Resources for Older Adults and Family
Living with Disabilities and Chronic and Mental Health Conditions Palliative Care Living with Disabilities Healthcare Costs Mental and Behavioral Health Resources Caregiving Support and Services Comprehensive Services
In this section, you’ll find links to resources and other forms of support for chronic health conditions and disabilities. You’ll also find caregiving resources.
Living with Disabilities and Chronic and Mental Health Conditions
Alzheimer’s disease/dementia
- Alzheimer’s Association is a health organization that offers Alzheimer's care, support and research.
- Alzheimer’s Foundation of America offers support, services and education to patients, families and caregivers changed by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. It also funds research for better treatment and a cure.
- BrightFocus Foundation supports research and teaches people about Alzheimer’s disease, glaucoma and macular degeneration.
- CaringKind offers many types of services and programs to people with Alzheimer’s disease/dementia and their caregivers/care partners.
- Dementia Action Alliance seeks to advocate and teach about dementia through education, empowerment and support.
- Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center works with local and national organizations to educate patients and their caregivers/care partners about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association seek to fight heart disease and strokes.
- Million Hearts is a national program that aims to stop heart attacks and strokes.
- Pulmonary Hypertension Association offers programs and services to support patients and caregivers/care partners with high blood pressure.
High cholesterol
- Family Heart Foundation offers research, support and education to better spot signs of and care for familial hypercholesterolemia and elevated lipoprotein(a).
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health. It supports research on the prevention and treatment of heart, lung and blood disorders.
Arthritis
- Arthritis Foundation supports life-changing arthritis research and offers support and community connections.
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases is part of the National Institutes of Health. It supports research on arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases and scientific training.
- The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance offers free resources and tools to help older adults prevent and manage osteoarthritis.
Diabetes
- American Diabetes Association (ADA) funds research to cure, manage and stop diabetes.
- Diabetes Advocacy Alliance seeks to create change in the healthcare system to make diabetes prevention, detection and care better. It also seeks to develop faster pathways to cures.
- Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) Foundation does research and offers support for people with diabetes and their caregivers/care partners.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is part of the National Institutes of Health. It supports and does research on diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases. It also offers facts about diabetes on its site.
Coronary heart disease
- The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association seek to fight heart disease and strokes.
- The Heart Foundation raises awareness of heart disease and early detection.
- WomenHeart seeks to make the lives of women with or at risk for heart disease better and advocates for equity in heart health.
Chronic kidney disease
- American Association of Kidney Patients teaches and gives a voice to kidney patients and their caregivers/care partners.
- American Kidney Fund offers programs that support people with kidney disease.
- National Kidney Foundation seeks to make the lives of kidney patients better through action, education and driving change.
Behavioral health
- Anxiety & Depression Association of America is focused on the prevention, treatment and cure of anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD and co-occurring disorders.
- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance offers support for families and friends of those who have depression or bipolar disorder.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness offers education and support to people and families changed by mental illness. It also raises public awareness about mental health conditions.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers facts, toolkits and resources on mental health services for older adults, caregivers/care partners and doctors.
Heart failure
- HeartBrothers Foundation is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that seeks to help heart failure patients manage the condition.
- Heart Failure Society of America seeks to make heart failure care better.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- American Lung Association seeks to make lung health better and stop lung disease through education, support and research.
- Chest Foundation seeks to make lung health better through facts, patient empowerment and research. It’s linked to the American College of Chest Physicians.
- COPD Foundation seeks to stop COPD, bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease. It seeks cures while teaching and supporting those changed by these conditions.
Early-stage breast cancer
- Susan G. Komen is focused on breast cancer research, community health, public policy efforts and outreach around the world.
- National Breast Cancer Foundation offers early detection, education and support to women who are at risk for or have breast cancer.
- Living Beyond Breast Cancer offers facts and support services to women with breast cancer.
Fast-growing prostate cancer
- American Cancer Society seeks to eliminate cancer through research, sharing expert facts, patient support and raising awareness of prevention.
- CancerCare offers programs, services and resources to people with cancer, caregivers, loved ones and people who are grieving.
- Prostate Cancer Foundation supports research to make the prevention, detection and treatment of prostate cancer better.
- Zero supports cancer research and seeks to improve lives of men with cancer and their families.
Hip osteoarthritis
- The Arthritis Foundation supports life-changing arthritis research and offers support and community connections.
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases is part of the National Institutes of Health. It supports research on arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases and scientific training.
