Family
Where to find free advice on care for an older relative
A national network of local agencies exists specifically to answer these questions, and almost nobody knows it is there.
Every area of the country is covered by an Area Agency on Aging, a local body funded to assess needs, explain what is available locally and arrange services. Its advice is free and it is the single most useful first call, because it holds the local picture that no national source can.
The distinction between the two main public funding routes is worth getting straight early: one is health insurance for older people and generally does not pay for long-term custodial care, while the other is a means-tested programme that does, subject to rules that vary by state. Confusing them leads to planning for the wrong thing.
Every state also runs a long-term care ombudsman who investigates complaints about facilities and advocates for residents, free and independently of the facility.
The documents to put in place early are the durable power of attorney and healthcare proxy discussed elsewhere on this site. They have to be made while the person still has capacity, which is the part that gets left too late.
What to do next. Call your local Area Agency on Aging for an assessment, and put durable power of attorney and healthcare documents in place early.
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