2-1-1 Texas is a statewide helpline that connects callers with local health and human services resources — including senior care assistance, Medicaid enrollment, food assistance, transportation, and emergency services. Call 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898-211. Available 24/7. This is the best first call for families who do not know where to start when seeking community assistance for a senior.

Texas has 28 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) organized across the state. Each AAA provides: information and referral to local services; care coordination for vulnerable seniors; caregiver support programs (including some respite funding); elder abuse prevention; legal assistance referrals; and the SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) for Medicare counseling. Find your local AAA through the Texas Association of Area Agencies on Aging website.

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for the rights and quality of life of residents in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care settings. Ombudsman representatives visit facilities regularly, investigate complaints, mediate disputes between residents/families and facilities, and provide advocacy. The service is free and confidential. Call 1-800-252-2412 to reach the LTCO for your area.

APS investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of adults 65 and older and adults with disabilities living in the community. APS can provide emergency services, connect individuals to protective resources, and make law enforcement referrals in serious cases. To report suspected elder abuse or neglect, call 1-800-252-5400 (available 24/7). Reports can be made anonymously.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is the state agency responsible for health care and human services programs in Texas. Relevant functions for senior care: licensing and inspecting assisted living facilities and nursing homes; administering Medicaid programs (including STAR+PLUS for seniors); enrolling individuals in benefits programs; and investigating complaints about licensed care facilities. Visit hhs.texas.gov for resources and complaint filing.

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free, unbiased counseling on Medicare and related health insurance options. SHIP counselors help seniors: understand Medicare coverage; compare Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans; navigate Medicare appeals; understand Medigap supplement plans; and identify programs that help pay Medicare costs for low-income individuals. Find your local SHIP through the Texas AAA network or call your local AAA.

The Alzheimer’s Association has chapters in Houston (Greater East Texas), Dallas, and San Antonio serving Texas. They provide: a 24/7 helpline (1-800-272-3900); in-person and online support groups for caregivers and people with dementia; education programs; care consultation services; connections to clinical trials; and local resource referrals. Their ALZ Navigator online tool is an excellent self-guided resource for families.

Major Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) in Texas that assist with VA benefits for senior care include: the Disabled American Veterans (DAV); the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); the American Legion; and AMVETS. VSO accredited service officers can help veterans and surviving spouses file VA claims, including Aid and Attendance benefit applications, at no charge. Texas also has a Texas Veterans Commission with benefits counselors.

Legal resources for Texas seniors include: Lone Star Legal Aid (free civil legal services for low-income Texans); Texas Legal Services Center (statewide legal assistance); local law school elder law clinics; and private elder law attorneys. Legal assistance is available for: Medicaid planning, Medicare appeals, guardianship and conservatorship, power of attorney documents, advance directives, financial exploitation cases, and nursing home contract disputes.

Care Compare (medicare.gov/care-compare) allows families to compare nursing homes, home health agencies, hospice programs, and other providers based on quality ratings, staffing levels, health inspection results, and patient outcome measures. It is the primary public tool for evaluating nursing home quality. Texas families should use it to research any skilled nursing facility before placement, focusing on overall rating, staffing, and recent inspection deficiencies.

The Texas Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a program that helps Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries prevent, detect, and report healthcare fraud and abuse. SMP counselors can help seniors review Medicare Summary Notices and Explanation of Benefits statements for potential billing errors or fraud. Contact through the Texas AAA network. Medicare fraud harms both individual beneficiaries and the broader healthcare system.

For most families, the best starting points are: (1) call 2-1-1 Texas for a comprehensive local resource overview; (2) contact your local Area Agency on Aging for care coordination and program eligibility assessment; (3) consult a senior placement agent for personalized care options guidance; and (4) if legal documents are not in place, consult an elder law attorney immediately. These four contacts cover the practical, financial, and legal dimensions of most senior care situations.