to the bathroom, and more) or chores. They may include health care services, social activities, or even just someone to call and check on you if you live alone. Also, if you are taking care of a family member or friend, these services can give you the help and support that you need as well.
While there are many different community services for older people, not all are available in every community. Check with your local area agency on aging for what services are in your area.

The most common services are:

• Adult day care provides a variety of health, social and related support services in a safe setting during the day. Some day care programs are designed especially for people with Alzheimer's disease.
• Care management can help you and your family find the help that you may need. A care manager will work with you and your family to help you figure out what you need and what services we can offer. Together you come up with a plan of care that best fits your life, and then the care manager will arrange for your services.
• Congregate meal programs offer free or low-cost meals in group settings (often in a senior center or senior housing).
• Financial counseling programs can help you balance your checkbook, file your taxes and pay bills. They also help with Medicaid, Medicare or other insurance forms.
• Friendly visiting or companionship services provide volunteers who will come to visit and talk with you in your own home.
• Home health care services are provided in your home. They can include part-time nursing services; personal care (help with things like bathing, dressing, going to the bathroom, and more); homemaker or chore services; medical supplies or equipment and different kinds of therapies (physical, occupational, and speech) to help you recover after you've been ill or had surgery.
• Homemaker or chore services help with different chores around your house, such as cleaning, preparing meals or doing laundry. They also help with harder tasks such as washing floors, windows and walls and shoveling snow.
• Hospice care provides comfort, nursing care and other services, such as grief counseling, to people who are dying (and their families). Hospice care is provided in your home, in a nursing facility or in a free-standing hospice.
• Home-delivered meals often called "meals-on-wheels", bring you meals in your home, if you cannot prepare your own meal.
• Information and assistance services offer you and your family information about services and resources in your area.
• Personal care services provide help with things like bathing, dressing, going to the bathroom, and more.
• Respite care gives families a break from caring for older people who are unable to care for themselves. Respite care can take place in the older person's home or the caregiver's home.
• Rehabilitation services offer different kinds of therapies (physical, occupational, and speech) to help you recover after you've been ill or had surgery.
• Senior centers provide a place for older people to come together and offer many different social and recreational services.
• Telephone reassurance provides a volunteer to call and check on you on a regular basis to be sure you are okay.
• Transportation services help you get to and from shopping centers, doctor's appointments, senior centers and other places.