Grants for the elderly consist of a conglomeration of opportunities, from health-care aide to geriatrics scholarships, from local emergency assistance to veterans' support. Although grants for individual emergency financial assistance are hard to come by, grants for support of non-profits and education are much less rare. When in need of finances, it's important to think creatively about the needs and what kind of organizations might fund them.
Individual
For the most part, philanthropic organizations prefer investments with long-term potential. They like to see their money making a lasting impact. Therefore, grants to individuals for emergency assistance are not common. However, there are some. For instance, the Senior Emergency Home Repair Program provides grants of $12,000 to Detroit citizens 65 years and over, or 55 years and over with a disability. This grant is to be used for home repairs.
Local
When seeking individual grants, look to local resources. Of the grants that do exist for individual elderly assistance, most are for citizens local to the area of operation. For instance, many utility companies offer assistance to the elderly and in need. Other resources for assistance may include churches, local corporations, community centers and health-care organizations.
Veterans
Some grants do exist for the elderly who have served our military honorably. For instance, the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund provides emergency hardship assistance to veterans and their dependents in Michigan who need financial aide for life's expenses. The veterans office in your state can provide more information about the options available for you.
If you aren't a veteran, check with the company from which you retired. It might have a similar program for support.
Institutional Support
A lot of elderly support comes directly from local non-profits, nursing homes and hospitals. As such, much of the philanthropy goes indirectly to the elder person through these organizations. The government also offers grants to support such groups. For instance, the Administration on Aging gives a variety of grants to states and non-profits that offer elder care.
Education
The Medical Student Training in Aging Research Program, sponsored in part by the National Institute on Aging and the John A. Hartford Foundation, offers research support and mentorship to medical students interested in allopathic and osteopathic medicine. Good training for geriatric doctors now is an investment in the elderly in the future.
Tags: assistance veterans, emergency assistance, from local, grants support, years over