| CTHelpNet.org | Connecting Connecticut's senior citizens to a network of elder care information and services. |
There are numerous state agencies, federal agencies and private organizations that provide information on elder care for Connecticut's senior citizens. Trying to find the appropriate agency or organization for a particular need may at times be difficult. CTHelpNet.org was created to help you navigate through the maze of information on elder care. In the table of contents below you will find elder care services that may be of interest to you. If you click on a particular item, you will be guided to a resource that may help you. CTHelpNet.org continually monitors the elder care field and updates this website as needed. CTHelpNet is not affiliated with any of the agencies, organizations or businesses referenced on this website and does not profit in any way from your use of this site. E-mail: cthelpnet@cthelpnet.org
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Alzheimer's and Dementia Assistance Benefits You May Be Entitled To Connecticut Partnership for Long-Term Care New Continuing Care Retirement Communities Earn College Credit Tuition-Free Medicaid For The Employed Disabled Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans Medicare Denials (Very Important) New Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage Medicare Savings Programs (Financial Aid for Medicare Premiums) Updated Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance (Medigap) Moving From a Nursing Facility to the Community Prescription Medication Assistance Protection And Advocacy For Persons With Disabilities Protective Services For The Elderly Supplemental Security Income Updated |
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When selecting an Adult Day Care Service facility, you should do some research to find the facility that best suits your needs. The National Adult Day Services Association can help you select an appropriate adult day care center by providing you with some basic guidelines. To visit their website click here. The State of Connecticut has a search tool on its Long-Term Care website that allows you to locate Connecticut adult day care centers by town. To visit this website click here. Connecticut's Aging Services Division has a list of adult day care centers on their website. You can view this list by clicking here. |
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Cthousingsearch.org is a new website which allows you to find affordable housing in Connecticut. To visit their site click here. Your local housing authority provides income-based affordable housing for people who are capable of living independently and are sixty-two years of age or older, or under the age of sixty-two and certified as disabled. Each housing authority sets a maximum yearly income level that applicants must not exceed for admission. There is generally a waiting list. For information on maximum income levels and waiting list guidelines, contact your local housing authority. Many Connecticut housing authorities are members of Conn-Nahro (the Connecticut chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials). For a list of Conn-Nahro member housing authorities, visit their website by clicking here. Connecticut's Department of Economic and Community Development has a complete list of Connecticut housing authorities listed on their website. To visit their site click here. If you are a homeowner having financial difficulty maintaining your home or a person looking for affordable housing, Project Home Share may help you. Project Home Share matches up a homeowner with a person seeking affordable housing. The homeowner gains a tenant to ease the financial burden of home ownership, and the tenant benefits from an affordable living arrangement. To learn about this program and the requirements and compensation, contact your Area Agency on Aging. To locate the Agency that serves your town click here. The Federal Government's Housing and Urban Development website has a search tool which allows you to find housing authorities nationwide. To access this search tool click here. The Federal Government's Housing and Urban Development website also has a search tool which allows you to find subsidized housing for seniors in Connecticut and all other states. To access this search tool click here. The Housing Choice Voucher Program (section 8) provides rent subsidies to families who find their own apartments and negotiate their own rents. To learn about this program and its qualifications, visit the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services' website by clicking here. |
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Currently more than 4 million Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Association of Connecticut provides information on Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia. They also provide information about support groups, adult day care, respite care, hospice care, legal resources and the signs of stress. To visit their website click here. The National Institute on Aging has a caregiver guide for people caring for a family member with Alzheimer's Disease. You will find the guide on their website by clicking here. The Connecticut Statewide Respite Care Program offers help to stressed caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementias. To learn about this program click here. Locator Devices Individuals with dementia wander off all to frequently. There are now wrist band locator devices that can be worn by dementia patients that can locate them if they ever wander off. These devices provide the care giver with peace off mind, and safety for the person with dementia. Companies that make these devices are Care Trak International and Locator Systems. If you decide to use a locator device, you should check with your local police department to determine the type of locator support they provide before you purchase a specific locator system. To learn about the Care Trak International locator click here. To learn about the Locator Systems locator click here. |
