Community Programs
There is so much to do when caring for a family member, it can be exhausting. There are programs and services to help. Many of them are free, or low cost. It's worth checking into them. You don't have to go through this alone.
Adult Day Centers
Provide supervised daytime care in a facility. Services often include meals, medication monitoring, etc. Their purpose is to provide short-term, daytime relief for the family caregiver.
Provide supervised daytime care in a facility. Services often include meals, medication monitoring, etc. Their purpose is to provide short-term, daytime relief for the family caregiver.
ALS Services
Find resources for dealing with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Find resources for dealing with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias
People with significant memory loss problems are said to have "dementia". While Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, there are more than 70 causes. Memory loss is difficult for the patient, but also especially hard on families. Fortunately, support services are available.
People with significant memory loss problems are said to have "dementia". While Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, there are more than 70 causes. Memory loss is difficult for the patient, but also especially hard on families. Fortunately, support services are available.
Behavioral Health
Helping to transform persons lives by offering hope and opportunities for recovery, wellness, and independence.
Helping to transform persons lives by offering hope and opportunities for recovery, wellness, and independence.
Cancer Resources
Information and support services available for persons with cancer and for their family members.
Information and support services available for persons with cancer and for their family members.
Cardiac Resources
Information and support services available for persons with heart disease and for their family members.
Information and support services available for persons with heart disease and for their family members.
Care Management
Coordinates care for persons who have difficulty taking care of themselves. Arranges for community programs and local assistance.
Coordinates care for persons who have difficulty taking care of themselves. Arranges for community programs and local assistance.
Children's Resources
Information and support services that address the special needs of seriously ill children and their families as well as children who are themselves grieving due to the serious illness or death of a loved one.
Information and support services that address the special needs of seriously ill children and their families as well as children who are themselves grieving due to the serious illness or death of a loved one.
Complementary Alternative Therapies, Integrative Medicine
Complementary and alternative therapies are used in an effort to prevent illness, reduce stress, prevent or reduce side effects and symptoms, or control or cure disease.
Complementary and alternative therapies are used in an effort to prevent illness, reduce stress, prevent or reduce side effects and symptoms, or control or cure disease.
Diabetes Resources
Information and support services for persons with diabetes.
Information and support services for persons with diabetes.
Educational Resources
These types of resources offer assistance with becoming more educated on age-related concerns, making the person more aware of what to expect and how to deal with it.
These types of resources offer assistance with becoming more educated on age-related concerns, making the person more aware of what to expect and how to deal with it.
Elder Abuse
Services available to protect seniors who may be in danger because of physical, verbal, sexual, or financial abuse or neglect and abandonment.
Services available to protect seniors who may be in danger because of physical, verbal, sexual, or financial abuse or neglect and abandonment.
Emergency Assistance
Informing seniors of the availability of assistance with needs that need to be met immediately.
Informing seniors of the availability of assistance with needs that need to be met immediately.
Emergency Services
Providing emergency care for persons when they need it.
Providing emergency care for persons when they need it.
Employment and Training
Helping seniors to find on-the-job training opportunities available to them.
Helping seniors to find on-the-job training opportunities available to them.
Family Bereavement
Support for children and their families as they cope with the loss of a loved one.
Support for children and their families as they cope with the loss of a loved one.
Financial Assistance
Programs that offer monetary assistance, usually for specific purposes (e.g., medical equipment, prescriptions, utilities).
Programs that offer monetary assistance, usually for specific purposes (e.g., medical equipment, prescriptions, utilities).
Home Care (non-medical)
Providing persons with the extra help they need to maintain the quality of life they desire as well as perserving their level of independence and self-worth.
Providing persons with the extra help they need to maintain the quality of life they desire as well as perserving their level of independence and self-worth.
Home Health Care
Nursing care, rehabilitation, medication supervision, and therapeutic services provided in the home by trained nursing staff and home health workers.
Nursing care, rehabilitation, medication supervision, and therapeutic services provided in the home by trained nursing staff and home health workers.
Home Repair, Yardwork and Weatherization
Includes programs for low-income home owners as well as renters.
Includes programs for low-income home owners as well as renters.
Hospice Services
Specialized care for persons who have a life-threatening illness and have chosen to focus on comfort care measures. Care is provided by a multidisciplinary team typically comprised of physicians, nurses, social workers, a chaplain, and other allied health professionals.
Specialized care for persons who have a life-threatening illness and have chosen to focus on comfort care measures. Care is provided by a multidisciplinary team typically comprised of physicians, nurses, social workers, a chaplain, and other allied health professionals.
