Finding Senior Tax Help in Texas

Posted in Assisted Living, Assisted Living Facilities, Elder Care, Elderly Care at 2:48 pm by admin

As we mentioned in a previous article, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has been providing free tax help to seniors for decades now. And in recent years their Tax Aide service, provided by volunteer tax preparers all around the country, including all around Texas. Who can take advantage of this valuable service? Most seniors, actually, can apply for this type of elderly care. Those who are either low or middle income seniors who need basic tax help can come by. Those who are high income, or who have complicated returns are advised to seek professional tax help (let’s not trouble the volunteers with something that will take up too much of their time and effort, after all. Better to take those returns to H & R Block or some other professional firm.)

So where can you find help with your taxes? The AARP has set up centers where seniors can come by and get help all around the state, in every major metropolitan area. Pay close attention to the hours listed, and the specific addresses. We will not list every location here by any means, but we will list one or two from each major city.

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FOREST GREEN LIBRARY
Address: 9015 FOREST LN
DALLAS, TX 75243-4114
Telephone: (214) 670-1335
Hours: Thursday only at 12:00PM-4:00PM
Walk-ins are welcome

METRO CREST SOCIAL SERVICES CENTER
Address: 1002 S BROADWAY ST
CARROLLTON, TX 75006-7214
Telephone: (972) 446-2100
Hours: Wed 12:00PM-5:00PM
Sat 9:00AM-12:00PM
Please call for an appointment

MONTROSE LIBRARY
Address: 4100 MONTROSE BLVD
HOUSTON, TX 77006-4936
Telephone: (832) 393-1800
Site Schedule: Mon 2:00PM-6:00PM
Thu 2:00PM-6:00PM
Walk-ins are Welcome

HEIGHTS LIBRARY
Address: 1302 HEIGHTS BLVD
HOUSTON, TX 77008-4209
Telephone: (832) 393-1810
Site Schedule: Tue 12:00PM-4:00PM
Wed 12:30PM-4:30PM
Walk-ins are Welcome

WONDERLAND MALL
Address: IH-410 AT FREDERICKSBURG RD
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78201-6530
Telephone: (210) 385-9833
Site Schedule: Wed 9:00AM-4:00PM
Walk-ins Welcome

BOB ROSS SENIOR CENTER
Address: 2219 BABCOCK RD
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78229-4412
Telephone: (210) 207-5300
Site Schedule: Tue 9:00AM-1:00PM
Thu 9:00AM-1:00PM
Fri 9:00AM-1:00PM
Appointment Required

SOUTH AUSTIN MULTI PURPOSE CTR
Address: 2508 DURWOOD ST
AUSTIN, TX 78704-5444
Telephone: (512) 972-6840
Site Schedule: Wed 12:00PM-4:00PM
Walk-ins Welcome

RUIZ LIBRARY
Address: 1600 GROVE BLVD
AUSTIN, TX 78741-3402
Telephone: (512) 974-7500
Site Schedule: Mon 12:00PM-4:00PM
Wed 12:00PM-4:00PM
Walk-ins Welcome

FORT WORTH CENTRAL LIBRARY
Address: 500 W 3RD ST
FORT WORTH, TX 76102-7305
Telephone: (817) 871-1133
Site Schedule: Wed 10:00AM-2:00PM
Sat 10:00AM-2:00PM
Appointment: Appointment Required

Shamblee Branch Library
Address: 1062 EVANS AVE
FORT WORTH, TX 76104-5135
Telephone: (817) 392-5580
Site Schedule: Mon 3:30PM-7:30PM
Appointment Required

HILOS DE PLATA SENIOR CENTER
Address: 4451 DELTA DR
EL PASO, TX 79905-4316
(915) 533-3207
Site Schedule: Tue 10:00AM-3:00PM
Walk-ins Welcome

Center Name: El Paso Memorial Park Senior Center
Address: 1800 BYRON ST
EL PASO, TX 79930-5104
Telephone: (915) 562-4260
Site Schedule: Mon 10:00AM-3:00PM
Wed 10:00AM-3:00PM
Walk-ins Welcome

Tyler First Presbyterian Church
Address: 230 W RUSK ST
TYLER, TX 75701-165
(903) 581-1809
Site Schedule: Tue 8:30AM-4:30PM
Wed 8:30AM-12:30PM
Thu 8:30AM-4:30PM
Fri 8:30AM-12:30PM
Sat 10:30AM-2:30PM

University Christian Church
Address: 3500 OLD OMEN RD
TYLER, TX 75707-2110
(903) 581-1809
Wed 9:30AM-1:30PM
Walk-ins Welcome

Odessa Northside Senior Center
Address: 1225 ADAMS AVE
ODESSA, TX 79761-4116
(432) 337-5281
Thu 9:00AM-2:00PM
Appointment Required

LUBBOCK SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER
Address: 2001 19TH ST
LUBBOCK, TX 79401-4605
(806) 687-6327
Site Schedule: Wed 9:00AM-3:00PM
Thu 9:00AM-3:00PM
Walk-ins welcome

If you need further help finding TX Assisted Living or other type of senior housing, enter the desired city and care level in the square at the very top of this page.

