The following list of organizations and companies is provided for informational purposes only. This directory is not comprehensive, but it does include some excellent resources to help you jumpstart your research. While visiting these websites, be aware that some are reputable government sites; others are commercial businesses that may request you fill out a form to get more information or to talk to a representative; others contain sponsored content to cater to advertisers; and still others may sell personal information to advertisers.* So, please exercise caution about what personal information you give out.
How to Find a Caregiver
Help with Talking to Parents: Questionnaire to Identify Areas of Need
Task Management (Communication, Coordination, Organization)
Medical Records Information and Storage
Housing—Care Settings—Transitions Between Care Settings
Help with Paying Bills, Health Costs, Long-Term Care
Caregiver Support
Hospice and Palliative Care
Geriatric Care Managers
Medical and Health Information
Adult Day Care Centers
Home Modifications
How to Find a Caregiver
| Program | Description |
| Caregiver.com | Listing of local caregivers by location or type of service needed |
| HomeCare | List of local caregivers provided after entering general information and providing email address |
| Home Instead | Provider of health care services, including hospice and dementia care for those living at home |
| Alzheimer’s Association | Association provides community resources finder and programs, for help with Alzheimer’s disease and their families
http://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-care-housing.asp |
| AssistGuide for Information Services (AGIS) | Suggestions on how to find a caregiver
http://www.agis.com/Document/19/resources-for-finding-a-caregiver.aspx |
| Care4Hire | Register and you have access to listings of caregivers who meet your specific needs and requirements |
| CareSpotter | Set up an account to get access to local experienced in-home caregivers |
Help with Talking to Parents: Questionnaire to Identify Areas of Need
| Program | Description |
| AARP | Very useful categorization and checklists of General Needs Assessment and Goals
http://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/home-and-family/caregiving/2012-10/prepare-to-care-lores.pdf |
| Harvard Medical School | For purchase, information in report navigates the spectrum of tasks undertaken by caregivers; also includes a needs questionnaire; and information on navigating Medicare and Medicaid |
| Real Simple | Articles on opening a conversation with loved one along with questions to ask about health and finances
http://www.realsimple.com/health/preventative-health/aging-caregiving/talk-parents-aging |
| AgingPro | Caregiving 101, good overview of caring for the elderly |
| AssistGuide Information Services (Agis) | Lots of information and local resources on family caregivers plus handy checklists |
| CareGiving.com | Part of a series of articles describing what to expect throughout the caregiving journey
http://www.caregiving.com/the-caregiving-years/stage-1-the-expectant-caregiver/ |
| The Scan Foundation | Articles from independent public charity on caring for older adults, including “10 Things You Should Know” series as well as video on pointers on planning aging
http://www.thescanfoundation.org/10-conversations-plan-aging-dignity-and-independence |
Task management (Communication, Coordination, Organization)
| Program | Description |
| CaringBridge | Create free website, share news, photos, messages http://www.caringbridge.org/ |
| CareZone | Designed to have friends and family plug in, share, and organize private information in the cloud, to-do lists, calendars; accessible on mobile apps |
| Lotsof Helping Hands | Calendar events, sign-up sheet for tasks; communicate with family and friends http://lotsahelpinghands.com/ |
| Unfrazzle | Downloadable app on iPhone and Android to help manage schedules and daily caregiving tasks |
| AboutOne | Both web and mobile version, includes family calendar, tracks notes, photos, documents |
| Online calendars | Keep track of appointments, reminders, schedules, etc. Google Calendar (requires a Google account), Sunrise,Yahoo Calendar, Apple’s iCal, Cozi Family |
| Online documentation | Notes, track tasks, save important documents
Dropbox, JustCloud, SugarSync, OnlineFileFolder, Evernote |
| SignUpGenius | Customized sign-up for posting to-do tasks |
| CareGiver Action Network | Suggestions on categorizing patient’s file |
| Medicare | Find and compare health & prescription drugs |
| CareCentral | A free service where family and friends can create a secure community to keep in touch, stay informed, and support |
| Carepages | Creates private account for a free website to connect family and friends, relate stories, post pictures |
| Making Care Easier (MCE) | Families can store and share personalized, secure information, coordinate care, share updates and messages |
Medical Records Information and Storage
| Program | Description |
| HealthIt.gov | Launched by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health information Technology , site provides information for health care professionals, patients and families on electronic medical records (EMRs)
http://www.healthit.gov/patients-families/maintain-your-medical-record |
| myPHR | Tool to collect, track and share health information |
