Helpful Organizations that Support Seniors Living Alone

Aging Alone Resources

If you're aging alone, it's potentially worrisome because no household member is there for you. If you get sick or need a ride to the market or the doctor's office, you're stuck and forced to fend for yourself. That's not healthy or supportive.

It's why I created this page of helpful resources and tips (and it continues to evolve, so visit often.) Most seniors treasure independence and want a space to call their own. But as we grow older, we need to plan ahead. When you do:

• You can choose the care you receive.
• The need for long-term care will not deplete your assets or cause bankruptcy.
• You will have control of the future options.
• You'll potentially have enough money to pay for out-of-pocket services.

Advice and Tips from (real) People Aging Alone

To access free food, Google "food pantries in (the name of your city)" For free clothing, Google "clothing banks/closets in (the name of your city)" Caveat: there is often an eligibility requirement based on income.

Many towns have their own Social Services/Senior Adult & Family Services/Human Services offices. What the town offers varies.

Some towns offer free or reduced cost public transportation tickets. They can direct you to Energy Assistance and Renters Rebate providers.

ADA (American Disabilities Act) Paratransit provides transportation for those who cannot use the fixed-route public transit system. EVERY state has it. If you qualify, they will give door to door service in a small bus.

Law schools offer free legal assistance to low-income seniors. Or contact you local Area on Aging Department, they can refer you to an elder law attorney.

Check out Senior Companions in your area. They provide regular visits for single seniors who have some fragility issues, and opportunities for volunteerism. It's an excellent organization.

Brown Bag program for seniors. 60+ years, receive a grocery bag of food and produce twice a month for $ 12 a year. Check with your county.

Connect With Your Elected Officials Via Facebook

Growing Bolder

Meetup.com - connect with locals in your area.

Benefits Resources

• Benefits Check-up: Quickly find benefit programs that could help you pay for medications, health care, food, and more. All from a reliable and trusted source.
• Benefits.gov:As the official benefits website of the U.S. government, our mission is to reduce the expense and difficulty of interacting with the government while increasing citizen access to benefits information.

Finding purpose

• 3 Ways to Find Meaning for Life After Retirement - While we're in the daily grind of working for a living, we often visualize life after retirement as happy, stress-free relaxation. There's so much more.
• 5 Tips to Find Meaning and Purpose Later in Life - Throughout my middle years, I never questioned what held meaning in my life. What I did was who I was, and that was the end of it.
• LIve the Life You Love - Do you ever think that maybe there's more to life than what you have now - but you have no idea of what that might be or how to figure it out?

Medicare Resources

• Medicare.gov Help to pay health care costs: Learn more about Medicaid, PACE, Medicare savings programs and other programs to help cover medical costs via Medicare.gov.
• Medicare.gov Advance directives & long-term care: Medicare.gov's overview of advance directives and long-term care planning.
• Medicare Rights Center: The Medicare Rights Center is a national, nonprofit consumer service organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs and public policy initiatives.
• The Shocking Things People (Especially Those Over 64) Don't Know About Medicare

Medicaid Resources

• Find out what coverage you qualify for Medicaid
• State Medicaid & CHIP Profiles

Preventing Falls

10 Types of Medications to Review if You're Concerned About Falling - Have you been concerned about falls for yourself? If so, do you know if any of your medications might be increasing your risk for falls?

Traveling Alone

Road Scholar - Where do you want to go and what do you want to learn?

Solo Travel Society - The Solo Travel Society is a community who love (and some who long) to travel solo.

Helpful Organizations

• National Area Agency on Aging: We're a respected national leader and trusted the partner to help people aged 60+ meet the challenges of aging. We partner with nonprofit organizations, government, and business to provide innovative community programs and services, online help, and advocacy.
• AARP in your state: AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, social welfare organization with a membership of nearly 38 million. It helps people turn goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families - such as health care, employment, and income security, and protection from financial abuse.
• SeniorNet: SeniorNet's mission is to provide older adults education for and access to computer technologies to enhance their lives and enable them to share their knowledge and wisdom.
• Elder Orphan Facebook Group - Our own Carol Marak started a Facebook group for elder orphans - older Americans living alone with no close family support. Thousands of group members ask questions, share ideas and interact with others.
• #AgingVoices - A twitter hashtag campaign that we developed to share stories, news, and resources for the senior population.
• SeniorCare.com Senior Guides - we have created over 8000 local senior guides that offer healthcare quality ratings, senior housing options and other resources for aging Americans.
• Connect2Affect - The AARP Foundation spearheaded Connect2Affect to seek solutions to senior isolation. The goal is to create a network of resources that meets the needs of anyone isolated or lonely, and that helps build the social connections older adults need to thrive.
• National Association of Area Agencies on Aging - The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. The local AAAs provide aging and disability resources to the communities they serve.NCOA.org -
• Energy Assistance | Benefits - The National Council on Aging several benefits programs can help with energy assistance needs.