Talking With Your Older Patient: A Clinician's Handbook

Services At-A-Glance

You want to help your patients get the services they need. But you may not be sure where to find the right resource. This is a starting place. We've identified some of the most common concerns and listed a few national resources that might be helpful.

What's the Problem? What's a Solution?

Helpful Resources
Abuse/neglect	Mandatory reporting to adult protective services	National Center on Elder Abuse For your State Adult Protective Services: www.ncea.aoa.gov Call local police or 911, if serious situation
Caregiver assistance	Respite care	National Respite Locator Service 1-800-773-5433 (toll-free) www.respitelocator.org
Caregiving	Adult day care, nursing home care	National Adult Day Services Association 1-877-745-1440 (toll-free) www.nadsa.org Nursing Home Compare service www.medicare.gov/nhcompare/home.asp
Daily living assistance	Home health aide	Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116 (toll-free) www.eldercare.gov
Financial assistance	Case manager or supportive community programs	National Council on Aging To assess eligibility: www.benefitscheckup.org
Health information	Free fact sheets, booklets, and web resources	National Institute on Aging Information Center 1-800-222-2225 (toll-free) www.nia.nih.gov/health NIH SeniorHealth www.nihseniorhealth.gov National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine www.medlineplus.gov
Household assistance	Homemaker assistant	Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116 (toll-free) www.eldercare.gov
Nutrition	Meals on Wheels or congregate meal sites	Meals on Wheels Association of America 1-703-548-5558 www.mowaa.org
Social support	Volunteer companions	Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116 (toll-free) www.eldercare.gov
Transportation	Medical transport benefits or other community programs	National Association of Area Agencies on Aging 1-202-872-0888 www.n4a.org National Transit Hotline 1-800-527-8279 (toll-free)
Utility costs	Utility subsidies	National Energy Assistance Referral Project 1-866-674-6327 (toll-free) http://liheap.ncat.org/profiles/energyhelp.htm

Suggestions

Please send comments, personal observations, practical experiences, or suggestions to:

Freddi Karp, Editor
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute on Aging
Building 31, Room 5C27
Bethesda, MD 20892
1-301-496-1752
karpf@nia.nih.gov

Contributors: Caroline McNeil, Freelance Writer; Karin Kolsky and Megan J. Homer, NIA Office of Communications and Public Liaison; Susan R. Farrer, JBS International, Inc. Design: Susan Spangler Design & Illustration

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
National Institute on Aging

Publication Date: October 2008
Page Last Updated: June 26, 2013