Eldercare Locator
Often adult children and their aging parents are separated by hundreds or thousands of miles. This can create a problem in analyzing the parents’ situation and making good decisions. Fortunately, there is a national service set up just to assist in situations like this. It is called the “Eldercare Locator,” a telephone service of the U. S. Administration on Aging. This toll-free telephone service puts callers in touch with information about state and area agencies, tribal organizations and private organizations serving the elderly in their own community. The Eldercare Locator is administered by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and the National Association of State Units on Aging.
Callers to the Eldercare Locator are greeted by a caring, highly trained information specialist. This person will ask for the county, city name or zip code of the elderly person as well as a brief description of the problem or situation.
You can reach the Eldercare Locator by dialing toll-free, 1-800-677-1116, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The Eldercare Locator is not an automated, touch-tone information system. Callers speak to a friendly, caring person who can help them.
An on-line version of the Eldercare Locator, www.eldercare.gov , provides users with 24-hour access to community assistance resources for seniors.
The Administration on Aging workers through the national aging network of 56 State Units on Aging, 655 Area Agencies on Aging, 236 Tribal and Native organizations representing 300 American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal organizations, and two organizations serving Native Hawaiians, plus thousands of service providers, adult care centers, caregivers and volunteers. By the way, you can obtain a lot of information helpful to older adults in Kansas through this website www.agingkansas.org .
When, through the Eldercare Locator, you are connected with probably the Area Agency on Aging in your parents’ community, you will find a helpful information and assistance person with a thorough knowledge of service and programs in that location. Many Area Agencies on Aging also offer Aging Case Management (sometimes called Geriatric Care Management) in which a well trained professional assesses your parents’ situation, orders appropriate services and then monitors the situation.
This probably will not feel as good for you as your being closer to your parents, but it is at least a wise first step in analyzing their situation. There are thousands of long-distance caregivers such as you who are doing a fine job staying in touch and monitoring the situation through the help of local programs.
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