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Resources For Seniors Are Abundant
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Published: October 15, 2008
Part of good mental health at any age is being informed about the many factors of one's present situation, thus making it possible to have choices and be proactive. This is certainly true for the senior and his or her family.
The increasing age and numbers of our senior population have produced significant research, information and services for older persons. This column includes both an overview and a sampling of these, including some for all age populations.
We are most fortunate in our Hillsborough County and Tampa Bay area to have so many services and sources of helpful information for all age groups. Unfortunately, there are some gaps where more help services are desirable and our Sun City Center's Coalition on Mental Health and Aging is involved in an ongoing process to fill these gaps.
The Hillsborough County Citizen Action Center maintains excellent updated listing of community services and provides comprehensive information and referral services. If you need information, or don't know where to go for help, call the Hillsborough Infoline (bilingual) at (813) 272-5900 (TTY-301-7173).
The Tampa Bay Crisis Center provides information and referral crisis counseling through their 211 number (TTY-969-4944).They say they have interpreters available for 150 languages. In addition, the Center also has the APPLE Trauma Response Center, which provides Sexual Abuse Counseling Services for both children and adults at (813) 264-9955. Also, their Eldernet Service provides Daily Reassurance and Safety Checks at (813) 964-1577 (TTY-969-4992). TransCare for Emergency Medical and/or Mental Health Transportation can be obtained by calling (813) 681-4422.
A call to their 211 number offers help on a wide range of information and services including suicide prevention, alcohol and drug abuse, child care, youth services, counseling and mental health, financial assistance, community food banks, Meals on Wheels, homeless and transitional services, housing, law enforcement medical and dental services, persons with disabilities, and senior services and transportation.
In addition to our local and regional help resources, significant information and services for the aging are available at the national level. A small sampling of these follows:
American Self-Help Clearing House
St. Claire's Riverside Medical Center
25 Pocono Road
Denville, NJ 07834, (201)625-7101
American Society on Aging
833 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103, (415)976-9600
Assisted Living Facility Association of America
940 Lee Highway, Suite 402
Fairfax, VA 22031, (703)691-8100
Center for the Study of Aging
1331 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20005, (202)737-4650, (800)221-4272
Children of Aging Parents
1609 Woodburne Road, Suite 302A
Levittown, PA 19057, (215)945-9600, (800)227-7294
Eldercare Locator, (800)677-1116
Elder Support Network
P.O. Box 248
Kendall Park, NJ 08824, (800)634-7346
Family Caregiver Alliance
425 Bush Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94108, (415)434-3388
Family Resource Service
1400 Union Meeting Road, Suite 102
Blue Bell, PA 19422, (800)847-5437
Hospice Association of America
519 C Street NE
Washington, DC 20002, (202)546-4759
Legal Counsel for the Elderly (AARP)
P.O. Box 96474
Washington, DC 20090, (202)434-2174
National Aging Information Center
500 E Street SW, Suite 910
Washington, DC 20024, (202)554-9800
National Council on Aging
409 Third Street SW
Washington, DC 20024, (202)479-1200, (800)424-9046
Nation Institute on Aging Helpline: (800)222-2225
Widowed Persons Service
601 E Street NW
Washington, DC 20049, (202)434-2260
Administration on Aging's Directory of Web Aging Sites
www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/webres/craig.htm
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
Eldercare Web
www.ice.net/~kstevens/elderweb.htm
National Hospice Organization
Center for Mental Health Services
May all your aging stages be healthy, happy and fulfilling.
Loys Rafferty is a psychologist and author. She contributes this column on behalf of the Sun City Coalition on Mental Health and Aging. She can be reached at (813)634-0902 or by emailing raffbob@aol.com.
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