What you can and cannot do because of the government shutdown

The government officially shut down at midnight Oct. 1. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers were furloughed, and some of the D.C.-based services tourists and locals alike rely on will be closed. With the country reeling from such news, it's good to know exactly what will change and what will not. A-1 Home Care provides a helpful guide for Marina Del Ray elders and adults who seek clarity on this issue:

During a shutdown, you can:

Get help from 911: All emergency services will continue as usual, including law enforcement and emergency and disaster assistance.

Get mail: Employees of the United States Postal Service are exempt from furloughs.

Get your Social Security benefits: Payments will continue to be issued, and the Social Security Administration says they do not expect delays in payments.

Apply for new Social Security and Medicare benefits: Local offices are open and processing

Visit a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital

Get veterans' disability payments and pension benefits

...and you cannot:

Visit the Capitol: While the Capitol remains open for congressional matters, it is closed to visitors.

Get a new small business loan: Existing loans are honored, but new applications will not be accepted.

Go to the Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art or the National Zoo

Camp in a national park: All national parks -- from Yosemite to Shenandoah National Park -- are closed. (Long-term campers already in parks were given two days to leave.)

Visit a Civil War Battlefield: Like national parks, historic battlefields are closed.

A-1 Home Care provides in home care in the city of Marina Del Rey. We are glad to provide clarifying answers about the government shutdown as if pertains to our elderly clients. We are an A+ rated agency with the BBB and have been practicing for over 20 years. 

Call 310-657-8780 today or visit http://marinadelreyinhomecare.com/ for more information.