Eldercare Locator

The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL). It connects older adults, caregivers, and professionals to local Area Agencies on Aging and community-based organizations that serve older adults and their families. For most family caregivers, this is the recommended first call.

The service covers every state and territory. When you call 800-677-1116, trained information specialists help identify local resources — adult day care, transportation, home-delivered meals, legal assistance, respite care, and more. The service is free and available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time. The website at eldercare.acl.gov also offers a searchable database of local services by ZIP code.

Eldercare Locator is particularly valuable because caregiving needs vary by location. Federal and state programs, county-level services, and community organizations all differ by geography. Rather than maintaining an exhaustive national database, Eldercare Locator routes caregivers to the local agency best positioned to help with their specific situation.

The service addresses all six zones. A single call can surface resources for social support (P1), physical health programs (P2), housing modifications (P3), financial assistance (P4), legal navigation (P5), and emotional wellbeing services (P6). This broad coverage makes it an effective starting point regardless of which zone is flagged in a caregiver's assessment.

When calling, expect to provide your ZIP code and a brief description of what you need help with. The specialist will identify relevant local programs and provide contact information. For complex situations, they may refer you to a specific care manager at your local Area Agency on Aging who can coordinate multiple services.