These resources can help you find assistance
When setting up aging services, you may have a cloud of questions and concerns. Fortunately, many Chicago-area organizations provide helpful resources for a range of situations. Start by reviewing these service categories to see what type of resources you might need to consider.
Review lists of specific Chicago-area organizations online at Seniors Blue Book, (seniorsbluebook.com/local/chicago) and Elderwerks Educational Services (elderwerks.org). An excellent primer to have around is Who Will Take Care of Me When I’m Old? by local writer Joy Loverde.Â
As always, quality is important in choosing service providers. Consider whether a provider is an active member of a local healthcare group such as the Illinois Continuity of Care Association (il-coc.org).Or check a provider’s star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (cms.gov). These umbrella agencies connect older adults and caregivers to community services: AgeOptions in suburban Cook County (ageoptions.org), AgeGuide in the collar counties (ageguide.org), and Chicago Department of Family & Support Services in the city of Chicago (cityofchicago.org/aging).
Types of Services You May Require
Community resources
• Advocacy for seniors
• Area agencies on aging
• Home-delivered meals
• Housing assistance
• LGBTQ+ resources
• Nutrition and food services
• Pet care and services
• Protective services
• Transportation
• Travel
• Veteran centers and services
End-of-life resources
• Funeral, cremation, and mortuary services
• Hospice services
• Palliative care Â
Financial
• Financial assistance and services
• Reverse mortgages
• Social Security consulting
• Veterans benefits
Health and care insurance
• Health insurance information and counseling
• Long-term care insurance
• Medicare and Medicaid information and counseling
Home transitions
• Bathroom conversions
• Community placementspecialists
• Downsizing and relocation services
• Estate clean out
• Home improvementsÂ
and modifications
• Home safety evaluations
• Move management and organizers
• Moving services
• Real estate services
• Stair lifts
Housing and care referrals
• Affordable housing
• Assisted living
• Home careÂ
• Home healthcare
• Independent living
• Long-term skilled nursing resources
• Respite care
• Sheltered care
• Short-term rehabilitation
• Supportive living
Legal
• Crime prevention
• Elder abuse
• Elder law
• Estate planning
• Guardianship/conservatorship
• Long-term-care ombudsmen
Physical and mental health
• Associations for specific illnesses
• County health departments
• Dental resources
• Hearing resources
• Home medical equipment and supplies
• Incontinence care
• Lending closets
• Memory assessment programs
• Mental health and counseling
• Oxygen services
• Prescription assistance and discounts
• Vision services
Programs and support
• Adult day care programs
• Community centers with senior activities
• Continuing education opportunities
• Pet resources
• Programs for those with disabilities
• Senior centers
• Senior organizations and services
• Support groups
Chicago and Suburban Resources
Home-delivered Meals
• City of Chicago Family & Support Services:Â
chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fss/provdrs/senior/svcs/home-delivered-meals.html
• Meals on Wheels: mealsonwheelschicago.org or call: (312) 744-4016
End-of-life ResourcesÂ
• Aging with Dignity: agingwithdignity.org/five-wishes
• Advance directives: dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/health-care-regulation/nursing-homes/advance-directives
• Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatments: polstil.org
General InformationÂ
• The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services: chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fss/provdrs/senior.html
• Chicago Senior Services Hotline: (312) 744-4016 (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Email: Aging@CityofChicago.org
• AgeOptions: ageoptions.org
(800) 699-9043
• AgeGuide: ageguide.org
(800) 528-2000
• Chicago Department of Family and Support Services: cityofchicago.org/aging
Financial information
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/educator-tools/resources-for-older-adults/
• Social Security: ssa.gov or (800) 772-1213Â
For Information on Medicare and Medicaid
• Medicare: medicare.gov
(800) 633-4227/TTY users should callÂ
(877) 486-2048.Â
• Medicaid: Toll-Free: (877) 267-2323
Local: (410) 786-3000
TTY Toll-Free: (800) 877-8339
TTY Local: (410) 786-0727
Veterans’ Resources
• Veterans Affairs: va.gov, (800) 698-2411Â
• Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center:Â
main phone:Â
(312) 569-8387;Â
mental health care: (312) 569-7225Â
LGBTQ+ Housing
SAGE: sageusa.org. The crisis hotline number is: (877) 360-LGBT(5428)
Legal Assistance
• Illinois Department on Aging: ilaging.illinois.gov/programs/legalassistance.html
• Report elder abuse to the Illinois Department of Aging: Adult Protective Services Hotline: (866) 800-1409
Dementia and Alzheimer’s Information
• Alzheimers Association: alz.org
• Alzheimer’s caregiving navigator: alzheimersnavigator.org
Dental Care
• Chicago Dental Services Clinic for low-income dental care: cds.org/smile/find-a-dentist
• University of Illinois-Chicago’s dental clinic offers reduced pricing: (312) 996-7555
Hearing Aid AssistanceÂ
• Illinois Department of Human Services:Â
idhhc.illinois.gov/resources1/hearingaidresources.html
• Chicago Hearing Society Audiology Clinic: ChicagoHearingSociety.org
Prescription AssistanceÂ
• Illinois Department on Aging: ilaging.illinois.gov/resources/prescriptiondrugassistance.htmlÂ
or (800) 252-8966 (711 TRS)
• Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services: hfs.illinois.gov/medicalclients/health/prescriptions.html orÂ
(800) 825-3518 or (217) 524-5983,Â
TTY: (800) 547-0466