HELPFUL LINKS

• Adult Protective Services (APS) – This is a state-mandated program that investigates situations involving seniors (age 65 or older) and dependent adults (physically or mentally impaired 18 to 64 year olds) who are reported to be endangered by physical, sexual or financial abuse, abandonment, isolation, abduction, neglect or self-neglect. Any endangered elder or dependent adult is eligible. Call the Elder Abuse Hotline (877) 477-3646. Your report will be confidential. For more information about APS go to wdacs.lacounty.gov/programs/aps.
  
  
• Alzheimer’s Association of Los Angeles – An important resource for anyone needing information about dementia and Alzheimer’s – from patients to caregivers to health care professionals. Go to alzheimersla.org. The association’s diverse resources include caregiver support groups and educational information that includes online professional training. The association is also a leading advocate for the needs and rights of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and their families. Their helpline is (844) 435-7259.
  
  
• Benefits Check Up – Created by the National Council on the Aging (NCOA) this free, easy-to-use website helps older Americans identify their eligibility for a wide range of public assistance programs. It compares the information you give with eligibility requirements for Social Security, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Weatherization, in-home services, pharmacy programs, and state programs. A printable report of programs and enrollment information is available. benefitscheckup.org.
  
  
• Bet Tzedek: The House of Justice – A non-profit, public interest law center that provides free legal services to low-income residents of Los Angeles County. Bet Tzedek also produces the following brochures: "Assisted Living Companion," "Nursing Home Companion, A User Friendly Guide to California’s Nursing Home Laws," and "If Only I Had Known, Misrepresentations by Nursing Homes Which Deprive Residents of Legal Protection,". Offices are in Los Angeles – (323) 939-0506 and North Hollywood – (818) 769-0136. bettzedek.org.
  
  
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH) – CDPH's fundamental responsibilities are comprehensive in scope and include infectious disease control and prevention, food safety, environmental health, laboratory services, patient safety, emergency preparedness, chronic disease prevention and health promotion, family health, health equity and vital records and statistics. The department also licenses and certifies more than 10,000 health care facilities and agencies in California in 30 different licensure and certification categories. Call (916) 558-1784. cdph.ca.gov.
  
  
• California Department of Social Services (CDSS) – CDSS licenses Retirement Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs), which includes assisted living and board and care facilities. The Department also makes the results of facility evaluations available to the public. Call (818) 596-4334, (323) 980-4934 or (323) 981-1755. For the department's complaint hotline, call (844) 538-8766.
  
  
• California Senior Legal Hotline/Family Caregiver Alliance – This resource provides seniors with fast, accurate advice on any legal subject, by phone and via the Internet. caregiver.org/california-senior-legal-hotline
  
  
• Center for Health Care Rights – The Center's Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP), supported by volunteers, provides free community education and counseling assistance with Medicare and related health insurance issues through advocacy or legal representation. Call
  (213) 383-4519. healthcarerights.org.
  
  
• Dial A Ride – Many cities offer this low-cost shuttle bus service to disabled and senior residents. They often limit which geographic areas they serve and require 24-hour notice. Most also require that an application be filled out in advance. Costs are typically $1 per one-way trip. For information on Pasadena’s Dial A Ride program, go to cityofpasadena.net/pasadena-transit/dial-a-ride.
  
  
• Foundation of the State Bar of California – The Foundation produces an excellent publication –
  "Seniors & the Law: A Guide for Maturing Californians". For copies, e-mail your request to Seniors and The Law or mail your request to "Seniors and the Law," Office of Media and Information Services, The State Bar of California, 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105-1639.
  
  
• Leapfrog Group – This website contains information that consumers may access when they are making decisions related to hospital choices. The website provides hospital specific voluntary responses to a patient safety survey of urban hospitals related to each hospital's implementation of computerized physician order entry, staffing of the hospital's Intensive Care Unit and how many times a year five high-risk surgeries were performed in the hospital. The self-reported survey information is available to consumers online at leapfroggroup.org.
  
  
• Leeza’s Place – Founded by TV personality Leeza Gibbons and her family, Leeza’s Place was created in tribute to Leeza’s mother, and in response to the growing needs of both those who suffer from memory disorders and their caregivers. Their emphasis is on education and caregiver support. Located at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, 501 S. Buena Vista St., South Tower, Burbank, CA 91505. Call (818) 847-3683. leezasplace.org.
  
  
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program – Ombudsman representatives attempt to assure that residents of residential care facilities (including nursing homes) have their problems heard and their rights protected. Representatives visit California residential care facilities to investigate concerns of residents and will investigate problems in response to a telephone call or letter. Reports are confidential. For more information or services call (800) 510-2020 or (800) 334-9473. The statewide crisis line is (800) 231-4024. wdacs.lacounty.gov/programs/aaa/ltcop.
  
  
• Los Angeles Area Agency on Aging (AAA) – Is among the Area Agencies on Aging throughout the U.S. providing information and services that cover a wide range of assistance needs of older individuals and those who care for them in Los Angeles. wdacs.lacounty.gov/programs/aaa
  
  
• Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center – Provides diverse support to people caring for loved ones, including education and referrals to resource such as respite care. Located at USC, 3715 McClintock Ave., LA, CA 90089. Go to losangelescrc.org or call (800) 540-4442.
  
  
• Meals on Wheels – Has one single goal: to support our senior neighbors to extend their independence and health as they age. Meals n Wheels is one of the largest and most effective social movements in the U.S., helping nearly 2.4 million seniors annually in virtually every community in the country. Go to mealsonwheelsamerica.org and input your zip code to find a program near you.
  
  
• Medi-Cal – California’s version of Medicaid. For information on this health care program for low-income residents, go to medi-cal.ca.gov.
  
  
• Medicare – For general information, reports on approved nursing homes and home health services, and to report fraud go to medicare.gov or call (800) 633-4227. For Part D fraud, waste or the abuse hotline, call (877) 772-3379.
  
  
• Memory Care – Dedicated to providing the best, most comprehensive resource for those struggling with Alzheimer's and dementia, as well as their caregivers and loved ones. MemoryCare.com
  
  
• New Lifestyles – A free-to-the-public directory with comprehensive Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura County listings of nursing/rehab centers, assisted living facilities, providers specializing in Alzheimer’s/dementia care, retirement communities, home care and day care providers, and hospice services. Call (800) 869-9549 for copies. newlifestyles.com.
  
  
• Pacific PACE – Coordinates and provides all needed preventive, acute and long-term care services so that older individuals can continue living in the community. There are 11 PACE locations in California, including one serving residents of Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank. (800) 851-0966. pacificpace.welbehealth.com.
  
  
• Paying For Senior Care – This resource provides state-by-state information on the availability and cost of various Senior Care Programs. payingforseniorcare.com.
  
  
• Social Security – For general information, earnings/benefits status and referrals to local offices, call (800) 772-1213. For Social Security fraud,waste and the abuse hotline, call (800) 269-0271. ssa.gov.