Information
| Abuse, Crime, Fraud | Alzheimer's
| Caregivers | Disability
| Visually Impaired | Hearing
Impaired | Employment | Equipment
| Financial
| Home Services | Home
Improvement | Hospice | Housing
| Legal | Mental Health
| Nutrition | Senior
Citizen Centers | Social Security
| Support Groups | Telephone
Reassurance | Transportation
| 55 Alive | Volunteer
Opportunities | Veterans
The Grant County Senior Services
Office serves as an advocacy and referral source for Grant County
seniors and their families. Our purpose is to provide information
on available services which will allow seniors to remain in their
homes and active in their communities for as long as it is feasible.
Programs currently sponsored by the Grant County Committee on
Aging include:
• Advocacy and referral to help agencies
• Volunteer Driver Transportation Program
• NAPS Food Distribution Program
• 55 Alive Defensive Driving Program
• Insurance and Forms Assistance Program
• AARP Tax Assistance Program
• Telephone Reassurance Program
• 5 Senior Citizens Center - Ashby, Barrett, Elbow Lake,
Hoffman and Norcross
• Grant County Outstanding Seniors Program
• HI-LITES - A Bi-monthly Senior Newsletter
• Various Social Events for Grant County Seniors
Calendar of current events: 55 Alive classes
Senior Meetings
Tax Assistance
ETC.
Senior Resources
Senior Information and Assistance
- Grant County Coordinator
on Aging Office - 28 Central South, PO Box 1006, Elbow Lake,
MN 56531 218-685-8200 - janet.johnson@co.grant.mn.us. Advocacy
and referral for available senior services.
- Senior LinkAGE Line 1-800-333-2433
- State wide information and referral for questions regarding
aging and service. Provides with you your connection to the
services near you.
- Minnesota Board on Aging
1-800-882-6262 - State wide information, referral and funding
for senior services.
- West Central Area Agency
on Aging 1-218-739-4617 - Regional information, assistance,
and funding for senior services. Located in Fergus Falls.
- National Elder Care Locator
- 1-800-677-1116 - Nationwide public service of the US Administration
of Aging that connects callers to their closest Area Agency
on Aging to find out services available in their area.
- Office of Ombudsman for
Older Minnesotans 1-800-657-3591 - Provides assistance for
consumers
to enhance the quality of care and quality of life of older
individuals receiving health care services at home, in the
hospital,
nursing home or other community setting such as assisted living,
homes plus, board and lodging and adult day care. Area Ombudsman:
Darlene Weber - 218-573-2214.
- Eldercare Locater 1-800-677-1116
http://eldercare.gov - Nationwide,
directory assistance service helping older people and their
caregivers locate local support and resources for older Americans.
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Abuse,
Crime, Fraud
- Grant
County Sheriff’s Department 1-218-685-5303 (911) Investigates
all reports of abuse, crime and fraud.
- Vulnerable Adult Issues 1-218-685-5303
- Sheriff’s Department investigates issues concerning
elders who are vulnerable to neglect, self neglect, physical
or financial abuse.
- Listening Ear Crisis Center
320-763-6638 or 1-800-854-9001 - 24 hour telephone hotline as
well as assistance to seniors who have been victims of crime.
- Charities Review Council 1-800-733-4483
- Your source of informed giving. With more Minnesotans interested
in giving to charities, and more charities asking for donations,
the need for information to help donors make informed giving
is important.
• • www.elderabusecenter.com
- Do Not
Call List - 1-800-921-4110
- Attorney
Generals Office - 1-800-657-3787
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Alzheimer's and other dementia
- Alzheimer’s Association
- Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter 1-800-232-0851 - 24 hour telephone
hotline for support, education, research information and advocacy.
- Safe Return Program 1-800-232-0851
- A national registry of Alzheimer/Dementia patients. It includes
fast response plan to locate wandering family member.
- http://www.alzheimers.org
- Alzheimer’s Disease Education & Referral Center
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Caregiver Support and Respite
Caregiver Discussion Groups
Lutheran Social Services - Julia Conroy, 320-392-2776. Meetings
in Elbow Lake are the
fourth Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at ELEAH Medical
Center Conference Room to provide caregivers
with
support
through
education,
guest
speakers,
etc. Respite
services
are available to caregivers who would like to attend the meetings.
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Disability
- Mn Dept of Rehabilitation
Services 320-762-7809 - Counseling and services to assist
disabled adults in returning to or obtaining employment.
- MN State Council on Disability
1-800-945-8913 - A referral source for all disabilities. Advises
the legislature on issues involving disabilities.
