ORLANDO, Fla. — The organization’s Elder Helpline received more than 40,000 calls through August, including 6,000 in Spanish, as demand for basic needs assistance grows.
As more seniors face the risk of losing their homes, finding help before a crisis hits can make all the difference.
However, for Spanish-speaking older adults and their families, navigating available services can present another challenge: finding support in a language they understand.
At Senior Resource Alliance, staff members are working to connect Central Florida seniors with resources for housing, food, utilities and other essential needs, while expanding access to services for Spanish-speaking residents.
“The basic needs, so housing, utility assistance, shelter. They are also calling for food assistance,” said Yesenia Jarquin of Senior Resource Alliance.
The organization’s Elder Helpline received more than 40,000 calls through August this year, putting it on pace for an increase over last year. Of those calls, about 6,000 were in Spanish.
For many callers, reaching the helpline is the first step toward finding assistance.
Bilingual staff members like Jarquin help families understand their options, connect with additional resources and identify language needs.
When necessary, staff can also arrange translation services to help seniors navigate the next steps.
Jarquin said some callers are surprised to learn that help is available.
“They’re saying, ‘I didn’t even know this existed until the need became apparent,’” Jarquin said.
That need can extend beyond housing and financial assistance.
Families are also looking for services they can access and understand in their preferred language, making language support an important part of connecting seniors with care.
Jarquin also screens Spanish-speaking seniors for in-home assistance, asking about their individual needs and where they may require additional support.
She said the demand for these screenings has grown. Last month alone, Jarquin completed 64 screenings, each lasting upwards of an hour.
“I can tell you how many I took last month, which was 64,” Jarquin said.
The screenings give staff an opportunity to better understand each senior’s circumstances and help determine what assistance may be needed.
Senior Resource Alliance is also expanding its Spanish-language outreach through educational workshops focused on topics including fall prevention and chronic disease management.
The organization hosted 50 workshops last year, with nearly 900 seniors attending.
For Jarquin, helping older adults and their families find the resources they need is a meaningful part of the work.
“To be able to offer that assistance is truly rewarding,” she said.
As demand for senior services grows across Central Florida, Senior Resource Alliance says it is working to ensure Spanish-speaking seniors can access support, understand their options and find help before their needs become more urgent.
Senior Resource Alliance’s Elder Helpline is available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Seniors and their families can call to learn about available resources and get connected with services that may meet their needs.
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