Help for Those Who Care for Elders

If you’re about to take on the responsibility of caring for an elderly parent, you may want to consider a wide range of support services.

Some of these services are community-based or public and are offered free to low-income families. Others are private and cost up to $100 an hour.

Senior Care Network, a part of Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, provides a mixture of services for residents of the San Gabriel Valley through public and private programs, which include housekeeping, shopping, transportation and legal services. According to Greg Oveross, a supervisor at Senior Care, clients pay fees based on income levels.

Care givers can also get help from churches and local senior centers all over Los Angeles County, 40 of which are supported by the county’s Department of Community and Senior Citizens Services. The city of Los Angeles has an additional 15 centers.

“If people need low-income counseling, they can meet with us,” says Thomas Garrison, assistant director of a county facility, Altadena Senior Center. “We are funded to carry out a number of programs and we embellish that with additional funding--federal and state.

“We help access whatever services are needed. We are a support system for care-givers, and, hopefully, we find a way to help them and their loved ones make a better life.”

For further information on L.A. County centers, call (213) 738-4004. The L.A. City Department of Aging can be reached at (213) 485-4402.