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Blind/Visually Impaired
- Mn State Services for the
Blind 1-800-366-5420 - Rehabilitations services and communication
services available to anyone of any age in Minnesota who has
a vision loss that creates a barrier to their vocational or
personal independence. Radio Talking Books, Tape and Braille
Transcriptions, Dial-in-newspaper, Braille instruction, Low
vision services, Independent living skills, Career exploration,
Job placement, and more.
- National Library Service for
the Blind and Physically Handicapped 1-800-722-0550 - Books,
magazines, newspapers are in large print, Braille and disc/cassette
recorded. This is part of the Library of Congress.
- Computer Access for the Visually
Impaired, Community Education 320-762-2149 - Computer program
scans written material and greatly enlarges the size of type
and screen. Another program converts writing and computer commands
to voice, which allows blind users to read, write and make Internet
connections. A third program translates written material to
Braille and prints on a Braille printer.
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Deaf/Hard
of Hearing
- Regional Hearing Service Center
218-739-7589 or 218-739-7591 TTY - Provides free assistance.
Services include: Information, referral, Training Resource Library,
Interpreter Referral, and Equipment Distribution Program. This
program provides TTY’s, phone amplifiers and other special
telephone equipment at no charge to those who qualify.
- Starkey Hearing Foundation
4248 Park Glen Road, Minneapolis, MN 55416 - Provides free hearing
aides to individuals who cannot afford them. Offers scholarships
and educational materials.
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Employment
Experience Works - Senior Workforce
Solutions, 1-800-450-5627 - A national, non-profit organization
that assists mature workers in finding employment and obtaining
no-cost or low-cost skills training. Job counselors will help
interested persons identify their interests, abilities and skill,
and then match them up with available training or jobs in their
community. A representative will arrange an interview at a convenient
location to discuss the applicant’s training and job needs.
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Equipment: Durable Medical Equipment
and Home Supplies
- Arrowhealth Medical Supply,
117 N. Mill St., Fergus Falls (218-739-3602)
- Country Health, 715 ½
Pebble Lake Road, Fergus Falls (800-642-2240)
- Douglas County Home Health
Equipment, Douglas County Hospital (320-762-6036)
- Home Medical, 7 NW 1st Street,
Glenwood, MN (800-642-5443) (320-634-3060)
- Lincare, Inc., 124 Union
Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN (218-739-4616)
- Trumm Drug, 11 Central Avenue
South, Elbow Lake (218-685-4471) (800-421-2999)
- Assistive Technology Network
of WC MN 218-736-4982 Provide consultations, fittings, repairs,
modifications or adaptations for wheelchairs, walkers, braces,
prosthetics and communication devices. Assessments are provided
free of charge.
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Financial Assistance
- Grant
County Social Services - 218-685-8200 - Medical Assistance,
Senior Drug Program, emergency assistance.
- West Central Minnesota Communities
Action, Inc. 320-762-3861 or 1-800-492-4805 - Fuel assistance,
home weatherization, grab bars, etc. for home. www.wcmca.org
- Salvation Army - Connie Bye
or Robbie Stier, 218-685-4486 - Emergency food or shelter. Financial
assistance for transitional housing needs.
- Grant County Food Shelf 218-685-4176
- Open Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9 –11.
- Health Insurance Counseling
- Deb Shea, 320-762-3876 - Free assistance with understanding,
interpreting and sorting out Medicare papers, insurance billings,
supplemental insurance, retirement planning and medication
cost management.
- Pension Rights Project 1-800-365-8765
- A project of the MN Senior Federation which will research
and recover pensions lost due to mergers, sales of companies,
etc. Also offer counseling/choices.
- Veterans Service Office
218-685-4801 - Financial assistance for qualifying veterans
for education,
durable medical equipment, medications, transportation, funeral
expenses, nursing home/assisted living expenses, as well
as
compensation and pension benefits. ()
- AARP Tax Assistance Program
218-685-8200 - Helps seniors in filling out tax forms.
- Senior
Drug Program Grant County Social Services 218-685-8200
- Qualifying seniors pay first $35 per month of their
prescription
costs and program pays the rest.
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Home Health Providers/ Homemaking/Housekeeping
Services
Grant County Public Health
218-685-5301 - Will provide a listing (including brochures of
services provided) of home health providers, homemaking and housekeeping
agencies that will provide services in Grant County.
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Home Improvement
- Grant
County Housing and Redevelopment Authority 218-685-4494
- Information and Referral, periodic grants available for home
improvement.
