Elder Angle
Do you know where to call for help?
Are you a Senior looking for resources to help you with your rent, utility bill, or prescription? Do you need help understanding Medicare or choosing a Medigap or Medicare HMO insurance policy?
Are you a caregiver for an elderly loved one and in need of services to help you in your home? A starting point in seeking this and other kinds of assistance for Seniors and their caregivers is the Elder Helpline. The Elder Helpline is part of the Information and Referral (I & R) network that provides callers with information, referrals, choices, and assistance in accessing the many services available to older adults and their caregivers.
The Elder Helpline mission is to empower Seniors, their families and caregivers to make informed decisions about aging in an elder friendly environment, with security, dignity and purpose. The Elder Helpline is staffed with a trained, certified staff that can answer questions about information and referrals to agencies, services, and programs that assist elders, their caregivers and families. Some of these resources might include the
following:
- Transportation
- Recreation
- Meals-on-Wheels
- In-Home Services
- Emergency Alert Systems
- Legal Assistance
- Consumer Issues
- Rent and Utility Assistance
- Medicare and Long-Term Health Insurance Assistance
- Prescription Drug Assistance
The Elder Helpline is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-800-96-Elder (1-800-963-5337). Voice mail is available after hours and messages are responded to the next workday.
Today, older adults and their caregivers need all the help they can get. Sorting through the maze of senior services and programs can be confusing and frustrating for senior citizens and their family members. The Elder Helpline is there to help. §
Contributed by the staff at Elder Options (Mid-Florida Agency on Aging)
