5 - Senior services

What are senior services? What to expect

Senior services, also known as ‘services to seniors or the elderly’ refer to services offered by organizations to assist seniors in living comfortable, stress-free lives. Based on the Older Americans Act, all Americans aged sixty and over are eligible for social services.  There are too many senior services to mention them all, but the main ones are:

* Senior housing
Because housing for seniors can be such a nightmare, senior services (many of which are non-profits) help to locate suitable housing solutions for the elderly. This includes finding locations that are close to social, medical and other amenities that are important to the elderly. Many senior services also assist with minor home repairs free of cost or at a minimal cost.

In some areas there are also adult day care and health care facilities so that seniors can be around other seniors. This helps them to build new friendships as well as interact with others with whom they share similar interests. 

* Employment help and advice
Some senior services help seniors to find employment or volunteer activities suited to their age and physical abilities. In addition to this, some services provide advice and guidance to seniors who need to work. 

* Provide support for caregivers and seniors
Some states have caregiver advocacy programs where caregivers are given information to help them cope with the stress of taking care of seniors. These agencies/groups also help seniors connect with professional caregivers. 

* Advice and assistance with nutrition and meals
In many states, senior services provide meals for seniors. Three main means of doing this are: Meals on Wheels, assistance to senior centers to provide nutritious meals for seniors, and donations of food items. Many seniors appreciate and look forward to getting their meals delivered. 

* Transportation assistance
The ability to move around as they need to is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a senior’s sense of independence. The senior may need to regularly visit the doctor, go to church or even just go shopping. This is an important need of most senior citizens and is therefore one of the most important senior services offered.

Senior services related to transporting the elderly are escort services and case management services. Escort services actually provide someone to take the senior to wherever they need to go and assist if necessary. Case management involves providing facilities close by where the elderly can access many of the services they need in one place.

Other senior services include financial assistance. This includes, but is not limited to helping to balance check books, assisting with bills and other payments.

Senior services first and foremost are there to help senior citizens live an independent life with as much dignity as possible. Some work just for seniors who fall within certain groups, such as, the disabled, ethnic groups or catering to a particular gender. 
