Helpful Links and Numbers for Seniors
Helpful Local Government and Private Links and Sites
West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc.
This organization has information and services on a range of assistance for older adults and those who care for them in Hardee, Hillsborough, Highland, Manatee, and Polk Counties. 5905 Breckenridge Pkwy., Suite F, Tampa, FL 33610-4239, call 813-740-3888.
Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas
This organization has information and services on a range of assistance for older adults and those who care for them in Pinellas and Pasco Counties. 9887 4th Street North, Suite 100, St. Petersburg, FL 33702, phone 727-570-9696
United Way of Suncoast Support Services
The Support Services site for the United Way for Hillsborough, Pinellas, DeSoto and Sarasota Counties which may be able to provide emergency assistance.
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Helpful State Links and Sites
Guide to Resources by the State of Florida
A guide with multiple links to sites and phone numbers for assistance for Florida seniors on many topics, including the following: Getting the Help You Need, Disease Prevention & Medical Care, Caregiver & Consumer Support, Housing & Property Rights, Insurance, Pensions & Retirement, Elder Rights, Abuse & Fraud, Safety & Emergency Services, and Life Planning & Related Preparations
Florida Department of Elder Affairs
With more than 4.9 million elders age 60 and older, Florida currently ranks first in the nation in the percentage of its citizens who are elders, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The DOEA has a substantial list of programs and services available throughout the state.
Florida Health Care Advance Directives
A site with information on a person’s right to decide his or her own health and healthcare with offering descriptions, definitions, explanations and forms for advance directives such as living wills, healthcare surrogate designations and other documents as well as senior and end of life issues.
Resources on long-term care providers who offer health care and other types of support in the home or in a residential facility.
Florida State Office of the Insurance Regulation
Information on the legislative agenda; health insurance reform; insurance scams and information on requesting assistance with an insurance question or on filing an insurance-related complaint.
Florida Aging & Disability Resource Centers
Florida’s Aging and Disability Resource Centers are committed to helping persons who are age 60 and above and those who care about them understand and navigate the complex web of available services, agencies and other options.
A statewide, volunteer-based system of local units that act as advocates for residents of long-term care facilities.
AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)
The leading private advocate for seniors in the US.
Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Reporting
Call the Office of the Inspector General at 1?800?HHS?TIPS (1?800?447?8477). TTY: 1?800?377?4950.
United Way Community Resource Directory
Resource guide to help available in many areas nationally with local referrals. Call 2-1-1 or 407-839-4357 or Text (text zipcode to 898-211).
This site of the Florida Bar Association has legally approved and sound Pamphlets and Guides on many topics including insurance, identity theft, consumer protection.
Another Florida Bar link has information on Living Wills, Health Care Surrogates, and Advanced Directives including a link to a Health Care Directives toolkit.
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National Federal and Private Professional and Legal Resource Links
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Medicare and Medicaid enrollment info; prescription drug plan info.
Elder Justice
A national site of Health and Human Services of the federal government supporting elder justice in America.
Medicare.gov
Information on Medicare programs; provider information; prescription drug plans; Medicare eligibility.
A helpful site with information on the often very confusing world of Medicare plans with information specific to Florida.
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Locate an attorney in your area; programs; educational opportunities.
National Center on Elder Abuse
FAQ’s, prevalence/incidence rates; laws; NCEA events; publications.
Aging Life Care, formerly the National Geriatric Care Manager
Info on finding a GCM; GCM resources.
Social Security Administration
SSA news; benefits information; Medicare Part D information; disability information; information for healthcare professionals; and information for local/state/federal government officials.
Residents’ Rights in Long-Term Care: Assisted Living, Nursing Homes & Group Homes
A good overview of the rights of assisted living and long term care residents for all states, including Florida.
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Other Helpful Links
Aging and Health: Conditions, Effects, Lifestyle
A short article with some lifestyle change suggestions for some lifestyle changes to maintain a healthier, happier life for people of all age groups
Aging in Place is a resource hub for seniors and their families to learn more about the best options for staying at home and aging in place. It is as close to a one stop shop as we could find for expert know-how in order to make the best decisions about in-home care, hearing aids, insurance, government assistance and other financial resources, transportation options, mobility, and home modifications and remodeling.
A commercial site with information on changes to the home and home environment to improve access and safety for staying in the home longer.
Detail Guide on Online Safety For Seniors: How To Keep Yourself Protected?
