Connecticut Agency on Aging senior assistance programs.
The elderly and senior citizens in Connecticut can explore assistance programs and services that are offered by Agency on Aging centers. Case managers, volunteers, and specialists coordinate and can refer individuals to resources that focus on meeting the needs of older adults in Connecticut. Many resources are run in partnership with the Department of Social Services, local non-profits, and the federal government and find locations of Agency on Aging offices in Connecticut below.
Find more affordable housing and achieve savings on rent. This can be provided from the Home Share Program. Single, older adults and seniors who are having difficulty paying their rent, who don’t want to live alone, or who are having challenges maintaining their homes can look into this service. Seniors may share a home with another single adult who needs affordable housing. Together you can share rent expenses, make joint, financial contributions, or perform services around the house.
All applicants to the Home Share program are closely screened, have background checks done and are also interviewed by the program staff. The end result is the staff introduces individuals who are determined to be compatible with each other. The Agency on Aging will also help them to develop a home or rent sharing- agreement/contract. Counselors also offer follow-up support, including counseling if a match is made. If someone signs up for this program and it is determined that a home share arrangement is not appropriate or doesn’t work, specialist and staff will refer seniors to other appropriate rental assistance programs in Connecticut or housing services. Get more details on Homeshare.
Free or low cost legal assistance is offered for older persons. It is required from the federal government Older Americans Act, Title IIIB funding. So to make this happen, Area Agencies on Aging locations in Connecticut work with law firms, attorneys, and legal service organizations in Connecticut. They offer seniors with free legal representation and counseling on many issues that directly impact the elderly, such as Medicaid and other government programs.
Legal aid is offered for residents age 60 and older who meet low income guidelines and who can’t afford their own private attorney. The lawyers focus on issues such as federal government and state of Connecticut benefit and support programs, offering access to health care, supporting legal issues which are the direct result of a client’s poverty, and advising on the rights of nursing home residents. Also get advice on Medicare Legal and Educational Assistance.
Food and meals are offered from the Elderly Nutrition Program, Senior Community Cafés, government aid, and other programs. A number of Elderly Nutrition Projects and distribution sites are paid for by the Aging Services Division in Connecticut. The locations serve individuals 60 years of age and over, as well as their spouses, with nutritionally balanced meals.
Food and meals can also be delivered to homebound in the region, or can be delivered to otherwise isolated older persons and senior citizens. The service may operate off hours as well, as often weekend or evening meals are served, especially to disabled and homebound clients. Most of the homebound and congregate meals are available free of charge to eligible state residents and participants. Donations are always appreciated though.
Senior Community Café sites are located across Connecticut. A couple hundred in total are spread across the state. They tend to be located in senior housing projects and apartments, schools, agency on aging centers, churches, Senior Centers and other community settings.
Senior Medicare Patrol, or SMP, will help seniors and the elderly get information and questions answered. The federal government Administration on Aging can help ensure senior citizens are empowered to address issues of medical billing errors, health care fraud, abuse, errors and other related health care scams. The program use to be called Medi$ave in Connecticut, and it is run by regional Agencies on Aging as well as the CT Department of Social Services.
SMP is run by a number of volunteers, who are supported by other professional staff. They offer free education, information, assistance and advocacy to residents of the state. Learn how to identify, report and prevent Medicaid and Medicare fraud, waste and abuse. Other services can help deal with other concerns such as internet drug scams and identity theft.
Seniors can sign up for workshops or one-on-one counseling. Highly trained volunteers and counselors are available to help senior citizens and the elderly understand medical billing and other paperwork, and review their cases. Presentations are performed as well.
The Connecticut Partnership for Long- Term Care ensure people get information and access to needed services. They work with private health insurance companies to provide Connecticut residents with the ability to research, find and purchase quality, affordable long-term care insurance. Also get unbiased information about the need for long- term care. 1-800-547-3443
The CT CHOICES Program is for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (any age) as well as those over 60. It is run by the Area Agencies on Aging, Department of Social Services, and the Center for Medicare Advocacy. This is also called State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or CT SHIP. It offers guides related to Medicare Rx, Original Medicare and Supplemental Options, as well as Prescription Drug Assistance.
Part-time jobs are offered from the Connecticut Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). It provides job skills training to low-income individuals who are age 55 and older. Participants will work roughly 20 hours a week at the sites they are placed, for which they will be paid minimum wage. Ready to Work and SCSEP participants are placed in temporary job training assignments where they gain training needed to gain meaningful employment and also valuable on-the-job work experience.
Caregiver Program Services is for people who are serving in caregiver roles. Agency on Aging centers can refer caregivers to programs that provide temporary relief from their care giving responsibilities through using more traditional service delivery such as home care agencies.
Information on other programs for seniors is available. Some are DSS run, and others from Area Agency Aging. They include Long Term Care Ombudsman, Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, Cash Assistance, and Medicare Savings Programs.
Local area on Aging Offices in Connecticut
- Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut, One Long Wharf Drive, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, call 1-800-994-9422
- Southwestern CT Agency on Aging, Inc., 10 Middle Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604, telephone (203) 333-9288
- Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging, Inc., 84 Progress Lane, Waterbury, CT 06705, dial 203-757-5449
- North Central Area Agency on Aging, 151 New Park Avenue, Box 75, Hartford, Connecticut 06106, main number - (860) 724 - 6443
- Senior Resources also known as Eastern Connecticut Agency on Aging, 19 Ohio Avenue, Suite 2, Norwich, Connecticut 06360, call toll free 800-690-6998. Or read more on Eastern Connecticut Agency on Aging.
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