Help for seniors and disabled from City of Los Angeles Department of Aging.
Residents of the city of Los Angeles itself can turn to the Department of Aging for support. Various assistance programs are administered for seniors as well as households with a disabled member. Most of the services are focused on helping the client continue to live independently in their own home and get the care they need.
More information on the various resources are below, such as food from Nutrition Services and referrals to medical assistance from Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy. However, many other programs are also run by LADOA.
Information and Assistance will give both senior citizens as well as their caregivers details on resources for solving their needs. They will also try to help by offering referrals and access to non-profit and government community services.
In addition to the phone line, staff from the agency can also be traveling throughout Los Angeles in LADOA InfoVans, providing the general public with information about an array of available emergency services and programs. Specialists from the City of Los Angeles Department of Aging are also multi-lingual, speaking Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. Call 800-510-2020.
Electronic telecommunication devices are part of the Emergency Alert Response Systems, and this program will summon emergency assistance for seniors aged 62 and older that meet low income guidelines. The goal is to promote the independence and security of senior citizens in the City of Los Angeles who are medically needy, frail home bound, and living alone.
Food and meals and preventing hunger is the main purpose of the Nutrition Services. Among other things, this will help ensure that senior citizens and the elderly residing in the City of Los Angeles have consistent access to free hot, freshly prepared, nutritious meals. Congregate Meals are also served to all seniors at dozens of dining centers across the City.
In addition to that, homebound seniors are encouraged to take advantage of Home-Delivered Meals Service, which provides delivers low cost and free meals five days per week, providing them with healthy food. Not only that, but they will also get a visit from one of their friendly volunteer drivers. Monetary donations are encouraged for this, but are not required.
LADOA’s In-Home Assistance and Services volunteers help the frail and low income seniors remain independent and in their own homes, by performing household tasks. This can include shopping or minor repairs and house cleaning.
One part of this is the Handy Worker Program, which provides free minor home repairs to residents of the City of Los Angeles who meet certain criteria. This will be based on income as well as age or disability. In some cases there may be assistance for other homeowners who meet income limits and are in need of emergency repairs directly affecting occupants’ safety or health, regardless of age or disability.
The Care Management Program provides assistance with managing their social and health-related needs. Based on the results of an assessment done by a staff member from LADOA, Care Management develops a care plan to meet these needs. After the plan is created, staff members from the non-profit follow up to ensure that it is effective and appropriate.
Health Education and Screening Services hosts events on a regular basis at each of the ADOA Multi-Purpose Centers. Another resource available is from HICAP, or the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program. This serves Medicare enrollees and other healthcare consumers, through the provision of advocacy services, counseling and health-related education.
Located throughout the City, the Department of Aging Legal Services Centers provide fee or low cost legal aid. This is available to help in a number of areas, including housing laws, public entitlement, resolving landlord/tenant disputes, applying for government benefits, nursing home laws, and powers of attorney.
LADOA’s Home Secure Program provides free installation of safety and home security devices to low-income senior or disabled homeowners. This is also offered for tenants living in the City of Los Angeles. Labor and materials are also furnished to eligible households at no cost to them, at most once per year.
The Older Adult Parenting service, or Kinship Care, provides services and support to older adults who are raising their nieces, grandchildren, nephews or other minor relatives. There may be financial aid, food, and other support, and it also serves other members of the family unit.
Job placement is part of SCSEP, or the Senior Community Service Employment. The department of Aging service offers unemployed seniors aged 55 and older an opportunity to rejoin the job market through obtaining work experience and enrolling job training programs. The training is provided in the form of temporary, subsidized, part-time, community service work. On the job training and employment support are also available through the local WorkSource Centers.
Caregivers also get support and respite too. Maybe one of the most important and most difficult tasks a person will undertake in their lifetime is helping someone over the age of 60 or that has a disability. The non-profit LADOA are here to help, by providing Information about Available Services, Support Groups, care management, and counseling.
The Los Angeles City Department of Aging only covers the metropolitan area. The address is 221 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, California 90012. Call 213-482-7252 for information or referrals.
|
