Last week, Representative Val Demings held a seniors tele-town hall with local experts to discuss resources and services available to seniors in Central Florida. Experts from Social Security, AARP, Seniors First, and Senior Resource Alliance joined the call and discussed a variety of topics. The important highlights and resources from that call are highlighted below.
Important Resource Contact Information
Social Security: 1-800-772-1213
Every senior is strongly encouraged to create an account on My Social Security, here: www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
AARP: 866-595-7678
Seniors First: 407-292-0177
Email: requestinfo@seniorsfirstinc.org
Meals on Wheels: 407-615-8982
Neighborhood Lunch: 407-615-8970
Guardianship Program: 407-297-9980
Medical Equipment Bank: 407-649-4100
In Home Care: 407-292-0177
Senior Resource Alliance: 407-514-0019
Email: info@seniorresourcealliance.org
Also helpful are:
Dial 211 for Heart of Florida United Way
Dial 311 for Orange County Services
Florida Department of Elder Affairs / Statewide Elderly Help Line: 1-800-963-5337
COVID-19
AARP Coronavirus Resource Page
In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, AARP is providing information, advocacy and resources to help older people and their caregivers protect themselves from the virus, prevent it from spreading to others, and cope with the health problems and financial disruptions caused by the virus.
Orange County Resident Resources
Orange County also offers a wide variety of resources and programs to help you.
Food Assistance
Bring Hope Home is a Second Harvest Food Bank program that provides perishable and nonperishable food items to the doorsteps of qualifying seniors, homebound individuals, individuals with a disability, veterans and those in the high risk group for contracting the coronavirus. To learn more about this program, visit www.feedhopenow.org/bringhopehome or call 407-514-1096.
In addition, Seniors First offers two food programs:
Meals on Wheels: 407-615-8982
Neighborhood Lunch: 407-615-8970
Home Maintenance and Utilities
The Housing Rehabilitation program assists qualified homeowners with repairs to eliminate existing life, safety, health and code violations. To be eligible, homeowners must have owned and lived in the home for a minimum of one year and meet very low-income guidelines. The income guidelines chart is available for your consideration. Email housing@ocfl.net or call (407) 836-5150
For Low-Income Energy Assistance, call 407-514-1800, press 1
Mental Health and Wellness
This year has been a lonely time for many seniors. If you want to talk to someone, please call one of the following services:
AARP Friendly Voice
Trained AARP Friendly Voice volunteers around the country have come together to support those in need and will provide a call to say hello. They have created this service to help seniors stay connected because just hearing a friendly voice on the other end of the line can help in challenging times. We may be apart, but we don’t have to be alone. Request a call by calling AARP Friendly Voices directly at 888-281-0145.
Senior Resource Alliance Health & Wellness: 407-514-1806
Report Fraud and Abuse
Beware of anyone offering you a deal that seems too good to be true. It probably is. If you need to report fraud or abuse, call one of the following numbers:
Florida Elder Helpline: 1-800-963-5337
Florida Senior Protection Team: 1-800-96ABUSE (1-800-962-2873)
Florida Senior Legal Helpline: 1-800-895-7873
Report Medicare Fraud: 1-877-808-2468
AARP Fraud Hotline: 877-908-3360
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