Resource Center
This Resource Center provides information and guidance on four types of resources you'll find helpful:
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Key resources
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Insights for Family Caregiving
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Information on Aging Services​​​​​​​
There are four formats of resources:​​ text, documents, video, and links
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You access this Resource Center from the KareTeam Age-in-Place application. The Resource Center opens in a separate window so you can use it as an aid while using the KareTeam App.​
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​Insights and advice on the role you play as a family care-partner
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Overview of the aging services available
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Guidance on how to find aging services​
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Guidance on when and how to secure aging services​
Key Resources:
That surprisingly few people know about!
Area Agencies on Aging
Or "Triple A's" as you will hear them called, were established by the Older American's Act in 1965, with approximately 622 AAAs nationwide, covering virtually every community in America. The intent of AAA's is to be a clearinghouse of information and services for older adults.  But surprisingly few people know about them. What's more, not all AAA's are created equal. There is significant variation in their specific services, organizational structures, and operational approaches across different regions. This balance of consistency and variation is important to understand when navigating the aging services network. Candidly, many AAA's operate in a fairly antiquited, "Call us" mode of operation. In any case, it's important to find and leverage resources available through your Triple A.  ​ The Government set up a website called the "eldercare locator" to help you find your local AAA, as well as other government programs in your area.  Click the link here to go to this locator, and simply enter the zip code of your aging loved one:
Veteran's Administration Benefits
It's also surprising how few veteran's know about the age-in-place benefits available to them through the Veteran's Administration.  In fact, the VA will pay for aging services that other government programs--such as Medicare--will not pay for.  All you have to be is an honorably discharged veteran.  These benefits also extend to the spouse of a veteran.  So if your aging loved one served in any of the armed forces of the United States, be sure to get in touch with the VA to unlock these valuable benefits.  Also be prepared, as with any government program, you must apply--be persistent and patient--to get the benefits flowing to your aging loved one.​ The link here takes you to the relevant section of the Veteran's Administration website:
NCOG Benefits Checkup
The National Council on Aging's BenefitsCheckUp service stands as a powerful yet underutilized resource that has helped millions of older adults access billions in benefits they might otherwise miss. This free, confidential online tool quickly screens seniors for eligibility across more than 2,500 federal, state, and private benefit programs designed to help with healthcare costs, prescription medications, food, utilities, transportation, housing, and other essential needs. By answering a series of straightforward questions about their location, income, assets, expenses, and health conditions, older adults receive a personalized report of programs they likely qualify for, complete with direct links to applications and step-by-step guidance for enrollment. The service eliminates the overwhelming complexity of navigating multiple government websites and application processes, consolidating everything into one user-friendly platform. Family members can work with their aging loved one to gather the needed information and use the online tool. Or, for seniors with limited internet access or digital skills, many Area Agencies on Aging and senior centers offer in-person assistance with the BenefitsCheckUp screening.
P.A.C.E
PACE stands for the Program of All-inclusive Care for Elders, and it's one of the most comprehensive and innovative care models available for frail older adults who wish to remain in their communities rather than enter nursing facilities. This integrated care approach provides a full spectrum of health and supportive services through a single coordinated program. It's available in 33 states, and selected areas within those states.  So the first step is to see if PACE is available in your area. PACE is intended for aging people with higher levels of need, who would be eligible for nursing home level of care, but want to stay in their homes.  You also must meet Medicaid eligibility criteria, or be willing to pay privately.  So PACE may not be your first stop on the journey of supporting an aging loved. However, as needs escalate, it's important to be aware of this option.  Plus, if there is a PACE program in your area, they can help you determine if your aging loved one qualifies, and they will be motivated to help. There is a National PACE Association that can help you find if there is a PACE organization available in your area, and provide more information on the program and eligibility requirements.  Click the link here to go to this locator, and simply enter the zip code, or city and state information for your aging loved one:
Aging Services
by category
One of the challenges in supporting an aging loved one is simply identifying the aging services in your community. Understanding the landscape of available resources—and engaging the right ones at the appropriate time—can be the deciding factor between a fulfilling aging-in-place experience and an overwhelming struggle for everyone involved.
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Worth noting, Aging Services as a category are quite fragmented and variable across the nation. For instance, people tend to know about "Meals-on-Wheels" but you probably didn't know that this service is done by 4,000 different organizations across the US--sometimes local non-profit, sometimes a larger non-profit, or church, etc. So if the range of aging services seems confusing, that's because it is. In other words, there really isn't a one-stop-shop when it comes to aging services.
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As your loved one's journey progresses and their needs evolve, thoughtfully selected aging services become increasingly vital. The integration and coordination of these services often determines whether independence can be maintained while ensuring safety, dignity, and quality of life for all involved.
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Technology Support
Being the tech support person for an aging person can be taxing. Fortunately, there are programs specific for seniors: technology training and support for seniors; internet access programs; various technology remote monitoring systems; medical alert systems. Personal Emergency Response systems.
Community-Based Support
There are a number of seemingly spontaneous programs intended to support people aging in community. These include: Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs); village model organizations; faith-based outreach programs; intergenerational programs connecting seniors with younger people​​.
Hospice Care
Hospice provides comprehensive end-of-life care focused on comfort rather than curative treatment. Services include: regular visits from hospice nurse; physician oversight; medications for comfort; emotional support services; chaplain visits. Generally Medicare paid. Can be for extended period--1 year plus.
Medicare Primer
A Quick Overview
When Mom hands you a stack of Medicare letters with a bewildered look, you'll realize how overwhelming this system can be for someone who's navigated healthcare independently for decades. It almost seems like some kind of cruel joke to have such complexity for aging people. The alphabet soup of Parts A, B, C, and D, the enrollment deadlines with permanent penalties, the gap coverage options—it's enough to confuse anyone, let alone someone in their seventies or eighties managing other health concerns.
What will likely help you most isn't trying to become Medicare experts overnight, but breaking it down into manageable decisions focused on your loved one's specific needs: which doctors they want to keep seeing, what medications they take regularly, and how much predictability they want in healthcare costs.
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You'll find unexpected allies along the way—from the free SHIP counselors at your local senior center who provide unbiased guidance, to online comparison tools that simplify your options. The relief on Mom's face when you finally have a plan in place will remind you that sometimes the most important support we provide isn't solving problems for our loved ones, but walking beside them through confusing terrain until the path forward becomes clear.
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Given how confusing it can be, and the outsized role Medicare and Medicaid play in the lives of aging people and their families, we've devoted an entire section just to Medicare and Medicaid to give you an overview, guidance, and resources to sort it all out.