LGBT Community - Accessing Supports

Information & Referral: Your First Stop for Elder Services

Seeking senior and long-term care services for oneself or a loved one can be challenging. Myths and misconceptions abound. Many Americans, according to AARP, wrongly believe that Medicare will pay for long-term care. Two-thirds of Americans, according to a MetLife study, lack knowledge about available programs; and most Americans, according to another AARP study, inaccurately estimate the cost of care.

Adding to the public’s confusion is the plethora of programs and services nationwide. To learn about government services, older adults and caregivers frequently must contact more than one government entity. Certain government programs, like Medicaid and SNAP (also known as Food Stamps), allow for considerable state variance in coverage, eligibility, and application process—meaning that how one of these programs appears in New Hampshire may be markedly different than how it appears in Mississippi. Even more variety exists with non-government programs. While some states and counties have many program providers, others have relatively few. For-profit and nonprofit providers differ in whom they serve, how much they cost, whether subsidies are available, and what type of care they provide. Given all these choices, where does one start?

Continue reading the full article