Access Information and Resources
AgeOptions is committed to ensuring that older adults, and their families, are able to find and receive the assistance they need for maintaining well-being and independence. To maximize knowledge sharing, our mandate is to reach out to communities and individuals, helping them understand the choices available to them based on current, accurate and neutral information.
Older Adults
Individuals seeking assistance need information that they can trust in order to make informed decisions about the care options available to them.
AgeOptions and its network of community-based partners are their access link. Professional information specialists are trained to help older adults identify their unique issues and connect them to appropriate services and resources. Using technology, we can quickly access a wide range of options from which to choose.
Through the HealthCare Choices Resource Center, consumers learn about the changes in Medicare, how they are affected, and what choices are available to meet their individual needs. With BenefitsCheckUp, a Web-based screening tool developed by the National Council on Aging, AgeOptions and its partners identify and help connect older adults to the benefits to which they are entitled.
AgeOptions offers information and assistance through various channels, including telephone, personal consultation, language interpretation, TTY lines, Internet and email.
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Caregivers
Older adults are living longer and as they continue to age, many rely on caregivers to help maintain their independence and well-being. While rewarding, caregiving for parents, spouses or friends can oftentimes be overwhelming.
AgeOptions reaches out to caregivers through the Caregiver Support Program. This program allows AgeOptions to support Caregiver Resource Centers where caregivers can participate in informational workshops and locate respite services, allowing them to maintain their own daily routines while providing the best care possible. Also, staff members can provide caregivers with Medicare and Medicaid assistance to help them efficiently navigate complex information.
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Partner Network
AgeOptions supports a network of partners by developing and providing information and resources. We maintain the Aging Resource Center, a computerized database that contains information on over 40 different service categories, including housing, transportation and home-based services. As a network hub, we are able to directly connect older adults and caregivers, as well as family members who live in other regions or states, to local resources for services.
AgeOptions sponsors the Dominic J. Rossi Professional Development Program and supports professional staff in the aging field through education and training. This ensures that they have the most up-to-date resources and tools available to meet the expectations, needs and desires of their clients.
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Community Education
AgeOptions reaches out to community groups and organizations, such as libraries, law enforcement departments and health care providers, offering educational opportunities on issues facing the aging population today. These include:
- Prescription Drug Coverage – Medicare Part D
- Family Caregiving Education – tools and support for families
- Long Term Care – information and options
- Elder Abuse, Neglect and Fraud – information and prevention
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