Resources

  • AARP – 866-448-3613
  • Aging Network Services – 301-657-4329
  • Alzheimer’s Association Illinois 24-hour Help Line – 800-272-3900
  • Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders – 800-621-0379
  • American Association of Homes for the Aging – 202-783-2242
  • American Association of Retired Persons – 202-434-2277
  • American Cancer Society – 312-372-0471
  • American Council of the Blind – 800-424-8666
  • American Diabetes Association – National: 800-232-3472
    Chicago: 312-346-1805
  • American Foundation for the Blind, Inc. – 800-232-5463
    — Free catalog. Sells products for visually impaired: watches, clocks, calculators, canes, personal and household products.
  • American Heart Association – 312-346-4675
  • American Institute for Cancer Research – 800-843-8114
  • American Lung Association – 312-243-2000
  • American Paralysis Association – 800-225-0292
  • American Printing House for the Blind – 502-895-4026
    — Free catalog. Sells products for visually impaired: educational aids, containers, Braille writing and embossing equipment, electronic devices and more.
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association — 800-782-4747
    (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
  • Arthritis Foundation – 800-735-0096 or 800-283-7800
    — Educational materials, home assessment, exercise/swim programs, support groups, and volunteer opportunities.
  • AT&T National Special Needs Center – 800-233-1222
    — Free catalog. Sells communication devices for hearing impaired: stationery and portable amplification handsets, pocket talkers, signaling devices and control units, TDD equipment, closed-caption decoders, emergency call systems, electronic artificial larynx equipment and more.
  • Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese – 847-797-5321
  • Catholic Charities – 773-583-9224
  • Center of Concern – 847-823-0453
  • Chicago Fitness Plus Program – 312-744-4016
  • Chicago Transit Authority – 888-968-7282
  • Chicago Urban League – 773-285-5800
  • Children of Aging Parents – 215-345-5014
    — Free publication list on elder care topics. For a $20 annual fee, offers a bi-monthly newspaper addressing caregiving issues.
  • Cook County Department of Public Health – 708-492-2000
    The Flu sends 100,000 Americans to the hospital every years, so it is a good idea to get a flu shot. If you are age 65 or older, have you also had the pneumonia shot? Also consider getting a Tetanus and Diphtheria booster shot. Talk with your doctor as other vaccines may be appropriate.
  • Council For Jewish Elderly – 773-508-1000
  • Courage Stroke Network – 800-553-6321
  • Deafness Research Foundation – 800-535-3323
  • Disabled American Veterans – 312-943-6600
  • Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago – 312-939-5115
  • Eldercare Locator Service – 800-677-1116
  • Employment Services – 312-744-4016
  • Epilepsy Foundation – National: 800-332-1000 Chicago: 312-939-8622
  • Essex Home Health Services, Inc.
    8018 S. Essex Avenue, 2nd Floor North, Chicago, Illinois 60617773-933-0494 www.essexhomehealth.com— Essex Home Health Services, Inc is a licensed home health care agency founded in Chicago, Illinois. We strive to provide the highest quality of care and services to our clients. We provide a wide range of services, from skilled nursing and home health aides to physical, occupational and speech therapy, that allow an individual to receive specialized treatments and personal health care assistance in the familiar surroundings of their own home. We maintain a highly trained staff to ensure our clients needs are met. We currently serve the greater Chicagoland and Cook County area.
  • Family Service America – 414-359-1040
    — National referral network of private social service agencies.
  • Foster Grandparent Program – 312-744-3221
  • Foundation for Hospice & Home Care – 202-547-6586
  • Galter LifeCenter Senior Fitness Programs
    5157 N. Francisco Ave., Chicago, IL 60625, 773-878-9936
    www.galterlifecenter.org - Galter LifeCenter is the right place for seniors who choose to be healthy and feel better physically, manage weight or physical conditions, have more energy, or reach new fitness goals. Special programs are available for older adults including:

