Senior Services Directory
- Caregiver Resources
Informal caregivers (family, friends, and neighbors) increasingly share the responsibility, opportunity, and challenge of providing care and comfort for an older loved one. It is generally estimated that 70% to 80% of the care provided to older adults in the community is provided by these caregivers.
Because of the importance of this essential group of care providers, we have developed this specific section which lists programs, services and resources that are specifically designed for caregivers. The balance of this directory also provides important information for older adults and their caregivers, and we invite you to refer to these specific service-related sections based upon your individual needs.
The point of this section is to let our local caregivers know that they are not alone. The resources in this section and the services outlined in the balance of this directory can provide support, knowledge, and respite that will help you better care for your loved ones and for yourself. Categories include:- Resource Materials
- Respite Services
- Support Groups
- Websites for Caregivers
- Workshops
While the scope and amount of resource materials varies greatly, the following organizations provide a variety of brochures, booklets, workshops, and videos related to a variety of issues important to caregivers. The Council for Older Adults has been designated as the primary Caregiver Resource Center by the National Family Caregiver Support Program
Caregivers often try to do it all themselves and not seek help. This can lead to burnout and/or illness which will not be helpful for the person for whom they are caring. Respite services are designed to give the primary caregiver a break away from caregiver duties. This break can be for a few hours at a time or, in some instances, for a weekend or a week. Listed below are those organizations that provide respite services. When respite is needed for an extended amount of time (vacation, etc.) or institutional respite is preferred, please contact the extended care facility which you are interested in to check for availability. For a complete listing of extended care facilities in Delaware County, please see the Housing section under Extended Care Facilities, beginning on page 88.
The following organizations sponsor support groups specifically designed for those who are caring for others. Typically, participants have an opportunity to share their feelings and learn from the experiences of others in this role.
Websites can be a good source of fast, up-to-date information for caregivers. The following websites have been designed specifically for caregivers. All of these sites can be accessed from links that are available at the Council for Older Adults website: www.growingolder.org.
The following organizations provide hands-on training designed to help caregivers cope with the duties and stresses of caring for another.
- Crisis & Abuse
This section lists local and state resources available to those in crisis and those who have been abused, neglected, and/or exploited. These categories include:
- Adult Protective Services
- Crisis Hotlines
- Domestic Abuse Programs
- Other Resources
- Victim Recovery Program
APS includes the investigation of reports of elder abuse, neglect (including self neglect) and exploitation of individuals age 60 and older in Delaware County.
Twenty-four hour hotline to respond to those in crisis.
The following category lists agencies that aid persons/families that are victims of abuse.
This section identifies programs that help those who have been affected by or have witnessed a crime.
- Financial & Utility Assistance
This section identifies those organizations which respond to immediate needs for food, money, shelter, and other forms of assistance. These categories include:
- Basic Living Needs
- Consumer Protection Organizations
- Financial Assistance
- Utility Assistance
This category lists resources for food, shelter, clothing, and household items.
Organizations listed below will respond to issues related to consumer fraud, disagreements with businesses, and questions related to business dealings.
This category lists local resources where one may pursue financial assistance. Depending upon the organization, assistance may be available to help avoid eviction, utility shutoff, and other needs that may affect health or safety. Assistance is limited and in some instances may only be available on a one-time basis.
A listing of resources available to those who need assistance with utility bills.
- Government & Regulatory Agencies
Listed below you will find agencies which have specific governmental, regulatory or licensor function which may be of particular interest to older adults. This is not an exhaustive listing, but rather a brief listing of those entities that we most often find of interest to seniors.
- Health
Resources listed in this section are important resources for both general health and condition-specific issues. These include:
- Clinics
- Health Condition Focused Agencies
- Hospitals
- Mental Health and Counseling Services
- Other Health Services
- Referral Services
- Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapy
- Support Groups
These organizations list specific health related services designed for older adults.
Organizations listed below offer a specialized focus related to assessment, support and education in the specific area of expertise of each organization. Contact the organization of interest to you to learn about their specific services.
These facilities offer a full range of diagnostic, emergency care, treatment and rehabilitative services.
