Contact Associations & Organizations

A listing of associations and organizations relating to the elderly:

Advocacy

AARP

AARP, a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over, works for social improvement to create positive social change and enhance the quality of life for all as we age.

Center for Medicare Advocacy

The Center identifies and promotes policy and advocacy solutions, ensuring access to comprehensive Medicare coverage and quality health care for elders and people with disabilities.

Citizen Advocacy Groups

Groups of concerned citizens who work to improve the quality of care for nursing home residents in their locality, state, or region. Contact information is provided for the citizen advocacy groups in several states.

Aging

Administration on Aging (AOA)

Learn more about the Older Americans Act, the federal legislation establishing the AOA and the range of programs that offer services and opportunities for older Americans and their caregivers.

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aged (AAHSA)

This Web site offers the continuum of aging services: adult day services, home health, community services, senior housing, assisted living residences, continuing care retirement communities, and nursing homes. AAHSA's commitment is to create the future of aging services through quality people can trust; its vision is for healthy, affordable, ethical, aging services for America.

American Society on Aging (ASA)

The ASA enhances the knowledge and skills of those who seek to improve the quality of life of older adults and their families. The membership of ASA is represented by a diverse range of practitioners, educators, administrators, policymakers, business people, service providers, researchers, and students who are concerned with the physical, emotional, social, economic, and spiritual aspects of aging.

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA)

Founded in 1945, GSA is the oldest and largest national multidisciplinary scientific organization devoted to the advancement of gerontological research. Provides researchers, educators, practitioners, and policy makers with opportunities to improve the quality of life as one ages.

Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO)

Concerned with the well-being of America’s older population, the council provides a voice for seniors and their families in the ongoing national debate on aging policy.

National Council on Aging (NCOA)

National network of organizations and individuals dedicated to health and independence of older persons.

National Institute on Aging - U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIA)

NIA provides leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people. The Institute is also the primary Federal agency on Alzheimer’s disease research.

The U. S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

First established in 1961, the Special Committee on Aging has served as a focal point in the Senate for discussion and debate on matters relating to older Americans. The Committee will often submit its findings and recommendations for legislation to the Senate. The Committee also publishes materials of assistance to those interested in public policies relating to the elderly.

Assisted Living

Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL)

CEAL is a non-profit collaborative of 11 national organizations, created to promote high quality assisted living and provide a national clearinghouse on assisted living.

 Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living (CCAL)

National consumer education and advocacy organization to support the needs, rights and protection of assisted living consumers, their caregivers & loved ones.

FamiliesUSA: The Voice for Healthcare Consumers

A nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. For over 20 years, FamiliesUSA has worked at the national, state, and community levels as the voice for health care consumers for over 20 years.

National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL)

NCAL is the assisted living voice of the American Health Care Association (AHCA), the nation's largest organization representing long term care. While the Center primarily focuses on federal issues, NCAL also supports lobbying efforts at the state level.

Caregivers

Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA)

FCA supports the important work of families nationwide caring for loved ones with chronic, disabling health conditions. The National Center on Caregiving (NCC), a program of Family Caregiver Alliance, works to advance the development of high-quality, cost-effective policies and programs for caregivers in every state.

National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA)

NFCA supports caregivers who care for a chronically ill, aged, or disabled loved one.

Elder Abuse  

National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)

The NCEA, funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging, is a national resource on elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, supporting law enforcement and legal professionals, public policy leaders, researchers, and the public.

Hospice  

Hospice Foundation of America

Helps those who cope personally or professionally with terminal illness, death, and the process of grief and bereavement.

National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC)

The country's largest trade association represents the interests and concerns of the homecare and hospice communities.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)

NHPCO represents hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. The organization's goal is to enhance quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones.

Nursing Home Reform

GROW (Getting Residents Out of Wheelchairs)

GROW supports the Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes campaign by increasing the use of regular seating devices for residents, rather than extended seating in wheelchairs, where sitting in a regular chair is considered the norm and socially accepted.

National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR)

NCCNHR is a grassroots membership organization of concerned advocates working for quality long-term care nationwide. The site includes updates on residents’ rights, quality of care and staffing; links to state long-term care ombudsman programs; fact sheets, updates, and information on citizen advocacy groups.

Nursing Industry  

National Network of Career Nursing Assistants (NNCNA)

NNCNA promotes recognition, education, research, advocacy and peer support development for nursing assistants in nursing homes and other long term care settings.

Senior Care Reform  

National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC)

NSCLC focuses on two fundamental issues affecting the elderly poor and disabled: maintaining a basic level of income and access to health care.

Senior Resources

Eldercare Locator

Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, connects older Americans and their caregivers with sources of information on senior services. The service links those in need of assistance with state and local area agencies on aging and community-based organizations that serve older adults and their caregivers. Call toll-free 1-800-677-1116 to find support and resources that can help; on the Web at www.eldercare.gov . This number is available from Monday through Friday 9 AM-8 PM (except U.S. federal holidays). In addition, some states have established a statewide toll-free number to provide centralized aging services information for residents of their states.

The Seniors Blue Book , The Senior Source Book, orThe Seniors Resource Guide

SeniorsResourceGuide.com is the website of the Seniors Blue Book. Both groups offer information and resources to seniors, adult children and senior professionals through the Internet and in-print resource books. The Web site offers the ability to search for senior services by city and state and by type of service. The Seniors Blue Book publishes bi-annual and annual in-print senior resource guidebooks and local Internet directories for locations across the country.