Get Help — real people, real programs
You don't have to figure this out alone. These are trusted national organizations and helplines — most free — plus the fastest ways to find caregiving help in your own town, anywhere in the United States. Every phone number on this page was verified in July 2026.
🖨️ Free: The Caregiver's Fridge SheetEvery verified number on this page, on one printable page — big type, with space for your own doctor and pharmacy. Print it, stick it on the fridge, share it with anyone who needs it.
Print the Fridge Sheet (free PDF)Start here: three calls that find local help
These free services exist to connect you with programs near you — home care, meals, rides, respite, adult day programs, and money-saving benefits. If you only make one call today, make it the first one.
Eldercare Locator
The U.S. Administration on Aging's free service. Tell them your parent's ZIP code and what's going on — they connect you to your local Area Agency on Aging and every senior program in that community.
☎ 1-800-677-1116 Mon–Fri, live specialists211
Dial three digits from any phone for local help of every kind: food, housing, utility assistance, transportation, caregiver programs, and crisis support. Free, confidential, 24/7.
☎ Dial 211BenefitsCheckUp (NCOA)
Answer a few questions and see every benefit program your parent may qualify for — help paying for medicine, food, utilities, and care. Run by the National Council on Aging. Free.
Support for YOU, the caregiver
Caregiver burnout is real. These organizations exist for the person doing the caring — education, someone to talk to, and a break when you need one.
Family Caregiver Alliance
Practical fact sheets on nearly every caregiving situation, plus a state-by-state navigator showing the caregiver support programs where you live.
Caregiver Action Network
Peer support, a caregiver help desk, and plain-language toolkits for family caregivers at every stage — from "just noticed something's off" to full-time care.
ARCH National Respite Network
Everyone needs a break. Use their Respite Locator to find programs that care for your loved one for a few hours or a few days so you can rest.
Well Spouse Association
Support groups made up entirely of people caring for an ill or disabled husband, wife, or partner — the people who truly understand that road.
CaringBridge
A free, private website for your family's health journey — post one update and everyone stays informed, instead of repeating hard news ten times.
Lotsa Helping Hands
A free care calendar where family and friends sign up for specific tasks — meals, rides, visits — so "let me know if you need anything" turns into actual help.
Memory loss and specific conditions
When there's a diagnosis, the disease organizations are the deepest well of help — and several run helplines answered by real specialists.
Alzheimer's Association
A 24/7 helpline staffed by master's-level clinicians — call at 2 a.m. if that's when it's hard. Local chapters, support groups, and care consultations nationwide.
☎ 1-800-272-3900 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekAlzheimer's Foundation of America
Licensed social workers on their helpline, free memory screenings, and education for families facing dementia.
Parkinson's Foundation
A helpline for care questions, medication issues, and local referrals, plus caregiver-specific programs.
☎ 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636)American Cancer Society
Cancer information, lodging and ride programs for treatment, and caregiver support — with a helpline answered around the clock.
☎ 1-800-227-2345 24/7American Heart Association
Plain-English education on heart disease and stroke recovery, including caregiver guides for life after a cardiac event or stroke.
National Institute on Aging
The federal government's trustworthy, ad-free health information on aging — from "is this normal aging?" to advanced care topics.
Medicare, Medicaid & health coverage
Coverage questions cause more family stress than almost anything else. Two of these services provide free, unbiased human counselors — use them before making any coverage decision.
Medicare
The official source: what's covered, plan comparisons, and claims. Call with any Medicare question — it's staffed day and night.
☎ 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) · 24/7SHIP — State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Free one-on-one Medicare counseling from trained, unbiased counselors in your state — they sell nothing. The best-kept secret in Medicare help.
Senior Medicare Patrol
Helps you spot, stop, and report Medicare fraud, billing errors, and abuse — free in every state.
☎ 1-877-808-2468Medicaid
If long-term care costs are the worry, Medicaid is often the answer — find your state's office and eligibility rules here, and ask your Area Agency on Aging for application help.
LongTermCare.gov (ACL)
Straight answers on what long-term care actually costs, what Medicare does and doesn't pay for, and how families plan for it.
Money, legal & protection from scams
The paperwork side of caregiving — and the protection side. Older adults lose billions to fraud every year; the hotlines below are staffed by professionals who handle it with dignity.
Social Security Administration
Benefits, representative payee questions, and reporting changes. One number for all of it.
☎ 1-800-772-1213CFPB: Managing Someone Else's Money
Free plain-language federal guides for the exact jobs families take on: power of attorney, trustee, guardian, and Social Security representative payee.
