Living with chronic illnesses can be overwhelming for low-income seniors, who often struggle to afford treatments, medication, and necessary support services. The following nonprofit organizations focus on specific diseases and conditions, offering healthcare access, financial aid, education, advocacy, and direct services to older adults facing serious health challenges.
Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. They offer helplines, local resources, educational programs, and advocacy efforts to ensure seniors living with dementia receive affordable, accessible care, regardless of their financial situation.
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society provides a wide range of support services, transportation to treatment, lodging assistance, and education for individuals battling cancer, with many programs designed to assist low-income seniors in accessing affordable cancer care.
American Diabetes Association
The ADA offers education, advocacy, and support for people living with diabetes, focusing heavily on underserved populations. They provide resources to help low-income seniors manage their diabetes affordably and advocate for equitable access to care and supplies.
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association funds research, promotes healthy living programs, and provides educational resources to prevent and treat heart disease and stroke, focusing efforts on improving healthcare equity for low-income communities, including senior populations.
American Kidney Fund
AKF provides financial assistance to help low-income patients afford dialysis and other life-saving treatments for kidney disease. They also offer free health screenings, prevention education, and patient support programs aimed at improving senior kidney health.
American Lung Association
The American Lung Association works to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy, and research. They offer smoking cessation support and disease management programs accessible to low-income seniors.
Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation helps individuals manage arthritis through community-based programs, education, and advocacy. They prioritize improving access to treatments and therapies for low-income seniors who are disproportionately impacted by joint diseases.
CancerCare
CancerCare provides free, professional support services including counseling, financial assistance, case management, and educational workshops for people affected by cancer. They focus particularly on helping low-income seniors navigate the financial burdens of cancer treatment.
Caring Ambassadors Program
This organization empowers individuals with chronic illnesses, including hepatitis C, HIV, and lung cancer, to become active participants in their healthcare, offering free education and support resources tailored to underserved and vulnerable populations.
Chronic Disease Coalition
The Chronic Disease Coalition advocates for the rights of individuals with chronic conditions. They work to eliminate discrimination and barriers to care, with a focus on supporting low-income patients, including many older adults, in accessing necessary healthcare.
Colon Cancer Coalition
The Colon Cancer Coalition promotes prevention, screening, and patient support. Their financial assistance programs help low-income individuals, including seniors, afford colonoscopies, diagnostic testing, and post-diagnosis support services critical for managing colorectal cancer.
COPD Foundation
The COPD Foundation works to improve the lives of people affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through research, education, and support services. They advocate for affordable treatment access, especially for seniors living on limited incomes.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation supports research, advocacy, and specialized care for individuals with cystic fibrosis. Though CF is rarer among seniors, the organization offers case management and support for older adults diagnosed later in life.
Dementia Society of America
The Dementia Society of America provides non-medical services, educational programs, and local resources to individuals and families impacted by dementia. They offer free nationwide resources, particularly supporting underserved and low-income seniors facing cognitive decline.
Epilepsy Foundation
The Epilepsy Foundation provides public education, advocacy, and support services for individuals affected by epilepsy and seizures. They help low-income seniors access affordable care, medications, and community services for managing epilepsy and seizure disorders.
Glaucoma Research Foundation
The Glaucoma Research Foundation funds research and offers education on early detection and treatment of glaucoma. Their community outreach and free resources help low-income seniors protect their vision and manage eye health affordably.
Hearing Loss Association of America
HLAA provides advocacy, education, and support for individuals with hearing loss. They promote accessibility initiatives and affordable hearing solutions, addressing the significant hearing health disparities experienced by low-income older adults.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The LLS funds blood cancer research, patient support, and financial aid programs. Their Co-Pay Assistance Program specifically helps low-income patients, including seniors, afford life-saving treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
Lupus Foundation of America
The Lupus Foundation of America provides education, support services, and research funding for people affected by lupus, focusing on empowering low-income and minority seniors to access equitable care and disease management services.
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
This foundation funds research and provides patient education resources for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. They offer guidance on affordable treatment access and advocate for policies that benefit low-income seniors managing neurological disorders.
Multiple Sclerosis Association of America
MSAA offers free programs and services including mobility equipment, educational resources, and cooling products for individuals with MS, with special assistance available for low-income seniors to help manage daily life with the disease.
Muscular Dystrophy Association
The MDA funds research, care centers, and support programs for individuals with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related diseases. Their initiatives include financial support services aimed at ensuring affordable care access for low-income patients, including older adults.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI provides education, advocacy, and support for individuals affected by mental illness. Their free resources, support groups, and programs help low-income seniors access mental healthcare and fight stigma surrounding aging and mental health.
National Breast Cancer Foundation
The NBCF provides education, early detection services, and patient support for those diagnosed with breast cancer. Their outreach focuses on underserved and low-income communities, ensuring seniors can access screenings and care.
National Eye Institute
Part of the NIH, the National Eye Institute conducts research and public education on vision and eye diseases. Their outreach programs include affordable vision screening and health education targeting older, low-income populations.
National Kidney Foundation
The NKF offers patient education, support services, and public advocacy to fight kidney disease. They help low-income seniors access transplant support, dialysis services, and financial assistance programs for managing chronic kidney conditions.
National Osteoporosis Foundation (Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation)
This organization promotes bone health and works to prevent osteoporosis. They provide public education and advocate for affordable screenings and treatments, particularly important for low-income seniors at high risk of fractures.
National Stroke Association (now part of American Stroke Association)
Now part of the American Stroke Association, this program supports stroke survivors through recovery resources, education, and advocacy. They promote access to rehabilitation services for low-income seniors affected by stroke.
Parkinson’s Foundation
The Parkinson’s Foundation provides education, research funding, and community grants to support people living with Parkinson’s disease. Their outreach programs help low-income seniors access specialized care, medications, and local support services.
Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation offers disease education, support services, and financial assistance to those living with pulmonary fibrosis, with many initiatives aimed at helping underserved and low-income senior populations access treatments.