Help for Seniors at Home

Key Takeaways 💡

Is there one single number that connects me to all senior services? Yes — the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 is your gateway to virtually every aging service in the country.

Can Medicare answer my questions 24 hours a day? Absolutely — 1-800-633-4227 is staffed around the clock, seven days a week, except federal holidays.

What if I suspect my elderly loved one is being abused or neglected? Call Adult Protective Services through your state hotline, or the Eldercare Locator, which can connect you to your state’s reporting agency immediately.

Do veterans get special senior home care benefits? Yes — the Department of Veterans Affairs health benefits hotline at 1-877-222-8387 can explain how VA benefits work alongside Medicare.

Is there help for seniors who can’t afford food? Meals on Wheels America at 1-888-998-6325 delivers nutritious meals to homebound seniors, often at no cost.

What about free legal help for elderly people? The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and Legal Services Corporation at 1-202-295-1500 can connect low-income seniors with free legal aid.

🏛️ 1. The Eldercare Locator Is the Single Most Powerful Phone Call You’ll Ever Make for an Aging Parent

Most families waste weeks bouncing between agencies, websites, and dead-end automated menus. The Eldercare Locator was launched in 1991 and remains the only national information and referral resource supporting consumers across the full spectrum of issues affecting older Americans. Think of it as a human-powered search engine staffed by trained specialists who know every local resource in your zip code.

The National Call Center operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and you can also reach trained staff through text message or live online chat.

Here’s what most people don’t realize: this isn’t just an information line. The Locator fields requests on an enormous range of topics including transportation, housing, benefits eligibility, and home and community-based services. They will personally walk you through your options and connect you directly with local organizations that can begin providing services.

📞 Service	☎️ Phone Number	🕐 Hours	💡 What They Actually Do
Eldercare Locator	1-800-677-1116	Mon–Fri, 8am–9pm ET	Connects you to every local aging service — meals, home care, transport, benefits
Live Chat & Text	Available on eldercare.acl.gov	Same hours	For those who prefer not to call

💡 Pro Tip: When you call, have your loved one’s zip code ready. The specialist will pull up every single program available in that specific area, including ones you’d never find on your own.

🩺 2. Medicare’s 24-Hour Hotline Answers Questions Most Seniors Are Too Afraid to Ask

Here’s something that shocks a lot of families: the Medicare phone number at 1-800-633-4227 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the reps on the other end can answer far more than just billing questions. They handle everything from claims status to enrollment guidance to fraud reporting.

But here’s the critical distinction most articles completely ignore. For specific plan details regarding Medicare Advantage, Part D prescription drug plans, or Medigap supplements, you must contact your private insurance provider directly — the general helpline can’t access those records.

If you need help with enrollment, eligibility, or reporting a lost Medicare card, you should call Social Security instead at 1-800-772-1213, available between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday.

📞 Service	☎️ Phone Number	🕐 Hours	💡 Best For
Medicare General Helpline	1-800-633-4227	24/7 (except federal holidays)	Claims, billing, benefit questions, fraud reporting
Medicare TTY Line	1-877-486-2048	24/7	Deaf or hard-of-hearing beneficiaries
Social Security Administration	1-800-772-1213	Mon–Fri, 8am–7pm local	Enrollment, eligibility, lost cards, name changes
Social Security TTY	1-800-325-0778	Same as above	Hearing-impaired callers

💡 Pro Tip: Wait times to speak to a Social Security representative are typically shorter in the morning, later in the week, and later in the month. Call on a Wednesday or Thursday morning for the fastest response.

🍽️ 3. Meals on Wheels Doesn’t Just Deliver Food — It Delivers a Lifeline Against Isolation

This is the part that breaks my heart, and the part most resource guides completely gloss over. Meal delivery programs bring healthy, nutritious meals to a person’s home on a daily or weekly basis, and many of these services offer options for special diets and can handle dietary restrictions. But the delivery driver who knocks on that door is often the only human being some seniors see all day.

To find a meal delivery service in your area, contact Meals on Wheels America by calling 888-998-6325. Some local governments also provide low- or no-cost meals to older adults, and your local senior center may run congregate dining programs where seniors eat together in a social setting.