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Your Area Agency on Aging is one of the most important resources for Connecticut's senior citizens. Their trained counselors can provide you with information on home care programs, housing options, senior centers, transportation, support for family care givers, medical insurance, Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicaid, long term care insurance programs, etc. There are five Area Agencies on Aging in Connecticut. To locate the Agency that serves your town click here. |
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If an individual can no longer live independently at home but does not need nursing home care, an assisted living facility might be an option. The United States Department of Health and Human Services has an assisted living fact sheet posted on their website which covers: what is assisted living; what services are provided; how to choose a facility; what is the cost for assisted living. To visit their website, click here. The State of Connecticut's Long-Term Care website has a search tool which allows you to find assisted living facilities in Connecticut. To use this search tool, click here. The Gilbert Guide has a search tool on its website which allows you to find assisted living facilities nation-wide. To use this search tool, click here. All Continuing Care Retirement Communities have assisted living facilities. To learn about Continuing Care Retirement Communities, go to our Continuing Care Retirement Community section by clicking here. The Federal Government's Long-Term Care Insurance website can give you an idea of the average cost of an assisted living facility in any state. To visit their website, click here. |
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The National Council on the Aging has created a great screening tool to help seniors determine the benefits for which they may qualify. You will find this screening tool on the Connecticut Elderly Services Division's website by clicking here. |
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The Connecticut Partnership for Long-Term Care is a joint effort of the State of Connecticut and a select group of insurance companies to provide Connecticut residents with affordable Long-Term Care insurance while protecting the insured's assets. Insurance companies that are not part of The Connecticut Partnership for Long-Term Care do not offer asset protection. The Connecticut Partnership for Long-Term Care started in 1992 and was the first in the nation. To learn about this innovative Long-Term Care Insurance, visit The Connecticut Partnership's website by clicking here. |
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Continuing Care Retirement Communities, also known as Life Care Facilities, offer independent living, assisted living care and skilled nursing care all on one campus. When you buy into a Continuing Care Retirement Community, it can be with the understanding that you will have the necessary care as you age. You may move from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing care, depending on your needs. To gain a thorough understanding of how Continuing Care Retirement Communities are structured, visit HELPGUIDE.org by clicking here and AARP.org by clicking here. The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities is a highly respected, not-for-profit organization that has developed a set of high standards that a rehabilitation facility must meet in order to receive their accreditation. They have a search tool which allows you to find the Continuing Care Retirement Communities which meet their standards. To use their search tool click here. If you wish to locate Continuing Care Retirement Communities nationwide, the Gilbert Guide has an excellent search tool on its website which you can access by clicking here. Below you will find the Continuing Care Retirement Communities in Connecticut. If you click on the name of the facility, you will reach its website. Arbors Manchester Ashlar Village Wallingford Covenant Village of Cromwell Cromwell Duncaster Bloomfield East Hill Woods Southbury Edgehill Stamford Elim Park Cheshire Essex Meadows Essex Evergreen Woods North Branford Meadow Ridge Redding McAuley Retirement Community West Hartford Pomperaug Woods Southbury Seabury Bloomfield StoneRidge Mystic 3030 Park Bridgeport Whitney Center Hamden |
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The Connecticut Department of Social Services provides assistance to people with disabilities
to help them maintain an independent life within their own home. For detailed information
on available help, visit their website by
clicking here. Disability Resource Center of Fairfield County
Center for Disability Rights
Independence Unlimited
Disabilities Network of Eastern Connecticut
Independence Northwest The Connecticut Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society provides information and assistance to help people with MS attain the highest quality of life. They provide physical health programs, emotional health programs, family support programs, accessibility-independent living programs and long-term care services. For detailed information on these programs visit their website by clicking here. |
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If you are 62 or older, you may take courses at Connecticut's universities and community colleges tuition free. To learn about this great program, visit Connecticut's Department of Higher Education's website by clicking here. |