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Senior Villages: A New Way to Age in Place

Posted in Assisted Living, Assisted Living Facilities, Elder Care, Elderly Care at 1:09 pm by admin

The elderly care world continues to expand and evolve to meet seniors exactly where they are at. Gone are the days of “one size fits all” elderly care where one company determines what type of care all its residents will have. Seniors have different needs and different preferences. And one preference remains constant in a majority of seniors year after year: they want to stay at home if they can possibly help it.

Aside from those with chronic and serious medical issues, many seniors are able to stay at home, from a physical standpoint. What they need is some daily assistance. Many can’t get groceries, or can’t do housework. And many need daily help or reminders with taking medicines–things that can be accomplished with a visit from a nurse. These seniors often end up selling their house and moving into an assisted living facility because they see no other way. Assisted living can meet those needs and can put them in an environment where they can actually be part of a community.
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But there is a new, cutting edge idea that is spreading throughout the senior care community that could actually allow seniors in this position to stay home while having those needs met. Some call it “virtual senior communities,” others call them “senior villages,” but the idea is the same. What if groups of seniors who lived near one another could stay in their homes but form a sort of club? What if they figured out the types of resources that could meet their needs, and decided to hire people who could help meet all of those: home health care givers who could make rounds to their different houses every day; people to go buy and deliver groceries to their homes; drivers who could be on call to take the members to various appointments? And what if these seniors, living in the comfort of their own homes, organized social activities with one another in the process?

Here is one example in the Boston area. It is called Beacon Hill Village, and they offer services to seniors who live in their own homes. The communities who are experimenting with this idea have found good success. The “senior village” is able to accomplish much of what a retirement home or assisted living community would. Home health care is becoming increasingly flexible as senior franchises are spreading all over the country. That flexibility is opening up doors for this idea to be possible. As senior volunteer groups continue to pop up, and caregiving companies expand, it gets easier. And the social gathering part is the easiest of all.

Besides the obvious benefit of staying at home, there is another huge plus in this idea: the costs. It is far cheaper to be a part of one of these communities than to live full time in an assisted living home.

So can “senior villages” work anywhere? Probably not. Many seniors are just not capable of accomplishing the activities for daily living (getting out of bed, washing their bodies, changing their clothes, etc.) that are required for independence, and a once-a-day visit from a nurse or caregiver just will not be enough. But for those who can swing it, the idea will take off, especially in neighborhoods where there enough seniors to make the idea happen. However, the onus is going to be on seniors themselves to organize these communities. There is no company that comes in and does this, and that is exactly the point. So if a senior is willing to take leadership in the idea and get it going, it can meet the needs of many others in the community. I don’t expect these communities to take the place of assisted living any time soon, but now that the door is open, people will walk through it.

If you need to find other senior housing or TX Assisted Living, use the silver box at t he top of this page.

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Senior Caregivers: Things to Consider When Shifting to Live In Care

To avoid any misunderstanding, it is always advisable to sit down and talk to your parent prior to hiring a senior caregiver. Make it clear to them that although you enjoy being able to care for them, you don't have that many hours within the day to provide the quality of care they deserve. Parents may react differently to the idea of hiring an in home senior caregiver. If you're lucky, you'll not have problems getting your parents to accept it. But some are not as fortunate, having to face opposition from their aging loved ones. Should your parent react negatively to the idea, you should not lose hope. You can try explaining again the reason why you both need to hire an in home care company.

Detail to them the problem you are facing as a family caregiver and its possible consequences to their health and to yours as well. You may also ask your parent if there is a better option to help them. It's a bit frustrating sometimes, but eventually most parents change their mind and agree. You should by no means force the idea, but you need to be unrelenting. When switching to in home care, it is very important that you take things real slow. Hiring a senior caregiver can be quite relieving to you, but not to your elder parent. They might be disturbed or even upset initially. No doubt they're more comfortable having you around than someone they do not know.