Hospitals
Hospitals locally located offering a wide variety of services and treatments.
Hospitals locally located offering a wide variety of services and treatments.
Housing - Assisted Living Facilities
Apartment-style living that provides housing, meals, medication supervision, and activities. For those who are fairly independent or live with a fairly independent person who can care for them.
Apartment-style living that provides housing, meals, medication supervision, and activities. For those who are fairly independent or live with a fairly independent person who can care for them.
Housing - Board and Care Homes (also called "Adult Foster Homes")
Available in some states, these facilities involve private families taking seniors into their homes and offering room and board and medication supervision. This is a more home-like alternative for those who are unable to live independently.
Available in some states, these facilities involve private families taking seniors into their homes and offering room and board and medication supervision. This is a more home-like alternative for those who are unable to live independently.
Housing - Independent Living
Independent Living provides the greatest versatility and freedom for seniors. Independent Living for seniors refers to residence in a compact, easy-to-maintain, private apartment or house within a community of seniors.
Independent Living provides the greatest versatility and freedom for seniors. Independent Living for seniors refers to residence in a compact, easy-to-maintain, private apartment or house within a community of seniors.
Housing - Residential Care Facilities
Available in some states, these facilities provide apartment-style living without kitchens for those who do not need skilled nursing assistance but who have slightly more complicated needs than is appropriate for assisted living (for example, people with dementia or memory problems who are otherwise very healthy).
Available in some states, these facilities provide apartment-style living without kitchens for those who do not need skilled nursing assistance but who have slightly more complicated needs than is appropriate for assisted living (for example, people with dementia or memory problems who are otherwise very healthy).
Housing - Skilled Nursing Facilities
A residential facility that provides 24-hour skilled nursing care, although some also provide respite care (day-long or short-term stays).
A residential facility that provides 24-hour skilled nursing care, although some also provide respite care (day-long or short-term stays).
In-Home Care Providers
Generally provide personal (non-medical) care in the patient's home such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, assistance with bathing, etc. May also provide skilled (medical) care such as wound dressing, medication management, pain assessments, etc.
Generally provide personal (non-medical) care in the patient's home such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, assistance with bathing, etc. May also provide skilled (medical) care such as wound dressing, medication management, pain assessments, etc.
Information and Referral Services
Provides information about local programs and services
Provides information about local programs and services
Insurance Counseling
Provides information about insurance options and assistance with filling out medical insurance claims forms. Includes information about Medicare, Medicaid, and supplemental insurance.
Provides information about insurance options and assistance with filling out medical insurance claims forms. Includes information about Medicare, Medicaid, and supplemental insurance.
Legal Services
Provides assistance/counsel with legal issues relating to benefits, advance care planning, and estate-planning documents.
Provides assistance/counsel with legal issues relating to benefits, advance care planning, and estate-planning documents.
Long Distance Caregiving
If you are caring for someone who lives far away, these resources can help put you in touch with support services in that person's community.
If you are caring for someone who lives far away, these resources can help put you in touch with support services in that person's community.
Medical Clinics
Providing individuals with the resources to get help with health related issues.
Providing individuals with the resources to get help with health related issues.
Medical Equipment
Offering persons with suppliers of medical equiptment that can either be rented or bought.
Offering persons with suppliers of medical equiptment that can either be rented or bought.
Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP)
Services providing free education and personalized assistance to people with Medicare and Medicaid, their families and caregivers.
Services providing free education and personalized assistance to people with Medicare and Medicaid, their families and caregivers.
Nutrition Programs
Provide meals, food stamps, and emergency food boxes.
Provide meals, food stamps, and emergency food boxes.
Personal Emergency Response Systems
Resource for persons seeking in-home emergency precautions to help them maintain independence.
Resource for persons seeking in-home emergency precautions to help them maintain independence.
Persons With Disabilities
Connecting persons with the community resources needed in coping with disabilities.
Connecting persons with the community resources needed in coping with disabilities.
Physical Fitness
Fitness activities suited toward an individuals physical capability level.
Fitness activities suited toward an individuals physical capability level.
Physicians
Family Practice, Primary Care, Pediatrics and Digestive health specialists are all located within this category.
Family Practice, Primary Care, Pediatrics and Digestive health specialists are all located within this category.
Prescription Assistance
Provides information about access to reduced-price and free medications.
Provides information about access to reduced-price and free medications.
Rehabilitation Resources
Services to help enhance recovery from illness, injury, or medical procedures.
Services to help enhance recovery from illness, injury, or medical procedures.
