Special Services Related to COVID-19 for Central Texas
Central Source for community resources for City of Austin and Travis County http://www.austintexas.gov/covid19
211 Helpline offers one-call access to resources.
Good Apple – Stay Healthy Stay Home program: Free emergency food deliveries (including fresh produce) to older adults https://www.goodapplefoods.com/covid-19
To combat social isolation, Family Eldercare offers a phone-based program that can be enjoyed from the comfort of home: Lifetime Connections Without Walls (LCWW). In addition to social and educational sessions, they will be adding special programming on COVID-19 for seniors. LCWW is open to persons ages 55+.
Family Eldercare’s Lifetime Connections Without Walls program is now offering weekly support group sessions starting Thursday, April 16 at 10:30 a.m. To join sessions, please call Daniella Garcia at 512.968.3981.
AGE of Central Texas is sharing specific resources and information related to COVID-19 and has created an online library of activities and resources for older adults and family caregivers who are quarantined at home. Their information and Resource Center and durable medical equipment lending remains open via phone or email (ResourceCenter@AGEofCentralTX.org) and telephone (512-600-9275). AGE has also just launched the new "Virtual Connections" program, which is a monthly subscription program offering group and virtual activities designed for different cognitive levels, featuring innovative virtual services for older adults and care partners to help individuals thrive. Details are on our website at https://ageofcentraltx.org/index.php/virtual-connections/
Meals on Wheels Central Texas currently enrolling clients to their Respite Program, Mike’s Place, for adults and seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other types of memory loss. To assist caregivers who are currently caring for their loved ones at home, they are providing virtual weekly zoom sessions and porch visits. They provide themed activity boxes to complete with the adults.
Aging is Cool offers free online activities every day including fitness, brain training, social gatherings, educational presentations and Bingocize. Calendar
Central Texas Food Bank is posting updated information about their Find Food Now program.
Coming of Age is a program offered by Travis County Health and Human Services. They provide resources to adults over the age of 50 including virtual volunteer placement assistance, COVID 19 resources, educational opportunities, virtual activities and more. Visit www.comingofageaustin.org for more information.
Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area helps connect older adults and their caregivers to community services and supports, including food, basic needs assistance, and information about residents rights in long-term care facilities.
Alzheimer's Texas - We are always updating our dashboard to give our families all the resources in the area Alzheimer's Texas Covid-19 Dashboard . https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=f7ffc6ff4c5848b493e6714945fe4099
ALZ TALK SERIES every Wednesday at 2pm over Zoom
Virtual ALZ 101 class the second Tuesday of each month at 4pm over Zoom
Contact txprograms@txalz.org for more information.
Alzheimer's Association has provided a tip sheet for working with individuals with dementia during this pandemic. Additional resources:
Dr. Haydee Becerril will be taking consultations by phone or videoconferencing for those who need information about care planning and those in need of emotional support. Contact information for care consultations is 512-592-0990 ext.2030 or hbhernandez@alz.org.
To apply for Respite Care funding, use the following link: https://alz.org/media/texascapital/Respite-Form-Application.pdf Can be used for caregivers that need to get out for shopping or errands if you loved one has dementia.
They have also launched an online education program. For details and information regarding upcoming presentations, please visit the following link: https://www.communityresourcefinder.org/
Aspire to Age is delivering ethnic and culturally appropriate foods and goods in Travis and Williamson County. Goods will be picked up and porch dropped off to and from addresses provided.
To request delivery, please contact care@keepfluent.com or call 512-347-7722.Drive A Senior West (DASW) has a Senior Sidekick program which pairs a senior with a volunteer who helps them with their regular ongoing grocery shopping needs.
Senior Access Tx is offering buddies to seniors on their services and not on the services to assure the senior is checked on weekly and helped with grocery and prescription shopping. Senior Access has resumed Van rides to local HEB's and Walmarts and one on one medical rides for all our seniors.
If you need to make final arrangements for a loved one, you often reduce expenses by comparing costs at every funeral home in our area. This information is available at no charge from the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Central Texas at https://www.fcactx.org/cost-comparisons.html. Questions? Contact us at office@fcactx.org or 512-480-0555.
South Asians’ International Volunteer Association (SAIVA) is providing virtual programming for older adults, including simple yoga/breathing exercises. Open to all seniors. Please email saivacommunications@gmail.com for information and link for the session.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area (part of the Texas Workforce Commission) leads workforce development initiatives, connects employers to employees and vice versa. More information about available jobs can be found at the Work in Texas website.
As part of its nonprofit mission, Peak Performers recruits for contract, temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire positions in the State of Texas and other local government agencies. They are currently still recruiting and welcome résumés – including from people with disabilities and chronic medical conditions – on their website.
Kitchen Table Conversations is offering two free webinars titled COVID-19 Advance Care Planning: Who Will Speak for You? In November and December.
Here is the registration link
https://aarp.cvent.com/m-events/Info/Summary?e=688e4bd8-ad09-4e3a-95b7-d18fea76bfca
Volunteer Opportunities
Meals on Wheels Central Texas is in need of NEW volunteers to take open routes for our anticipated resumption of daily meal deliveries. Currently we are holding virtual trainings every week and anyone who trains and takes a route can also start helping with current bi-weekly COVID deliveries. Register to volunteer via our website.
Senior Access needs volunteers for its Senior Buddy program, a volunteer that calls a client and helps run errands and grocery shopping. Buddy’s are linked to your area of town.
Drive a Senior Central Texas needs volunteers for its Senior Buddy program.
Aspire to Age is in need of volunteers for 20-minute virtual and phone check-ins with seniors. Sign-up form is HERE. If you know seniors who might benefit from the program, please call 512-347-7722.
Capital City Village is seeking applicants for immediate volunteer opportunities. Our volunteers help with greatly needed services such as transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, home/yard help, technology/communications assistance, and friendly phone calls / video check-ins. You can help Austin seniors successfully age in place and stay connected to their community, now more than ever. For more information about opportunities and online orientation, contact us at 512-524-2709 or info@capitalcityvillage.org.
Alzheimer’s Association is currently seeking volunteers and collaborators who want to drive the efforts for health education for our Central Texas aging population. For more information, contact Maxine Vieyra, program director, at mpvieyra@alz.org or call at 512-592-0990 ext. 8546