New Orleans Senior AdvisorHow can I help a parent in New Orleans if I live in another state?
Build a local team and a paper trail: identify a neighbor, friend or relative who can check in, get your parent's permission to talk with doctors and providers, put Louisiana powers of attorney in place, and keep one shared list of medications, appointments and contacts.
Plan visits around decisions rather than emergencies when you can. A visit to tour two ARCPs and meet a home care agency does more than three rushed trips after falls. Many families also hire a local geriatric care manager for assessments and follow-up.
Who can check on a parent in New Orleans locally?
Your parent's parish council on aging can tell you about services in the area, from home-delivered meals to homemaker help and senior centers, and its information and assistance staff can explain what exists in your parent's neighborhood.
| Parish | Agency | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orleans | New Orleans Council on Aging | (504) 821-4121 | 2475 Canal St., Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70119 |
| Jefferson | Jefferson Council on Aging | (504) 888-5880 | 6620 Riverside Dr., Suite 216, Metairie, LA 70003 |
| St. Tammany | St. Tammany Council on Aging | (985) 892-0377 | 72060 Ramos Dr., Covington, LA 70433 |
| St. Bernard | St. Bernard Council on Aging | (504) 278-7335 | 8201-A West Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043 |
| Plaquemines | Plaquemines Council on Aging | (504) 934-3695 | 278 Civic Dr., Port Sulphur, LA 70083 |
| St. Charles | St. Charles Council on Aging | (985) 783-6685 | 282 Judge Edward Dufresne Pkwy., Luling, LA 70070 |
If you suspect your parent is being neglected or exploited, call Elderly Protective Services at 1-833-577-6532; you do not have to live in Louisiana to report.
How do I check a care provider in New Orleans from out of town?
Use the state's own data: LDH's Licensed Providers Report and directory for ARCP license status, level and capacity, and CMS Care Compare for nursing home inspections and ratings; then ask the provider to email you its posted statement of deficiencies.
Our directory combines those sources for the six parishes. A video tour helps, but ask for a live walk-through rather than a marketing video.
What happens during hurricane season if I am far away?
Agree on the evacuation plan before June: who drives, where your parent goes, what triggers leaving, and how everyone stays in touch if cell service fails; if your parent is in an ARCP or nursing home, get the provider's host site and notification process in writing.
See hurricane evacuation planning. Out-of-town family is often the destination; plan for your parent staying with you for a week or more.
Should a parent move closer to me instead?
Sometimes, but weigh what your parent would lose, such as friends, church, doctors and familiar streets, against the help you could give in person, and check the rules and costs in your state, which can differ sharply from Louisiana's.
Medicaid eligibility does not transfer automatically between states. If a move is likely, plan it before a crisis so your parent can settle in while able to.
Sources include LAC 48:I.Chapter 68 (adult residential care providers), the Louisiana Department of Health's Health Standards Section and Office of Aging and Adult Services pages, the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
