Services Available in Pennsylvania

Locating services that you need to support your loved one can be difficult even when you live close-by. When you are at a distance, the process of locating support and services can be extremely frustrating and exhausting. The links provided here can help you to access some of the services and support that your loved one may need.

The Department of Aging provides information on Senior Centers, Nutrition, Transportation and much more. Learn More.

Area Agencies on Aging are key in assessing the needs of people over the age of 60, determining their eligibility for aging programs and locating resources in their communities.

Centers for Independent Living provide peer support for people with disabilities of all ages. They also provide training to empower people with disabilities to advocate on their own behalf.

Home Health Agencies, Adult Daily Living Centers and you can obtain more information on finding and selecting a provider. Learn More.

Nutrition - Information on obtaining assistance with meals, either through a home-delivered meal program or meals served at a senior or community center can be found by clicking here.  Learn more.

Personal Care - Personal care and personal assistance agencies provide assistance with bathing, dressing, toileting and other aspects of daily living, as well as homemaking services such as dusting, vacuuming, meal preparation and errands. For a listing of personal care agencies by area, click here.

Medical Equipment and Supplies - Having the right equipment and supplies, such as a bath transfer bench or incontinence supplies is essential to provide adequate support and service at home. The link to ABLEDATA, a project of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the US Department of Education, will provide a detailed description of various types of supplies and equipment as well as a link to the manufacturer for further information.

Assistive Technology - Assistive technology can be any device that is used to improve or enhance the ability of an individual with disabilities.  Assistive technology devices range from the simple walker, grabber or wheelchair to stairway seat lifts, seat lift chairs, outside lifts (when ramping is impractical) and vehicle lifts.  Sometimes overlooked technology can be in the form of low vision aids or amplified telephones to toilet safety frames.  The following websites offer helpful advice and guidance when you are considering assistive technology.  PATF (Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation) offers low cost loans to assist older Pennsylvanians and people with disabilities with purchasing the devices; PIAT (Pennsylvania Institute on Assistive Technology).  The mission of PIAT is to enhance the quality of life of individuals with disabilities through access to or acquisition of assistive technology.  PIAT has extensive lending libraries of the devices that will enable you to determine if the technology is right for you.

Service Coordination - Services to help you manage and advocate for your loved one in your absence are available through Certified Elder Care Managers or Geriatric Care managers. They will provide assessment, care planning and coordination of services for your loved one. While this site focuses on geriatric care managers, the professional geriatric care manager is also trained to provide information and services to people with disabilities and others Learn More.