📞 Service	☎️ Phone Number	💡 What They Provide
Meals on Wheels America	1-888-998-6325	Home-delivered meals, special diet accommodations, wellness checks
Local Senior Centers	Varies by area (call Eldercare Locator)	Group meals, social activities, nutritional programs
🧡 Bonus	Many programs are completely free	Eligibility is often based on age and homebound status, not income

💡 Pro Tip: If your loved one resists “charity,” frame it differently. Many programs are funded through the Older Americans Act and are considered an earned benefit — not a handout. Your health care provider or local senior center may also be able to recommend a service, which can feel more natural than a family member pushing the idea.

🛡️ 4. If You Suspect Elder Abuse, These Are the Exact Numbers That Trigger an Investigation

Nobody wants to make this call. But the data is devastating, and waiting almost always makes things worse. You do not need absolute proof to report suspected abuse, and you do not have to give your name — all calls are handled confidentially.

Adult Protective Services investigates cases of potential elder abuse, checking in with nursing home residents and older people receiving in-home medical care or living with adult caregivers. Every single state has its own reporting hotline, and the fastest way to find yours is through the Eldercare Locator.

If the elder lives in another state, call the protective services agency where the elder lives. For long-distance caregivers who can’t reach a state’s toll-free number, the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 will route you to the right place.

📞 Service	☎️ Phone Number	💡 When to Call
Eldercare Locator (abuse reporting)	1-800-677-1116	Suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation
National Domestic Violence Hotline	1-800-799-7233	Elder domestic violence, 24/7 availability
National Domestic Violence TTY	1-800-787-3224	Hearing-impaired callers
Adult Protective Services	Varies by state	Direct state-level investigations
🚨 Emergency	911	If a senior is in immediate danger

💡 Pro Tip: If a vulnerable adult is in immediate danger, dial 911 or call the police immediately. Don’t wait for APS. For non-emergency concerns, file the report and let investigators determine the severity.

🚗 5. Free and Discounted Transportation Services Exist in Almost Every County — Here’s How to Find Them

This is one of the most under-discussed crises in senior home care. When an older adult can no longer drive, everything — doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, social connections — grinds to a halt. Various state and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, and companies offer transportation services for older adults, and public transit agencies often have discounted fares and other services for older adults and people with disabilities.

Some transportation services are entirely free, including programs from state and local governments and some nonprofit organizations. And here’s a critical detail: for people who do not have access to a ride, Medicaid provides transportation for emergency medical care and for doctor’s appointments.

📞 Service	☎️ Contact	💡 Details
Eldercare Locator (transportation)	1-800-677-1116	Will locate every transport option in your zip code
Medicaid Non-Emergency Transport	Contact your state Medicaid office	Free rides to medical appointments for eligible seniors
Local Public Transit Senior Discounts	Call your county transit authority	Reduced fares, wheelchair-accessible vehicles
🧡 Veterans	1-877-222-8387 (VA)	VA offers specialized medical transport for enrolled veterans

💡 Pro Tip: If needed, you can request a vehicle that will accommodate a wheelchair, walker, or electric scooter. Always specify mobility equipment when booking — availability is limited and reserved in advance.

🎖️ 6. Veterans Get an Entire Separate Layer of Home Care Benefits Most Families Never Claim

This is one of the biggest missed opportunities in senior care. The Department of Veterans Affairs health benefits hotline at 1-877-222-8387 can explain how military benefits work alongside Medicare, and the combination of the two can dramatically reduce out-of-pocket costs for in-home care.

For information about how military benefits work with Medicare, help is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays.

📞 Service	☎️ Phone Number	🕐 Hours	💡 What They Cover
VA Health Benefits Hotline	1-877-222-8387	Mon–Fri, 8am–8pm ET	Home-based care, aid and attendance, medical transport
VA General Benefits	1-800-827-1000	Mon–Fri, 8am–9pm ET	Pension, disability compensation, burial benefits
Railroad Retirement Board	1-877-772-5772	Weekdays	Medicare coordination for railroad retirees

💡 Pro Tip: Ask specifically about the Aid and Attendance pension benefit. It provides additional monthly payments to veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities at home — and an astonishing number of eligible families never apply.

