Free Help for Older Adults in Greater Cleveland

Greater Cleveland has a wide network of public agencies and nonprofits that help older adults and the families who care for them. Most of it is free. The hard part is knowing who to call, so we gathered the main numbers for Cuyahoga, Lake, and Lorain counties in one place.

In an emergency, call 911.

Not sure where to start?

Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging

The Area Agency on Aging for Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina counties. Call when you are not sure what help exists or what your parent may qualify for. It provides information and referral, support for family caregivers, and intake for PASSPORT, Ohio's Medicaid program for in-home help.

• Phone: (800) 626-7277 or (216) 621-0303
• Website: areaagingsolutions.org

2-1-1

A free, confidential help line for community resources of every kind, from food and utilities to transportation. Dial 2-1-1 from any phone in all three counties.

If you are worried someone is being harmed

Abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults can be reported to Adult Protective Services. Reports can be made anonymously.

• Ohio Adult Protective Services hotline, any county, 24 hours: (855) 644-6277 (855-OHIO-APS)
• Cuyahoga County: (216) 420-6700
• Lake County: (440) 350-4000, option 1
• Lorain County: (440) 284-4465

Cuyahoga County

Division of Senior and Adult Services

The county's senior services office. It runs Adult Protective Services, home support services, benefits help (including help with heating bills), and outreach, and it can connect you with senior center programs.

• Phone: (216) 420-6700
• Website: hhs.cuyahogacounty.gov/departments/dsas

Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging

A Cleveland nonprofit with programs for older adults and family caregivers. Its WeCare program pairs caregivers with a care navigator who helps with resources, long-term planning, money and legal questions, housing, and respite. Its Caregiver Relief Program may help pay for in-home care for people caring for someone with dementia in Cuyahoga, Lake, or Lorain County.

• Main phone: (216) 791-8000
• WeCare and Caregiver Relief: (216) 373-1797
• Home-delivered meals (Cuyahoga County): (216) 373-1994
• Website: benrose.org

Lake County

Lake County Council on Aging

A nonprofit and the county's Aging and Disability Resource Center. It offers information and referral, social workers, Meals on Wheels, and in-home safety and homemaker services for residents 60 and older.

• Phone: (440) 205-8111
• Address: 8520 East Avenue, Mentor
• Website: lccoa.org

Lake County Senior Services

The county department that manages the Senior Services Levy, which funds senior programs across Lake County.

• Phone: (440) 350-2748
• Website: lakecountyohio.gov/senior-services

2-1-1 Lake County

Dial 2-1-1, or call (440) 639-4420 if 2-1-1 does not connect. You can also text your ZIP code to 898211.

• Website: uwlc.org/2-1-1

Lorain County

Lorain County Office on Aging

Services for residents 60 and older, with its Aging and Disability Resource Center as the place to start. It offers help with benefits, options counseling, nutrition programs, medical transportation, and a homemaker program.

• Phone: (440) 326-4800
• Southern office in Wellington: (440) 647-0777
• Address: 534 Abbe Road South, Elyria
• Website: lcooa.org

Statewide

• Ohio Department of Aging, information on programs for older Ohioans: (800) 266-4346, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Website: aging.ohio.gov
• OSHIIP, free and unbiased Medicare counseling from the Ohio Department of Insurance: (800) 686-1578
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman, free advocates for people in nursing homes and assisted living. Greater Cleveland region: (800) 365-3112. State office: (800) 282-1206

Memory loss and dementia

• Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline: (800) 272-3900. Free, confidential, any time of day, in more than 200 languages.
• Alzheimer's Association, Cleveland Area Chapter, serving Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Ashtabula, and Geauga counties: (216) 342-5556. Website: alz.org/cleveland

When the help you need is at home

Public programs have their own eligibility rules and limits. When a parent needs help with showers, meals, medication reminders, or rides to appointments on a steady schedule, a licensed home care agency can fill in. Call us at (216) 770-4886, and we will gladly point you to the right public program too if it fits better.

When the family is ready for help at home, here is where Solura visits and how families pay for care.

Phone numbers were checked against each organization's official website in October 2026. Numbers sometimes change. If one does not work, dial 2-1-1 and ask for the current contact.