Help At Your Fingertips
The organizations and professionals on this page provide knowledge and experience to seniors and their caregivers. They may offer videos/DVD's, audio tapes, newsletters, books, pamphlets, magazines and help lines. Many offer services and products. Some offer websites, which makes much of their information available right now!
Also, if these resources cannot help you with a specific issue, many times they can point you in the direction of the information or solution you are trying to find.
Of course, you can always feel free to give us a call us at Keepsake Companions - (800) 505-1730. We would be happy to help in any way we can.
1-800-MEDICARE (Esp)
Phone: (800) 633-4227TTY: 1-877-486-2048
Website: www.medicare.gov
Information on Medicare benefits and drug discount cards.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Esp)
Phone: (800) 358-9295TTY: (888) 586-6340
Website: www.AHQR.gov
Free information on health care for seniors.
AIS - Aging and Independence Services
Phone: 800-510-2020Website: www.SDCounty.ca.gov/hhsa/programs/AIS
This is San Diego’s Area Agency on Aging. AIS provides services to older adults, people with disabilities and their family members, to help keep clients safely in their homes, promote healthy and vital living, and publicize positive contributions made by older adults and persons with disabilities.
American Board of Medical Specialties
Phone: (866) 275-2267Website: www.ABMS.org
Information about specialists' training.
American Chronic Pain Association
Phone: (916) 632-0922 (Not toll-free)Website: www.theACPA.org
Support and information for people with chronic pain .
American College of Surgeons (Esp)
Phone: (800) 621-4111Website: www.facs.org
Information on common operations and choosing a surgeon.
AT Network (Esp)
Phone: (800) 390-2699TTY: (800) 900-0706
Website: www.ATnet.org
Information on equipment for seniors/people with disabilities.
California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (Esp)
Phone: (800) 474-1116Website: www.CANHR.org
Find a nursing home and get help if you have a problem.
California Foundation for Independent Living Ctr.
1234 H Street, Suite 100Sacramento, CA 95814-1912
Phone: (916) 325-1690 (Not toll free)
TTY: (916) 325-1695
Website: www.CFILC.org
Resources for people with disabilities.
California Hospital Association
Phone: (800) 494-2001Website: www.CalHealth.org
Free Advance Health Care Directive forms.
California Office of Patients' Rights
100 Howe Ave., Suite 210NSacramento, CA 95825-8202
Phone: ( 916) 575-1610 (Not toll free)
E-mail: COPR@disabilityrightsca.org
Website: COPR website
Advocacy for patients hospitalized with mental illness. The California Office of Patients' Rights (COPR) is a unit within Disability Rights California.
California Registry
Phone: (800) 777-7575Website: www.CalRegistry.com
Information on hospice and long-term care.
Clinical Trials
Website: www.ClinicalTrials.gov
Information on clinical trials.
Deaf Counseling, Advocacy & Referral Agency
Phone: (877) 322-7299TTY: (877) 322-7288
Website: www.DCARA.org
Resources for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
Disability Rights Advocates
Website: www.DRAlegal.org
Information on health care rights for people with disabilities.
ElderHelp of San Diego
4069 30th St.San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: (619) 284-9281
Website: www.ElderHelpOfSandDiego.org
ElderHelp provides personalized services and information to help San Diego’s seniors stay in their homes, remain independent and live with dignity. Services include companionship, transportation, home sharing, and other support services.
Family Caregiver Alliance
Phone: (800) 445-8106Website: www.Caregiver.org
Information and resources for family caregivers.
Health Consumer
Website: www.HealthConsumer.org
Health care information in different languages.
Healthfinder
Website: www.Healthfinder.gov
Easy-to-use health website.
HealthScope
Website: www.HealthScope.org
Information on California HMOs and hospitals.
Support Services
- 1-800-MEDICARE (Esp)
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Esp)
- AIS - Aging and Independence Services
- American Board of Medical Specialties
- American Chronic Pain Association
- American College of Surgeons (Esp)
- AT Network (Esp)
- California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (Esp)
- California Foundation for Independent Living Ctr.