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The financial abuse of the elderly is an extremely serious crime that is underreported and on the increase. The estimated financial loss from this crime is well above 2 billion dollars annually. The Mature Market Institute of Met Life has detailed information about this devastating crime and ways to prevent it on their website in the What's New section. To visit their website click here . |
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The Connecticut Elder Law website has a listing of free legal services for elders. To visit this site click here. The Center for Medicare Advocacy provides free legal advice and representation to those on Medicare who are denied medical coverage. Visit their website by clicking here or call 1-800-262-4414 or 1-860-456-7790. |
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If you are below 65 years of age and looking for affordable health insurance, Connecticut's new (July 2008) Charter Oak Health Insurance Plan may be for you. To learn about this new health insurance alternative, visit the Charter Oak Health Plan website by clicking here. If you are caring for a child under 19 years of age, you may qualify for the State's Husky Health Insurance Program. To learn about this program, visit the Husky website by clicking here. For further detailed information, call toll free 1-877-284-8759 to speak with a Husky representative. To learn about Medicare Insurance, visit our section on Medicare by clicking here. To learn about Medicaid Insurance, visit our section on Medicaid by clicking here. If you need help understanding health insurance options for seniors, your local Area Agency on Aging has trained counselors who can help you. To find your local Area Agency on Aging, click Here. |
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To reach the age of 80 or 90 is becoming common place. It is important that we work to maintain our good health in order to enjoy a vital life style in our later years. Fortunately, there is a wealth of information on healthy aging that we can all benefit from. The National Institutes of Health have information on how to stay healthy, get good healthcare and manage lifestyle changes as you age. To visit their website, click here. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a guide to healthy living, current health news, personal health tools and locator services on their healthfinder.gov website. To visit it click here. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has health information for women on their womenshealth.gov website. To visit the site click here.
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Thousands of Connecticut homeowners and renters are eligible for heating assistance for the winter season. The heating assistance program helps eligible households pay for heating sources like oil, natural gas, electricity, propane, kerosene, coal and wood. There are two components to the heating assistance program: the regular Connecticut Energy Assistance Program; and for homeowners and renters who are in a higher income level, the Contingency Heating Assistance Program. To determine whether you qualify and for application information, visit the Winter Heating Assistance Website. |
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If you are considering establishing a homecare environment for someone, a comprehensive geriatric assessment of that person is a good place to start. The geriatric assessment will determine a person's specific care needs. To gain a thorough understanding of the geriatric assessment process visit HELPGUIDE.org by clicking here. There are two approaches to establishing a supportive homecare environment. One is to work with a Professional Care Manager who will be able to evaluate your situation, identify any problems and find a solution for your homecare needs. The other is learn about the resources that are available to you by doing your own research. If you would like to work with a Professional Care Manager, a good place to start is the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. Their website gives a brief history of their organization and provides a webpage where you can locate a Professional Care Manager. To visit their website click here. If you would like to establish a homecare environment without the help of a Professional Care Manager, it is important that you do some research before selecting a licensed, quality agency or individual. The following information may help you learn about the homecare options that are available. The Gilbert Guide website is an excellent source of information on what you should know before hiring a homecare agency or private caregiver. The information they provide is especially important when it comes to hiring a private caregiver. They also have information on how to care for someone at home, how to set up the home, caregiver support and assistive technology. To visit their website, click here. The Foundation for Health in Aging of the American Geriatrics Society has published a book entitled Eldercare at Home. The book gives advice and guidance to individuals caring for a loved one at home and can be viewed at their website by clicking here. The National Institute on Aging has a caregiver guide for people caring for a family member with Alzheimer's Disease. You will find the guide on their website by clicking here. The Connecticut Association for Homecare and Hospice can direct you to the homecare agencies and visiting nurses associations that serve your town by clicking here. COMPARE HOMECARE AGENCIES The Medicare website has a tool that allows you to compare the homecare agencies you are considering. To use the compare tool, visit their website by clicking here. If you are caring for a terminally ill family member at home, go to our section on Hospice Care by clicking here. To give you an idea of the costs of homecare services, Connecticut's Office of Policy and Management has posted service rates on their website. To visit the site, click here. The Connecticut Homecare Program for Elders