Community Resources

Find the Help You Need in Your Community

Local Professionals Offer Range of Assistance with Aging Issues

If you’re facing issues related to aging or caregiving and need advice or assistance, help is available through a variety of regional professional resources. Councils on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging, veterans affairs agencies, the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services and the South Carolina Department on Aging, geriatric care managers and other resources can all provide helpful information and services.

Councils on Aging and County Resources

Depending on where you live in Western North Carolina or Upstate South Carolina, the Council on Aging or Area Agency on Aging serving the county you live in may offer different services from those in other parts of the region, but they all share the common mission of acting as advocates for elders and providing connections for the assistance you need.

Council on Aging of Buncombe County

The Council on Aging of Buncombe County is an advocate for older adults, providing personal support, assistance and resource coordination to help them stay independent and healthy.

To help older adults receive the services they need, COABC answers questions by phone and helps people complete applications for community-wide services.

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COABC offers informational assistance about Medicare and health insurance and also assists older adults with the Affordable Care Act.

COABC helps with such issues as minor home repair, transportation resources, elder justice counseling and some homebound food delivery. Minor home repair services focus on reducing fall risks in the home through the installation of grab bars, hand railings and threshold fixes.

COABC partners with a variety of local agencies and connects clients with other assistance in the community, such as help with ramp installations.

For people who can’t drive or use public transportation, COABC has volunteers who take people to doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping and occasional social trips. SThe Senior Dining and Wellness program offers eligible adults the opportunity to receive free hot meals. Monthly food boxes are delivered by volunteers with COABC to at-risk, homebound elders.

Through its Benefits Enrollment Center, COABC provides application assistance for individuals living in Buncombe County who are on Medicare due to disability or age. COABC provides these individuals with assistance with applications for SNAP, Medicaid, Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs.

COABC assistance with the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program, a federally funded program that helps qualified individuals with their home heating and cooling costs.

The COABC also has an Elder Justice Navigator who provides information and support for older women and men experiencing abuse, neglect and exploitation.

A separate organization – Meals On Wheels of Asheville and Buncombe County – delivers Meals on Wheels in Buncombe County.

Council on Aging for Henderson County

For more than 50 years, the Council on Aging for Henderson County has been providing and coordinating services that engage, connect and support local adults as they age. COAHC strives to ensure that no one ages alone through programs that include Meals on Wheels (delivery of meals to homebound seniors), “Lunch at the Sammy” congregate dining and activities liquid nutrition, caregiver services, senior companions and community resource coordination. The Council on Aging also offers seasonal services including a heat-relief assistance program and shelf-stable meals for inclement weather.

Caregiver support specialists are available at COAHC to assist those caring for a loved one with long-term physical or cognitive conditions. The caregiver specialist can assist with accessing available resources and provide ongoing support. Those qualifying for respite care services may be able to receive a grant to assist with covering costs of in-home services.

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