Where should a Birmingham family start when something changes?
Start with the event: a hospital discharge, a new diagnosis, a fall, a discharge notice from a facility, an exhausted caregiver or dwindling savings each have different first steps and different people to call.
Each guide below lists the questions to ask, the Alabama rule that applies and the local agency that can help.
Who can help in a crisis?
Call 911 for emergencies and DHR's Adult Abuse Hotline at 1-800-458-7214 for suspected abuse or neglect; for everything else, the area agency on aging at 1-800-AGE-LINE is a free first call.
| Area agency on aging | Counties (of our seven) | Main phone | Toll-free / ADRC |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Way Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County (UWAAA) | Jefferson | (205) 458-3330 | 1-800-AGE-LINE (1-800-243-5463) |
| Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging (M4A) | Shelby, St. Clair, Blount, Walker, Chilton | 205-670-5770 | 1-866-570-2998 |
| West Alabama Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging (WARC) | Bibb | 205-333-2990 | 1-800-432-5030 |
Situations guides
When a parent is being discharged from a Birmingham hospital
A step-by-step plan for families facing a hospital discharge at UAB, Grandview, Brookwood, St. Vincent's or another Birmingham-area hospital: Medicare rehab, assisted living and home health.
Read →When a parent can't live alone anymore
Signs an aging parent can no longer live alone, how Birmingham families decide between home care, assisted living and memory care, and who can help assess needs.
Read →After a dementia diagnosis
What to do in the months after an Alzheimer's or dementia diagnosis in the Birmingham area: legal documents, safety, care options and when Alabama memory care (SCALF) fits.
Read →When a parent with dementia starts wandering
Why wandering changes the care options in Alabama: regular ALFs may not restrict exits, SCALFs may. Safety steps at home and what to look for in memory care.
Read →When the money is running out
What Birmingham families can do when savings for assisted living or memory care are running low: Medicaid, VA pension, waivers, and planning the next move.
Read →When the caregiver is running on empty
Signs of caregiver burnout and the respite, adult day, Alabama CARES, Medicaid waiver and short-stay options available to family caregivers around Birmingham.
Read →Moving a parent to the Birmingham area
What adult children need to know when moving a parent from another state to Birmingham-area senior care: Alabama licensing, Medicaid residency, Medicare plans and doctors.
Read →When a facility asks a resident to leave
Why Alabama ALFs and SCALFs discharge residents, what the rules require, how the ombudsman helps, and how Birmingham families find the next placement.
Read →At a glance
| These guides do | These guides do not | |
|---|---|---|
| Steps | Give a practical order of operations | Replace a doctor's or lawyer's advice |
| Rules | Cite the Alabama rule that applies | Decide eligibility for a program |
