There are many available resources that may be of use to those of us who are growing older and our adult children, or other caregivers. Below is a list of some online sites to consult, as posted on August 13, 2008, by The New York Times Health section. As stated, it is an incomplete list, but they welcome suggestions for additions, or even deletions from the list. Starred references seem to be among the most useful.
Government Sites
Medicare.gov. An all-purpose site with interactive tools for planning and paying for long-term care and choosing among drug plans. Includes searchable inspection results, good and bad, for all the nation's skilled nursing facilities.
NIHSeniorHealth.gov. A collaboration of the NIH and the National Library of Medicine that provides authoritative information on all diseases and disorders of old age. Each section is available in both large-type and audio versions.
National Institute on Aging. Describes ongoing research on aging and lists clinical trials seeking participants. http://www.nia.nih.gov .
Eldercare Locator. Links to state and local ombudsmen and agencies serving the elderly.
U.S Administration on Aging (AoA)/Elders and Caregivers. Links to outside resources for an assortment of care giving issues, including financial planning, residential options, in-home services, case management and the law.
CarePlanner. Free worksheets to create a care plan, keep track of medications and expenses, and plan home modifications.
Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA), www.caregiver.org
**Govbenefits.gov. A tool to help determine benefit eligibility for a variety of government programs.
Site for informattion about long-term care by US government.
Housing and Services
AARP, Information regarding reverse mortgage.
A Guide to Making Housing Decisions: Housing Options for Older Adults by eldercare webiste.
American Association of Home and Services for the Aging.
Assisted Living Federation of America. Among other resources, offers a database of assisted living facilities searchable by location or parent company.
National Center for Assisted Living. Provides a more elaborate "facility finder" that factors in cost, method of payment, mobility, dietary needs, activities and amenities.
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. Search for a geriatric care manager by location.
Visiting Nurse Associations of America. Search for home health services nationwide.
UCompareHealthCare. Free search by location for nursing homes, plus data on quality, staffing and outcomes from government sources.
Getcare.com. A sleek, three-step process to assess long-term care options, learn about each type, and then search by location for a variety of services, including Alzheimer's day care, grief support or respite for a caregiver.
Caregiving
Family Caregiver Alliance. Offers tips on a wide range of topics, such as how to hire help, hold a family meeting, balance work and caregiving, find important papers, and decide whether parents should move in with an adult child.
**National Alliance for Caregiving. Reviews of more than 1,000 books, videos, Web sites and links.
National Family Caregivers Association.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) booklet "So Far Away: Twenty Questions for Long Distance Caregivers."
**GetCare.com A sleek, three-step process to assess long-term care options, learn about each type, and then search by location for a variety of services, including Alzheimer's day care, grief support or respite for a caregiver.
Legal and Financial
**Benefits CheckUp. A search tool developed by the National Council on Aging to determine eligibility for 1,300 benefit programs that help pay for medications, health care, utilities and so forth.
**MyMoney.Gov website provides information and resources, such as social security benefit information, guidelines and questions to ask about trusts, IRA and other financial options.
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Free fact sheets and shoppers' guides for long-term care insurance, annuities and Medigap policies.
Insurance Information Institute.
Nolo. Do-it-yourself legal advice. Wills, powers of attorney and other documents.
U.S. Living Will Registry. Free state-by-state forms.
American Bar Association Aging Tool Kit. Offers a 10-step process for making end-of-life decisions with worksheets, suggestions and links.
End of Life
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. An excellent search tool for finding a hospice, as well as guides on issues related to palliative care, including Medicare coverage and techniques for communicating end-of-life wishes.
Hospice Foundation of America. Information on end-of-life issues, such as pain management. One section, called "Caregivers Corner," has links, reading lists and a self-assessment tool for caregivers to analyze their own strengths and weaknesses.
Miscellany
There are several sites, such as Elderweb, Eldercare Online, Third Age, and Elder Issues that provide a grab-bag of information. KaiserEdu, an educational site from the Kaiser Family Foundation, includes a variety of slide tutorials and podcasts on financial and policy issues related to long-term care.
Advocacy
AARP, includes member discounts and demographic research, while the Medicare Rights Center is a tutorial on how this government's health care program for the elderly works and gives a link to the Kaiser Family Foundation's "Medicare 101" and a hotline for questions and complaints.
Emotional Support
Children of Aging Parents. Support groups, both online and face-to-face. Newsletter focuses on interpersonal matters like stress among siblings, caregiver depression and getting through the holidays.