is State and Federally funded and helps people aged 65 or older remain at home rather than go to a nursing facility. The program offers help with chores such as cleaning and cooking. It can also help provide visiting nurses and home health aides. To learn if you qualify for the CT Homecare Program and for application information, there are two websites you can visit. One is the Ct Elder law Website. The other is the CT Department of Social Services Website. The Administration on Aging has developed the National Family Caregiver Support Program to help individuals deal with the complexities of caring for a family member. The program offers training, counselling, support and respite care. To learn about this important program and its eligibility requirements, click here. Your local Area Agency on Aging has trained counselors who can help you understand your homecare options. To find your local Area Agency on Aging, click here. |
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Advancements in homecare technology now allow for the monitoring of an individual living alone at home. There are a variety of systems on the market that use web cams and sensors in conjunction with computers and cell phones that enable you to keep track of a loved one's activities in their home from a distance. Below are listed some companies that supply these systems. Click on the name of the company to visit their website. Technology For Dementia Patients Individuals with dementia wander off all to frequently. There are now wrist band locator devices that can be worn by dementia patients that can locate them if they ever wander off. These devices provide the caregiver with peace off mind, and safety for the person with dementia. Companies that make these devices are Care Trak International and Locator Systems. If you decide to use a locator device, you should check with your local police department to determine the type of locator support they provide before you purchase a specific locator system. To learn about the Care Trak International locator click here. To learn about the Locator Systems locator click here. |
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End of life care is an especially difficult time for families. Care must be given to both the physical and emotional aspects of the passing of a life. The physical needs of the patient and the emotional needs of the family become intertwined. Because of their training, Hospice Care personnel are especially suited to deliver such inclusive care. Connecticut Hospice, established in 1974, was the first Hospice in the country. They are a leader in the Hospice Care field and provide both inpatient care and home care for the terminally ill. For specific information on how they might help you, visit their website by clicking here. The Connecticut Association for Homecare and Hospice has a list of Medicare certified and State licensed hospice facilities on their website. To visit their site, click here. |
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Since people are living longer, it is inevitable that more of us will need some kind of Long-Term Care. The Medicare website is an excellent resource to learn about Long-Term Care and the options that are available to you. They explain what Long-Term Care is, the types of Long-Term Care, steps to choosing Long-Term Care, Medicare and Long-Term Care, paying for Long-Term Care etc. To access this Long-Term Care information, visit their website by clicking here. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has developed the National Clearing House for Long-Term Care Information which can also help you prepare for any possible Long-Term Care needs. To visit their website, click here. Another excellent resource is the State of Connecticut's website on Long-Term Care. To visit the site, click here. To give you an idea of the expenses you might be looking at if you ever need Long-Term Care, Medicare has a Long-Term Care planning tool on its website which can estimate your Long-Term Care costs. To access their Long-Term Care planning tool click here. Connecticut's Office of Policy and Management has a list of rates for nursing home care, home health services and home and community based services on their website. To access the site, click here. If you are interested in Long-Term Care rates in other states, you can find the information on the Federal Government's Long-Term Care Insurance website by clicking here. If you intend to purchase Long-Term Care insurance, the earlier you purchase a policy, the cheaper the premiums. It is understood that the best time to start planning for Long-Term Care is between 50 and 60 years of age. AARP has Long-Term Care insurance information on their website that can help you determine your insurance needs. To visit their site, click here. The Connecticut Partnership for Long-Term Care is a joint effort of the State of Connecticut and a select group of insurance companies to provide Connecticut residents with affordable Long-Term Care insurance while protecting the insured's assets. Insurance companies that are not part of The Connecticut Partnership for Long-Term Care do not offer asset protection. The Connecticut Partnership for Long-Term Care started in 1992 and was the first in the nation. To learn about this innovative Long-Term Care Insurance, visit The Connecticut Partnership's website by clicking here. If you are in your sixties or older and find that Long-Term Care insurance is costly, a Continuing Care Retirement Community might be an option for your Long-Term Care needs. Continuing Care Retirement Communities offer different fee schedules depending on the care you anticipate needing. To learn about this Long-Term Care option, go to our section on Continuing Care Retirement Communities by clicking here. |