Respite Care
A facility that provides several days of 24-hour care for people who cannot live alone. The service is designed to allow the primary caregiver some short-term relief from their day-to-day responsibilities.
A facility that provides several days of 24-hour care for people who cannot live alone. The service is designed to allow the primary caregiver some short-term relief from their day-to-day responsibilities.
Senior Centers
A place in a community where seniors can gather for support, socialization, fitness and/or other services provided for older people. The main idea behind a senior center is to provide a welcoming environment for all seniors in the community interested in taking part in the group atmosphere.
A place in a community where seniors can gather for support, socialization, fitness and/or other services provided for older people. The main idea behind a senior center is to provide a welcoming environment for all seniors in the community interested in taking part in the group atmosphere.
Social and Recreational Resources
Programs designed to assist seniors in locating a variety of social activities available to them.
Programs designed to assist seniors in locating a variety of social activities available to them.
Social Security Administration
Helping with making decisions on retirement, and getting information concerning social security.
Helping with making decisions on retirement, and getting information concerning social security.
Support Groups-Alzheimer's and other dementias
For patients and families dealing with conditions that damage memory, such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's and stroke.
For patients and families dealing with conditions that damage memory, such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's and stroke.
Support Groups-Bereavement
For those who are grieving the death of a loved one. Provides an opportunity to receive and offer support in a caring and accepting atmosphere.
For those who are grieving the death of a loved one. Provides an opportunity to receive and offer support in a caring and accepting atmosphere.
Support Groups-Cancer
Find online and in-person groups for both patients and for family members.
Find online and in-person groups for both patients and for family members.
Support Groups-Caregivers
Serious illness affects more than just the patient. Get support and learn valuable tips from others who are also caring for a loved one.
Serious illness affects more than just the patient. Get support and learn valuable tips from others who are also caring for a loved one.
Support Groups-Children
Gatherings for children and teens who are ill themselves, as well as youths who are impacted by the illness of others.
Gatherings for children and teens who are ill themselves, as well as youths who are impacted by the illness of others.
Support Groups-Diabetes
Groups for those impacted by diabetes and by complications from diabetes (e.g., dialysis).
Groups for those impacted by diabetes and by complications from diabetes (e.g., dialysis).
Support Groups-Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Support groups for grandparents who through different circumstances have come about to raise their grandchildren.
Support groups for grandparents who through different circumstances have come about to raise their grandchildren.
Support Groups-Living with Illness
Groups for dealing with chronic illness and the impact it has on one’s life as well as dealing with the grief in response to the losses it imposes on a person.
Groups for dealing with chronic illness and the impact it has on one’s life as well as dealing with the grief in response to the losses it imposes on a person.
Support Groups-Lung Conditions
Offers persons with emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory diseases an opportunity to share problems and experiences with others who have similar ailments.
Offers persons with emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory diseases an opportunity to share problems and experiences with others who have similar ailments.
Support Groups-Online
Provide even homebound caregivers and patients with an opportunity to share information, feelings and coping skills in a supportive atmosphere with others who are in a similar situation.
Provide even homebound caregivers and patients with an opportunity to share information, feelings and coping skills in a supportive atmosphere with others who are in a similar situation.
Technology Resources
There are many ways that technology and assistive devices can make it easier for people to live independently with a high quality of life.
There are many ways that technology and assistive devices can make it easier for people to live independently with a high quality of life.
Telephone and Visitation Services
Phone calls and/or home visits to seniors who are housebound.
Phone calls and/or home visits to seniors who are housebound.
Transportation for medical reasons
Offering transportation to seniors for reasons associated with their health.
Offering transportation to seniors for reasons associated with their health.
Transportation for non-medical reasons
Public or private transportation for short or long distances, often at reduced rates if rider is disabled, senior, or low income.
Public or private transportation for short or long distances, often at reduced rates if rider is disabled, senior, or low income.
Veteran Services
Persons who served in the armed forces often have access to special support programs available for veterans.
Persons who served in the armed forces often have access to special support programs available for veterans.
Volunteer Opportunities
Organizations helping seniors stay involved with their communities by volunteering their services.
Organizations helping seniors stay involved with their communities by volunteering their services.
Please Note: Hospice at Home does not specifically endorse the activities of these organizations, but offers their information as a sample of the kinds of materials and services that are available.
"I don't know what we would have done without the help we received. Having other people handle some of the tasks let us just be a family together, loving and supporting each other through this very hard time. You don't have to do it alone. There are lots of programs available. And some of them are free or low cost."