Resources library
The numbers worth keeping on the fridge.
Public agencies and national nonprofits, grouped by what you might need today. These are outside organizations — nothing you type into this guide is shared with them.
Start with one call
If you don't know where to begin, call the Eldercare Locator. They ask for a ZIP code and point you to the local agency that handles meals, rides, and in-home help.
New · Decision guides
Choosing care for someone you love?
Compare home care, assisted living, memory care and PACE with a needs check, question lists, a visit scorecard and a cost worksheet — or download the printable PDF.
Caregiving Essentials
Bed pads, barrier cream, bathing aids and the supplies you might not know to ask for—what they do, when they help and what to check before buying.
Explore essentialsFind local help
Eldercare Locator
U.S. Administration for Community Living
Public service that connects you to services for older adults by ZIP code: meals, transportation, in-home help, and your local Area Agency on Aging.
Area Agencies on Aging
USAging
Regional agencies that assess needs and coordinate local services. Often the fastest route to respite care and home-delivered meals.
Care Compare
Medicare.gov
Compare hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, and hospice providers near you using inspection results and quality ratings.
Insurance & benefits
Medicare coverage and enrollment
Medicare.gov
Official source for what Medicare covers, plan comparisons, and enrollment periods. Start here before calling a private plan.
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
SHIP National Technical Assistance Center
Free, unbiased one-on-one Medicare counseling in every state. Useful for appeals, drug plan choices, and coverage denials.
BenefitsCheckUp
National Council on Aging
Screens for programs that help with medications, food, utilities, and health costs based on income and location.
VA Caregiver Support Program
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Support, training, respite, and possible stipends for family caregivers of veterans. Worth checking even if service was long ago.
Conditions
Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline
Alzheimer's Association
Around-the-clock helpline plus practical guidance on dementia behaviors, safety, and planning stages of care.
Parkinson's Foundation Helpline
Parkinson's Foundation
Condition-specific guidance on symptoms, medication timing, and finding specialists experienced with Parkinson's.
American Heart Association caregiver support
American Heart Association
Plain-language material on heart failure, stroke recovery, and what to watch for at home after a cardiac event.
Legal & planning
Advance care planning guides
National Institute on Aging
How advance directives, living wills, and health care proxies work, and how to start the conversation.
Find an elder law attorney
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Directory of attorneys who handle powers of attorney, guardianship, Medicaid planning, and long-term care questions.
Your rights over medical records
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
What HIPAA lets you access as a caregiver, how to request records, and what to do if access is refused.
Support for you
Family Caregiver Alliance
Family Caregiver Alliance
Fact sheets, state-by-state service listings, and online support groups written specifically for family caregivers.
Caregiver Action Network
Caregiver Action Network
Peer support, a help desk, and practical toolkits for people caring for a family member at home.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
988 Lifeline
Free, confidential support 24/7 for anyone in emotional distress — including caregivers who are past their limit.
The Caregiving Companion blog
34 articles on caregiving — burnout, hard conversations, appointments, and taking care of yourself along the way.
The Language of Care: Must-Know Terms for Family Caregivers
When providing care for a friend, neighbor, or loved one, understanding the diverse and often unfamiliar terminology can be as essential as understanding the intricacies of the care journey itself. I’ll never forget the…
9 min read
SpiritReading for Resilience: The Healing Power of Books
When I unexpectedly became a primary care partner to both of my parents as the pandemic was kicking into high gear (in an environment that seemed to willfully neglect older adults), reading for myself was all but…
6 min read
BodyThe Family Caregiver’s Guide to Somatic Self-Care
It is well documented how the constant demands of caregiving can take a toll on one's well-being, particularly the body — a foundation of our strength and resilience. Several years ago a friend introduced me to somatic…
6 min read
Write the ones you use into your binder.
The care team chapter has space for every phone number, so the next person filling in for you doesn't have to search.