- West Central MN Communities
Action 218-685-4486 or 1-800-492-4805 - Financial help to improve
or maintain independent living environment with grab bars, bathroom
fixtures, weatherization and ramps. www.wcmca.org
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Hospice
Grant
County Public Health 218-685-5301 - Special care for dying
persons and their families that treat physical, emotional and
spiritual needs.
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Housing
- Grant
County Housing and Redevelopment Authority 218-685-4494
- Assists with housing concerns and issues for all ages. Has
information on housing options in Grant County, either age specific
or otherwise.
- Nursing Homes
- Pelican Lake Health Care
Center, 305 Melby Ave. Ashby MN 56309 - 218-747-2224
- Barrett Care Center,
RR1 PO Box 78 ½ , Barrett MN 56311 - 320-528-2527
- Hoffman Good Samaritan
Center, Box 337, Hoffman MN 56339 - 320-986-2048
- http://www.medicare.gov/Nhcompare/home.asp
- A Medicare web-based product that provides a place where
families can look at and compare information about nursing facilities.
- Assisted
Living Facilities
- Barrett Assisted Living,
800 Spruce Avenue, Barrett MN 56311 (320-528-2527) Round
the clock services provided for residents.
- Vart Hjem Apartments,
Elbow Lake, MN, 56531 (218-685-4494) - Intermittent services
provided through Public Health or by private providers.
LINK TO HRA WHEN READY
- Pullman House, Herman
MN 56248 (218-685-4494) - Intermittent services provided
through Public Health or by private providers. LINK TO HRA
WHEN READY
- Northstar Manor, Hoffman,
MN (218-685-4494) - Intermittent services provided through
Public Health or by private providers. LINK TO HRA WHEN
READY
- Homes Plus (Adult Foster
Care) Provided in a home setting.
- JoHanna House, Gerald
& Joy Synstelien, Box 169, Ashby MN 56209 (218-747-2266)
- Doug and Donna Stevens,
RR1 Box 114, Barrett MN 56311 (320-986-2953)
- Steven & Roberta
Johnson, RR1Box 58, Barrett MN 56311 (320-986-2018)
- David & Shirley Hayer,
PO Box 465, Hoffman MN 56339 (320-986-2003)
- Senior
Apartments
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Legal
- Legal Services of Northwest
Minnesota 320-762-0663 or 1-800-450-2552 - Provides legal services
to the elderly.
- Disability Law Center 1-800-292-4150
or 612-332-4668 TDD - Provides legal services for the disabled
regarding employment, education and housing. Free, no income
guidelines.
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Mental Health
- Grant
County Social Services 1-218-685-8200 - Offers a wide
range of mental health services for individuals.
- Bridgeway Care Unit, Lake
Region Healthcare Corporation 218-736-8208 - Older adult psychiatric
evaluation and hospitalization.
- Compulsive Gambling Hotline
1-800-247-1303 - For help and referral for those who are addicted
to gambling. For additional information contact www.miph.org/gambling.
- Lakeview Chemical Dependency
320-762-8135 - Outpatient care and support for persons and families
suffering from chemical dependency of all types.
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Nutrition
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Senior Citizens Centers
There are 5 active Senior Citizens
Groups in Grant County. They are located in Ashby, Barrett, Elbow
Lake Hoffman and Norcross. The centers provide opportunities for
social and recreational activities. Each club has representatives
serving on the Grant County Committee on Aging Board. Club members
serve as outreach spokesmen for the GCCA Board.
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Social Security
- Social Security Administration
320-762-2454 or 1-800-772-1213 1130 Broadway, Alexandria MN
- www.socialsecurity.gov
- Information about virtually any Social Security topic.
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Support Groups
- Alcoholics Anonymous/Al-Anon
- Jeanne Stamness – 1-320-965-2336/ Joe Montonye –1-320-528-2253
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(Lou Gehrig’s Disease) Call A.L.S. Association for nearest
location, toll free 1-888-672-0484, or E-mail alsa-mn@mtn.org.
- Alzheimer and related Dementia
- Alzheimer’s Association, Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter -
210 North Cascade, Fergus Falls - 218-739-2760 or call the help
line at 1-800-232-0851
- Pelican Lake Health Care
Center - Ashby, MN. - Alzheimer’s residential care facility
- 1-218-747-2224
- Arthritis
Support Groups: info.mn@arthritis.org
- Information and resources
- Bi-Polar Support Group Garfield,
MN 56332 (320-834-3192)
- Brain Injury Association
of Minnesota 1-800-669-6442
- Cancer Support Groups
- Marilyn
Pattison, 218-685-6868
- Cancer – I Can
Cope - Betty Roman 320-762-1511 - Series of 8 cancer education
classes offered 2-3 times per year.