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The Elderly Nutrition Project, funded by Connecticut's Aging Services Division, provides meals to individuals 60 years of age and older and their spouses at about 200 community cafe sites. Meals can also be delivered to the homebound who are eligible. To locate a community cafe site near you, visit Connecticut's Aging Services Division's website by clicking here. A food pantry, which is generally operated by a church or community, provides food support for families in need. To locate a food pantry that serves your area, visit Connecticut's Long-Term Care website by clicking here. |
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Medicaid, also known as Title 19, is a safety net that can be used by the elderly and the disabled with lower incomes to help pay for their medical expenses and long-term care. To acquire Medicaid coverage, there are certain eligibility requirements that must be meet. The Center For Medicare Advocacy has information about Connecticut's Medicaid program and eligibility requirements on their website. To visit their site, click here. Your local Area Agency on Aging has trained counselors to help you understand Medicaid. To find your local Area Agency on Aging, click here. |
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Medicaid for the Employed Disabled allows people with disabilities to work at a living wage without jeopardising their Medicaid coverage. For information on this vital program for the disabled, visit the Medicaid for the Employed Disabled Website by the clicking here. |
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Traditional Medicare is government funded and government administered. It began in 1965 to insure that retirees would be provided with adequate medical coverage. The Medicare Advantage Plans are relatively new to the Medicare system. Medicare Advantage Plans are private health plans funded by the government and administered by private health providers. You now have the option of choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan rather than being enrolled in traditional Medicare. Medicare Advantage Plans have made the process of choosing retirement health insurance extremely confusing. Medicare Advantage Plans have different guidelines than traditional Medicare and may deny you access to the doctor or hospital of your choice. Before signing up for retirement insurance, it is imperative that you have a thorough understanding of what the different private plans offer and how they compare to traditional Medicare. Only then can you decide which option will be best for you. To help you understand traditional Medicare, the Kaiser Family Foundation has easy to understand information about basic Medicare on its website. To visit their site click here. Medicare's website has detailed information on what traditional Medicare covers. To visit their website click here. When enrolled in traditional Medicare, it may be wise to select a supplemental health insurance policy (Medigap) to help pay the deductibles and coinsurance costs not covered by Medicare. The Kaiser Family Foundation is an excellent source of information on supplemental health insurance. To visit their website click here. The Kaiser Family Foundation is an excellent resource to help you understand Medicare Advantage Plans and how they compare to traditional Medicare. You can visit their webpage on Medicare Advantage Plans and traditional Medicare by clicking here. Another excellent resource for understanding Medicare Advantage Plans and traditional Medicare is The Center for Medicare Advocacy. They have a special section on Medicare Advantage Plans. Pay special attention to their GUIDELINES FOR CONSIDERING OPTIONS. Visit their website by clicking here. Or call 1-800-262-4414 or 1-860-456-7790. The Center for Medicare Advocacy also provides free legal advice and representation to those on Medicare who are denied medical coverage. The official government handbook on Medicare, "Medicare & You 2008", can be viewed on Medicare's website by clicking here. Connecticut's Aging Services Division has an excellent resource to help you understand Medicare Advantage Plans and how they compare to traditional Medicare. Medicare Advantage Plan options vary according to which Connecticut County you live in. To access Connecticut's Aging Services' website where you can learn about your Medicare Advantage Plan options, click on the County in which you reside. If you wish to get further guidance on this topic, it might be wise to speak with someone trained in the complexities of Medicare in order to gain a clearer understanding of what your health insurance options are under the Medicare system. Your local Area Agency on Aging has trained counselors to help you understand your Medicare choices. To locate the Area Agency on Aging that serves your town click here. |
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If you have been denied medical coverage under the Medicare system and have been unable to resolve the denial, there is an excellent resource available to Connecticut residents that can help you. The Center for Medicare Advocacy, located in Willimantic, Connecticut, has expertise in appealing Medicare denials. Their staff of highly qualified attorneys can provide you with free legal help to resolve a denial of Medicare services. To reach the Center for Medicare Advocacy call 1-800-262-4414 or 1-860-456-7790. |
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When you are enrolled in traditional Medicare, you do not automatically receive prescription drug coverage. You have to pro-actively choose a Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage plan. It would be wise to spend some time researching Medicare prescription drug coverage so you can select the best plan for your needs. To gain a thorough understanding of Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage and to learn about the guidelines for choosing a plan, there are two excellent sources you can reference. One is the Center for Medicare Advocacy. To visit their website click here. The other is the Kaiser Family Foundation. To visit their website click here. To compare the Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in your area, visit the Medicare.gov website by clicking here. Your local Area Agency on Aging has trained counselors to help you understand Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. To locate the Area Agency on Aging that serves your town click here. |
