helping another person

“I called 211 because I needed help to make Thanksgiving special for my family. The woman I talked to was very pleasant and helpful, and it was easy to register and get our dinner.”

Anna

United Way of Central Maryland client

Start Here

Contact 211

Each day millions of people step up to provide support to a loved one such as a family member, neighbor, friend or even co-worker. Most of the time we can lend an extra hand with ease but sometimes we need additional help. If you are caring for someone and need some respite, extra resources, or just someone to talk to - please contact 211. You are not alone and 211 has the most up-to-date information about local assistance that may be available to you or your loved one.

If you prefer to talk to someone, you can always call 211 to get connected to a local specialist. Simply call 211 from a cell phone or landline to speak with a live, highly trained service professional.
If you are looking for a 211 service in another area, or prefer to text, chat online, or search an online database, find the local 211 contact information here.

Respite Plan

Caring for a family member, loved one, or friend can be exhausting, both mentally and physically and can lead to burn-out if caregivers do not take breaks. Respite care can give caregivers a chance to recharge and is good for both them and the one they are caring for. Find helpful tips on creating a respite plan.

- Caregiving for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Patients
- Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia often involves a team of people. Whether you provide daily caregiving, participate in decision making, or simply care about a person with the disease, the Alzheimer’s Association has the resources to help.
- Caregiving for Cancer Patients
- The American Cancer Society Caregiver Resource Guide is a tool for people who are caring for someone with cancer. Learn how to care for yourself as a caregiver, better understand what your loved one is going through, develop skills for coping and caring, and take steps to help protect your health and well-being.
- Caregiving for Lupus Patients
- Find resources and programs from the Lupus Foundation that can help you take care of your loved one with lupus – and yourself.
- Long Distance Caregiving
- If you live an hour or more away from a person who needs care, you are a long-distance caregiver. This kind of care can take many forms—from helping with money management and arranging for in-home care to providing respite care for a primary caregiver and planning for emergencies.
- Supportive Connections
- The AARP Online Community is an online forum to connect with others that have the same interests, including caregiving, games, entertainment, home & family, money, and many more topics of interest.
- AARP’s Family Caregiving Facebook Group: a place to connect, share practical tips, offer support, and discuss family caregiving experiences.
- Caregiving for Veterans
- The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Caregiver Support Program (CSP) offers clinical services to caregivers of eligible and covered Veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. And AARP’s Military Caregiving Handbook offers a free guide to veterans, service members & their families that address the unique issues faced by the 5.5 million military caregivers in the U.S.; providing information, resources, and checklists.
- Family Caregiving
- AARP Family Caregiver Guides are designed to help develop and implement a caregiving plan for a loved one or friend. And AARP’s Financial Workbook for Family Caregivers highlights caregiving costs to help individuals track what they spend on caregiving. Or learn here how Medicaid and veterans programs can alleviate the financial burden of family caregiving.
Caregiving youth are young people ages 18 and under who provide significant assistance or care to a family member who has a chronic illness, disability, mental health condition, or frailty due to aging. Learn more here about the role of young people in multi-generation households. The American Association of Caregiving Youth offers scholarships, newsletters and supportive resources for teens that are caring for a loved one.
- Sign up or review past newsletters here.
- Check out available scholarships here.
When we reach out a hand to one, we can influence the condition of all. Volunteering empowers you to make a difference in your neighborhood. Whether you informally lend a hand to help someone or formally sign up to engage at a local church or nonprofit organization, you can improve your community! Here are some places to get started:
- JustServe, Volunteer Match and the Points of Light Foundation all provide searchable listings of local volunteer opportunities. Or contact your local United Way organization to learn more about community needs and services.
- AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Consider joining AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps Seniors to make a difference.
- MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Most communities host service projects or you can start your own - learn more here.

Not sure where to start? We can help. Call 211

More Resources

I need help paying my bills

Healthcare Expenses

Utilities Expenses

New to the U.S.?

helping another person

Caring for a Loved One with an Illness

General Caregiver Resources

Young People Caring for Adults

Volunteering

More Resources