- The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance offers free resources and tools to help older adults prevent and manage osteoarthritis.
Hip replacement
- American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) seeks to improve hip and knee care through education, advocacy and research.
Spinal stenosis of the lower back
- The National Spine Health Foundation helps make the lives of patients with spinal conditions better.
Palliative Care
- The Center to Advance Palliative Care offers palliative care information and resources for seriously ill patients on its Get Palliative Care website.
Living with Disabilities
- ALS Association supports amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research and helps people with ALS through a network of chapters. The association also coordinates multidisciplinary care.
- Brain Injury Association of America seeks to make the lives of those affected by brain injuries better.
- Epilepsy Foundation offers community services, public education and seizure first aid training. The foundation supports patients on a federal and advocacy level. It also funds new treatments and therapies.
- Muscular Dystrophy Association seeks to make the lives of people with muscular dystrophy better through research, care and support.
- YAI (formerly the Young Adult Institute) offers services to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
- Administration for Community Living offers a list of supports to help older adults and their caregivers find care and services.
- USAGov offers facts on supportive services and how to find help for costs and disability benefits.
Healthcare Costs
- Health Coverage:
- The US Department of Health & Human Services offers a web page about federal health coverage for older adults and low-income people.
- The Center for Medicare Advocacy helps older adults and people with disabilities access Medicare coverage.
- The Medicare Rights Center offers Medicare information and counseling.
- The National Council on Aging
(NCOA) seeks to help make the lives of older adults better. Its website
offers tools for
older adults like:
- The AgeWellPlanner: Offers support, tools and expert help.
- The BenefitsCheckUp: Connects you to benefit programs in your area.
- The Eldercare Locator: Offers facts on health coverage, home and community-based services, housing and transportation.
- NCOA also offers a section for older adults with articles on many topics.
- Benefits.Gov is a government resource that will help you find healthcare, medical and financial assistance.
- Dental Coverage
- Dental Lifeline Network offers dental care and education to low-income people, people aged 65 and older, and people with disabilities.
Mental and Behavioral Health Resources
- National Alliance for Mental Illness offers peer-led family support groups, providing nonjudgmental safe spaces and empowering people.
- National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging (NCMHA) offers facts about mental health and aging.
- The National Institute of Mental Health website has a section on mental health for older adults.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) offers facts, toolkits and resources on mental health services for older adults, caregivers/care partners, and doctors.
Caregiving Support and Services
- Best Programs for Caregiving is a free, online directory of proven programs that support family and friend caregivers of individuals living with dementia.
- Mental Health America seeks to help people living with mental illness and supports overall mental health for all. It offers information about caregiving basics, how to cope with caregiver stress, crisis planning and more.
- The Caregiver Action Network offers a Family Caregiver Toolbox to help caregivers deal with depression, find respite care and manage different aspects of caregiving. It also offers education, peer support and resources to family caregivers of adults with chronic conditions, disabilities, diseases and age-related conditions.
- Family Caregiver Alliance offers different services, education programs and support to caregivers of adults with physical and cognitive impairments, such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
- Community Resource Finder is a resource created by AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) and the Alzheimer’s Association. It lists Alzheimer’s and dementia resources, community programs, medical services and long-term care options in your area
- The Family Caregiving section of the AARP website offers facts and resources that can help caregivers use the healthcare system
- The National Family Caregiver Support Program is offered by the Administration for Community Living. It gives grants to states and territories to fund supports that help family and informal caregivers care for older adults in their homes for as long as possible.
- The Eldercare Workforce Alliance offers information and resources to caregivers and older adults to help them locate providers with gerontology and geriatric training and other services.
Comprehensive Services
- The American Geriatrics Society’s Health in Aging Foundation offers educational materials for older adults and caregivers/care partners on age-related conditions. The foundation also offers information and tools that can help you find geriatrics healthcare professionals in your area.
- The Aging Network is a national network of federal, state and local agencies that plan
and provide the services older
patients need to remain in their homes or communities. The Aging Network includes:
- The Administration on Aging (AoA) helps promote home- and community-based care for older adults and their caregivers/care partners.
- State Units on Aging are state agencies that plan service delivery and assistance for older patients and their families.
- Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) work with local service providers to provide services that help older adults live independently.
- Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) offer information and help individuals and professionals access public and private resources. They also help individuals plan for their future long-term care needs.
- Title VI Native American Aging Programs promote supportive and nutrition services for older Native Americans and Native Alaskans. They also help caregivers and older adults who are taking care of their grandchildren.