    • *Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program, a 45-minute water exercise routine geared specifically to those with arthritis, and the Arthritis Foundation Land (PACE) Program. The People with Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE) is a chair exercise program designed specifically for people with arthritis.
    • *Strength Training for Osteoporosis. This course is designed to teach seniors the proper exercises and design a strength training program for people with osteopenia to osteoporosis. Informative sessions along with a nutrition session will be included in this course.
    • *Parkinson’s Movement Class, which is designed for individuals with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease that would like to explore the benefits of regular exercise and learn about improving overall mobility and quality of life.
  • Gatekeeper Program – 312-744-4016
    — As a coordinator partnership of the City of Chicago, Commonwealth Edison and People’s Gas, this program is designed to provide assistance to vulnerable elderly persons.
  • Go Direct®
    800-333-1795 • www.GoDirect.org— Seniors can prevent identity theft by switching to direct deposit, which eliminates the risk of stolen checks and forgeries. It’s also easier and more convenient than paper checks because the payment goes straight into your bank account. It’s fast, easy and free to switch to direct deposit.
  • Goodwill Industries – 773-863-6030
  • Golden Diners Program – 312-744-4016
    — For many senior citizens, cooking for themselves is difficult and frustrating, which is why they often miss out on proper nutrition. With hot, healthy meals at over eighty dining sites throughout the city, as will as recreational and education programs, Golden Diners is an easy way to get the good meals senior citizens need.
  • Hearing Helpline/Better Hearing Institute – 800-327-9355
  • Huntington’s Disease Society – 800-345-4372
  • Illinois CaresRX – 800-548-9034
    — SeniorCare and the CircuitBreaker pharmaceutical assistance programs have joined to form Illinois Cares Rx, a new program to help pay for your prescriptions. Customers with Medicare Part D questions should be directed to the Senior Helpline at 1-800-252-8966 or Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227).
  • Illinois Department on Aging - Elder Abuse and Neglect Hotline – 800-252-8966
  • Illinois Department on Aging - Senior Help Line – 800-252-8966
  • Illinois Retiree Chapter 31 – 312-641-6060
  • In-Home Services – 312-744-4016
    — Homebound senior citizens are often unable to do their own housekeeping and chores. Chore Workers can be sent to their homes to perform household tasks.
  • Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation – 312-346-6700
  • Lawyer Referral Services – 312-554-2001
  • Lupus Foundation – 800-558-0121
  • Lutheran Social Services of Illinois – 773-734-1400
  • Mayor Daley’s Light Up Chicago Volunteer Program – 312-742-6455
  • Mayor Daley’s Senior Shuttle Service – 312-744-4016
  • Meals on Wheels – 312-744-2120
  • Medicare – 800-772-1213
    — Free general information, counseling, eligibility and enrollment information, referrals to local offices.
  • Metropolitan Family Services – 312-986-4444
  • Moving Services
    • *Simple Living for Seniors (serving the metropolitan Chicago area) 312-777-1007 www.simplelivingforseniors.com
      — Simple Living For Seniors is a moving management company offering services for adults ages 55 and over and persons with disabilities throughout the Chicagoland area. They specializes in helping Chicago’s Senior Community with moving (locally or out of town), household downsizing and organization, and estate disperal (clean out).
  • National Association of Area Agencies on Aging – 800-677-1116
    — Free referrals to local government-funded elder care services.
  • National Association of Geriatric Care Managers – 602-881-8008
    — Publishes a directory of care managers who specialize in assessing your loved one’s financial, legal and medical needs.
  • National Association for Home Care – 202-547-7424
    — Free/low-cost information on home health care providers.
  • National Asthma Center/National Jewish Center for Immunology & Respiratory Medicine – 800-222-5864
    — Free information on asthma and other respiratory problems.
  • National Cancer Institute/Cancer Information Service – 800-422-6237
  • National Council on Aging – 202-479-1200
  • National Council on Alcoholism – 800-622-2255
  • National Federation of Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, Inc. – 914-331-1198
    — Free/low-cost technical assistance to people and congregations who are developing a caregiving ministry.
  • National Health Information Center – 800-336-4797
    — Free brochures on senior health and elder care, taped explanations of Medicare and Medicaid.
  • National Hospice Organization – 703-243-5900
  • National Institute on Aging – 800-438-1380
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society – 800-624-8236
  • National Organization for Rare Disorders – 800-447-6673
  • National Rehabilitation Information Center – 800-346-2742
  • National Stroke Association – 303-762-9922
  • Parkinson Disease Foundation – National: 800-327-2742
    Chicago: 312-733-1893
  • Parkinson’s Educational Program – 800-344-7872
    — Free brochures and referrals. Sells books and videos on disease and caregiving.
  • Pension Information Effort (P.I.E.) – 312-744-4016
    — Understanding and obtaining pension benefits can be difficult to retired persons. This program assists seniors by investigating pension history, advising on applied laws, reviewing and filling appropriate documents needed to obtain individual and spousal benefits.
  • Recording for the Blind – 800-221-4792
    — Low-cost recordings of books and printed materials for vision impaired.
  • Red Tape Cutters Program – 312-744-4016
    — As a senior citizen, it’s hard to know exactly which benefits you’re entitled to: that’s why the CDOA works to help link senior citizens to the appropriate city, state and federal benefits and entitlements. One simple, comprehensive application is used to screen senior citizens for a multitude of services.
  • Regional Transportation Authority – 312-913-3110
  • Resident Service Coordination Program – 312-744-4016
    — Low-income residents of senior housing can decrease isolation by accessing government services with this special program. Service coordination staff, located within the developments, provides daily assistance to residents so they can enjoy special life enrichment activities such as recreational social programs.
  • Respite Care – 312-744-4016
  • Retirement Hotel

    • *The North Shore, 1611 Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60201 847-864-6400 www.retirementhotel.com
      — If you need a sense of freedom. The North Shore Retirement Hotel community is the place for you. We provide daily maid service, and three delicious meals a day are included in your monthly fee. The North Shore Hotel is a rental community, so you can manage your assets the way you want.
  • RSVP - Retired and Senior Volunteer Program North Cook – 847-940-4010
  • Senior Companion Program – 312-744-3221
  • Simon Foundation – 800-237-4666
    — Free information on incontinence and referrals to local support groups, low-cost monthly newsletter.
  • Social Security – 800-772-1213
    — Use this number to arrange direct deposit of Social Security checks, to change your address, to discuss eligibility screening and local appointment setting. Free general information and counseling.
  • U.S. Administration on Aging (State and Community Programs) – 202-619-0724
    — Free brochures on working caregivers and local resources.
  • U.S. Internal Revenue Service – 312-886-9386
  • United Way Chicago – 312-906-2350
  • Veterans Benefits – 800-827-1000
  • Veterans Healthcare benefits – 800-222-8387
  • Wealth Management – 877-957-7526
    • *Wealth Logic Solutions, 4606 N. Western Ave., Suite 100, Chicago, IL 60625 773-769-5200
      – If what you thought to be true about your retirement investments, credit cards, vehicle financing, mortgages, insurance, taxes and real estate turned out NOT to be true, when would you want to know? To learn how to stop transferring money unknowingly or unnecessarily, call WLS.
  • YMCA Training Alliance – 312-913-2150
    • *Third Age YMCA, 801 N. Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60610 312-932-1171
      www.ymcachgo.org— Since 1983, the YMCA Third Age program has played a vital role in allowing low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities to live with dignity and independence in the comfort of their homes. Third age has more than 400 homemakers, many of which are retired seniors who work in their own communities and can relate to the individuals they serve.