- California Hospital Association
- California Office of Patients' Rights
- California Registry
- Clinical Trials
- Deaf Counseling, Advocacy & Referral Agency
- Disability Rights Advocates
- ElderHelp of San Diego
- Family Caregiver Alliance
- Health Consumer
- Healthfinder
- HealthScope
- HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy)
- HMO Help Center
- Lab Tests Online
- Lumetra
- Medical Board of California
- National Guideline Clearinghouse
- National Immunization Hotline
- National Institute on Aging
- National Institutes for Health
- National Mental Health Association
- Office of the Patient Advocate
- Poison Action Line
- Protection & Advocacy
- Senior Information and Referral
- Social Security Administration
- Southern Caregiver Resource Center (SCRC)
- ST. Paul's PACE
- State Insurance Hotline
- State Ombudsman Crisis Line
- U.S. Dept. of Labor (Pension & Welfare Benefits)
HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy)
Phone: (800) 434-022Website: www.CalMedicare.org
Free information and help with Medicare.
HMO Help Center
Phone: (888) 466-2219TTY: (877) 688-9891
Website: www.HMOhelp.ca.gov
Information about Cal-COBRA.
Lab Tests Online
Website: www.LabTestsOnline.org
A guide to understanding lab test results.
Lumetra
Phone: (800) 841-1602TTY: (800) 881-5980
Website: www.Lumetra.com
Help with hospital, nursing home and rehab discharge problems.
Medical Board of California
Phone: (800) 633-2322Website: www.MedBD.ca.gov
Licenses and takes complaints on medical doctors.
National Guideline Clearinghouse
Website: www.Guideline.gov
Care guidelines for many health conditions.
National Immunization Hotline
Phone: (800) 232-2522TTY: (800) 243-7889
Website: www.CDC.gov/ncird
Recommended shots for people of all ages.
National Institute on Aging
Website: www.NIA.NIH.gov
Information on many health conditions.
National Institutes for Health
Website: www.NIH.gov
Information on many health conditions.
National Mental Health Association
Phone: (800) 969-6642TTY: (800) 433-5959
Website: www.NMHA.org
Information, advocacy and referrals.
Office of the Patient Advocate
Phone: (866) HMO-8900TTY: (877) 688-9891
Website: www.OPA.ca.gov
Report cards on HMOs and Medical Groups.
Poison Action Line
Phone: (800) 876-4766TTY: (800) 972-3323
Website: www.CalPoison.org
Emergency help for victims of poisoning.
Protection & Advocacy
Phone: (800) 776-5746TTY: (800) 649-0154
Website: www.PAI-ca.org
Legal help for people with disabilities.
Senior Information and Referral
Phone: (800) 510-2020Website: www.Aging.CA.gov
Local services for seniors.
Social Security Administration
Phone: (800) 772-1213TTY: (800) 325-0778
Website: www.SSA.gov
Information on getting Social Security and Medicare.
Southern Caregiver Resource Center (SCRC)
3675 Ruffin Rd., # 230San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: (858) 268-4432
Website: SCRC Facebook Page
SCRC assists family caregivers who provide care for frail, older adults or adults with chronic and disabling conditions or diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and brain injury. Assistance is provided through assessment,care planning, case management, counseling and caregiver training. Other support services including support groups and respite are also available.
ST. Paul's PACE
ST. Paul's PACE Pavillion111 Elm Street
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 677-3800
Fax: (619) 677-3888
E-mail: info@stpaulspace.org
Website: www.StPaulsPACE.org
St. Paul’s PACE is a non-profit Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) health plan for seniors age 55 and older who prefer not to move into a nursing home but whose health problems make it impossible for them to stay at home without the help of caregivers.
State Insurance Hotline
Phone: (800) 927-4357TTY: (800) 482-4833
Website: www.Insurance.CA.gov
Find information on long-term care insurance.
State Ombudsman Crisis Line
Phone: (800) 231-4024San Diego Office: (800) 640-4661
TTY: (916) 928-2511 (Not toll-free)
Website: Ombudsman Program
Information, resources and hotline on elder abuse and quality of care.
U.S. Dept. of Labor (Pension & Welfare Benefits)
Phone: (866) 444-3272TTY: (800) 326-2996
Website: www.dol.gov/ebsa
Information about COBRA.
