Human Services
Agency on Aging FAQs
Q: Is there any program that can help my elderly father pay for his medications?
Q: What is the Personal Advocate Service?
Q: How can I learn about the services available for older Arlington residents, including housing options, in-home services, transportation, and other resources?
A: www.seniornavigator.com provides a one-stop online guide for older persons in Virginia who are trying to locate information about health and aging services and resources in their area. The information seeker enters the zip code in which the older person lives to find services and resources of the requested type in that general area, as well as articles of interest and links to useful websites.
The Guide to Retirement Living is a publication that carries a wide variety of information about services for older persons in the DC Metro area, including housing, in-home services, and much more. The information in their current publication and the ability to order a printed copy are available on their website. You can also order a free copy of the publication by calling their toll free number, 1-800-394-9990.
The Directory of Services for Arlington Senior Adults is a compilation of the services available to older residents of Arlington. A printed copy of the Directory may be requested by contacting the Agency on Aging. Also, information specialists at the Arlington Agency on Aging would be happy to discuss specific needs or concerns of older Arlington residents with you.
Q: Is there any program that can help my elderly father pay for his medications?
A: Any person needing assistance to pay for his or her medications, who is 55 years of age or older, or permanently and totally disabled, should contact the Arlington County Economic Independence Division in the Department of Human Services at 703-228-1350 or TTY 703-228-1398 to request information about eligibility requirements and to get an application for prescription medication assistance. This program offers discounted and/or free medications to persons meeting the eligibility criteria. A variety of medication assistance resources are available.
Q: If my mother can't drive anymore and is unable to walk to the bus stop, are there any transportation options available to help her get to her doctor's office or the grocery store?
A: Arlington provides several transportation options for older persons who cannot drive. Among the options is curb-to-curb transportation, which picks up a client at the curb in front of his or her home and drops the client off by the curb at the destination. Also, there is a limited service, which provides door-to-door assisted transportation, mainly for medical appointments. With assisted transportation, the driver comes to the door of the person's home to escort him or her to the vehicle, and then escorts the person from the vehicle to the door when they reach the destination.
Q: What is the Personal Advocate Service?
A: The Personal Advocate Service is a group of volunteers trained by the Agency on Aging to assist Arlington residents, 60 and older, and their families or other caregivers, to identify and access community resources, to make sense of medical bills and Medicare or Medicaid statements or long term care insurance policies, or to find options that help meet unforeseen needs that arise as persons age. Persons needing the assistance of a Personal Advocate, or persons wishing to volunteer as a Personal Advocate, should contact the Agency on Aging.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Agency on Aging
Department of Human Services
3033 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 700-A
Arlington, Virginia 22201
TEL 703-228-1300
TTY 703-228-1788
EMAIL dhs@arlingtonva.us