| Family Medical Manager | Organize family’s medical records, including medications |
| U.S. Surgeon General | The tool, “My Family Health Portrait” assembles family health history that can be shared with family or health practitioners |
| Zweena Health | Offers a paid and free plan. Uploads and stores key medical records free, or can pay Co. to organize and digitize health records |
| CareSync | Free and upgraded paid service that collects all your medical records, medication tracking |
| U.S. Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights | Privacy concerns re: medical records
YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMUFa5amPKs |
Housing — Care Settings –Transitions Between Care Settings
| Program | Description |
| Eldercare Locator | A public service of US. Administration on Aging, it is a nationwide service linking community resources and facilities for older adults and their caregivers in the adult’s hometown; connects caregiver to local services |
| Caring | Free directory of providers of assisted living, independent living, and other residential care options, with photos, reviews, cost information https://www.caring.com |
| Longtermcare.gov | From US. Department of Health and Human Services, spells out senior living options, legal considerations, and payment options |
| A Place for Mom | Comprehensive senior living options with search by zip code http://www.aplaceformom.com |
| Assistedliving.com | Free service that searches and compares senior living options http://www.assistedliving.com |
| Our Parents | Searchable database of assisted living facilities, nursing homes, retirement community in your zip code; call or email to connect to a company representative |
| Senior Homes | Senior articles addressing different care settings; free Care Advisory Service, and free directory of home care settings |
| National Long-Term Care Ombudsman | This will direct you to a local ombudsman to help you find nursing homes, assisted living facilities, board and care homes; trained to resolve conflicts in a facility and assist with resident’s complaints http://theconsumervoice.org/get_help |
| Family Caregiver Alliance | Family Care Navigator to find public and private programs, and services near your parent; also variety of topics on caring for an aging individual |
| Village to Village Network | Helps communities organize cooperatives in which residents help residents; provides interactive map to search for community in your state or city |
| Medicare | Guide provides information about housing options, paying for care, and checklist for comparing Medicare- certified nursing homes and home health agencies
http://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/02174.pdf; https://www.medicare.gov/homehealthcompare/ |
| Department of Housing and Urban Development | Information on financial assistance for low-income senior citizens
https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/information_for_senior_citizens |
| Administration on Aging | Key information on implementing care transition programs
http://www.aoa.gov/AoA_programs/Tools_Resources/Care_Transitions.aspx |
| The Co-Housing Company | Co-housing for seniors (50+) in a planned community setting
http://www.cohousingco.com/project-types/?cat=senior-housing |
| AARP | Compare costs of nursing home care, adult day care, in-home care, assisted living in your area or two areas
http://www.aarp.org/relationships/caregiving-resource-center/LTCC/?cmp=RDRCT-LONG_MARC14_011 |
| Assisted Living Federation of America | National association has large amount of information on managed, resident-centered senior living communities |
| LeadingAge | Searchable directory of services for aging seniors via zip code |
| AssistGuide Information Services (AGIS) | Free information on caregiving and caregiving solutions; also provides a list of providers and support services in a location of your choosing http://www.agis.com/Find-Facilities-and-Services/default.aspx |
| Center for Excellence in Assisted Living | State each state’s information about assisted living
http://www.theceal.org/assisted-living-resource-center/resources-for-the-assisted-living-consumer |
| National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) | Consumer publications guiding consumer through decision making process in choosing and selecting an assisted living facility
http://www.ahcancal.org/ncal/resources/Pages/ConsumerResources.aspx |
| National Institute on Aging (NIH) | Helpful guide on nursing homes and how to pay for a home |
| MedCottage | Prefabricated, high-tech modular home with monitoring and safety features as alternative to nursing homes |
| Assisted Living Center | Has a directory of assisted living facilities and stats in states and major cities as well as articles focusing on common issues of assisted living residents |
| Assisted Living Directory | Directory listing of facilities in states and major cities |
| Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living (CCAL) | Offers information on assisted living facilities and quality and care of residents |
| Next Step in Care | Site provides advice, guides, checklists for family caregivers to make smooth and safe transitions between care settings (i.e., hospitals, rehab, nursing homes and home) |
| National Association of Area Agencies on Aging | Single point of entry into long-term care services for older adults |