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If you qualify for Medicare and are having difficulty paying your Medicare premiums, there is help available. The Medicare Savings Programs assist eligible individuals with the payment of their Medicare premiums. The Center for Medicare Advocacy has detailed information on the Medicare Savings Programs on their website. To visit it click here. Medicare's website has a brochure which explains eligibility requirements for the Medicare Savings Programs. To view their brochure click here. |
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When enrolled in traditional Medicare, it is important to consider getting supplemental health insurance to cover deductible and coinsurance costs. There are 12 Medigap plans to choose from that will reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. The Kaiser Family Foundation is an excellent source of information on Medicare supplemental health insurance and the 12 Medigap plans that are available. To visit their website and learn about Medigap click here. Another excellent source to help you understand Medigap is the Center for Medicare Advocacy. To visit their website click here. To compare Medigap policies and pricing, go to Medicare's options compare webpage and click on Find & Compare Medigap Policies. To visit Medicare's options compare webpage click here. Your local Area Agency on Aging has trained counselors to help you understand Medigap. To locate the Area Agency on Aging that serves your town click here. |
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Moving from a nursing facility back to the community can be a difficult task. "My Community Choices" is a program that is funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is managed by the CT Association of Centers for Independent Living. The program helps people prepare for a move back into the community. For information on options for moving from a nursing facility back to the community, visit the My Community Choices Website. |
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Each Connecticut town is required to have a Municipal Agent on Aging. Their job is to inform residents sixty and older about elder care issues, and help locate elder services and apply for benefits. To reach the office of your Municipal Agent on Aging, call your town hall. |
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There are two types of nursing home care: intermediate nursing care and skilled nursing care. Intermediate nursing home care provides 24 hour supportive care with the goal of rehabilitation and return to a home setting or assisted living facility. Skilled nursing home care provides 24 hour comprehensive care for individuals with a chronic condition who need constant supervision and for individuals who are in a convalescent stage of a serious illness or injury. The State of Connecticut has search tools to help you locate a nursing facility. To find an intermediate nursing home facility click here. To find a skilled nursing home facility click here. If you would like to compare nursing homes in your area, Medicare's website has comparison data that shows if a nursing home is for profit or not-for-profit, the number of beds they have, whether they are part of a continuing care retirement community, etc. To obtain this information click here. To further narrow your search for nursing home care, you might use the resources of the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. This is a highly respected, not-for-profit organization that has developed a set of high standards that a rehabilitation facility must meet in order to receive their accreditation. Their website has a search tool that allows you to find the Continuing Care Retirement Communities which meet their standards. All Continuing Care Retirement Communities have nursing home care. To use their search tool click here. Connecticut's Office of Policy and Management has posted average Connecticut nursing home rates on their website. To view these rates, click here. If you are interested in nursing home rates in other States, you can find the information on the Federal Government's Long-Term Care Insurance website by clicking here. |
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Connecticut residents aged 65 or older, or disabled and 18 or older may be eligible for ConnPace. ConnPace is a State run program that helps with the cost of most prescription drugs, insulin and insulin syringes and needles. To learn if you qualify for ConnPace and for application information, visit their website by clicking here. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance has a website available for Connecticut residents who need assistance paying for prescription medication. For information on the many programs available, visit their website by clicking here or call 1-888-477-2669 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pharmaceutical companies have set up a program that provides free medication to people who are unable to purchase their medicine. To learn about this program, visit the rxassist website by clicking here. If you are on Medicare and have limited income, you may be eligible for extra help with your medication purchases. To learn if you qualify for this extra help, visit the benefits checkup webpage at Connecticut's Elderly Services website by clicking here. |
