Senior Health and Resource Eligibility System (SHARES)

With the myriad number of program services that exist for seniors, it can be overwhelming to know what is available and to access these services when they are needed. Offering resources in a convenient format benefits providers and recipients. Senior Health and Resource Eligibility System (SHARES) gives seniors a quick and easy way to contact services online via their website at www.elderhelpline.org/. Through partnerships with community stakeholders, caregivers and seniors can have point and click access to programs and services. Resources are in the areas of housing, healthcare facilities, home based services, transportation, food, adult day care, recreation and leisure, insurance, abuse and neglect, and employment. In addition to the site, Elder Help line offers a statewide toll-free telephone information and referral assistance service that links callers to local resources, and is a starting point for anyone seeking information about aging issues, looking for an aging services provider, or wanting to volunteer.

Both local and state governments face huge challenges in providing senior populations access to public, agency, professional and family caregivers, and community services that allow seniors to remain independent. The complex maze of constantly changing program and service eligibility rules challenge even the most knowledgeable senior service providers. Fragmentation within senior service agencies further results in duplication of services, unnecessary waiting lists, and caregiver and volunteer burnout. This resource attempts to address those problems by providing quick and easy access to a variety of programs.

Due to mostly volunteer efforts, www.elderhelpline.org was launched early in 2003, and allows users to search for services, not just buildings or programs, expanding on the idea of the telephone assistance line. The site is constantly being updated with new information and resources. Most visitors to the site are able to find the information they need within minutes. Those who do require additional assistance make an online or call in request, and the customized agency features further aid intake and referral staff in assisting the client.

Weekly, monthly and daily reports track types of service matches, caller and web user requests as well as the times, dates and service outcomes. As of 2004, this service reaches approximately 3.3 million seniors and caregivers statewide.The site receives 2 million hits per year, and an additional tenfold increase is expected during 2005.

As of 2011, the website elderhelpline.org was retired and replaced with http://www.myeldersource.org/aboutus.shtml, a more comprehensive website that offers the Elder Helpline, but also includes an activities calendar, information about Cyber and Telemarketing Fraud.