Alzheimer’s Association, AARP, Senior Blue Book and 2-1-1 detail helplines, training and navigation to aid caregivers

Four statewide resource organizations explained how they help older adults and caregivers find services and support.

Raven, program director for the Alzheimer’s Association Utah chapter, emphasized the association’s 24/7 helpline and caregiver education series. “The greatest one I really wanna point you towards is our 24/7 helpline,” she said, calling it a place to reach dementia specialists and dementia-trained clinicians in more than 200 languages. Raven promoted the Empowered Caregiver education series — five sessions available in person or online — and urged early clinical conversations because treatments can modify progression for some people living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Alan Ormsby, AARP Utah state director, described AARP’s statewide resources for caregivers and older adults, including the fraud-watch network, driver-safety classes (and the CarFit program), and AARP Tax-Aide, a volunteer service that prepared about 6,000 returns in Utah last year. “Fraud is what brought me to, the aging world,” Ormsby said, and he emphasized prevention and public education. He noted AARP’s advocacy on Social Security, Medicare and state tax issues and offered staff contacts for local presentations and assistance.

Patrick Tremblue explained Seniors Blue Book’s printed and online resource directory — a statewide guide distributed to hospitals, clinics and social workers and available online at seniorsbluebook.com. He described searchable comparisons of senior housing, home health, hospice and local events, and said the organization publishes an events calendar and organizes Senior Expo in multiple Utah locations to connect families with providers.

Cassidy Bybee of 2-1-1 Utah outlined a recent shift from simple information-and-referral to a service-navigation model. 2-1-1’s navigators now perform warm transfers, place calls on behalf of callers, assist with online applications, follow up with clients and, in some cases, coordinate limited Lyft ride funding for medical appointments. “When someone calls into 2-1-1, instead of just giving them the information…our service navigators start to work through that process with them,” Bybee said. She noted capacity limitations in rural areas and that some funding, such as Lyft rides, is limited and first-come, first-served.

All four organizations encouraged attendees to use the Division of Aging and Adult Services and Commission on Aging websites as primary portals and to reach out directly to local providers for printed guides or in-person help. Presenters also listed training resources for technology skills — local library partnerships, Tech Charities, university extension programs and senior-center classes — as ways to help older adults access online tools.