Senior Centers provide help with bills and housing assistance

The elderly can get assistance from senior centers. They provide retired and senior Americans a wealth of services and information on assistance programs, on how the elderly can save money on health care expenses and other bills while living on a fixed income, and a variety of other aid. The centers are located throughout the country, in all states, and most senior centers provide help and guidance for signing up for federal, local, and state entitlement programs such as energy assistance, low income housing, local and state property tax abatements, renters rebates, Meals-on-Wheels and Medicare Part D to name but a few.

These variety of assistance programs allow the retired and elderly who qualify based on income guidelines to receive financial assistance or help to pay for bills such as rent, utility bills, heating, prescriptions, food assistance, and health care.

In addition, senior centers provide savings in other somewhat unexpected ways. For example, every year volunteers are trained to offer free tax preparation for the elderly. The services are offered by appointment or on certain scheduled days leading up to April 15. Many centers will also schedule defensive driving classes or low cost safe driving classes to seniors who have successfully passed the program, which allow retired and seniors to receive discounts on their automobile insurance.

Many centers will even provide food assistance. They often offer low cost congregate meals that not only capitalize on socialization opportunities for seniors but also provide a balanced, nutritious meal to them the process.

You can also receive routine health care services and basic medical check ups by senior centers including free blood pressure checks, health care, hearing skin cancer, depression and memory screenings that can help you save on medical bills or set a baseline for preventative care that will lower your long term health care costs.

Some centers even offer something as simple as a medical equipment loan program that can help you finance and pay low interest rates on needed medical equipment. This is yet another way to help you save money while still meeting a critical need. The centers also provide additional cost savings by offering both wellness and exercise  programs at little cost, or sometimes for free, on a weekly or monthly basis.