RESOURCES FOR THOSE IN NEED
Food Resources:
Visit Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) for help in locating food resources in your area. CTFB has been a leader in the fight against hunger for nearly 38 years. Their mission is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in the fight against hunger.
Visit the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Distance Education website to get information about three educational opportunities (telephone, virtual and online) offered in English and Spanish that are free of charge and available to low-income families. EFNEP's mission is to assist limited resource audiences in acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and changed-behaviors necessary for nutritionally sound diets, and to contribute to their personal development and improvement of the total family diet and nutritional well-being.
Transportation Resources:
Using Pflugerville's Pfetch a Ride program, anyone can use a monthly voucher program to access discounted rides within the city limits, to and from Pflugerville to the Tech Ridge Park and Ride or to Three Points Plaza. Just download the Uber app and then navigate to the City’s website www.pflugervilletx.gov/rideshare to download ten vouchers for $10 off an Uber ride.
Employment Resources:
Visit the resource guide Employment Services for People Experiencing Homelessness, a helpful online resource that specifically addresses the common roadblocks to employment and offers practical solutions to help those experiencing homelessness secure work.
Medical Resources:
Visit Cerebral Palsy Awareness Transition Hope (CPATH) for information about a new program to reuse and exchange pediatric durable medical equipment. CPATH is an interim between families and organizations, accepting donations of equipment that children no longer need, and connecting the equipment with families that can benefit from their use. CPATH also has an inventory of medical supplies, formula and diapers in child, youth and adult sizes.
At the link Shop for Health Insurance Quotes you will find resources that can help you compare health insurance plans, get personalized health insurance quotes online, see answers for common questions about shopping for health insurance, find a helpful guide on shopping for health insurance, and figure out which type of plan is the best fit for your needs.
Being a caregiver can be a fulfilling but also very demanding job that brings both mental and physical exhaustion. When working as a caregiver, you may find that you are neglecting your own health in the process. To help with burnout and coping, please visit the guide Coping with Caregiver Burnout. In this guide, you will find resources for caregiver burnout vs compassion fatigue, the causes of burnout, how to recognize the signs and symptoms of burnout, and ways to cope and help with prevention.
Senior Living Resources:
While it’s fairly common for people over fifty to experience some form of vision loss, there are medical treatments and lifestyle changes to help take care of your eye health. Please visit the guide Eye Health for Seniors: A Guide to Vision Concerns for Aging Eyes which explains the most common vision conditions that come with old age and how you can manage or even prevent them.
Older adults are learning more about cancers and other health risks that might affect them. Age is the most significant risk factor for developing cancer. People 65 and older comprise 60% of all cancer patients. To gain awareness, please visit this webpage Seniors Guide to Cancer that covers topics like wellness tips, the importance of seeing a doctor, and preventive measures
Meals on Wheels is a nationwide program that provides older Americans with nutritious meals and safety checks at little to no cost. To find out more about this popular meal program, visit the resource at this link that highlights what Meals on Wheels is, how to sign up, what types of meals are offered, and more.
Please visit the link Food Stamps for Seniors guide to find out about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which provides monthly benefits to enhance the food budgets for seniors in low-income households to encourage healthy food choices.
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SIS homesharing is a new senior living solution for seniors in the Central Texas area that matches-up and brings together older home owners with individuals seeking a place to live. In exchange for providing a private room in their home, seniors receive household assistance or rent from their housemate, or a combination of the two.
Visit Caring.com to get information on assisted living facilities in the Pflugerville area. Caring.com has helped thousands of families find high-quality senior care.
Visit PayingforSeniorCare.com for the most complete, up-to-date, and reliable source of simple and easy-to-access information to help families find the financial resources to pay for senior care. This website includes the Eldercare Financial Assistance Locator tool as well as comprehensive resources for those in every state in the nation.
At the link Senior Housing Guide: A Guide to Aging in Place and Deciding When to Transition to Assisted Living, you will find a helpful guide that discusses the benefits of aging in place, the alternative living arrangements for seniors, and when you and your loved one should decide to make other living arrangements such as assisted living. Visit the locator tool at www.cnaclassesnearme.com/assisted-living-nursing-homes to find listings for nursing homes and assisted living facilities in your area. And at this link Guide to Transitioning Your Loved One to a Nursing Home , you will find helpful resource that walks through the many steps you can take to ease the transition for both you and your loved one.
Are you and your family looking for ways to help aging adults in your community? At the link Practical Resources for Helping Seniors in Your Community, you will find a useful guide that assembles a variety of resources with information on assisting seniors in your community.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average Medicare beneficiary has a choice of 39 Medicare Advantage options this year. To help you compare Medicare Advantage plans, the following link The Best Medicare Advantage Providers identifies the best insurance providers based on their quality ratings from Medicare among those widely available in the U.S.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program provided to U.S. citizens who qualify. Understanding how Medicare works and the coverage it provides can help ensure you meet your healthcare needs. The article at the link Medicare 101 explains how Medicare works and what you can do to prepare yourself to sign up.
