Poison control: (800) 222-1222. Available 24 hours a day for questions and emergencies.

St. Joseph Hospital: 3201 Ellis St., 734-5400, www.peacehealth.org. Hospital, health information and wellness programs, cardiovascular center, rehabilitation.

Whatcom Alliance for Healthcare Access: 788-6594, www.whatcomalliance.org. Provides help finding health insurance and primary care physicians.

Whatcom County Health Department: 676-6724, www.co.whatcom.wa.us/health. Major service areas: administration, community health, children with special health-care needs, maternal/child, nutrition, communicable disease, oral health, environmental health, human services, alcohol/tobacco and other drugs, developmental disabilities, housing, mental health, victim impact panel, vital records.

Whatcom County Medical Society: 676-7630, www.whatcom-medical.org. Assists in finding a doctor.

Whatcom Health magazine: A publication of The Bellingham Herald. Annual medical and health care guide with informative articles and resource directories.

SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION

Northwest Regional Council, 676-6749, 738-4554 or (800) 860-6812, www.nwrcwa.org.

Medical Assistance Administration (MAA) transportation program provides medical services and nonambulance transportation to people eligible for Medicaid.

Whatcom Transportation Authority, 733-1144, www.ridewta.com. Call WTA for information on the Specialized Transportation Program and Safety Net Service.

ADULT DAY PROGRAMS

Programs offer supervised social, educational and recreational activities.

Marianne's House, Community Baptist Church, 810 S. Samish Way, 756-5232, www.marianneshouse.org. Offers recreation, pre-vocational and social activities for adults with developmental disabilities or peers facing similar challenges or circumstances. Clients must be pre-enrolled.

St. Joseph Hospital Adult Day Health Services, 809 E. Chestnut St., 715-6410, www.peacehealth.org\adultdayservices. Offers health-care support, rehabilitation and activities. Specialized dementia program. Respite for caregivers. Information meetings from noon to 1 p.m. third Wednesday of each month.

Washington Adult Day Services Association, (888) 609-2372, www.adultday.org. Learn about Adult Day Services and locate a center.

IN-HOME SERVICES

Apria Healthcare, 738-8300, www.apria.com. Comprehensive in-home services include home infusion, respiratory therapy and medical equipment sales, service and supplies.

Caregiver Network, (360) 724-4456, www.caregiver-network.com. Team of in-home caregivers dedicated to professional standards offers hourly or 24-hour care. Housekeeping, meals, assisted- or full-care personal services including dispensing medications, and hospice care.

Catholic Community Services, 738-6163, www.ccsww.org. Nonmedical in-home care for disabled and elderly. Housekeeping, personal care, transfers, supervision, live-in care, respite.

Home Attendant Care, 734-3849, www.homeattendantcare.com. Hourly or 24-hour care service offers assistance with personal hygiene, transfers, transportation, housekeeping, dementia care and safety supervision.

Option Care, 733-7799, www.optioncare.com.

Home Health: Medicare/Medicaid-certified home health-care agency offering physical, occupational and speech therapy, medical social workers, home health aides. Specializing in wound care, perinatal/postpartum, disease state management and patient-centered outcomes.

Home Infusion: specializing in infusion services in your home and in ambulatory treatment centers. Innovative disease state management, anti-infectives, enteral and parenteral nutrition, chemotherapy, pain management, anti-emetics and hydration, specialized parenteral therapies and nebulized medications.

Signature Home Health, 671-5872. Skilled nursing and therapy services.

Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services, 671-8388, www.visitingangelswa.com. Meal preparation, light household chores, personal care, dementia care, post-operative and respite care.

Visiting Nurse Home Care, 734-9662, www.vnaa.org. H.E.L.P. to stay at home with housekeeping, errands, licensed nursing and personal care, and more. Nonprofit licensed agency with 20 years experience tailors services to meet medical or nonmedical needs.

INFORMATION SERVICES

Adult Family/Nursing Home Complaint Hotline, report abuse at a facility, (800) 562-6078.

Adult Protective Services, reporting abuse at home, (800) 487-0416.

Alzheimer Society of Washington, 671-3316 or (800) 493-3959, www.alzsociety.org. Provides support, knowledge and resources for people and families affected by Alzheimer's and other dementing illnesses.

American Legion Veterans Services, 734-3110.

Care Crisis Response Services, (800) 584-3578. Mental-health crisis line provides suicide prevention and resource referral.

Department of Social & Health Services, Home and Community Services, (800) 735-7040, www1.dshs.wa.gov. Food stamps, basic food program, Medicaid and other services.

Department of Veterans Affairs, 733-9226.

Health Support Center, 733-6714. www.healthsupportcenter.org. Center hosts self-help, support and advocacy groups who serve people with health impairments or disabilities and/or their caregivers.

Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center, 647-0910, 647-8508, TTY or video phone, www.hsdc.org. Nonprofit agency provides a full range of hearing screenings and resources for the deaf, hard-of-hearing and deaf-blind communities.

Home Rehabilitation Program, 778-8300. Provides project and needs analysis, bid assistance, deferred payment and subsidized loan program. Provided by the Bellingham Community Development Division.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman, 676-6687 or (800) 562-6028, www.nwrcwa.org. Protects and promotes the rights of residents in long-term care facilities.

Opportunity Council Community Resource Center, 734-5121, www.oppco.org. Energy and home-repair programs plus information and resources for local community services.

Social Security Administration, Bellingham office, 738-3952, www.ssa.gov.

Washington state Home and Community Services, 756-5750. www.aasa.dshs.wa.gov. Personal care or protective services for adults.