During the 20th century, the number of persons in the United States under age 65 has tripled. At the same time, the number aged 65 or over has jumped by a factor of 11. Consequently, the elderly, who comprised only 1 in every 25 Americans in 1900, made up 1 in 8 in 1994. Within the City of St. Louis, the ratio is even higher. According to the St. Louis Department of Human Services, seniors over the age of 60 represent 21 percent of the City’s population, more than 1 in every 5 people.

The primary services currently available are broken into four categories: Community Services, In-home Services, Alternative Living, and Financial Assistance.

Community Services are those available on a community level to help older persons live independently. Examples include the following:

Transportation

• Senior Centers
• Adult Day Care
• Legal Assistance
• Support Groups
• Information and Referral
• Health Care Services
• Case Management/Care Coordination

In-home Services include the following:

• Personal care such as assistance with bathing
• Companionship programs
• Home health care services
• In-home respite care
• Emergency response systems
• Homemaker/chore services
• Home-delivered meals

Alternative living includes:

• Private developments
• Assisted housing (Section 8 and public housing)
• Nursing care facilities
• Residential care facilities
• Resident’s rights and ombudsman Services

Financial Assistance includes:

• Food Stamps
• Supplemental Security Income
• Medicaid
• Senior Discount Card program
• Employment Programs
• Energy Assistance
• Weatherization programs
• Senior Citizen Property Tax and rent credit