The newly updated resource on Medicare in Texas can be found at https://www.medicareplans.com/texas/ which helps guide seniors through all of the available Medicare plan options and provides a list of helpful community organizations across Texas that can further support seniors with choosing a plan that meets their financial and medical needs.
Visit seniorsmobility.org to find a wealth of science-backed information on how seniors can stay fit, active, and mobile. Among the many resources available at this website are a series of unique exercise guides on various types of mobility exercises for seniors.
Visit the link Senior Driving Courses & Resources to find a guide which helps seniors find defensive driving courses to help them obtain insurance discounts and improve their driving skills. It also offers additional tips and resources for keeping seniors safe behind the wheel.
The two web links at Fall Prevention Facts & Tips and A Caregiver’s Guide to Injuries and Fall Prevention offers a huge amount of information covering general statistics on the number of annual falls and the types of injuries incurred as well as risk factors, tips for preventing falls and advice for dealing with falls when they occur.
Depending on age, senior housing needs may shift due to retirement, adult children leaving, or health problems. Many may find this to be a major disruption in their lives as they must find a new way to live differently than they have for most of their lives. To help the advanced in age and their families manage this lifestyle change, visit the resources at two very helpful links Senior Living Guide to Downsizing and Decluttering and Decluttering And Downsizing: A Guide For Hoarders And Their Loved Ones, which both give great ideas on how to downsize or declutter to make life easier for those entering their golden years.
Studies have found that seniors are more likely to experience injury during a disaster. This can be due to several factors, including pre-existing conditions, slower reaction speed, or even weaker bones. Due to their increased risk, it’s crucial that seniors have a disaster plan as discussed at the following link Disaster Planning and Recovery for Seniors.
Seniors, many of whom may be reluctant to adopt new technology, can benefit from getting a mobile device. It enables them to connect with others in a wide variety of new and exciting ways. At the link A Guide to Mobile Device Security and Phone Plans for Seniors, you will find a discussion of the benefits of mobile technology for seniors and practical advice for selecting a phone plan and securing a device against potential security concerns.
Mental health is a crucial component of health in all stages of life and becomes even more important as we age. The guide at link Promoting Mental Health in Seniors is designed to provide seniors, caregivers, and families with the knowledge they need for a healthy mental health environment.
State & Local Health and Human Services Programs:
Visit 2-1-1 Texas or dial 2-1-1 to find information about resources in your local community. Whether you need help finding food or housing, child care, crisis counseling or substance abuse treatment, one number is all you need to know.
Income-eligible Austinites at risk of losing their rental housing due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for the City of Austin RENT Assistance Program. To learn more about the RENT Assistance Program and other resources available, call 512.488.1397 or go to AustinTexas.gov/RENT
Learning Resources:
Christopher and Brooke Thornton of Prosperity Picnic recently conducted a 6 week course entitled Beyond Budgeting Masterclass: Rewrite Your Financial Blueprint in which they presented a wealth of information and training to those wanting to gain greater financial literacy so they can achieve their financial dreams and goals. Videos of these courses can be viewed at the following link: facebook.com/circleofhopecommunitycenter/photos/a.1865270890460762/2625111224476721/
At the link Raising Little Leaders: 3 Leadership Development Ideas for Pre-K, you will find a useful guide that outlines some simple ways parents can foster leadership skills early on in their children.
At the link Impactful Ways to Make Your Community a Better Place, you will find a helpful article that provides some helpful ideas and links for ways you and your family can give back to your community, meet new people, and teach your kids about serving others.
At the link Go-To Tools for Community Leaders Pursuing Lifelong Learning, you will find an insightful article discussing various ideas for those in leadership positions where they can invest some time and energy toward lifelong learning opportunities that improve personal capabilities.
At the link COVID-19: The Positive Changes We Should Embrace is an article that takes a look at some COVID-19-driven changes that should be kept around even after the pandemic ends.
If you are a recent immigrant, you are probably experiencing many changes. You must figure out how to make a new life for yourself. This may be difficult, but the following tips in the article How Immigrants Can Adapt To Living in the United States can help ease your transition
In this article Grow Your Business by Heading Back to School, small business owners will find a helpful article that takes a look at some of the ways gaining more education and skills can benefit their businesses.
Veteran Resources:
At the link Financial Tips for the Recently Discharged Veteran, you will find a helpful article that provides several ideas and website links on achieving a firmer financial footing as you make the transition from military life to civilian life.
If you’re a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, you may have access to educational benefits through veteran assistance programs. In addition to helping veterans attend traditional four-year colleges, these benefits can also be applied to vocational schools and apprenticeships. At the link Veterans Guide to Vocational and Apprenticeship Programs, you will find a break down of the different benefits available to veterans for non-traditional post-secondary education and review other important details such as eligibility, costs, and making the transition from soldier to working civilian.
Miscellaneous Resources:
We all encounter situations where additional space becomes necessary. It could be a basement or garage brimming with belongings that still bring joy but consume excessive space. Or one might need more storage space for seasonal items or sports gear when transitioning to a new residence. Irrespective of the cause, leasing a self-storage unit is a flexible, cost-effective, and convenient solution. At the link Your Guide to Self-Storage Units, you will find a guide covering all the essential information about storage facilities.