Medical Care: Subsidized and Slinding Scale

Learn about federally subsidized health centers

The federal HRSA subsidizes health centers nationwide.  Care at these centers is provided on a pay-as-you-can basis.

• Find a federally subsidized health center.

Learn about Hill-Burton facilities

Hill-Burton hospitals and nursing homes are facilities–located in most states–which received federal funding under the Hill-Burton program.  As part of their agreement to accept federal funds, these facilities also must offer free or low-cost care to patients unable to pay.

• Learn about the program and the application process at HRSA’s website.
• Find a Hill-Burton facility.

Find low-cost DC metro health clinics

• Find clinics through DC Health Care for You website.
• Montgomery county MD residents can find sliding scale clinics through Montgomery County Cares website.

Find low-cost health clinics nationwide

• Find clinics through the National Association of Free Clinics.

Bed Bugs

Learn about bed bugs

• Learn about bed bugs and how to eliminate them from this one page fact sheet by the Maryland Dept. Of Health & Mental Hygiene.

Learn how to identify bed bugs

• Learn how to identify bed bugs from this two-page section of a 40 page publication by New York state and Cornell University.
• Learn how where to look for bed bugs from this section of the same publication.
• Download the entire 40 page publication.

Learn how to eliminate bed bugs

• One page fact sheet by the Maryland Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene.
• DC Department of Health brochure.
• New York State and Cornell University publication.

Learn how to prevent bed bug infestations

• Learn how to prevent infestations from this four-page section of a 40-page publication by New York State and Cornell University.
• Learn how to avoid bringing bed bugs home from this one page section of the same publication.
• Download the entire 40-page publication.

Find a pest control professional

• Search for pest control professionals at the website of the National Pest Management Association.

 

Village Resources

Learn about the Village model

Villages are grass-roots, neighborhood focused organizations that provide various services for senior members

• Learn about the Village model from the Village to Village Network.
• Learn about local DC Villages from AARP.

Learn how to start a Village

• 43 page (2011) Bethesda/Chevy Chase Regional Service Center publication entitled, “Village Blue Print: Building a Community for All Ages.”
• Free and member resources from the Village to Village Network.

Find a Village

• Find an existing Village through the Village to Village Network.

Subsidized and Low Cost Dental Care

Medicare does not cover routine dental care

• Learn about the type of dental care covered by Medicare.

Learn about federally subsidized health centers

The federal HRSA subsidizes health centers nationwide that provide dental and medical care on a pay-as-you-can basis.

• Find a federally subsidized health center.

Learn about l0w-cost dental care from dental and hygienist schools

Many dental and hygienist schools offer low-cost dental care from professionally supervised students

• Find a dental school from the American Dental Association.
• Find a hygienist school from the American Dental Hygienist Association.

Learn about other DC Metro resources

• (DC) – Find a local dental clinic that charges sliding-scale fees.
• VA) – The Northern Virginia Dental Clinic provides dental assistance to l0w-income Alexandria residents.

Learn about national resources

• The Dental Lifeline Network engages private dentists to provide pro-bono services for seniors and people with disabilities.

 

Older Adults and Alcohol Abuse

Learn about alcohol abuse and older adults

• 6 page National Institute on Aging fact sheet on alcohol abuse and older adults.  Fact sheet also is available in Spanish.
• 24 page National Institute on Aging booklet on alcohol abuse and older adults.

Learn about screening tools

• Federal website explains ho to use the CAGE, T-ACE, and AUDIT screens.
• Online alcohol screening tool from Boston University’s School of Public Health.
• Online alcohol screening tool from Screening for Mental Health.

Learn about health insurance coverage for treatment

• AARP article entitled, “7 Steps to Get Your Insurer to Pay for Rehab.”

Find treatment

• Find a substance abuse treatment facility.
• Find an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
• Find an Al-anon meeting for family and friends of people with alcoholism.

Durable Medical Equipment: Medicare, Financial Aid, and Loans

Learn what constitutes “durable medical equipment”

• Durable medical equipment typically refers to items such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs, shower benches, portable commodes, and hospital beds.
• See Medicare’s definition of “durable medical equipment.”

Learn when Medicare pays for durable medical equipment

• Medicare web page summarizes when Medicare covers durable medical equipment.
• Medicare web page summarizes types of equipment typically covered.
• 16 page Medicare booklet gives detailed information on Medicare’s coverage of durable medical equipment.  The booklet also is available in Spanish.

Find a Medicare certified medical equipment supplier

• Find a certified supplier at Medicare’s website.

Learn about DC metro financial aid for medical equipment

• Maryland’s Assistive Technology Loan Program provides low-interest loans to Maryland residents for the purchase of certain types of medical equipment.
• The Newell Fund provides low-interest loans to Virginia residents for the purchase of certain medical equipment.

Find free loans of medical equipment in the DC metro area

• Iona’s Medical Equipment Loan Closet provides free loans of donated durable medical equipment to anyone in need.  For more information, call 202-895-9448 (option 4) or email info@Iona.org.
• The Washington Area Wheelchair Society provides free loans of donated durable medical equipment to low-income residents of DC, MD, and VA.  For more information, call 301-495-0277.
• DC Shares provides free loans of donated durable medical equipment to low-income DC residents.  For more information, call 202-332-2595.

Networking for DC Metro Professionals in Aging

These organizations provide regular networking opportunities for DC metro professionals.

• DC Senior Resource Group meets monthly in NW DC.
• Grass Roots Organization for the Well Being of Seniors meets monthly at locations throughout suburban MD.
• National Association of Retirement Counselors‘ DC chapter meets monthly at locations throughout DC.
• National Association of Retirement Counselors‘ MD chapter meets monthly at locations throughout suburban MD.
• National Association of Retirement Counselors‘ VA chapter meets monthly at locations throughout suburban VA.
• Prince George’s Senior Provider Network meets monthly at locations in Prince George’s county, MD.

Social Security Representative Payees

Seniors needing assistance managing social security payments may appoint a friend, family member, or other third-party to be responsible for the funds.

Learn more about the Representative Payee program

• from Social Security’s website.

Find a third-part Representative Payee

• (DC) – Family Matters provides volunteer representative payees through a program of AARP.  For more information, phone 202-289-1510.
• (MD) – Learn about the state of Maryland’s volunteer representative payee program.
• (VA) – Learn about the city of Alexandria’s Daily Money Management program.
• (national) – Find other volunteer representative payee programs in other states.

DC Metro Area Parking Permits for Drivers with Disabilities

These permits, placards, or plates allow drivers to park in specially marked parking spaces for people with disabilities.

DC Parking Permits

• Learn about DC’s program.
• Learn how to apply for a permit.

Maryland Parking Permits

• Learn about Maryland’s program.
• Learn how to apply for a permit.

Virginia Parking Permits

• Learn about Virginia’s program.
• Learn how to apply for a permit.

Anxiety Disorders Resources

Learn about Anxiety and Older Adults

• Fact sheet from the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.
• 16 page brochure from Geriatric Mental Health Foundation.

Learn about Anxiety Treatments

• Information from the Anxiety Disorders Association of America on medication, talk therapy, and other treatments.
• Information on treatments for older adults.

Find a Treatment Provider

• Iona’s licensed clinical social workers provide psychotherapy for a variety of conditions, including anxiety.  For more information, call 202-895-9448 or email info@Iona.org.
• Find a treatment provider at the website of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.
• Find subsidized counseling services in the DC metro area in Iona’s free senior Resource Guide.
• Find subsidized counseling services from a federal mental health facility.