Seniors often need extensive support as they reach their retirement age due to significant changes in overall health. All seniors deserve to receive helpful resources that allow them to navigate their new life chapters with dignity, confidence, freedom, and independence. Therefore, knowing where to get help is essential; sometimes, the support may be closer than you think.
Here is our list of five helpful community resources that will make a difference for your parents and older family members.
Community and Seniors: How Community-Based Resources Help Seniors Lead a Healthier and Happier Life
Community-Based Resources for Older Adults
Often, when seniors start to show concerning signs of aging, people around them worry. They don’t know what they should do next to assist them in achieving healthier and more fulfilling retirement years.
A lack of general knowledge of senior care among family members, combined with seniors’ declining health and mobility, frequently leaves seniors more vulnerable to several health risks. For most seniors, this scenario makes daily tasks like grooming, bathing, or cooking more difficult. Over time, the absence of self-care can degrade their quality of life if no action is taken accordingly.
In addition to family members and friends, community-based resources help seniors feel less like “outcasts.” These resources bring relief to seniors, knowing they always have trustworthy help to turn to when dealing with physical health issues emerging from untimely medical conditions. These communities also help mental health by reducing loneliness and isolation due to prolonged homebound periods.
Several federal-based, locally-run programs and community-based organizations are specially designated to make a difference in seniors’ lives. Instead of scrolling through the Internet, expert guidance and support are sometimes available in the community.
Community-based resources are considered the building blocks of a nationwide system of care, allowing each individual to have access to a range of services and welfare programs benefiting their lives to the fullest.
Growing older is challenging, even with family, friends, and adequate financial resources. Sometimes, outside support can make a significant change in the lives of seniors. Here are some community resources for your parents and older family members.
211 Telephone Service
The call 211 center is a free, 24/7 telephone service created to provide an all-in-one resource for information about health, human services, and local community services, such as housing, food, utility, and suicide and crisis interventions.
When looking for community resources, dialing 211 is considered the most straightforward strategy for callers to learn about in-effect services and connect with their state’s information resources. It directs callers to the nearby point of contact, especially when they need immediate, special attention.
City Hall
City hall generally acts as a bridge between the government and its citizens, offering various services for diverse needs and interests. It has resources that connect people with social and medical assistance designed for each unique purpose.
Some offer services to guarantee that at-risk or low-income residents receive in-time support to remain independent. You can obtain information and referrals about all active welfare programs and activities, including housing assistance, safety checks, and medical equipment rental.
Local Community and Senior Centers
Community and senior centers know best when dealing with senior-related matters since they are established specifically for seniors and their needs. Essentially, they work to provide and coordinate some programs and services made accessible for each senior’s specific needs.
Seniors participating in local senior centers from one to three times a week are healthier and have high levels of life satisfaction and social interaction. Other services that senior centers offer include:
- Meal and nutrition programs
- Health, fitness, and wellness programs
- Transportation services
- Public benefit counseling
- Employment assistance
- Volunteer and civic engagement opportunities
- Social and recreational programs
- Intergenerational programs
Local Financial Planning Offices
Sorting through all legal and financial matters for your parents could be an ordeal, mainly if the law is outside your expertise. So who do you turn to when your parents need smart financial guidance for managing their decade-long assets and properties?
You can acquire professional assistance from qualified financial advisors, accountants, or experienced lawyers. Some states have financial planning offices as a resource to their citizens. These offices can help to answer the most pressing questions related to tax, will, and financial planning strategies. They also offer free consultations that help you and your parents take control, organize, and decide what to do with their financial assets. For seniors, a stable financial situation positions them for a more enjoyable life without worrying about running out of money.
Senior Living Communities
Senior living communities could be one of the best resources you can use to help your parents and older family members navigate their retirement years with greater ease.
Aside from being a haven for seniors requiring around-the-clock care, senior living communities provide families with excellent guidance and great benefits. This is because their primary area of expertise involves serving and delivering appropriate care for senior residents every day.
Acquiring assistance from such places allows seniors to get the professional care they need to thrive and allows a respite for the primary family caregiver. Start by building a relationship with a senior living community with the appropriate level of care benefits and services for your family member in your area. This prepares you to help your family member make the transition to senior living if and when the time comes and can help to lessen the stress associated with giving your parents the care they deserve along the way.
Other Resources for Seniors and Caregivers
Below is our list of reliable resources covering a wide range of topics and aspects that you may find helpful when caring for your seniors.
Senior Housing
- Housing Choice Voucher Program
- National Directory of Home Modification and Repair Resources
- National Aging in Place Council
- Village to Village Network
- U.S. Department of Housing and Development – Senior Citizens
Senior Healthcare
- State Departments of Public Health
- PACE
- LongTermCare.gov
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
- State Health Insurance Assistance Programs
- National Health Care Association
- Health Finder
- Eldercare Locator
- RareDiseases
- National Institute of Aging
Senior Nutrition
- Meals on Wheels
- Feeding America
- Eat Right
- FoodSafety.org
Senior Medications
- 211.org
- Low-Income Subsidy Program
- Medisafe Medication Management
- RxAssist
Senior Mental Health
- Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center
- Disaster Distress Hotline
- Friendship Line
- American Psychological Association
- National Institute of Drug Abuse
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
If you have questions about community resources for older adults or any topics discussed here, connect with us and learn more.
At 12 Oaks, our team of caring professionals is dedicated to keeping residents safe, engaged, and connected to their families and friends while leading fulfilling lives. 12 Oaks senior living communities are an ideal place to enjoy the encore season of life.
For questions or to schedule a personalized tour, don’t hesitate to contact us.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG
Searching for senior living help? At 12 Oaks Senior Living, we would love to learn more about your unique needs and the opportunity we may have to help you meet them. Our blog is one of the valuable resources we provide to inform and encourage seniors to lead fulfilling and thriving lives. Contact us today to schedule a visit.