One of the advantages of aging is that the government—local, state and federal—has devoted resources to making sure seniors are taken care of, particularly in maintaining their independence. Perhaps you have questions about the financial impact of your spouse’s nursing home stay or where you can find respite care as a full-time caregiver. We list the main resources.
For older adults who need assistance, the government has your back. If
your spouse goes into assisted living, how will that affect your
finances? If you’ve broken your leg and can’t drive to the doctor, where
can you find easy transportation? If you’re taking care of your spouse
full-time, where can you find some relief?
One of the advantages of aging is that the government—local, state and
federal—has devoted resources to making sure seniors are taken care of,
particularly in maintaining their independence.
The 1965 Older Americans Act established a network that includes 56
state agencies and 629 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) across the nation.
Their role is to identify the most important service needs of the
age-60-and-older population, develop plans of action to address those
needs and serve as advocates for older Americans. State agencies and
county or regional AAAs tailor themselves to fit the needs and resources
of the community, so each is different.
Free or low-cost services can include legal assistance, home-delivered
meals, insurance counselors and help with household chores. The goal of
these agencies is to maintain independence for older adults. “Nearly
sixty percent of AAAs currently have a program to divert [older adults]
from institutional care, and of those, nearly seventy percent facilitate
transitions from institutional placement to living in the home and
integrated with the community” (“Area Agencies on Aging: Recent Trends,”
Autumn 2013, CSA Journal 56.)
Although some services are restricted to low-income seniors, many strive
to serve as many older adults as possible, and are mandated to serve
the most vulnerable regardless of an individual’s income.
Sample of Assistance Resources
A wide range of government assistance programs are generally available
to eligible seniors. Here are a few from the Elder Care Directory
http://www.eldercaredirectory.org/state-resources.htm):
Long-term care ombudsman: The office of the ombudsman has the
responsibility and authority to investigate and resolve complaints from
seniors and their family members regarding the quality of care in
long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living
facilities, board and care homes and specialty care facilities such as
dementia day-care programs. The ombudsman's office can also assist
seniors and their family members in their dealings with other government
agencies, to ensure that elderly patients and residents receive all of
the medical, rehabilitation, legal, financial and social services to
which they are entitled by law.
Free meals: Eligible seniors can receive free nutritious meals,
which are professionally prepared and served daily in congregate
settings such as senior and community centers. Most communities also
have programs, such as Meals on Wheels, that offer seniors the option to
have meals delivered to them every day in their own homes.
Nutrition counseling: To help older adults make healthy meal
choices, many local agencies for the aging offer seniors and caregivers
nutrition counseling services as well as advice and recommendations for
the most nutritious food when dealing with various illnesses.
Caregiver assistance services: Most states have caregiver respite
programs that provide family caregivers with temporary relief from
their caregiving responsibilities. Through the respite program,
caregivers can arrange to have a substitute come in to their home and
provide care to their elderly family member, or the elderly care
recipient could receive temporary care in an alternative residential
care setting, such as a nearby adult care home.
Legal aid: Qualified attorneys answer seniors' legal questions,
provide legal advice and advocacy, prepare and review legal documents
and represent seniors in legal proceedings. A non-government source for
legal questions is the National Academy of Elder Law Attorney.
When seeking advice, it is advisable to find an attorney who
specifically practices in elder law, as well as one in your state, as
many legal documents and asset preservation strategies are state
specific.
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): Trained
insurance counselors can provide accurate and objective information and
guidance regarding public and private health insurance options available
for the elderly in their states. This information can include Medicare
and Medicaid benefits, Medicare Advantage and Supplement Plans and
state-sponsored prescription assistance programs for the elderly.
Senior companion programs: Seniors can interact socially with a
volunteer, usually another senior citizen. Volunteers may also take out
seniors for recreational activities or help with light chores around
the home.
Chore and homemaker assistance: Seniors can apply through their
local AAA to receive help with routine household chores such as
shopping, laundry, general housecleaning, meal preparation and yard
work.
Transportation service: In most communities, seniors can call
their local office for the aging to arrange transportation to and from
medical appointments, shopping centers and other locations as needed to
manage their personal affairs. Seniors who use a wheelchair or have
other mobility impairments should call well in advance of their
scheduled appointment to ensure the availability of
handicapped-accessible vehicles.
Home repair and modification assistance: Various types of
financial aid, ranging from grants that do not have to be repaid, to
low-interest loans, are available to eligible seniors who need help
paying for necessary home repairs or who need to make
handicapped-accessible modifications to their home.
Heating and energy assistance: The federal government makes funds
available to states to help low-income seniors pay for a portion of
their winter heating and summer cooling costs. Although this is a
federal program, it is supervised at the state level and usually
administered at the county or local level. The income limit for
receiving energy assistance varies based on state median income, federal
poverty level and family size.
Agencies Strive to Keep Seniors Independent was featured in the May 2014 Senior Spirit newsletter.
Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors
