Resources for Seniors with Limb Differences and Their Caregivers

Resources for Seniors with Limb Differences and Their Caregivers

Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) — These agencies provide information about groups that provide home-delivered meals, transportation, home health services, employment services, adult day care, and other services.
800/677-1116 (or check in the local telephone directory’s Yellow Pages under “Senior Citizens Services and Organizations” )
www.aoa.dhhs.gov/eldfam/how_to_find/agencies/agencies.asp

BenefitsCheckUp® — A Service of the National Council on the Aging — This free and simple online service allows seniors to search more than 1,550 federal and state programs and find those they might be eligible for.
www.benefitscheckup.org

Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) — CCI is a nonprofit organization that provides free assistance dogs for eligible people with disabilities.
800/572-2275
www.caninecompanions.org

Caregiver.com Weekly Newsletter — This is a free newsletter for caregivers.
800/829-2734
www.caregiver.com/caregiver_newsletter

The Caregivers Marketplace — This is a group-purchasing plan that offers savings to family caregivers on a variety of selected products and services that they are likely to purchase regularly.
800/888-0889
www.caregiversmarketplace.com

Children of Aging Parents (CAPS) — CAPS is a caregiver organization that offers information, education, support groups and referrals to children who are taking care of their parents.
800/227-7294
www.caps4caregivers.org

Department of Social Services — Every state and many local governments have a Department of Social Services, sometimes called Department of Health & Social (or Human) Services. The department offers information, referrals and assistance for seniors and helps them identify community resources that can help with their care, including transportation and nutrition services. It also assesses medical and supportive needs and coordinates a variety of services.
www.hhs.gov

DisabilityInfo.gov — This government Web site is a one-stop source of information for people with disabilities and their families and contains information on such issues as housing, healthcare, technology, education, employment., and civil rights.
www.DisabilityInfo.gov

The Eldercare Locator — This toll-free directory assistance helps individuals locate aging services nationwide.
800/677-1116
www.eldercare.gov

e-pill Medication Reminder and Dispenser — These special pill dispensers offer reminders for when it’s time for patients to take their medication. They allow patients or caregivers to organize and dispense medication on time and in the correct dosage.
800/549-0095
www.epill.com/dispenser.html

Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) — FCA is a nonprofit support organization for caregivers.
800/445-8106
www.caregiver.org

FirstGov for Seniors — This Web site allows seniors to find health information and services at one location 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Users can access all of the government sites that provide services for senior citizens, and do a variety of tasks (such as changing their address) online, rather than going to an agency.
800/333-4636
www.seniors.gov

National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) — NAC is an alliance of companies and organizations that are concerned with family caregiving.
www.caregiving.org

National Assistive Technology Technical Assistance Partnership (NATTAP) — These projects, which exist in every state, commonwealth and territory of the United States, work to reduce or eliminate barriers that impede access to and funding for assistive technology devices and services for individuals with disabilities of all ages.
703/524-6686
www.resna.org/taproject/at/statecontacts.html

National Association for Home Care (NAHC) — The NAHC works to ensure that people who are elderly, chronically ill, or who have disabilities can obtain healthcare and services in their homes so that institutionalization is a last resort. The association provides information on what types of home care services are available, how to find them, how to assess them, and how to pay for them.
202/547-7424
www.nahc.org/consumer/coninfo.html

National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) — NFCA is an organization for family caregivers that offers free memberships, a toll-free advisory service, a pharmacy discount program, advocacy, and information.
800/896-3650
www.nfcacares.org

National Family Caregiver Support Program — A program that provides information to caregivers about available services, assistance in gaining access to supportive services, individual counseling, support groups, caregiver training, respite care, and supplemental services to complement the care provided by caregivers.
202/619-0724
www.aoa.gov/prof/aoaprog/caregiver/careprof/state_by_state/state_contact.asp

SeniorNet — This nonprofit organization offers seniors education about and access to computer technology and the Web.
www.seniornet.org

Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) — These community-based, nonprofit organizations provide a range of home care services.
617/737-3200
www.vnaa.org

Well Spouse Foundation — This is a support organization for partners of people with disabilities.
800/838-0879
www.wellspouse.org

Personal (or Medical) Emergency Response Systems

A Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) is an electronic device that can be worn on the wrist or as a pendant. In an emergency, pushing a button on the device will send a signal to an emergency response service center that monitors the device, which will contact you or notify the appropriate emergency personnel (medical, fire or police). In addition, many PERS services will also remind subscribers when to take medications, when they have doctor appointments, etc. Following are several providers of PERS services.

LifeFone
800/882-2280
www.lifefone.com

Lifeline Personal Response and Support Services
800/380-3111
www.lifelinesys.com

Personal Safety Corporation
866/723-2527
www.padalarm.com

ResponseLink
800/894-1428
www.responselink.com