Community Alliance Resources:

ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County – essential links for services like Medicare/Medicaid, CC Jobs and Family Services, CC Veterans Services, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (and so many MORE!) AND their Provider Network Guide.

Connecting for Kids shares step-by-step instructions for how to Apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Community Supporter Resources:

Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging’s ESOP program helps adults in all stages of life achieve and maintain financial wellness and housing stability

City of Cleveland – Caregiver Information

LiveSpecial – provides Information to access support services for families with a loved one with special needs, including mental health. The goal of LiveSpecial.com is to be a user-friendly, easy to use, on-line gateway to the Northeast Ohio special needs service providers.

National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Navigating a Mental Health Crisis is one of our go-to favorites

NAMI Greater Cleveland Resources and Assisted Outpatient Treatment Resources

United Way 211 Community Resource Database/Services – Chat Online (M-F 9-5) or Phone 211 (24/7 support)  with a specific need for navigators and they will provide a list and help you to create a plan.

VA Northeast Ohio – Caregiver Support

Western Reserve Area on Aging (serves all caregivers) – Caregiver Support – connecting you to resources

National Resources:

OVERALL CAREGIVER PLANNING

AARP Planning to Care - A Planning Guide for Families - Great resources for all families, not just those supporting older adults.

Administration for Community Living (ACL) - National Family Caregiver Support Program including these programs:

Caregiver Action Network - COVID-19 resources/planning and an excellent Family Caregiver Toolbox. They sponsor the national Caregiver Help Desk (line) - Call 855-227-3640

Help Guide - Family caregiving support including ideas for respite care, community support and long-distance support.

Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving - Comprehensive caregiver resources of ALL kinds

USA.GOV - Federal Government caregiver resources

US Department of Labor - Information on the Family and Medical Leave Act

CRISIS PLANNING

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - A new app: My Mental Health Crisis Plan helps people living with serious mental illness to create a plan to guide their treatment during a mental health crisis.. The app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. View videos on What is a PAD? and How to Use the App.

Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) - What we love about this process is that it involves your loved one directly - including taking ownership for their future planning. There are resources for daily planning, a wellness tool box and crisis planning/post-crisis planning.

FINANCIAL

Do you have: copies of your loved ones banking and credit card information, mortgage, loan, social security, 401K paperwork?

Caregiver Action Network – financial help including locating benefits, insurance, healthcare, food assistance and checklist of documents you need – glossary of terms – navigating medicare/Medicaid

Kids Health From Nemours - Financial Planning for Kids With Special Needs - Great information for creating a special needs trust, wills, naming a guardian and trustee, building your savings, writing a letter of intent, planning for your child’s independence, guardianship, power of attorney, and tools for educating family members!

Smart About Money - A Financial Self-Care Plan for Caregivers

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits - resources from Exceptional Lives

INSURANCE

Do you have: copies of your loved one’s insurance policies - long-term disability, healthcare, home, auto?

USA.GOV - Long-Term Care Insurance allows family members to be paid as caregivers. But some policies won’t pay family members who live with the person they’re caring for. Contact your family member's insurance agent for more information. You can also ask the agent for a written confirmation of benefits.

LEGAL

Do you have: a Living Will, durable power of attorney for healthcare and finances or a special needs trust for your loved one?

Caregiver Action Network - questions to ask an elder law attorney and sources for legal information and assistance

Legal-Aid Cleveland - secures justice and resolves problems for low-income and vulnerable people in Northeast Ohio.

USA.GOV - Rights for people living with disabilities.

MEDICAL

Do you have: your loved one’s Medical history – diagnosis, team/doctor’s, allergies, health history; medication overview/history and insurance information – health insurance, medicare/Medicaid, long-term care insurance, dental and vision?

Caregiver Action Network - checklist for doctor’s visits including:

o   Medical history – diagnosis, team/doctor’s, allergies, health history

o   Medication overview/history

o   Insurance information – health insurance, medicare/Medicaid, long-term care insurance, dental and vision

Medicaid

Prescription Medications

  • GoodRx.com allows users to search by drug name to find the lowest prices at pharmacies in your area, as well as find coupons.

  • NeedyMeds.org is a national nonprofit organization that offers free information on programs that help people who can’t afford their medications (or other health-care costs).

  • The comprehensive database at RxAssist.org lists patient assistance programs set up by drug companies for those who have trouble affording their medications.

PREPARE for your Care - Advance health care directives

If you're concerned about how to afford professionals on your team - remember, there are always affordable options including:

  • Start with your own bank/banker or insurance agent, Legal Aid 

  • Ask a friend who is a professional or for a referral

  • Many of these professional networks offer free advising at least once a year - Google can be your friend - check for free options in the field you need advice for

HOTLINES

  • Cleveland Rape Crisis Center via their website or call/text 216-619-6192

  • Crisis Text Line text 4hope to 741-741

  • Cuyahoga County's 24-hour Warmline at 440-886-5950 - stress or anxiety - talk though things with a peer

  • Cuyahoga County Suicide Prevention, Mental Health and/or Addiction Crisis and Information/Referral hotline: 216-623-6888

  • Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center via their website or their 24/7 Helpline - 216-391-HELP (4357)

  • Greater Cleveland Foodbank via their website or 216-738-2067 to get added to the list for the next drive-thru distribution or for the nearest pantry to you. 

  • MetroHealth COVID-19 hotline: 440-592-6843

  • Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Information Line is: 1-833-4- ASK-ODH  (1-833-427-5634)

  • OhioMHAS COVID Emotional Support Careline: 1-800-720-9616