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The Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities is an investigative, referral and advocacy service for people with disabilities. They can provide help for those who are discriminated against because of a disability, and for those disabled individuals who experience abuse and neglect. To visit their website click here. |
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The Connecticut Department of Social Services has a program to help people aged 60 and older who are the victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation. An abused victim's needs are assessed, and resultant services are provided. For detailed information on this program, visit the Protective Services website by clicking here . |
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Connecticut allows for property tax relief for homeowners aged 65 and older and for totally disabled homeowners of any age. Additionally, some towns have established their own property tax relief program to augment the State's program. To determine if you meet the income guidelines for property tax relief and for application information, contact your town's assessor. |
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The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services provides opportunities for people with disabilities to attain a life of independent living. The three main services the Bureau provides are: The Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Disability Determination Services and the Independent Living Program. For detailed information on these programs, visit their website by clicking here. |
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Connecticut allows for a "Partial state refund of rent and utility bills paid by certain renters aged sixty-five or older or renters under the age of sixty-five with permanent total disability." To determine if you meet the income guidelines for this program and for application information, contact your town's assessor. |
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A reverse mortgage can help senior citizens draw upon the equity in their home to help with the expenses of later life. Reverse mortgages can be useful, but are not for everyone. If you are considering a reverse mortgage, you should thoroughly understand its structure and the fees involved before committing yourself to its use. For detailed information on reverse mortgages, there are three excellent resources where you will be able to gain a clear understanding of the reverse mortgage. To visit the AARP reverse mortgage webpage, click here. To visit the HUD reverse mortgage webpage, click here. To visit the Federal Trade Commission reverse mortgage webpage, click here. The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority has established a reverse annuity mortgage program for the elderly with limited income and long-term care needs. To learn about this program, visit their website by clicking here. If you need help making a decision about a reverse mortgage, it may be wise to speak with an attorney versed in the intricacies of reverse mortgages. |
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Your local senior center can be an excellent resource for older adults. It is a place to socialize and establish a sense of community with your fellow seniors. Additionally, your senior center can provide information and education on maintaining one's health and independence. To locate a senior center near you, click here. |
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Giving up driving is hard for the elderly, and to decide when that should happen can be difficult. Caring.com can provide you with information that may help you evaluate the driving ability of an elderly parent or a loved one. To visit their web site click here. |
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The Social Security Administration has an excellent website that can help you understand Social Security issues. If you have not started collecting retirement benefits and would like to know what your benefits will be, they have an online calculator that will estimate your future retirement benefits. Additionally, they have a screening tool to determine the different Social Security programs for which you are eligible. You can also apply online for your benefits. To reach the Social Security website click here. |
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If you are 65 or older and your Social Security benefits are low and you do not have a substantial income and do not own property, you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income. This is a federally funded program that provides income for the basics of food, clothing and shelter. Adults under 65 and disabled are also eligible for SSI. To learn about SSI's eligibility requirements, benefits and how to apply, visit Social Security's Supplemental Security Income webpage by clicking here. |
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If you are in need of transportation, there are three sources that can direct you to this service: your local senior center; your municipal agent on aging; your local area agency on aging. To locate the senior center near you, visit Connecticut's long-term care search tool by clicking here. To speak with your municipal agent on aging, call your town hall. To find the area agency on aging that serves your town, click here. |
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If you are having difficulty locating the information you need, try the INFO LINE website by clicking here or call INFO LINE toll free at 211. INFO LINE is supported by the State of Connecticut and Connecticut United Ways. |
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CTHelpNet.org E-mail: cthelpnet@cthelpnet.org copyright 2004-2009 |
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