How do I find and access senior services?

Area Agency on Aging (AAA) - regional level / Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services - DHSS, Division of Senior and Disability Services (state level) / County elder services

Details

What you need to know

Fee

Most services free or on sliding scale ONLINE OPTION: Yes - health.mo.gov/seniors; dss.mo.gov; 211missouri.org WHERE TO GO: Your regional AAA; local senior center; 2-1-1 Missouri; DHSS local office

Online Option

Yes - health.mo.gov/seniors; dss.mo.gov; 211missouri.org

Where to Go

Your regional AAA; local senior center; 2-1-1 Missouri; DHSS local office

County-specific variations apply

Missouri's 10 AAAs serve different geographic regions. St. Louis metro area (St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County), Kansas City metro area (Jackson County, Clay County, Platte County), Springfield (Greene County), and Columbia (Boone County) have the most extensive local senior services. Rural Ozarks, Bootheel, and northern Missouri counties may have more limited local infrastructure. Contact your specific regional AAA for local program enrollment.

Missouri Notes

Important state-specific details

CLAIM (Community Leaders and Advocates for Insurance and Medicare): Missouri's SHIP program - free, unbiased Medicare counseling statewide through AAAs and local partners; call 1-800-390-3330 or contact your regional AAA.
MO HEALTHNET AGED & DISABLED WAIVER: Missouri's primary Medicaid HCBS waiver - provides home-based services for qualifying seniors and disabled individuals instead of nursing facility placement; apply through MO HealthNet at (800) 392-2161.
PROPERTY TAX CREDIT (CIRCUIT BREAKER): Missouri income-based property tax credit for seniors 65+ and 100% disabled homeowners and renters - file Form MO-PTC with state income tax return or as standalone; significant tax relief.
Adult Protective Services (APS): report elder abuse through DHSS APS - (800) 392-0210 (APS 24-hour hotline).
Legal Aid of Western Missouri: (800) 892-0057; Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: (314) 534-4200.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Missouri DHSS, Division of Senior and Disability Services - health.mo.gov/seniors | 1-800-235-5503; CLAIM Medicare counseling: (800) 390-3330; APS: (800) 392-0210; 2-1-1 Missouri: dial 211