The internet is becoming more risky every day, especially for seniors. Seniors tend to be very compassionate and trustful. These are characteristics online scammers love. They find senior citizens to be relatively easy targets. Around 6 billion dollars is lost every year to online scammers. Here are some tips to help avoid being scammed.
DIY Home Modifications for Senior Fall Prevention
For more on avoiding falls read this post. DIY Home Modifications for Senior Fall Prevention has some good ideas that may help you avoid a fall.
Senior’s Guide to Bedroom Fall Prevention
Here is a useful post with a few ideas on avoiding falls, especially in the bedroom and early in the morning.
The Best Medical Alert Systems
Caring.com, a senior care organization that supports family caregivers and their loved ones, has this comprehensive guide on fall alert systems. They are dedicated to improving the lives of older adults through assistive technologies.
How to Get Free or Low-cost Disposable Adult Diapers
From the website ParentGiving.com, here is a short article on the high cost of adult diapers, and a phone number as well as help to get care supplies, home-delivered meals, and transportation. Older adults can sometimes access a care manager and here is a way to get started.
Due to the rise of substance abuse and mental illness during the Covid-19 lockdown, Riverside is working to bring greater awareness to the importance of promoting positive mental health and avoiding substance abuse (especially during these stressful times). Check out their “Resource Hub” to help people understand mental health, substance abuse, recovery, and additional topics.
A website with an Elder Hotline as well as information and links on Medicare help, Health and Wellness, Elder Abuse Prevention, and more.
Simple and Effective Online Safety Tips for Seniors – a useful guide with ideas to help everyone avoid online risks.
A commercial website with tech-oriented ideas to make your home more tech and living friendly.
A commercial website discussing nine warning signs are indicators that it might be time to start considering memory care for a family member.
10 Early Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
A commercial website discussing the top 10 early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
This commercial site provides research-backed resources to guide caregivers and seniors in the early stages of memory impairment through the process of finding and obtaining the care they need.
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Family Resource Links
AARP site with info on member services; senior issues: elections, health care, family/home/legal, money, work, travel.
Paying for Senior Care – Understanding Your Financial Options for Long Term Care
A guide with very helpful information to help Florida seniors and their loved ones understand the various senior care costs in Tampa and throughout the state, including the cost of assisted living, home care and adult day care.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
A guide for hospital visits, what to know and what to ask, when you leave the hospital.
If you are a senior who is moving, or if your family has a senior who is planning a move, you may need to find storage for furniture and other personal items that can’t be moved. We encourage you to keep any storage short, see Save, Don’t Store, but this is a guide giving options and storage opportunities.
SeniorGuidance.org is a site helping seniors and their families choose a new home in assisted living. As daily activities become more challenging, this site can help with long-term placement options.
National site for Adult Day Services Association
Information on Adult Day services in your community; services available, programs and resources.
Hillsborough County Aging and Long Term Care
Info on mental health services, family caregiver support services, drug/alcohol treatment; family resources coordination.
A helpful commercial site on assisted living and memory care facilities that can, by inputting your zip code, give you a good listing and description of facilities near you.
A helpful commercial sire on retirement facilities, assisted living facilities, nursing homes with the ability to search by area and zip code.
Links to online health and medical information, home care opportunities, and home healthcare providers.
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Before You Sign a Contract or Pay a Deposit – Recommendations and Links
Before you sign a contract or start home repairs/renovations, read this. All homeowners should follow the following recommendations when hiring a contractor:
- Always require a written estimate, signed by a contractor before any work begins.
- Get written estimates from several contractors. Make sure bids are based on the same project details.
- Check out the contractor with your local or Florida consumer protection officials.
- Ask the contractor for customer references who have projects similar to yours.
- Ask for a copy of the contractor’s current insurance certificates and licenses, if licenses are required
- Get all guarantees, warranties and promises in writing. Always remember that old saying: “if it isn’t in writing, it didn’t happen.”
- Agree on start and completion dates, and have them written into the contract.
- Never pay money up front for deposits without a written and signed contract.
- Report suspicious contractor behavior to the Better Business Bureau and local law enforcement.
- Never pay for work that is not completed to your satisfaction.
- Florida has very strict lien laws that can either help you or harm you. Always require a signed acknowledgment of payment in full and a release of all liens. If materials are supplied by a different company or laborers are provided by a different company, be sure you get lien releases from them as well. Require that your contractor prove payment of all material suppliers and workers.
Below are two links to additional resources that may provide you with the latest background information on prospective service providers:
New resources are coming online all of the time. Before hiring a contractor or allowing work to start – and especially before you pay any money – check every possible source and reference.
