Resources on the Internet
We've selected several Web sites that offer information and assistance for people who are considering moving to an Independent or Assisted Living community. For your convenience, we've included short paragraphs describing what you'll find on each page.
Provides information about resources on the Internet related to aging. It lists and describes Web sites concerned with aging-related issues, including researchers, policy makers, service providers, caregivers and students. It has an alphabetical index and a list of contents where sites are listed by topic.
A section of the AARP Web site which focuses on retirement planning options, financing retirement and other important issues.
An information and referral network designed to communicate information about products and services that are important to enhancing the quality of life of older adults and their families. Topics include: geriatric health, geriatric drugs, legal, insurance, financial, helpful products and caregiver support.
This Web site includes a wealth of information—articles, comprehensive checklists and links to key resources—designed to make it easier for people caring for an aging parent or elderly spouse. It enables them to quickly find the information they need and avoid missing things that are important in the care they provide for their loved one.
The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) is the largest national association exclusively dedicated to professionally-operated assisted living communities for seniors. ALFA's member-driven programs promote business and operational excellence through national conferences, research, publications and executive networks. ALFA works to influence public policy by advocating for informed choice, quality care and accessibility for all Americans seeking assistance with long-term care.
The Alzheimer's Association is a world leader in Alzheimer's research and support. It is the first and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to finding prevention methods, treatments and an eventual cure for Alzheimer's.
The Arthritis Foundation is the only national not-for-profit organization that supports the more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions with advocacy, programs, services and research.
News, articles, product reviews, market trends, plus product and vendor information relating to vision, hearing, mobility, learning and communications is available on this site from a firm called Axistive. The company is the world's leading news portal for assistive technology. In addition to providing free, accessible and objective information on assistive technology products, the company's goal is to stimulate global innovation of easy access technologies.
CarePathways.com was created by RNs to help families find the best care and living arrangements for their aging parents. It offers online access to Inspection Reports of all USA Medicare/Medicaid Nursing Homes and provides evaluations of Assisted Living and other retirement living facilities. The site includes a wealth of useful information to help people make decisions about future living arrangements.
CareScout is a company dedicated to empowering Americans with cost savings and quality of care information on nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health agencies nationwide. Its database of 77,000 eldercare providers nationwide includes quality-of-care information, ratings, comparative data, products, and private-pay discounts on the cost of care.
This site has eight major locations for information related to Medicare and Medicaid services. Key topics include Medicare; Medicaid; the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP); information about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); information on CMS regulations and program guidance; information on CMS research, statistics, data and systems; information on CMS program outreach and education, and tools and resources.
People with Medicare, family members, and caregivers should visit Medicare.gov, the official U.S. government site for people with Medicare, for the latest information on Medicare enrollment, benefits, and other helpful tools.
This is a U.S. government Web site designed for people with disabilities. Called DisabilityInfo.gov, it is part the President's New Freedom initiative that provides one-stop access to information and programs that facilitate day-to-day living. It is a multi-agency initiative with information on civil rights, education, employment, housing and transportation.
This site is operated by ElderCare Advocates, a private agency that works to help older Americans remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible. Its quarterly online newsletter offers advice and information about housing and care giving.
The Eldercare Locator is a national toll-free referral number funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging to assist older people and their families find community services anywhere in the country. Administered by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging in cooperation with the National Association of State Units on Aging, the Eldercare Locator connects callers to the best state and community sources of information and assistance to address the issues, needs, or concerns of elder persons and their caregivers. To get help, call (800) 677-1116 Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (ET). From outside the U.S., dial Sperix at (301) 419-3900.
A Web site for seniors offering information on issues relating to health, aging, social, financial, legal and has some feature stories.
Created by a nationwide network of attorneys, ElderLawAnswers.com provides consumers with clear information on legal issues facing seniors. Consumers may find qualified elder law attorneys by searching by telephone area code. The site offers primers on Medicaid, Medicare, estate planning and long-term care planning. Handy tools include calculators and checklists.
This site offers a database of 24,000 extended care providers and over 9,000 home health care agencies. It is designed to match patient needs with providers or agencies that can accommodate them.
A national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high quality, affordable health and long-term care for all Americans.
FirstGov for Seniors is a comprehensive Web site sponsored by the Social Security Administration that helps users access all government sites that provide services for senior citizens. Users are able to search for programs that meet their needs without knowing which agency, at what level, can deliver the services they seek. With cross-agency participation in the site, a virtual agency has been created to help visitors locate services throughout the federal bureaucracy.
Site provides leading edge information about research on aging, and how society is adjusting or not adjusting to the explosion of an aging population.
This site is a gateway to consumer health and human services information from the U.S. government. It can lead you to publications, clearinghouses, databases, Web sites, and support and self-help groups, as well as government agencies and not-for-profit organizations that produce reliable information for the public.
Helpguide.org is an online resource for seniors searching for information on mental/emotional health, aging well, and eldercare. It is a joint community project of the Rotary Club of Santa Monica and the Center for Healthy Aging. The latter has gained a national reputation for innovative and effective programs and services to assist aging adults and their families with physical, emotional and financial challenges that come with aging.
