DokuDocsdokudocs.com- Phone
- 1-800-677-1116, free
- Website
- eldercare.acl.gov
- What it does
- Connects you to the Area Agency on Aging and other local services where your parent lives
- Who can use it
- Older adults, family caregivers and professionals, in any U.S. state or territory
- Funded by
- The federal Administration for Community Living
Long-distance caregiving has its own particular stress. You get a call from a neighbor saying your father seemed confused at the mailbox, and you're 900 miles away with no idea what's available in his town. You search online and get pages of assisted living ads and home care agencies, most of which want to sell you something.
There's a better first step. Call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116, or search at eldercare.acl.gov.
What the Eldercare Locator is
It's a free national directory and phone line funded by the federal Administration for Community Living. Give it your parent's ZIP code or city, and it points you to:
- The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) serving that county
- The local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), if different
- Local State Health Insurance Assistance Programs for Medicare counseling
- Long-term care ombudsman programs, for problems in nursing homes and assisted living
- Adult Protective Services, if you're worried about abuse, neglect or scams
- Legal services, transportation, meals, and caregiver support
It's for anyone: older adults, family members, friends and professionals.
What Area Agencies on Aging do
There are over 600 Area Agencies on Aging around the country, created by the Older Americans Act. Each serves a specific region and funds or provides services like:
- Home-delivered and group meals
- Transportation to appointments and errands
- In-home help: personal care, homemaking, chores
- Caregiver support, respite and training
- Legal assistance for people 60+
- Health and wellness programs, including fall prevention
- Information and help with benefit applications
Many are also the starting point for Medicaid home and community-based services. In Florida, for example, the Elder Helpline and the state's 11 Area Agencies on Aging handle screening for the Medicaid long-term care program.
How to make the first call count
- Get the local number. Use the Eldercare Locator to find the AAA for your parent's ZIP code.
- Call the AAA, not just the Locator. The Locator points you in the right direction; the AAA knows the local programs and waitlists.
- Explain the situation plainly. What's happening, what your parent can't do anymore, who's nearby to help, and what worries you most.
- Ask for an assessment. Many AAAs will send someone to the home or do a phone assessment, which can open doors to several programs at once.
- Ask about the local "case manager" option. Some regions have care managers who can check on your parent and coordinate services when you can't be there.
Also try 2-1-1 Dial 2-1-1 for local health and human services in most of the U.S. It's especially useful for urgent needs like utility shutoffs, food pantries and emergency housing.
Tips for long-distance caregivers
- Build a local network. A neighbor, a friend from church or a former coworker who can check in is worth more than any website.
- Get the legal documents done. From far away, a durable power of attorney and health care surrogate (or your state's equivalent) are what let you act.
- Get your parent's permission on file. Ask doctors, the pharmacy and Medicare to list you as someone they can talk to. Medicare has its own authorization form.
- Plan visits around appointments. Use your trips for the doctor's visit, the bank and the lawyer, not just catching up.
- Keep a shared record. A sibling who visits on weekends and you, calling from another state, need to be working from the same information.
What to keep where you can reach it from anywhere
- Your parent's full name, date of birth and Social Security number
- Medicare, supplement and Part D cards
- Medication list and doctors' contact information
- Power of attorney and health care surrogate documents
- Local contacts: neighbor, AAA case manager, pharmacy
- Home address, insurance and the location of keys and important papers
When you're the one who lives far away, the documents need to live online. A DokuDocs vault keeps them encrypted and opens on any phone.
Built for families who are spread out Today's families rarely live in one place. DokuDocs lets your parent store their important documents once and choose who can request access, whether that's you across the country or a sibling across town.
Questions families ask
Is the Eldercare Locator a government service?
It's funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living and operated with national partners. It doesn't sell anything or charge for referrals.
What's the difference between the Eldercare Locator and an Area Agency on Aging?
The Eldercare Locator is the national directory and phone line. The Area Agency on Aging is the local organization that actually provides or funds services in your parent's county.
What's an ADRC?
An Aging and Disability Resource Center is a 'front door' for long-term care information and access. In many states, including Florida, Area Agencies on Aging run them.
My parent is a tribal elder. Is there a different program?
Yes. Older Americans Act Title VI programs serve Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian elders. The Eldercare Locator can connect you.
This guide explains public programs in plain language. It is not legal, medical or financial advice. Program rules, dollar amounts and phone numbers change, so confirm details with the agency before you apply. DokuDocs is not affiliated with any government agency.