Caregiving Resources

There are resources with staff who can help you figure out whether and what kinds of assistance you and your care receiver may need.

The local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is one of the first resources you should contact when help is needed caring for an older person. Almost every state has one or more AAAs, which serve local communities, older residents, and their families. In a few states, the State Unit or Office on Aging serves as the AAA. Local AAAs are generally listed in the city or county government sections of the telephone directory under "Aging" or "Social Services."

You can also call the National Eldercare Locator, a toll-free service funded by the Administration on Aging (AoA), at 800-677-1116. The Eldercare Locator can help you find your local or state AAA. Eldercare Locator operators are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. When contacting the Locator, callers should have the address, zip code, and county of residence for the person needing assistance. The Eldercare Locator is also available online at www.eldercare.gov.

If your family member has a limited income, he or she may be eligible for AAA services including homemaker home health aide services, transportation, home-delivered meals, chore and home repair as well as legal assistance. These government-funded services are often targeted to those most in need. While there are no income criteria for many services, sometimes you may have more service options if you can pay for private help. AAAs can direct you to other sources of help for older persons with limited incomes such as subsidized housing, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicaid.

Supportive services for the person needing care can include both in-home and community-based services, such as:

• Transportation

• Meals

• Personal and in-home care services

• Home health care

• Cleaning and yard work services

• Home modification

• Senior centers

• Respite services including adult day care.

If you are an employee covered under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, if you meet the eligibility requirements, you are entitled to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any one-year to care for certain relatives.