💰 7. Financial Assistance Programs Can Pay for In-Home Care You Thought You Couldn’t Afford

Here’s the reality that keeps families up at night: professional in-home care is expensive, and most people assume they simply have to shoulder the full cost. But Supplemental Security Income provides monthly cash assistance to individuals aged 65 and older, blind, or disabled, who have limited income and few assets.

Beyond SSI, the Administration on Aging directs grant programs and promotes the development of home-based and community-based care for older adults, including critical services like meals and in-home assistance. The National Council on Aging’s BenefitsCheckUp tool helps seniors find programs that can help pay for prescriptions, healthcare, and other essential needs.

📞 Service	☎️ Phone Number	💡 What It Covers
Social Security (SSI inquiries)	1-800-772-1213	Monthly cash benefits for low-income seniors
AARP Foundation	1-888-687-2277	Benefits navigation, fraud protection, caregiving resources
AARP Fraud Watch Helpline	1-877-908-3360	Scam alerts and fraud reporting for seniors
FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors	1-844-574-3577	Financial exploitation involving investments
National Council on Aging	BenefitsCheckUp tool	Screens for 2,500+ federal, state, and local benefit programs
💵 SHIP (Insurance Counseling)	1-877-839-2675	Free Medicare counseling — completely unbiased

💡 Pro Tip: The State Health Insurance Assistance Program offers free, unbiased health insurance counseling from trained counselors. Unlike insurance brokers, SHIP counselors don’t earn commissions and have zero incentive to steer you toward a particular plan.

🏠 8. In-Home Personal Care Programs Can Even Let You Hire a Family Member as a Paid Caregiver

This is the detail that changes everything for a lot of families. In-Home Supportive Services programs help low-income residents who are disabled, blind, or elderly with services such as housecleaning, meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, and personal care — and program recipients may be able to hire a family member to provide these services.

That means your state may literally pay your daughter, son, or spouse to provide care that they’re already doing for free. Eligibility varies by state, so the Eldercare Locator is again your best first call.

📞 Service	☎️ Contact	💡 Key Detail
Eldercare Locator (in-home care)	1-800-677-1116	Will locate your state’s in-home supportive services program
California IHSS	1-800-510-2020	One of the largest state programs — allows family caregivers
National Family Caregiver Support	Through local Area Agency on Aging	Respite care, counseling, training, supplemental services
🏡 Home Modification Assistance	Contact your local AAA	Ramps, grab bars, widened doorways for wheelchair access

💡 Pro Tip: The National Family Caregiver Support Program provided services to more than 700,000 caregivers, including over 1.3 million contacts helping them locate services from private and voluntary agencies. If you’re a family caregiver burning out, this program exists specifically for you.

📋 Quick-Reference Master Contact Table

🔢	📞 Organization	☎️ Number	🕐 Availability
1	Eldercare Locator	1-800-677-1116	Mon–Fri, 8am–9pm ET
2	Medicare	1-800-633-4227	24/7
3	Social Security	1-800-772-1213	Mon–Fri, 8am–7pm local
4	Meals on Wheels	1-888-998-6325	Business hours
5	VA Health Benefits	1-877-222-8387	Mon–Fri, 8am–8pm ET
6	VA General Benefits	1-800-827-1000	Mon–Fri, 8am–9pm ET
7	AARP	1-888-687-2277	Business hours
8	AARP Fraud Watch	1-877-908-3360	Business hours
9	SHIP Insurance Counseling	1-877-839-2675	Business hours
10	Domestic Violence Hotline	1-800-799-7233	24/7
11	FINRA Senior Helpline	1-844-574-3577	Business hours
12	🚨 Emergency	911	24/7

The biggest mistake families make is waiting until a crisis forces their hand. Print this table. Tape it to the refrigerator. Save it in your phone. Because when the moment comes — and it always comes faster than anyone expects — you won’t have time to search. You’ll need to dial.