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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
  • Alzheimers.gov is a website of the National Institute on Aging that helps patients and their families learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It also offers helpful tips and resources for patients and family caregivers on how to manage the disease.
  • 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)
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
Diabetes
Coronary heart disease
Chronic kidney disease
Behavioral health
Heart failure
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.
Cancer
  • Cancer.gov is the official website of the National Cancer Institute, the US government’s primary organization for cancer research. It offers free, reliable, up-to-date information on cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment options and clinical trials. The site also features the latest research updates, news and resources for patients, caregivers and healthcare providers.
  • 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.
  • 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
Hip replacement
Spinal stenosis of the lower back

Palliative Care

  • The Center to Advance Palliative Care offers palliative care information and resources for seriously ill patients on its Get Palliative Care website.
  • Five Wishes offers an advanced care planning document that allows individuals to outline their healthcare preferences in case they become unable to communicate. It covers personal treatment preferences, care decisions and how they wish to be treated by others, ensuring their values are honored in end-of-life care. The document is legally recognized in many states and provides clear guidance for loved ones and healthcare providers. There is a cost for using Five Wishes.

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

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:
  • Patient Advocate Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life threatening and debilitating illnesses.
  • My Health Priorities is a free online tool that helps older patients and their caregivers identify their health priorities based on what matters to them. It is offered by Patient Priorities Care (PPC), a program that helps older adults with multiple chronic conditions align their healthcare with what matters most to them.
  • IHI My Health Checklist is a free online tool that helps older adults manage their health based on what matters most to them. Using the checklist, patients can track their health goals, medications and conditions. They also can have meaningful conversations with their care teams about what matters to them.