HMOs4seniors.com
A Web site dedicated to assisting seniors and their caregivers with making informed choices regarding Medicare+Choice options. The site features annual out-of-pocket cost comparisons for over 100 Medicare HMOs in over 50 cities. It also includes a Medicare HMO search by zip code and provides a convenient online form to request detailed information from Medicare HMOs. The site is maintained by HealthMetrix Research, Inc., as a free service to the public and the media.
The International Council on Aging is dedicated to changing the way people age by uniting and working with professionals in the retirement, assisted living, fitness, rehabilitation, and wellness fields. Its primary focus is on changing society's perceptions of aging and improving the quality of life for aging baby boomers and older adults with the six dimensions of wellness. It publishes The Journal on Active Aging, a bimonthly magazine, a weekly newsletter, ICAA In the News, and operates a Web site with helpful research, information and tools.
This is a PBS television series that focuses on particular life issues, from housing to retirement to driving, and features interviews with everyday seniors about choices they have made in setting the direction of their own lives. There are 13 half-hour programs in the series which are available on VHS videotape or DVD. For a short description of each segment and ordering information, go to: http:/ww.wmht.org/itsanagething.org/series. The program was first broadcast in June 2003 and PBS stations have the right to carry it through June 2006.
This site is billed as the place to come for direction and information about retirement planning. It has information about IRAs, pensions, insurance, Social Security, and a particularly useful news archives section.
A comprehensive, non-commercial site about long-term care insurance. It contains detailed links to hundreds of other informational sites and links to LTC news announcements.
This site provides an unbiased information source for long-term care insurance. Its goal is to be a guide to consumers through the complex levels of information about LTC insurance. The site has articles about LTC insurance and those who request a quote will be contacted by an agent who will help them understand the options available.
This is the official U.S. Government site for people with Medicare. It is loaded with links and search tools to help you find important information. Topics include the prescription drug plan, Medicare billing, Medicare appeals, long-term care, plan choices, preventive services, enrollment information, and the ombudsman center. It also includes tools enabling you to compare Medicare prescription drug plans, hospitals in your area, health plans and Medigap policies, nursing homes and much more. It also has the latest information on Medicare enrollment and benefits.
The Merck Manual of Geriatrics focuses on the medical problems of the elderly, providing clinical information to physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals involved in the care of elderly patients.
This Web site gives registered beneficiaries the ability to view eligibility and entitlement information, enrollment information including prescription drug plans, deductible and address of record information. Additionally, it provides beneficiaries with the ability to order replacement Medicare cards, access to online forms and publications, preventive service information and the option for Web chat assistance for any technical questions. Users of the site can access and view the status of adjudicated claims as well as search for a specific claim.
An organization that offers referrals of attorneys, judges, and other legal professionals dedicated to helping elders with housing, health and long-term care planning, estate planning and other legal issues related to aging.
The National Council on the Aging, Inc., a private, non-profit association, is a center of leadership and nationwide expertise on the issue of aging.
The Parkinson's Disease Foundation is a leading national presence in Parkinson's disease research, education and public advocacy. They work for the nearly one million people in the U.S. living with Parkinson's by finding promising scientific research and supporting people with Parkinson's, their families and caregivers through educational programs and support services.
With this site, consumers have free access to Medline, the medical database managed by the National Institutes of Health's National Library of Medicine. The database contains over 9 million summaries and abstracts from 3,800 medical journals. Its primary audience in physicians and researchers though consumers will find it helpful.
This comprehensive site, operated by the DHHS Administration on Aging, provides access to a wide range of services for seniors. It offers an overview of the range of supporting services available to older residents in their communities through the Older Americans Act (OAA) and other federal, state and local programs. Included are links to access services for the elderly, including local community organizations.
This Web site lists discounts on products and services for people age 55 and better. The database has about 130,000 discounts and is searchable by city/state or zip code, and over 20 categories, including airlines, car rentals, cruises, lodging, health clubs, online retailers and restaurants. The company also publishes a printed version for people who do not have access to the Internet. A membership in SeniorDiscounts.com is required for the printed guide.
Senior Job Bank is a non-profit, non-government, referral service which lists occasional, part-time, flexible, temporary and even full-time jobs. The service primarily covers the United States, but also posts openings in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Senior Job Bank has no direct involvement in the transactions and receives no fees from either party. Resumes and jobs can be posted free.
A national eldercare resource, referral and consultation web site for seniors, their families and providers. It provides access to eldercare professionals, programs, providers, facilities and agencies that offer information on a variety of senior-related services.
A Web site for an international community of computer-using seniors which contains a variety of resources.
An encyclopedia of housing choices, finance and insurance pointers to help pay the rent, aging information and specific housing resources to act on what you learn.
A search directory exclusively for people over age 50. Includes links to companies in over 60 products categories.
Whether you are retired, preparing for retirement, or just thinking about it, Today's Seniors offers advice, tips and articles about retirement, personal finances, Medicare benefits, health and fitness, and more—all aimed at helping people to simplify their lives and get the most out of their retirement.
A wide-ranging Web site with information designed for older Americans and their families as well as those concerned about providing opportunities and services to enrich the lives of older persons and support their independence. It includes many Web site links to government and non-government resources.
This is the primary site for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and provides access to a vast array of health and medical programs offered by its 12 agencies. It is organized as a consumer guide to the more than 300 programs it administers. Included is a special section for seniors as well as resource information on nursing homes, Medicare, health issues, long-term care, Eldercare Locator, elder abuse, coping and caring and a resource directory for older people.
