Directories and plain-English explainers of the programs that exist for older adults and their families in the United States. These pages do not sell anything. They are here because the hardest part of arranging help is usually not choosing between options, it is finding out which options exist at all.
Start here
If you do not know where to begin, begin with one phone number. The Eldercare Locator, at 1-800-677-1116, connects you to the Area Agency on Aging that covers your ZIP code. Nearly everything on this page runs through that agency.
Find help near you
- Area Agencies on Aging, what they do, what they cost, how to find yours, and what to have ready before you call.
- Caregiver support, respite, training, counseling, and the circumstances where a family caregiver can be paid.
- Senior nutrition programs, home-delivered and congregate meals, who qualifies, and why there is no mandatory fee.
- Legal help and the long-term care ombudsman, free advocacy for facility residents and free legal services for people 60 and over.
- Nursing home preadmission screening, what PASRR is, why it delays discharges, and how to appeal.
Phone numbers worth keeping
| Service | Number | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Eldercare Locator | 1-800-677-1116 | Connects you to local aging services by ZIP code |
| 211 | 211 | General local health and human services referral |
| Alzheimer’s Association Helpline | 1-800-272-3900 | Dementia support, 24 hours |
| VA Caregiver Support Line | 1-855-260-3274 | For caregivers of veterans |
| Medicare | 1-800-633-4227 | Coverage questions, claims, plan enrollment |
| 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | 988 | Crisis support for anyone, including caregivers |
How to use these pages
Each page explains what a program is, who qualifies, what it costs, and where to apply. We have kept the structure the same throughout so you can skim to the part you need. Where a product might genuinely help with a problem described here, we link to the relevant section of the site, but the programs come first, because they are free and most families have not heard of them.
These pages are free to reference and free to link to. If you work at a senior center, library, hospital, or agency and something here is wrong or out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
Programs described here are set by federal law and administered locally. Eligibility and availability vary by state and county, and rules change. Confirm anything you plan to act on with your local agency.