| CareLinx | Free search after entering contact information to find in-home caregiver to match your needs |
| Our Parents | Search for senior housing or call Care Advisor; articles and videos on major types of living options, how to choose the right facility |
| Veterans Administration | Information from the Veterans Administration on various senior settings for long term care and payment options
http://www.va.gov/geriatrics/guide/longtermcare/Paying_for_Long_Term_Care.asp |
| HealthFinder.gov | From the U.S. Health and Human Services, find care settings, hospitals, health professionals offering services and support for senior citizens |
For Help In Paying Bills, Health Costs, Long-Term Care
| Program | Description |
| The National Council on Aging | Free service that helps older people to find benefit programs that help pay for medications, health care, financial, legal, utility bills, in-home services, and food |
| PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly | Medicare program and Medicaid state option that provides community-based care and services who otherwise would need a nursing home level of care. It offers a full range of health care services from prescription drugs, doctor care, transportation, home care, checkups, hospital visits, and nursing home stays when necessary, adult day care services, meals, physical therapy, dentistry, social work consulting, and laboratory and X-ray services
http://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/help-paying-costs/pace/pace.html |
| Medicare | Explanation of various programs that can help you save on drug and medical expenses
http://medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/help-paying-costs/get-help-paying-costs.html |
| NeedyMeds | List programs that provide assistance to those who cannot afford drugs or health care costs; you apply directly to those programs |
| Benefits Checkup | Provided as a free service by the National Council on Aging, site provides comprehensive search to find public and private benefit and prescription drug programs to help seniors cover some costs of care expenses |
| Paying for Senior Care | Information on how families can pay for at-home care, assisted living, nursing home, and Alzheimer’s care |
| Veterans Administration | Information from the Veterans Administration on paying for long term care services
http://www.va.gov/geriatrics/guide/longtermcare/Paying_for_Long_Term_Care.asp |
| NIH Senior Care | Article covering the various ways to pay, plus a link to the long term care costs in your state
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/longtermcare/payingforlongtermcare/01.html |
| Longtermcare.gov | Very helpful articles on costs as well as map on the cost details in your state depending on type of service (nursing home, in-home, assisted living)
http://longtermcare.gov/costs-how-to-pay/costs-of-care-in-your-state/ |
Caregiver Support
| Program | Description |
| AARP | Its Caregiving Resource Center provides guides and checklists as well as in personal support http://www.aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/ |
| National Respite Locator | Helps caregivers find respite services in their area to match their specific needs |
| A Place for Mom | Browse available services by region or by state |
| HelpGuide.org | Several articles on tips for relieving stress and burnout for caregivers
http://helpguide.org/articles/stress/caregiving-stress-and-burnout.htm |
| Family Caregiving Alliance | Helpful articles on national, state and local programs that support caregivers
https://caregiver.org/taking-care-you-self-care-family-caregivers |
| Aging Parents and Elder Care | Support group message board for caregivers to share experiences and thoughts
http://www.aging-parents-and-elder-care.com/Pages/SupportGroup.html |
| LeadingAge | Searchable directory for respite care in your specific community |
| AssistGuide for Information Services (AGIS) | Handy general checklist for finding a support group
http://www.agis.com/Document/24/tips-for-finding-a-support-group.aspx |
| National Institute on Aging (NIH) | Helpful booklet in question-and-answer format for caregivers who live far away from their parents |
| Shepherd’s Centers of America | Interfaith, nonprofit organization that provides a variety of services , such as support, meals, nursing visitors, in-home visitors, transportation; services vary within the centers |
| HelpGuide.org | Excellent source of tips for making family caregiving easier
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/caregiving/caregiving-support-and-help.htm |
Hospice and Palliative Care
| Program | Description |
| Washington Post | Detailed information on hospices in each state and what information is important for consumers to know, such as age, size, accreditation, inspections, life-patient discharge rate and how it compares to others
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/business/hospice-quality |
| CaringInfo | A program from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, this national organization provides articles on finding, selecting and paying hospice services and improving end-of-life-care |
| National Association for Home Care & Hospice | Connects you with local home care and hospice services in your community |
| Medicare | Discusses coverage for hospice care
