When an aging parent starts needing help, many families discover that there’s a surprising amount of government support available. The hard part is figuring out which agency does what, and who to call first.

Consider one family’s experience. A son living three states away learned his mother had stopped cooking and was struggling to keep up with her medications. He spent an evening with a dozen browser tabs open, bouncing between federal websites, state portals, and ads for private services. The next morning he made one call to the national Eldercare Locator, which connected him to the aging office in his mother’s county. Within a few weeks, she was signed up for home-delivered meals, and a counselor had walked him through her Medicare options. Services and timing vary from place to place, but that one call was a lot less work than those dozen tabs.

This guide explains the main federal and state agencies that serve older adults, what each one handles, and how to reach them, along with contact information for every state’s aging agency.

The Best Place to Start: The Eldercare Locator

If you’re not sure where to begin, the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) is a good first stop. It’s a free national service that connects families with local aging services, including their Area Agency on Aging (AAA), the local office that coordinates many services for older adults in a county or region.

Area Agencies on Aging can often help with or refer families to:

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  • Home-delivered and group meals
  • In-home help and respite care for family caregivers
  • Transportation to medical appointments
  • Benefits counseling and help with applications
  • Local programs for energy bills, home repairs, and legal help

How the Aging Network Is Organized

Many senior programs flow through a network set up under the Older Americans Act:

  • Federal level: The Administration for Community Living (ACL), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), funds and oversees aging programs nationally.
  • State level: Each state has a State Unit on Aging that plans and manages aging services statewide. There are 56 across the states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
  • Local level: Area Agencies on Aging and local service providers deliver most programs directly to families.

That’s why the answer to “who do I call?” is so often the local AAA. Federal dollars flow down through the state to the local level, where the services actually happen.

Federal Agencies That Serve Older Adults

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

CMS, also part of HHS, runs Medicare and oversees Medicaid, which states administer. For Medicare questions about coverage, claims, or bills, families can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048), as listed on Medicare’s contact page.

CMS also oversees the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), available in some areas for people 55 and older who need a nursing-home level of care but can live safely in the community with PACE support. Our comparison of Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare covers how Medicare’s coverage choices work.

Social Security Administration (SSA)

Social Security handles retirement, survivor, and disability benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Medicare enrollment for most people. It also processes applications for Extra Help, a program that lowers Medicare Part D prescription drug costs for people with limited income and resources.

  • Phone: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday, per SSA’s contact page.
  • Tip: SSA notes that wait times are typically shorter in the morning, later in the week, and later in the month.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

VA offers health care, pension benefits, and caregiver support for eligible veterans and surviving spouses. Wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities may qualify for VA pension with Aid and Attendance, which can help pay for care at home.

  • VA benefits: 1-800-827-1000
  • Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, for family members caring for a veteran, per the VA Caregiver Support Program

Free help with VA applications is available from accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representatives and county veterans service officers.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

HUD funds affordable rental housing, including Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly, which serves low-income adults 62 and older. HUD also approves the counselors who meet with homeowners considering a reverse mortgage. Our guide to Section 202 affordable senior housing explains how the program works, and our low-income senior housing directory lists properties by location.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA runs food programs that can help older adults stretch a budget, including SNAP and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), which provides monthly food packages to low-income adults 60 and older. Both are run through state and local agencies, and the local AAA can usually point families to where to apply.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

The IRS supports free tax help through its Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program, which offers free tax return preparation for people 60 and older during filing season.

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Part of the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute on Aging publishes free, research-based information on health, caregiving, and planning for older adults and their families.

State and Local Agencies Families Often Work With

State Unit on Aging

Every state has an agency on aging (names vary, such as a Department of Senior Services or Division of Aging). It sets statewide priorities, funds local AAAs, and often runs statewide help lines. Every state’s agency is listed below.

State Medicaid Agency

Each state runs its own Medicaid program within federal rules, including home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers that pay for care at home. Eligibility rules and program names vary by state. Our state guide to Medicaid waivers for in-home care explains how these programs work, and our guide to paying for in-*home care covers how Medicaid fits with other funding sources.

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)

SHIP offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling in every state. Counselors can help compare plans, explain coverage, and check eligibility for programs that lower costs. SHIP is administered nationally by ACL, and families can find their local program at shiphelp.org or by calling 1-877-839-2675.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Every state has a Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, which advocates for residents of nursing homes, assisted living, and board and care homes. Ombudsmen help resolve concerns about care, rights, and quality. The Eldercare Locator can connect families with their local ombudsman.

Adult Protective Services (APS)

Adult Protective Services is run by state and local governments and responds to reports of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults and adults with disabilities. If someone is in immediate danger, calling 911 is the fastest route.

Other State Offices

  • State department of veterans affairs and county veterans service officers, for free help with VA benefits
  • State department of insurance, for questions about long-term care insurance, Medigap, or other insurance concerns
  • State licensing agency, which licenses and inspects assisted living communities and other care providers (often part of the state health department)

State Agencies on Aging, State by State

Every state has an agency that oversees aging services. Many also run a statewide phone line that connects callers with their local Area Agency on Aging. Phone numbers and agency names do change from time to time, so if a number doesn’t work, the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can point you to the right office.

Tips for Working With Government Agencies

  • Have key information ready. A parent’s Social Security number, Medicare number, date of birth, and a list of medications and doctors can make calls go faster.
  • Get permission to speak for a parent. Many agencies need a parent’s consent, or legal documents such as a power of attorney, before sharing information with family. Our guide to creating a care plan for aging parents covers the paperwork that helps.
  • Keep a simple call log. Noting the date, the person you spoke with, and what they said can save time on follow-up calls.
  • Ask about related programs. One program’s staff can often point to others a parent may qualify for.
  • Watch for scams. According to Social Security’s scam guidance, the agency never threatens arrest, demands payment by gift card or cryptocurrency, or asks for sensitive information by text, email, or social media. Government help lines and SHIP counseling are generally free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main federal agency for seniors?

There isn’t just one. The Administration for Community Living oversees many aging services under the Older Americans Act, while CMS runs Medicare, Social Security handles retirement benefits, and VA serves veterans. For most families, the local Area Agency on Aging is the most practical starting point.

What DHHS programs are available for seniors?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS, sometimes called DHHS) includes ACL, CMS, and the National Institutes of Health. Through these agencies, HHS supports Medicare, Medicaid, SHIP counseling, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, Older Americans Act services like senior meals and caregiver support, and research through the National Institute on Aging. Many states also name their own health and human services departments DHHS.

Do these services cost anything?

Information and referral services, SHIP counseling, and ombudsman help are generally free. Some programs, such as meals or in-home help, may ask for a voluntary contribution or use a sliding fee scale, depending on the state and program.

Finding Care Near You

Government agencies can help with benefits, counseling, and support services, and many families pair that help with care from local providers. Senioridy’s in-home care directory lists home care agencies nationwide, and families exploring a move can search our assisted living directory.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or medical advice. Agency names, phone numbers, program rules, and eligibility requirements are subject to change, so always confirm current details directly with the agency. Medicare Advantage plans may have different coverage rules and networks than Original Medicare. For free, personalized Medicare guidance, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor at shiphelp.org, available in every state at no cost. For legal questions about benefits, powers of attorney, or Medicaid planning, consider consulting a licensed elder law attorney.

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