It is only reasonable for them to not be crazy about the idea of having someone do such personal things for them as bathing or even doing the laundry. If this stranger would only do basic home tasks for them such as cooking meals, dusting the furniture and bringing them to the doctor, it may be an easier transition. When switching to in home care, you may also want to consider hiring a geriatric care manager to help make everything as smooth as possible.

After the transition to in home care, you will see that your aging parent will be accustomed to having a senior caregiver around. In fact, they might even enjoy it. Live in care givers are able to provide many services that ordinary people, even family caregivers cannot. After all, they have been trained and equipped to perform such duties. Also, your parent may soon find it more satisfying to have you around spending quality time with them, rather than running to and fro as their primary senior care giver.

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Staying Healthy During Your Senior Years

As a person moves into their senior years, their body changes in a number of ways. While this is a part of the human experience that all should embrace, it is important to know and recognize what is happening to better prepare for this change.

Bones: One of the first changes that many people notice when they move into their senior years is the development of osteoporosis. Of course not everyone gets osteoporosis, though a large part of the population will be affected by it in some way. This condition causes the bones to thin which increases the risk that a broken bone or fracture will occur as a result of a fall.

Skin: It is important to protect your skin in your younger years so it looks good as you age. Avoid smoking and excessive sun.

Brain and Nervous System: As a person ages the neural pathways in their brain begin to deteriorate. While every older person will experience some form of forgetfulness, in some this deterioration will lead to Alzheimer's. The good news is, it is possible to mitigate these effects by staying mentally active. Staying mentally active is not hard; it can be done by regular socializing and reading.

Cardiovascular System: When a person moves into their senior years they need to pay particular attention to their cardiovascular health. The heart and the circulatory system will get weaker, and will need to work harder to pump blood around the body. It is important that a senior gets regular exercise and has a healthy diet to ensure the best possible cardiovascular health. Avoiding high cholesterol and fatty foods is a great place to start.

While some seniors may see managing their health as a daunting task, it is anything but. There are many simple steps that can be followed, or easy conditions adhered to, that will help a senior manage their health.

The four simplest ways that a senior can maintain their health are ensuring that they get regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, limiting the amount of alcohol they consume, and quitting smoking. In addition a senior should get regular checkups from their doctor, and follow the doctor's directions closely.

The aging process is part of the human experience, and it should be embraced. While it will involve some physical changes that may require lifestyle changes, these changes are easy to manage, and will result in a person's senior years being healthy and fulfilling.

Alice Lucette is a writer for SeniorsZen.com, a great resource for Senior Housing in Canada, where you can compare senior care providers' Services & Costs for Free, read educational articles, and watch videos on a range of topics related to senior care.

If you are looking for an Assisted Living in Canada, Home Care, Residential Care Home, Independent Living Facility, Memory Care or Nursing Home, browse Senior Housing directory at SeniorsZen.com.

Choosing Senior Care Services

As our loved ones begin to age, we have to wonder if they need elderly care services. How does one determine if your parents need to live in a nursing home, if they require in home healthcare, or if you'll be able to take care of them yourself? The elderly have many more options today than they once did. Not everyone needs constant care, but sometimes it's difficult to figure out the best option. Most seniors won't admit they need help, so it's up to you to look for certain cues to figure out what is best for them.

If your loved ones want to keep their independence and don't have dangerous health issues, consider independent living communities. They will have their own apartments and will be living with others their age. This is a wonderful option for healthy seniors who may be looking to get involved in activities and want additional company. They won't feel like you're leaving them in a nursing home. Instead, they will be part of a social community.

Assisted living is the best choice for those who are beginning to have trouble with daily tasks and have less severe health problems. If you notice that the house is not always clean, they forget to do laundry or take medication, or they can't cook their own meals, these are your cues for assisted living or home aides. If you move them into an assisted living home, they will receive help with grooming, bathing, and meal preparations. If your parents want to remain at home, you can have healthcare aides provide similar tasks.

The final option are nursing homes and facilities. Nursing homes are good for seniors who need 24-hour care. It is the best choice for people who have debilitating illnesses, such as dementia and Alzheimer's. Nurses will be on staff all the time to help your parents with daily activities. This also happens to be the most expensive choice, but sometimes you have no other option. Your parents need help and you cannot give them the proper care they need. If you're unsure, speak with your parents' doctors to find out if nursing homes are the best solution.

Before you make a decision, talk about elderly care services with your parents. Don't just ship them off one day and expect them to be okay with it. Sometimes you will have to take matters into your own hands, but explain to them that you only have their best interest at heart and this is for their benefit.

SeniorComfortGuide.com is an online assisted living directory featuring a number of resources for elderly care services in Ohio.