When my parents were finally
able to retire completely by living in our extra cottage house I
started looking around for programs for them to help with the burden of cost of
living. I found a few interesting things we could use while other programs they
couldnt. In my quest I decided to create this website to help others
especially in the
Web Page: http://www.alfa.org
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
Web Page: http://www.aahsa.org
American Seniors Housing Association
Web Page: http://www.seniorshousing.org
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
Web Page: http://www.jcaho.org
Food stamps there is a limit for the amount a senior gets to receive food stamps depending on your state. Please be aware if they are already getting SSN# money it might affect it so please check into it in our case it was not worth it.
Federal programs: Go here for list of them: http://www.frac.org/html/news/fsp/fselderlycenter.htm
Food stamps: This site will show who qualifies:
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10100.html#part6
Food banks: This has a zip code or by state listing finder:
If your Senior is
dependent on you and you want what is best for them Here is a link page
with tons of Elderly nutrition ideas for
Seniors
http://www.nal.usda.gov/foodstamp/Topics/elderly_nutrition.html
Nutrition newsletter for some states http://www.nal.usda.gov/foodstamp/Library/newsletters.html
Seniors Farmers Market
Nutrient Program listing except
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/SeniorFMNP/SFMNPcontacts2005.htm
Local farmers markets
http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm
Share programs: This is a great program for seniors or anyone. Most churches will sponsor it. SHARE is a nonprofit food buying club that offers good, nutritious products at reduced cost through a volunteer-run, community-based distribution system. As a member of SHARE, you can save up to 30-50% on many of the same products you would find in a supermarket. No memberships no fees. If you go to the site email them to find a place near you. I know for a fact it dosent say Texas on it but we have the program here.
http://www.sharewi.org/ there is also one in the East coast http://www.sharefoodprogram.org/ similar to the other share program.
Hints: Community Centers: Sometimes offer free food to seniors check your county out to see if they offer this, its usually a once in a month. Have a least one night where you ask them over for dinner or take them out.
Go to my Grocery Menu site to save more money with coupons etc..
Restaurants: (Check back will add more as I have more time)
"A lot of restaurants will offer Senior Discounts you just have to ask if they don't ask them if you can use a child meal menu instead"
McDonalds - My parents
love McDonalds they usually get a hashbrown, sausage & biscuit for a
$1.00 coffee free.
Family members can order online to buy them booklets http://www.mcdonalds.com/usa/shop/certificates.html
Dennys: For lunch or breakfast they also like Dennys-For the Dennys menu to order online for your senior Gift Certificate
Check your community centers. Ours has daily lunches and meals on wheels program for our seniors. Cost usually is 50 cents a lunch.
Medina county: http://medina-tx.tamu.edu/
There is not a whole lot that I know yet to be done
about medicines except try to get the best deal with pharmacy go for
the generics if you can. I do NOT recommend going over the
border to Mexico or Canada or Online they have been finding out more and
more that they are either really old meds or watered down. This could be
dangerous for seniors and not worth it. Medicaid http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid If your a grandparent
raising kids that need health Check local hospitals
for free information for seniors Main Links for
Elder
First Gov http://www.firstgov.gov/ Senior Discounts
http://www.seniordiscounts.com/ Main Links in Seniors raising
grandkids info http://grandparentsraisinggrandkids.tamu.edu/ Elder care in Texas
Cooperative Extension-Elder care, Health, Home, Clothing
etc http://fcs.tamu.edu/families/aging/ Elder options of Texas http://www.elderoptionsoftexas.com/ Hints for seniors & their familys to look
into: 1. Take them to the library if they havent been to
one in awhile. My own parents didnt realize they now had videos, music and
books on tape and even the large print books. 2. Take them to their local Senior center to meet
other seniors there age but also find out about other programs in your
county. 3. Check into your taxes, if your parent is living
with you they may qualifie to become another exemption. 4. Tell family members instead of trying to find
the perfect gift for the elder parent that has everything give them
worthwhile certificates. Mine personally love Mc Donalds, Block Buster and
Home Depot/Lowes. 5. A lot of seniors are retired for the first
time and need something to do. Besides the senior center check out
colleges for free classes for seniors, check out the community center for
classes as well, introduce them into a hobby, square foot gardening or pot
gardening/ sewing/Quilt clubs, bingo nights, helping in their church more,
a lot of the community centers or teen pregnant centers look for rocking
chair grandmas to help out a few nights a week so the girls can take night
classes to get their high school diploma. 6. Most the parks will have discounts including
fishing licenses and hunting licenses either free or discount. 7. Banks A lot of the banks now offer some sort of
senior care packages. That may offer discounts, with no fees. Check around
your area.
Medical:
Web Page:
http://www.airs.org
National Association for Home Care
Web Page:
http://www.nahc.org/home.html
World Home Care and Hospice
Organization
Web Page: http://www.whho.org
American
Network of Community Options and Resources
Web Page: http://www.ancor.org
American Public
Human Services Association
Web Page: http://www.aphsa.org
Shopping:
