Whether you are a senior or a caring family member, investigating and choosing among the wide range of options available to assist seniors with their special needs and concerns can feel overwhelming.

But if you live in Orlando, you have a calm and caring friend who's just a phone call or an email away, ready to give you advice that's based on years of experience and a deep knowledge of issues affecting seniors: the Orlando Senior Help Desk. Staff members are available to help guide you through almost any challenge a senior might be facing, offering information and referrals with empathy and compassion-at no cost to you.

The Orlando Senior Help Desk is a service of the Jewish Pavilion, which has been serving Orlando seniors since 2000 and has garnered a wealth of information on local service providers and facilities. Seniors of all faiths and their family members are welcome to call or email for free advice. The Help Desk was initiated six years ago when frequent questions to Jewish Pavilion staff made clear the need for a community resource that people could count on for answers.

Since that time, the Orlando Senior Help Desk has given referrals and answered questions pertaining to senior services, senior living options, home health services, elder law, hospice, adult day care and more. Common concerns for callers include the following:

• How to know when it's time for eldercare

• Selecting an assisted living or skilled nursing facility

• Medicaid planning and other health insurance issues

• Assessing potential eligibility for federal veterans benefits

• Finding the right physician or eldercare attorney

• Choosing among home health care or companion options

• Planning coverage for long-term care

Often, people call at a time of crisis. "Frequently, we have people call who are very upset or worried because they thought everything was okay and then the senior had a sudden setback that changed everything," said Nancy Ludin, CEO of Jewish Pavilion and Orlando Senior Help Desk. "Our staff is very patient and experienced in being good listeners and in talking our callers through problems to help them find a solution that best fits their situation. In many cases, we've been able point them toward good options that probably never would have occurred to them otherwise."

The Orlando Senior Help Desk is supported by the generous donations of sponsors and individuals. For more information about Orlando Senior Help Desk, including a number of short articles on common issues affecting seniors, visit http://www.OrlandoSeniorHelpDesk.org. To ask a question or get a referral, call 407-678-9363 or email info@orlandoseniorhelpdesk.org.