Community Web Resources
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-05-22 12:08:00-04:00
District of Columbia
Official DC Government Web site
District of Columbia Council
The legislative branch of local government. Because of the unique status of the District, the responsibilities and functions of the Council encompass those of city, county and state legislatures.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
The District of Columbia's representative in the U.S. House of Representatives
Aging Information/Services
DC Office on Aging
Develops and institutes health, education, employment, and social services for District residents age 60 and older. This Office funds comprehensive service-delivery organizations. Designated lead agencies plan and deliver direct services to the District's elderly residents and their caregivers. Four of these lead agencies have their own websites (below):
- Barney Neighborhood House Senior Program
Serves as a Lead Agency on Aging, planning and delivering direct services to elderly residents and their caregivers in Wards 1 and 4. - Greater Washington Urban League, Aging Division
Serves as a Lead Agency on Aging, planning and delivering direct services to elderly residents and their caregivers in Wards 2, 5 and 8. - Iona Senior Services
Serves as a Lead Agency on Aging, planning and delivering direct services to elderly residents and their caregivers in the Ward 3. - United Planning Organization Senior Services
Serves as a Lead Agency on Aging, planning and delivering direct services to elderly residents and their caregivers in the Wards 6 and 7.
Emmaus Services for the Aging
Provides a variety of services to elderly low-income residents of the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest Washington.
DC Adult Protective Services (APS)
Investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of frail, elderly, and disabled adults in the District of Columbia. Provides case management, counseling, and support services to vulnerable adults who have been abused, neglected, or exploited.
Grandparent Caregiver Support
AARP Fact Sheet for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children in DC
This fact sheet provides national and District of Columbia data and resources for grandparents and other relatives raising children.
AARP Grandparent Information Center
The AARP Grandparent Information Center offers resourves for grandparents of all types—those living close by or long distance, grandparents raising grandchildren, step grandparents or those with visitation issues.
Bread for the City
Bread for the City provides free legal services to eligible kinship caregivers in cases concerning landlord-tenant problems, public benefits, and family issues involving child support, custody or domestic violence. In addition, the agency provides food and clothing, medical care and social services to low-income residents of the District of Columbia.
The Children's Law Center
The Children's Law Center provides free legal services to eligible kinship caregivers in the District of Columbia.
The Family Ties Project
The Family Ties Project is a permanency planning project for families affected by HIV and AIDS. Services include free legal services, kinship care case management, art therapy and individual and family counseling.
Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia
Provides free legal services to eligible individuals with little or no incomein cases concerning landlord-tenant problems, public benefits and family issues involving child support, child custody and domestic violence. Legal Aid of DC helps Medicare recipients sign up for the Medicare prescirption drug plan that best meets their needs.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program
Cash payments may be available to children and their grandparents and other relative caregivers through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program.
The Whitman-Walker Clinic
The Whitman-Walker Clinic provides free legal services to people who are HIV-positive. Services include permanency planning for children of people who are ill or dying, uncontested custody matters and estate planning (involving child custody and placement).
Home Financing/Predatory Lending
DC Banking and Financial Institutions
Protects District residents from unfair and abusive practices and ensures a fair and equitable business arena for all financial institutions operating in the District of Columbia.
Medicare Prescription Drug Information
Health Insurance Counseling Project
Provides free health insurance information, education and counseling services to Medicare beneficiaries and seniors living in the District. HICP helps Medicare recipients sign up for the Medicare prescription drug plan that best meets their needs.
Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia
Provides free legal services to eligible individuals with little or no incomein cases concerning landlord-tenant problems, public benefits and family issues involving child support, child custody and domestic violence. Legal Aid of DC helps Medicare recipients sign up for the Medicare prescirption drug plan that best meets their needs.
Nursing Home/Long Term Care Information/Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Formerly known as HCFA, this federal agency oversees Medicare and Medicaid and has a Website providing detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country.
DC Department of Health, Health Regulation Administration (HRA)
Administers all District and federal laws and regulations governing the licensing, certification, and registration of health-related professionals, along with health care and human service facilities, to ensure the protection of the health and safety of vulnerable children and adults.
DC Department of Human Services, Income Maintenance Administration (IMA)
Determines eligibility for Medicaid, TANF, food stamps and other programs. Has produced the brochure "DC Medicaid and Nursing Home Care: Questions and Answers for the Family," which provides specific information on using Medicaid to pay for nursing home care in the District.
DC Department of Health, Medical Assistance Administration (MAA)
Determines eligibility for Medical Assistance (Medicaid) payments for nursing home care and is a department of the DC Department of Health.
The Eldercare Locator
Part of the US Administration on Aging, this service helps older adults and their caregivers find local services for seniors. Part of this service is now available on-line so that consumers can easily link to the information and referral (I&R) services of their state and area agencies on aging. These I&R programs can help identify appropriate services in the area where an individual or his or her family member resides.
The National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR)
Provides information, educational materials, and training and strategies for family members, consumer advocates, ombudsmen, and others working to ensure quality of care and quality of life for people living in nursing homes.
Property Tax Relief
Homestead Exemption
If you are a DC resident and own the property you live in, you maybe eligible for the Homestead Exemption on that property. This exemption can reduce the amount of the assessed property value that can be taxed.
Property Tax Credit
If you are a DC resident age 65 and older, own at least 50% of your property and have a household (adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less, you may be eligible to a property tax credit equal to ½ or what you owe in property tax.
Property Tax Deferral
If you are a DC homeowner age 65 or older with an annual household income of less than $50,000, you have the option to defer all of your property taxes each year until the amount of deferred taxes (plus accrued interest) exceeds 25 percent of the assessed property value.
Volunteer Opportunity
Experience Corps
Recruits and trains volunteers to provide tutoring, mentoring and classroom assistance in DC elementary schools
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