http://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospice-and-respite-care.html |
| National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization | Information on hospice care |
| National Institute on Aging (NIH) | 68-page guide discussing key issues at the end of life
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/end-life-helping-comfort-and-care/introduction |
| HospiceDirectory.org | Searchable directory of hospices by city and state and offers information on options on paying for hospice care |
| Moments of Life | Group provides information on hospice services, includes stories and a directory of hospices closest to your location |
| Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) | Nonprofit offers information on hospice and end-of-life issues and includes an Ask an Expert feature to ask personalized questions |
| Get Palliative Care | A site that specializes in palliative care information; contains directory of hospitals providing palliative care services; provides questionnaire on whether palliative care is appropriate |
Geriatric Care Managers
| Program | Description |
| Institute on Aging | Care managers screen and monitor care plans as well as make any periodic needed adjustments
http://www.ioaging.org/services-for-elders-and-caregivers/care-management |
| Aging Life Care Associations | Formerly National Associate of Professional Geriatric Care Manager; association assists you in finding aging life care professionals in your community |
| National Care Planning Council | Click on a map to find a geriatric care manager in your state |
Medical and Health Information
| Program | Description | Contact |
| Medline Plus | From US National Library of Medicine and NIH, government site offering generous amounts of health information | |
| FDA | Searchable catalog of FDA approved human drugs, prescriptions and over the counter, interactions, drug recalls, vaccines, medical devices, dosages | |
| National Library of Medicine | Known as the world’s largest medical library; in addition to articles, watch health videos on anatomy and body systems and how diseases and conditions affect them | |
| Mayo Clinic | Covers symptoms, tests, supplements, and treatments for diseases selected in an A-Z listing
http://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-care-and-health-information |
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| U.S. Health and Human Services, Aging site | Site devoted to healthy aging and offers one source links to government resources, information on health issues, long term care, and retirement planning | |
| Mental Health America | A-Z listing of mental health information
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/mental-health-information |
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| National Institute on Aging (NIH) | A-Z health topics with information on a variety of senior issues | |
| NIH Senior Health | Health and wellness information and videos from National Institute on Aging | |
| HealthFinder | Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides easy to understand health information and advice; provides personalized health recommendations through myhealthfinder | |
| MedHelp | Online health community offers an A-Z listing on drugs and health conditions; supports community forum as well as an Ask a Doctor segment; has handy health trackers | |
Adult Day Care Centers
| Program | Description |
| National Adult Day Services Assoc. | Locate adult day centers via zip code; features a handy checklist to use on visits to a day care center |
| Administration on Aging | Helpful factsheets an adult day care center, how to pay for such services, as well as search feature for local centers in your area
http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Resources/Factsheets/Adult_Day_Care.aspx and http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Index.aspx |
| Caring.com | Find an adult day care center by zip or city and state; articles on how to pay and what services are offered
https://www.caring.com/local/adult-day-care?PageSpeed=noscript |
Home Modifications
| Program | Description |
| National Association of Home Builders | Directory of certified aging in place specialists who provide home modifications to increase access and safety for the aging |
| Consumer Product Safety Commission | Handy checklist to spot safety problems in older parent’s home |
| Homemods | Nonprofit with national database of home modification and repair providers who do work for the elderly |
| Eldercare Locator | A public service of U.S. Administration on Aging offers a factsheet on home modifications
http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Resources/Factsheets/Home_Modifications.aspx |
| Paying for Senior Care | Database of financial resources to help pay for home safety and accessibility modifications
http://www.payingforseniorcare.com/longtermcare/resources/locator_tool.html |
| ThisCaringHome | From the Weill Cornell Medical College, the site offers tips and tools for home safety for dementia individuals, and how to make life safer; has Expert Reviews on a variety of specialized products for each room |
* Senior Care Advice does not endorse any of these organizations and companies, nor does it qualify any of the services or products listed below. Your use of third-party websites, including those listed above, is at your own risk.