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Find an attorney who specializes in elder law near you — for wills, trusts, powers of attorney, Medicaid planning, and guardianship.
LawHelp.org
Free and low-cost legal aid programs in your state, for families who need legal help but not legal bills.
National Elder Fraud Hotline (U.S. DOJ)
If someone 60+ has been scammed, call. A case manager helps report the crime and connects you to recovery resources — with zero judgment.
☎ 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311)Federal Trade Commission
Report any scam or fraud attempt — reports power the investigations that shut scammers down.
☎ 1-877-382-4357Veterans and their caregivers
If your loved one served, there is an entire support system waiting — including programs that can pay and train family caregivers.
VA Caregiver Support Line
Licensed professionals who explain every VA caregiver program you may qualify for and connect you with the Caregiver Support Team at your local VA Medical Center.
☎ 1-855-260-3274 Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ETVA Benefits & Health Care (MyVA411)
One front door for all VA questions — health care, pensions, Aid & Attendance for care costs, and burial benefits.
☎ 1-800-698-2411 24/7Veterans Crisis Line
Free, confidential crisis support for veterans and the people who love them — call, text, or chat.
☎ Dial 988, press 1 24/7 · or text 838255Meals, rides & everyday help
Sometimes the biggest help is the simplest: a hot meal, a ride to the doctor, a grab bar in the bathroom.
Meals on Wheels
Home-delivered meals and a friendly safety check — enter a ZIP code on their site to find the local program and sign up.
Rides, home care & home modifications
Your local Area Agency on Aging coordinates senior transportation, in-home help, and home-safety programs — one call to the Eldercare Locator reaches all of it.
☎ 1-800-677-1116Utility, food & housing assistance
When money is tight, 211 knows every local assistance program — heating help, food pantries, and emergency housing support.
☎ Dial 211End-of-life, hospice & grief
Gentle, trustworthy places for the hardest season — including free state-specific documents most families don't know exist.
CaringInfo
Free advance directive forms for your state, plus plain-language answers on hospice, palliative care, and making wishes known. From the National Alliance for Care at Home.
Get Palliative Care
Explains palliative care (comfort and quality-of-life support at ANY stage of serious illness — not just end of life) and finds providers near you.
Hospice Foundation of America
What hospice is, when to ask about it, how it's paid for (Medicare covers it), and grief support for the whole family — before and after.
Quick answers to the most-asked questions
The questions families type into search bars at midnight — answered plainly. For fifty more, see our full Questions & Answers page.
Who do I call first when an aging parent needs help?
Call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. It's a free service of the U.S. Administration on Aging that connects you to your local Area Agency on Aging — the hub for home care, meals, transportation, respite, and caregiver support programs in any U.S. community.
Is there free help for family caregivers?
Yes. Every U.S. community has an Area Agency on Aging with free or low-cost programs — respite breaks, caregiver training, support groups, and counseling. Dialing 211 or calling the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) will surface what's available where you live, and BenefitsCheckUp.org shows money-saving benefits your parent may qualify for.
Can I get paid to take care of my parent?
Sometimes. Many states have Medicaid self-directed care programs that can pay family caregivers, and the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers offers a stipend for eligible caregivers of veterans (call 1-855-260-3274). Rules vary by state — your Area Agency on Aging can tell you what your state offers.
Does Medicare pay for in-home caregivers?
Only in limited situations — Medicare covers part-time skilled care (like nursing or therapy) when a doctor orders it, but generally not ongoing help with bathing, meals, or daily living. Before making decisions, get free unbiased counseling from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program at shiphelp.org, or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
How do I find respite care so I can take a break?
Use the ARCH National Respite Locator at archrespite.org, or call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 and ask about respite programs. Caring for yourself isn't a luxury — burned-out caregivers end up needing care too.
What should I do if I think an older adult is being scammed or abused?
For scams and financial fraud against anyone 60 or older, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 — trained case managers help you report it and recover. For suspected abuse or neglect, contact your state's Adult Protective Services (find it at napsa-now.org). If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
About this page: Every organization listed is independent of The Boomer Guide — we receive nothing for listing them, and a listing isn't an endorsement of every service they offer. Phone numbers and links were verified in July 2026 but can change; if one doesn't work, the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can re-route you. This page is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice — always consult qualified professionals for your family's situation. Know a resource that belongs here? Email support@theboomerguide.com.
When you're ready to get organized
Help from these organizations goes further when your family's information is in one place. That's exactly what our fill-in guides do — and you can look inside every one before you buy.
See the 11 Helpful Guides →