Listed are organizations that provide advice, treatment, and counseling for individuals, including older adults, who are seeking assistance with personal, psychological, and behavior issues and concerns.
Additional health related organizations.
Most organizations will strive to help their clients find community resources appropriate to their needs. The following organizations have a specific mission and primary focus related to helping the public find needed services.
Organizations that provide specific rehabilitative interventions by licensed professinals geared to help individuals retain or regain physical functioning.
The following organizations sponsor support groups specifically designed around the needs of those for whom they provide services. Typically, participants have an opportunity to share their experience and feelings and learn directly from others who may have similar situations. Each organization can provide specific information about the support groups that are offered.
- Housing
We all need to live somewhere and as we grow older our needs often change depending upon the size of our family, physical needs and personal preference. What follows in this section is a brief description of various housing options and related resources. When considering a change of residence, we recommend that you gather information and make personal visits to as many different options as possible. This section includes information about:
- Alzheimer's Units
- Assisted Living Facilities
- Extended Care Facilities
- Independent and Congregate Living
- Other Housing Resources
Several local extended care facilities have specialized care units designed for residents with Alzheimer's disease.
Generally this type of living arrangement combines apartment-style living with a meal plan and broad array of social services which are available when needed. All are private pay, and often facility operators will provide several plans or levels of service. Daily and monthly costs will vary depending upon what option is chosen.
Sometimes referred to as long term care facilities, or more commonly, nursing homes. These facilities typically offer a wide variety of services including: skilled nursing, dietary, pharmaceutical, custodial, personal care, and social activities. Specific information can be found for each of these facilities at www.medicare.gov and www.LTCOhio.org
These are basically apartment-style living arrangements where the individual is responsible for his or her own personal care, meals and living area. Most have common areas for laundry, socializing, and recreation. All are privately owned and operated, but some are government subsidized (*) and offer below-market rental rates.
Rather than types of housing options, this category refers to specialized housing programs and services available to renters or homeowners.
- In-Home Services
There are a variety of types of different in-home services designed to assist older adults remain living at home. This section lists and briefly explains these types of services and provides a listing of both profit and local not-for-profit organizations that provide the following services:
- Adult Day Health Services
- Chore Services
- Durable Medical Equipment
- Emergency Response Systems
- Home Delivered Meals
- Home Repair & Modification
- Homemaker, Personal Care, and Respite
- Hospice Care
- Nursing Services
- Supportive Services
- Transportation Services
Sometimes referred to as adult day care, these centers provide a number of health services in a group setting outside of the home environment during the day. Services typically include: social work, nursing, structured social and recreational activities conducted by licensed and trained professionals, and physical, occupational and speech therapy.
Places with (*) are able to assist older adults in arranging adult day services.These services include cleaning in and around the home as well as snow shoveling and yard work.
This category encompasses a broad array of assistive devices that are either prescribed for medical reasons or for mobility or safety purposes. While not an exhaustive list, items in this category include portable oxygen tanks, PAP breathing machines, hospital beds, lift chairs, wheelchairs, shower chairs, walkers, canes, and a variety of special appliances that assist those with physical limitations to accomplish personal tasks. In certain circumstances some of these items may be eligible for reimbursement under Medicare. It is best to call ahead to see if the organization provides the specific item that you need.
This service provides a degree of security for older adults and their families by providing a fast and easy way to call for help in an emergency. Typically designed as a bracelet or necklace, with a push of a button, the devices will signal a remote call
center when the individual is in need of emergency assistance.Hot, nutritious meals delivered to your door five days a week. Daily cold meals and weekend frozen meals also are typically available.
Sometimes the most important factor enabling an older individual to remain living at home is the condition of their house. Limited resources are available to assist with large and small home modifications including: installation of ramps, railings and shower bars; the repair of steps, floors, roofs, plumbing, and the repair and installation of furnaces. Various specific eligibility criteria are in place for each program.
We have grouped these three different but similar services (homemaker, personal care, and respite) together because typically if an organization provides one of these services, they will also provide the others.
