Resources for Seniors in the Dallas Area
Dallas has a wealth of resources for seniors in the area. The Senior Source is one of those resources, with the mission of improving the “quality of life of older adults in the greater Dallas area through protection, eldercare, financial security, advocacy, volunteerism, and employment services.” The Senior Source is the first choice in nonprofit services for elders in the Dallas area.
What is the Senior Source?
The Senior Source provides services to help older adults with things like job searches, money management, volunteer opportunities, nursing home advocacy and counseling on aging-related concerns.  It’s office  is located at 3910 Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas.
What types of resources for seniors do they provide?
With a wide range of services available to the elder population, you are sure to find a beneficial resource. Some of their services include the following:
- Elder Support
- Long Term Care Ombudsman
- Guardianship & Money Management
- Senior Employment
- Senior Companions
- AGE (Advocacy Group for Elders)
- Foster Grandparents
- RSVP
- ElderCare Partners
For information on how to register for or obtain these various services, click here.
Elder Support Program
If your parents or other loved ones are beginning to need additional assistance, you may be unfamiliar with the various ins and outs of geriatric care. The Elder Support Program, provided by The Senior Source, provides guidance and assistance regarding all areas of age-related caregiving. There are specialists available to help clients find housing, in-home care, financial assistance, social opportunities, transportation, insurance, prescription medications and many other things.
Senior Companions
Most people wish to live out their lives in their own homes or with family. That may not always be possible if assistance is needed to carry on our daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and cooking. The Senior Companion Program makes it possible for many seniors to stay at home while receiving the daily assistance they need to carry on their lives. Companions typically spend 15 to 40 hours each week providing personal care, assisting with light housekeeping and meal preparation, accompanying clients to medical appointments, helping clients access social services and assisting with respite care. The clients who participate in this program are not the only ones to benefit. The companions, who are older adults themselves, also benefit from the opportunity to stay healthy and active while helping others with their daily activities.
Advocacy Group for Elders
The Senior Source also has an active advocacy group – Advocacy Group for Elders or AGE, which works hard to develop and implement strategies for addressing the important legislative and policy concerns that affect the elderly. There are laws and policies that affect the quality of life of seniors on the local, state and national levels.  The needs of the growing aging population should be communicated to the decision makers so that they can properly be addressed. AGE brings community members together for this purpose.
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) gives senior volunteers the chance to give back to the Dallas area communities.  Individuals age 55 years or older are being placed as volunteers in nearly 200 community organizations through RSVP. These volunteers perform a wide variety of projects, including improving the environment, tutoring adults and children, educating seniors about Medicare fraud and other important tasks. Research shows that volunteering has both physical and mental health benefits.
Senior Employment Program
There are many different resources for seniors available in the Dallas area. Assistance with employment is one of them. It’s no secret that the job market is tough these days, but if you are over 50 the reality is you may not be able to find employment. Some seniors are not in a position to retire, so employment is a crucial issue.
The Senior Employment Program provides individual career counseling and support, as well as networking meetings, job search seminars, and computer training. If you need help writing your resume or need to practice your interview skills, this program can be a great benefit. Many seniors can also benefit from training and experience in using social networking and online job searches. The program’s job site can be accessed through The Senior Source website, which provides employers with a mechanism for posting jobs.
