Community Resources for The Elderly

We want to help. Our goal is to provide a holistic solution for your problems. This elder law firm is committed to helping our clients live the very best lives possible and to provide aid to the elderly whether it is taking advantage of government benefits or directing them to community resources. Knowing where to look can be half the battle.  

Below are a variety of resources available around the South Florida Community

Elder Resources in Miami Dade County

Miami, Coral Gables, South Miami, Kendall, Miami Beach, Miami Springs, Miami Lakes,  North Miami, North Miami Beach, Aventura

Designated by the State of Florida, the Miami Alliance for Aging serves as the official local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for Miami-Dade County.  The Alliance for Aging provides access to local quality services for the full spectrum of elder needs in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. This agency provides funds and oversees for home and community based services - that try to keep people out of nursing homes. For example the AAA helps fund services that provide meal delivery, transportation, adult-day care centers and respite services for caregivers.

Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. provides free legal assistance to caregivers who are caring for a household member over 60 years old and issues with medicaid and veterans benefits, housing / foreclosure / landlord-tenant issues, access to food stamps, cash assistance, social security disability, and other consumer-rights issues.

For low-cost door-to-door transportation in Miami-Dade (STS) and Broward (TOPS), for those that meet ADA requirements, click the link.

Elder Resources in Broward County

Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Dania Beach, Ft. Lauderdale,  Pembroke Pines, Cooper City, Sunrise, Plantation, Davie, Weston, Pompano Beach

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The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward (ADRC) is the designated local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for Broward County. They strive to be the "one stop shop" for finding information on services available for elders and their families. This AAA will guide those over 60 to resources that can assist with clothing needs, food assistance, disaster services, income support, housing, transportation, assistance paying electric bills,directing you to senior day care centers, centers that specialize in Alzheimer's support, and much more.

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The Senior Citizen Law Project provides legal advice and representation to Broward County residents who are 60 years of age or older. While there are no specific financial eligibility requirements, the Project targets its services to those with the greatest economic and social need.

Coast to Coast Legal Aid in Broward County can help with issues related to: landlord tenant, subsidized housing, evictions, foreclosure defense, debt collection defense, domestic violence abuse assistance (obtain protective orders), family exploitation, citizenship issues, food stamps / EBT, SSI and Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicaid Long-Term Care issues. Coast-To-Coast Legal Aid of South Florida is located in Plantation, FL.

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For Assistance with VA Applications in Broward County, Florida, contact the Vet Assist Program.

447 NW 118th Way  Coral Springs, FL 33071 | Tel. 954. 857.6980 | 888.314.6075

email:  bappel@veteranshomecare.com |  infofl@veteranshomecare.com

Free Tax Preparation for Seniors

Seniors and retirees should know that they may be able to use online tax preparation software free of charge. Most low- and middle-income Americans qualify for the free help, but do not take advantage of it. And all seniors are eligible for free counseling assistance from the IRS.

The IRS Free File website links to the available free products. Each company sets its own eligibility standards based on income, age, and state residency. As long as your adjusted gross income was $69,000 or less, you will find at least one free product to use. There are also two products that are in Spanish.

If you would rather not prepare your own tax return, seniors can use the IRS’s Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program. The TCE program is available to taxpayers who are 60 years old or older and specializes in answering questions about pensions and retirement plans.

Other Elder Resources

Formerly known as the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers.  ALCA professionals are also commonly referred to as geriatric care managers and are incredibly useful and helpful, especially when an elder lives in South Florida and their adult children live in other parts of the state or in other states. An aging life care professional can assist you or your family with interacting and being your liaison with the health care system. This can include attending doctors appointments with an elder to communicate with medical professionals and/or reporting back to designated family members. ALCA professionals can also assist with locating the best home-health services, assisted living facilities or nursing homes that would be the best fit for you or your elder parent / grandparent.  

ALCA professionals can also be hired to help pay bills and attend appointments with elder law attorneys or accountants. ALCA members are advocates who are connected with the various elder resources in the community. They can provide a great relief to families who do not have the time or capacity to handle the "business" involved with their elder parents  - or who just need advice on what to do and what is best for their loved one.

On the ALCA website (click the logo above) you can locate an Aging Life Care Association Professional near you.

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Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death in the USA. 1 in 3 elders will die with Alzheimer's, or some dementia-related diagnosis. The Southeast Florida chapter of the Alzheimer's Association (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties). This is a 501(c)(3) organization, located in Ft. Lauderdale, that raises funds for Alzheimer's research and provides support groups, message boards, educational training and volunteer opportunities throughout South Florida. On the website (click the logo), you can get involved by going through their advocacy training (to lobby congress on different policy matters) and even find out where there are clinical medical trials being conducted to see if you or someone you know suffering from Alzheimer's qualifies to participate.

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Approximately 1 Million people suffer from Parkinson's disease in the USA, with doctors expecting this number to increase as medical science improves our capacity to live longer lives. Parkinson's disease is the second most commonly diagnosed neuro-degenerative disorder (after Alzheimer's). The Parkinson's Disease Foundation supports services all over Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, including programming for both those who have the disease and their loved ones. The website has links to information, wellness classes and support groups all over Miami-Dade and Broward (all free of charge).

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Over 65 million individuals are caregivers for a family member. Being a caregiver, while usually an act of love,  can also be incredibly stressful. Formerly known as the National Family Caregivers Association, The Caregiver Action Network (CAN) provides resources and support for the caregivers (e.g. spouses, adult children) who take care of those with Alzheimer's, and other dementia-related disorders,  Parkinson's Disease, MS and any other chronic condition or disability.

CAN provides assistance and guidance through their forums and support groups on topics such as: caregiver depression/isolation, how to deal with doctors and manage medicines, tools for those who are new to care giving.

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The Well Spouse Association aims to provide support for, as you might of guessed, the well spouse who often takes the brunt of care-giving responsibilities. This non-profit organization provides online chat support with other caregiving spouses and organizes "respite weekends" and other events designed to provide the community spouse with a much needed break.

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Compare Home Health Care Services

Medicare.gov keeps metrics on different home health care agencies. The link above provides access their compare and contrast home care tool. Just input a zip code or city/state (to get a list of home health agencies that serve your area) or input the name of a particular home health agency that you wish to further investigate.

Locate Adult Day Care Centers

After clicking the link, click "Search by Facility Type/Location." Under Facility Type, scroll down to select "Adult Day Care Center" (as a side note, you can also search for Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Homes, Home Care Agencies, etc...). Then below you can insert your city or zip code to get a list in your area. This is the most comprehensive adult day care center locator tool that I could find.

If you or your loved one needs adult day care regularly, you may wish to schedule a consultation to discuss the PACE program, which provides all-inclusive care for the elderly out of an adult day care center. It is free for those who qualify for Medicaid and a low-cost option for those who do not.

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Other South Florida Resources For the Elderly

• Learn how to get free in-home therapy and counseling for those with Medicare.
• Read about how interior design can help improve the psychological and physical well being of the elderly (Guest Blog Post by Elaine Terner, a South Florida Residential Interior Designer certified in Assistive Technologies).
• Read about and print a free DNR form for Florida.

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