Check out these resources for caregiving assistance

There’s a lot to consider when setting up aging services. Fortunately, many organizations provide helpful resources for a range of situations. We have organized this list by service categories, including resources we are familiar with to best help you in your efforts.

You can also review lists of specific Chicago-area organizations online at Seniors Blue Book, (seniorsbluebook.com/local/chicago) and Elderwerks Educational Services (elderwerks.org).

Quality is paramount in choosing service providers. Consider whether a provider is an active member of a local professional group, such as the Illinois Continuity of Care Association (il-coc.org). For some services, you can also check providers’ 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 the Chicago Department of Family & Support Services in the city of Chicago (cityofchicago.org/aging). The Illinois Department on Aging also has a senior helpline that you can call for assistance in a variety of areas, including reporting elder abuse and medical coverage: 1-800-252-8966. 

As we discover more resources, we will expand this list. 

 

Types of community resources

• Senior advocacy organizations 

• Area agencies on aging

• Housing assistance programs

• Nutrition and food services

• Protective services

 

Report elder abuse to the Illinois Department of Aging: Adult Protective Services Hotline 

1-866-800-1409

 

Home-delivered meals

City of Chicago Family & Support Services 

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 resources

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 information

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

 

For financial information, visit or call

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/educator-tools/resources-for-older-adults/

Social Security

ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213

 

For Information on Medicare and Medicaid

Medicare

medicare.gov
1-800-633-4227

TTY users should call 

1-877-486-2048. 

 

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

800-698-2411 

Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

va.gov/chicago-health-care/

main phone: 312-569-8387 

mental health care: 312-569-7225 

 

LGBTQ+ Housing

SAGE

sageusa.org

crisis hotline: 

877-360-LGBT(5428)

 

Adult Day Care

CJE Senior Life

cje.net

773-508-1000

 

Legal Assistance

Illinois Department on Aging

ilaging.illinois.gov/programs/legalassistance.html

 

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 Assistance

Illinois Department of Human Services

idhhc.illinois.gov/resources1/hearingaidresources.html

Chicago Hearing Society Audiology Clinic 

ChicagoHearingSociety.org

 

Prescription Assistance

Illinois Department on Aging 

ilaging.illinois.gov/resources/prescriptiondrugassistance.html 

1-800-252-8966 (711 TRS)

Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services

hfs.illinois.gov/medicalclients/health/prescriptions.html 

1-800-825-3518 or 217-524-5983 

TTY: 1-800-547-0466


Originally published in the Winter/Spring 2024 print issue
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Caregiving Magazine
Tags: Resources

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