National resources · Your Healthcare Bestie
Where to Get Help
Finding the right person to call can be half the battle. These national resources can help you understand your options and connect with support. Start with what you need today.
Immediate danger
If someone is in immediate danger or needs urgent police, fire or emergency medical help, call 911.
Need someone to talk to?
The 988 Lifeline offers free, confidential emotional and crisis support, day or night. Call or text 988.
Not sure where to start?
Eldercare Locator connects older adults and families with community services. Call or text 800-677-1116.
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Safety, abuse & neglectKnow who to contact when someone may be unsafe.
Elder or vulnerable-adult abuse
For suspected abuse, neglect or financial exploitation, contact Adult Protective Services or local law enforcement. In immediate danger, call 911. Eldercare Locator can help you find the appropriate local resources.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Confidential support for people experiencing domestic violence and those concerned about someone they know. Call 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
24/7 guidance and support about child abuse. Call 800-422-4453 or text GO to that number. Childhelp can explain reporting options; it is not an official abuse-reporting agency.
Medicare, Medicaid & benefitsCoverage questions, enrollment and benefits.
Medicare
Official information about Medicare coverage, claims, costs and enrollment.
Medicaid
Use the national website to find your state Medicaid agency for applications, eligibility and coverage questions. The number below is the federal CMS information line, not a state application line.
SHIP: free Medicare counseling
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling. The national locator and phone number connect you with your state program.
Social Security Administration
Help with retirement, disability and survivor benefits, plus Medicare enrollment.
Aging & finding careA starting point for services and support near you.
Eldercare Locator
A national public service connecting older adults and families with aging services in their community. Call or text the number below.
Administration for Community Living
Federal information and programs supporting older adults, people with disabilities and community living.
Caregiver supportHelp for the person doing the caring.
Family Caregiver Alliance
Caregiver education, planning tools and a state-by-state resource finder. Some direct services have geographic eligibility requirements.
National Alliance for Caregiving
National caregiver research, education and advocacy resources. This is not a crisis helpline.
Alzheimer’s & dementiaInformation, reassurance and caregiver support.
Alzheimer’s Association
Free 24/7 helpline for people living with dementia, caregivers and families.
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
Dementia education and a national helpline staffed by licensed social workers. Check its website for current hours and text/chat options.
NIA ADEAR Center
Federal information and referrals about Alzheimer’s and related dementias, caregiving and research.
Conditions & disease supportTrusted information after a diagnosis.
American Heart Association / American Stroke Association
Education about heart disease, stroke, prevention and recovery. This general contact line is not an emergency service.
American Cancer Society
24/7 cancer information and help finding patient and caregiver resources.
National Cancer Institute
Federal cancer information from trained information specialists.
Parkinson’s Foundation
Information about Parkinson’s, daily living and caregiving, plus help finding resources.
ALS Association
ALS education and a national gateway to care programs and support in your state.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS information and personalized navigation support through MS Navigator.
Hospice, palliative care & end of lifeUnderstanding care options and important decisions.
Hospice Foundation of America
Education and answers to questions about hospice, caregiving and grief. This is not an urgent clinical care line.
National Institute on Aging: end-of-life care
Federal education about hospice, palliative care, caregiving and decisions near the end of life.
Grief & bereavementSupport for living with loss.
Dougy Center
Grief education and resources for children, teens, young adults and families, plus a support-group finder. Its own in-person groups are local; online resources are accessible nationally.
What’s Your Grief
Online grief education and coping resources. Some courses and memberships are paid. This is not an emergency or crisis service.
Mental health & substance-use supportSomeone to talk to and help finding treatment.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free, confidential emotional and crisis support, 24/7. Call or text 988, or use the website to chat.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information for mental health and substance-use concerns. This is a referral service, not counseling.
Veterans & military familiesNavigating VA services and caregiver support.
VA MyVA411
A national starting point for VA healthcare, benefits and service questions for veterans, families, caregivers and survivors.
VA Caregiver Support Program
Information about caregiving and VA caregiver programs. Eligibility depends on the program.
Legal planning & finding helpNational directories for qualified legal support.
American Bar Association: Find Legal Help
A national gateway to lawyer-referral services, legal-aid resources and licensing information. The ABA does not provide advice about individual cases.
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
A national professional organization with a directory of elder-law and special-needs-law attorneys.
Legal Services Corporation
Find an LSC-funded civil legal-aid organization. Eligibility and available services vary.
Long-term care & consumer protectionComparing care and speaking up about concerns.
Medicare Care Compare
Official tool for comparing Medicare-certified nursing homes and other healthcare providers. It is not a directory of all assisted living communities.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
Resident advocacy for nursing homes, assisted living and similar residential care settings. Use the national ACL page to find program information and connections.
Senior Medicare Patrol
Help preventing, detecting and reporting Medicare fraud, errors and abuse.
Federal Trade Commission: Consumer Advice
Federal information about scams, fraud and identity theft, with links to reporting tools.
These are national starting points. Some connect you with services in your state or community. Program eligibility, availability and costs vary; check with each organization.
Your Healthcare Bestie provides educational information and navigation support, not medical, legal or financial advice. Links lead to independent organizations and do not imply endorsement. This website is not an emergency service. In immediate danger, call 911.
Contact details checked against official sources on October 3, 2026.
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