(H) Homemaker Services provides an individual to perform a number of household tasks including such things as: laundry, vacuuming, dishwashing, window cleaning, and other related household cleaning tasks. In certain situations, grocery shopping and prescription pick-up is also provided. Other services may include escorted client transportation which enables a client to travel to necessary locations, such as a grocery store, post office, bank, etc. with a homemaker escort. This service is designed to meet the needs of clients who lack strong support systems and require supervision due to physical or mental impairments.
(P) Personal Care Services provides a trained and supervised individual to perform tasks such as: bathing, assistance with dressing, shaving, toileting, and transferring around the home.
(R) Respite Services are generally provided by a trained and supervised individual usually to provide relief for a caregiver. Typically, services are available in those circumstances where an older individual cannot be left alone unsupervised. These services enable family members to attend to personal needs or to simply have a break from the on-going responsibility that occurs from caring for another at home. Respite care can be provided in the home for several hours at a time or in a group or institutional setting for longer periods. When respite is needed for extended amount of time (vacation, etc.) or institutional respite is preferred, please contact the Extended Care Facility which you are interested in to check for availability. For a complete listing of Extended Care Facilities in Delaware County, please see the Housing section under Extended Care Facilities.Hospice or palliative care is designed for those individuals with a terminal condition who desire to remain at home during their last weeks or months of life.
Nursing (RN) services are available to assist older adults in achieving optimal health and well-being through the provision of health assessments and screening, medication set-up and monitoring, and blood pressure or other health checks, when no other means of obtaining such are available.
This category of services typically addresses other needs that home bound individuals may have on a routine basis. Services include tasks such as bill paying services and medication set-up services.
While transportation services are not provided as an in-home service, they are listed here because they often enable individuals who are no longer able to drive to continue to maintain their independence and remain living at home. Transportation is available through a number of organizations, but there is a great deal of difference in each organizations eligibility criteria, the purpose for which transportation may be provided, cost and general availability. It is best to call ahead with plenty of advance notice when seeking transportation assistance.
- Legal & Financial Planning
This section outlines numerous community resources available to assist seniors with difficult decisions concerning legal and financial matters. Categories include:
- Financial and Retirement Planning Consultation
- Legal Assistance
Advice and assistance regarding financial issues in the following areas:
(T) Income Tax Preparation provides access to trained AARP volunteers who will assist seniors with their annual tax preparation. Usually available from February to April 15.
(F) Financial and Retirement Planning provides individual advice about financial and/or retirement planning concerns.Programs listed below are generally those publicly funded programs which offer access to legal advice and counseling. We have not attempted to list private attorneys in this section although this information can be obtained from the referral line listed below.
- Prescription & Insurance
This section outlines numerous community resources available to assist seniors with difficult decisions concerning insurance and prescription matters. Categories include:
- Insurance Consultation
- Prescription Assistance Programs
Rapid change with healthcare insurance options can be difficult to keep up with and challenging to understand. The resources in this section will provide access to trained individuals who can help older adults and their families navigate the confusing maze of public and private health insurance programs.
Services listed in this section include resources for emergency assistance with prescriptions, information about Medicare Part D prescription programs, and counseling about various other prescription options.
- Social & Recreational Opportunities
This section lists a number of opportunities to become involved with local senior centers and clubs and traveling. These categories include:
- Dining Centers
- Educational Opportunities
- Recreational Resources
- Senior Centers and Clubs
These organizations sponsor regular group meals for older adults.
Listed below are places that offer education, training, workshops and classes to older adults.
In addition to the recreational opportunities typically available at senior centers (next section), listed below are other types of community recreational opportunities.
Listed below are senior centers (offering a facility with a variety of daily activities) and senior clubs (usually gathering one or more times per month for food, travel, and/or other programs). Senior Centers are identified with an (*).
- Volunteer and Job Opportunities
In our community, an abundance of volunteer opportunities exist. We encourage everyone to get involved with an organization which fits their specific interest.
Employment resources are also listed for those who would like to remain or return to the workforce.- Employment Resources
- Volunteer Opportunities
There are several employment agencies serving Delaware County which seniors may contact. This section is limited to those nonprofit organizations which have a specific senior-employment focus.
Almost every nonprofit organization listed in this directory relies on volunteers to accomplish its mission. Most offer opportunities to fit every interest and schedule.
- Websites & Hotlines