Iowa ADRC, LifeLong Links, and 211 Resource Navigation

What it offers

Iowa Health and Human Services describes the Aging and Disability Resource Center network as a No Wrong Door system that helps older adults and people with disabilities in Iowa find services and supports. The network includes Disability Access Points and Area Agencies on Aging. DAPs help people with disabilities, families, and caregivers through information, planning, referrals, and follow-up. AAAs help people over 60, caregivers, and adults over 18 with disabilities learn about services and support options and provide meals, counseling, in-home supports, and community programs. LifeLong Links is Iowa's searchable database for aging-related and disability-related home and community-based services. 211 Iowa is a free comprehensive information and referral system for food, shelter, utility assistance, health and human service programs, community services, disaster services, and government programs.

Questions that decide eligibility

GiveCare prepares the questions; the program makes the decision. Bring these to the call or the application:

1. 01

   Does the person receiving care live in Iowa?

   Residency is usually the first thing a program checks.

2. 02

   Does your relationship to the person — spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, other relative, or non relative — count for this program?

3. 03

   Does the VA disability rating meet the program’s minimum (our record lists null%)?

4. 04

   Do the work hours meet the minimum (our record lists null hours)?

5. 05

   Is there a caregiver-specific department, coordinator, or support line? Ask for it by name.

   Many agencies have one that isn’t advertised on the website.

6. 06

   What documents do you need from us to start an application?

7. 07

   Is there a waitlist right now, and how long is it?