In response, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging have launched a campaign, "You Gave, Now Save," to help bridge the gap between the available funding and those who need it the most.

The two groups run Eldercare Locator (www.eldercare.gov), a hotline that connects older Americans to services that can provide help.  

The top reason people call the hotline is to find out if there is any financial support available to them.  

NCOA also runs a benefits screening site called BenefitsCheckup (www.benefitscheckup.org), which helps consumers find lists of government programs and see which ones they qualify for.

Eligible seniors living alone could benefit from an annual $1,428 in food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Others miss out on Supplemental Security Income payments of $6,000 a year.  

Other programs that are also overlooked include:

-Home heating and cooling assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program   

-Free or discounted services from state and local governments and the private sector that provide tax breaks, transportation, respite care, legal assistance, and in-home assistance.