Legal Aid

• Many elderly persons may be concerned about the disposition of their property after they are deceased, and who will make important healthcare or financial decisions on their behalf if they are incapacitated. Legal aid societies in every state provide dedicated low-cost legal services to elderly persons, including wills, healthcare directives, and power of attorney agreements. Legal aid attorneys may also assist with obtaining or maintaining Medicare and Social Security benefits. Some legal programs may even arrange to visit elderly persons in their home. Legal services for elderly persons can be arranged by contacting the local legal aid society (see Resources).
  
  

Meals on Wheels

• If an elderly person has difficulty with mobility, he may not have the ability to shop for food and cook his own meals. There are more than 5,000 Meals on Wheels programs throughout the United States that assist in providing more than 1 million meals to seniors every day. Many local Meals on Wheels programs are capable of delivering meals directly to the home of seniors who have limited mobility. The cost of obtaining meals through this program is subsidized through charitable donations, making them either free or inexpensive. The Meals on Wheels Association of America maintains an online database of local meal programs (see Resources).
  
  

In-Home Healthcare

• Some elderly persons who live in their own home may require in-home medical care by a visiting nurse service, such as daily monitoring of vital signs or rehabilitative care. The Visiting Nurse Associations of America is a trade group which maintains an online database of local visiting nurse services (see Resources). Other elderly people may require personal non-medical care, such as assistance with bathing, grooming or toilet care. The Eldercare Locator, a database operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, can help you find local providers of personal non-medical care in your area (see Resources).
  
  

Local Community Centers

• The YMCA is a community organization that maintains community centers in over 10,000 cities in the United States. Many YMCA centers maintain pools, fitness centers and community athletic equipment for men and women of all ages, with some organizing fitness classes specifically for the elderly. Most YMCAs also hold group classes for elderly individuals looking to socialize and explore new interests. The YMCA website maintains a database of centers in the United States (see Resources). Additionally, many communities operate senior centers, which provide free and low-cost social and recreational opportunities for seniors.