Social Services

Getting help for them—and you.

Our two cents

You don't have to be alone in making sure your parents have a high quality of life. Caregivers have extensive experience with the elderly and can help in areas you may not be familiar with.

Taking care of aging parents is about a lot more than their finances. It's about the quality of their everyday life, helping them stay active and involved, and providing the extra care they may need as they get older. It's challenging at best and can be overwhelming at times.

Fortunately, there are organizations that can help you. Here are some good places to start:

AARP—Provides help and advice on a range of family, home and legal issues, including caregiving, housing for seniors, long-term care, end of life and more.

Administration on Aging—Provides online tools for finding local resources and support services, as well as information on government health and disability programs, legal resources and more.

Area Agencies on Aging—Local branches available in many communities are dedicated to helping seniors get assistance with health care, home care, transportation and more. Many offer specific help with Medicare and Medicaid issues and provide volunteer counselors and community education programs.

County Department of Health and Human Services—Your county department likely has a division on aging and adult services that can direct you to specific programs.

Eldercare locator—A nationwide directory of local agencies that can help older people and their families access home- and community-based services like transportation, meals, home care and caregiver support services.

Family Caregiver Alliance—A resource for education, support and services for family caregivers.