- Reach
to Recovery - 218-685-6868 - Support program for breast
cancer patients.
- American
Cancer Society - 1-800-227-2345 - Information and resources.
- Cardiac Support Group:
American
Heart Assn, 220 W. Washington, Fergus Falls, MN 218-739-3320
- Caregiver Support Group Mary
Kaiser, LSS, 320-589-2921 - County Wide Group meets monthly
at Eleah Medical Center in Elbow Lake.
- Crohns & Colitis Support
Groups
- Joli Gilbertson, 651-698-9626. Crohn’s & Colitis
Foundation of America - www.ccfa.org
- Depression Support Group
- Eleah Medical Center, Elbow Lake 218-685-4461
- Diabetic Support Group -
Eleah Medical Center, Elbow Lake 218-685-4461
- Domestic Violence (Survivors)
Listening Ear Crisis Center 1-800-854-9001
- Epilepsy Support Group
- Sauk Center - 1-800-676-9254. American Epilepsy Society -
Info@aesnet.org -Information
and resources.
- Families Anonymous Roger
or Betty 320-762-0172 - For relatives or friends concerned about
a loved one who is using substances.
- Fibromyalgia and Chronic
Fatigue Support Group Eleah Medical Center, Elbow Lake 218-685-4461
- Gambling Anonymous DuWayne
218-736-3932 - A support and recovery group for people who abuse
gambling.
- Lupus
Support Group: Georgette Vickstrom, Alexandria - 320-762-1879.Lupus
Foundation of America - www.lupus.org
- Information and resources.
- Mental Illness Support Group
(REACH) Darlene Ernst 320-846-4522 - A support group for families
with mental illness.
- Vikingland Community Support
Program 320-763-6261 – A support group and center in downtown
Alexandria for the mentally ill re-entering the community.
- Multiple Sclerosis Support
Group :
Cherrie Piekarski, Alexandria - 320-762-1879. National
Multiple Sclerosis Society MN Chapter - http://mnms.org/
Information & resources.
- Muscular Dystrophy Association
952-832-5517 (Twin Cities Office or 701-235-1988 (Fargo Office)
for support group information and financial assistance for wheel
chairs.
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
Dave B. 320-762-3981
- Parkinson’s Disease
Support Group:
Ann Hanson, Alexandria - 320-763-9520. Pearl Riser/Pat Johnson,
Fergus Falls - 218-739-2528. Parkinson’s Assn. - 1-800-457-6676
- Sexual Assault (survivors)
Listening Ear Crisis Center 1-800-854-9001
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Telephone Reassurance
- Telephone Reassurance Program
218-685-8200 - A volunteer calls each day at an agreed upon
time to provide security and reassurance to seniors living
alone.
- Care-Call Units - A 24 hour
a day emergency response system for your home for medical
emergencies. (List of available contacts for service will
be provided by Grant County Social Services - 218-685-8200).
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Transportation
- ALPHA
Transit (Grant County Transportation Program) Public Transportation
system providing bus service or volunteer driver service for
all citizens of Grant County.
- Air Transportation Alexandria
Municipal Airport - 320-762-2111 - Small jet and airplane rental,
and/or services with pilot.
- Veteran’s Van 320-763-3883
- Leaves from Alexandria. For medical appointments only. Travels
to St. Cloud and the Twin Cities on odd numbered days and to
Fargo on even numbered days. Veterans have first priority. Small
fee for non-veterans.
- Greyhound Bus Line 1-800-231-2222
- Discounted fares for people 65+.
- Specialized Transportation
Medi-Van (1-800-422-0976) or People’s Express (1-800-450-0123)
Specialized transportation for ambulatory, wheelchair and stretcher
needs.
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55 Alive Defensive Driving Course
The Grant County Committee
on Aging and local senior centers sponsor the defensive driving
course
designed by AARP. The State of Minnesota provides that a person
participating in an initial eight hour course and a four hour
refresher course every three years thereafter is entitled to
a
10% discount on his/her automobile insurance. Persons wishing
to take the course can register by calling Grant County Social
Services at 218-685-8200.
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Volunteer Opportunities
Retired Seniors Volunteer Program
218-685-4486 - Get credit, insurance and recognition for volunteer
work. Unlimited opportunities for volunteering. www.wcmca.org
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Veterans Service Officer
Located in the University of
Minnesota Extension-Grant County Office, 411 First St SE, Elbow
Lake, 218-685-4801. Office Hours: By Appointment
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