The Eldercare Locator is a free nationwide service funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging that connects older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers with local resources and services. It is one of the most useful and accessible tools available to anyone navigating the challenges of aging and long term care and is often the best first step when you do not know where to turn for help.
What the Eldercare Locator does
The Eldercare Locator serves as a gateway to the national Aging Network — the network of federal, state, and local organizations that provide services and support to older adults and their families. By contacting the Eldercare Locator you can be connected with your local Area Agency on Aging and other community resources that can help with a wide range of needs including:
- Home care and personal care assistance
- Home delivered meals and nutrition services
- Transportation to medical appointments and other destinations
- Caregiver support and respite care
- Legal assistance
- Housing options and assistance
- Health and wellness programs
- Benefits counseling for Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs
- Long term care options including nursing homes and assisted living
- Elder abuse prevention and reporting
- Senior centers and social activities
How to contact the Eldercare Locator
The Eldercare Locator can be reached in several ways:
- Online — visit eldercare.acl.gov and enter your zip code or city and state to find local resources
- By phone — call 1-800-677-1116 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time
- By email — send questions to [email protected]
The Eldercare Locator is available in multiple languages and can connect callers with translation services for those who speak languages other than English.
Who the Eldercare Locator serves
The Eldercare Locator serves:
- Adults aged 60 and older and their families
- Adults with disabilities who need community-based services
- Family caregivers of older adults and people with disabilities
- Professionals who work with older adults and need to connect clients with community resources
There is no income requirement or eligibility screening to use the Eldercare Locator. Anyone can call or visit the website to find local resources regardless of income or circumstances.
What happens when you contact the Eldercare Locator
When you call the Eldercare Locator a trained information specialist will:
- Ask about your location and the type of help you are looking for
- Connect you with your local Area Agency on Aging
- Provide information about other relevant community resources in your area
- Answer general questions about aging services and programs
The Eldercare Locator does not provide direct services — it connects you with local organizations that can help. Once connected with your local Area Agency on Aging a care coordinator can conduct a more detailed assessment of needs and help develop a plan to address them.
The Eldercare Locator and caregivers
The Eldercare Locator is an especially valuable resource for family caregivers who are trying to arrange services and support for an aging loved one. Whether you are looking for home care, respite care, transportation, or information about long term care options the Eldercare Locator can quickly connect you with local resources that can help.
Caregivers who live far from their aging loved one — called long distance caregivers — can use the Eldercare Locator to find local services in the area where their loved one lives even if they are in a different state.
The Eldercare Locator and Medicare counseling
Through the Eldercare Locator you can be connected with your state’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program — SHIP — which provides free unbiased counseling to Medicare beneficiaries and their families. SHIP counselors can help you understand Medicare options, compare plans, and resolve Medicare billing problems.
The Eldercare Locator and benefits access
Many older adults are unaware of all the benefits and programs they may be eligible for. The Eldercare Locator can connect you with benefits counseling services that can help identify and apply for programs including:
- Medicare Savings Programs that help pay Medicare premiums and cost sharing
- Low Income Subsidy — Extra Help — for Medicare Part D prescription drug costs
- Supplemental Security Income — SSI
- Medicaid and Medicaid waiver programs
- Veterans benefits
- Low income energy assistance programs
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP — also called food stamps
- Property tax relief programs for seniors
The Eldercare Locator and elder abuse
The Eldercare Locator can connect concerned individuals with Adult Protective Services and other resources for reporting and addressing suspected elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. If you are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of an older adult the Eldercare Locator can help you find the right agency to contact in your area.
The Eldercare Locator website
In addition to the phone service the Eldercare Locator website at eldercare.acl.gov provides a searchable database of local services organized by zip code or city and state. The website includes information about a wide range of services and programs and provides links to state and local resources across the country.
Why the Eldercare Locator should be your first call
When you or a loved one needs help related to aging, caregiving, or long term care the Eldercare Locator is often the best first call. It is free, available nationwide, and staffed by knowledgeable information specialists who can quickly connect you with the local resources you need. Whether you are facing an immediate crisis or planning ahead for future care needs the Eldercare Locator can help you find the right support.
Key terms to know
- Eldercare Locator — a free nationwide service that connects older adults and families with local aging services and resources
- Area Agency on Aging — AAA — a local organization that coordinates services and support for older adults and caregivers
- Aging Network — the national network of federal state and local organizations that provide services to older adults
- Administration on Aging — the federal agency that funds the Eldercare Locator and other programs for older Americans
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program — SHIP — a federally funded program providing free Medicare counseling
- Long distance caregiver — a family caregiver who lives far from their aging loved one
- Adult Protective Services — a government agency that investigates reports of abuse neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults
Sources
- Administration for Community Living — eldercare.acl.gov
- National Association of Area Agencies on Aging — n4a.org
- USA.gov — Eldercare
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Services available through the Eldercare Locator vary by location. Call 1-800-677-1116 or visit eldercare.acl.gov for information specific to your area.