Eldercare Locator

What it means

The Eldercare Locator is run under the federal aging services network. It takes a location and identifies the local agencies serving it.

It is a referral service rather than a provider, and it is free to use.

It is the practical way to reach the right Area Agency on Aging when you do not know which one covers a parent's address.

Why it matters

Care is arranged locally, so the hard part is usually finding the right local body — particularly when the person helping lives in another state.

It solves the specific problem of a family spread across the country trying to help somebody who is not near any of them.

When you are likely to meet it

• When helping a parent who lives in another state.
• When looking for local services and not knowing what covers that area.
• When starting from nothing.

Related terms

• Area Agency on AgingA local agency, part of a national network, that arranges and coordinates services for older adults in its own area.
• Congregate mealsMeals eaten together at a center or site, funded under the Older Americans Act and not means-tested.
• Geriatric care managerA professional, usually a nurse or social worker, hired to assess an older person's needs and coordinate their care.
• Home-delivered mealsMeals brought to the house under the Older Americans Act, assessed on need rather than on income.
• Long-term care ombudsmanAn independent advocate for residents of nursing homes and other care facilities, who investigates complaints and works to resolve them.
• Respite careShort-term care that gives an unpaid family caregiver a break — a few hours, a day, or a stay of some days.

Official sources

The authority this page describes, at the agency that publishes it. Sahvelo does not restate a rule from a secondary source.

• Eldercare Locator (opens in a new tab)

Sahvelo guidance that uses this

• Home safety