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Elder Care Internet Resources
Alzheimer's Disease
National Alzheimer's
Association
Information and educational materials in English, Spanish and Korean.
Alzheimer's Disease Education
and Referral Center
This website provides information about Alzheimer's disease and related
disorders. The ADEAR Center is a service of the National Institute on
Aging (NIA). The NIA is one of the National Institute of Health under
the US Dept of Health and Human Services.
Caregiver
Guide
Tips for Caregivers of people with Alzheimer's Disease, from the National
Institute on Aging
MayoClinic.com
- Alzheimer's caregiving: Balancing your needs with those of your loved
one
- Overview of Alzheimer's disease
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Caregiver Resources
Family Caregiver
Alliance for memory loss and brain injury. Extensive literature,
publications list, newsletter. Services - including: case management
services, respite. Retreats for caregivers. Publishes "Directory
of California Support Groups for Caregivers of Brain-Impaired Adults,"
Statewide clearinghouse information services.
690 Market Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, 94101.
Phone: (415) 434-3388.
E-mail: info@caregiver.org
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http://www.aging-parents-and-elder-care.com
Articles, comprehensive checklists, and links to key resources ... designed
to make it easier for family caregivers to quickly find the information
they need ... and avoid overlooking something important in the care
of their loved one."
Caregiver Network,
Inc. (CNI), the first of its kind in Canada, is a resource center
created to help caregivers of the elderly and ill. Our goal is to make
caregivers' lives easier by providing information on the Internet and
in our newsletter, education through the 13-part TV/video series "Caregiving
with June Callwood", the Canadian Aging and Caregiving Resource
Guide and personal assistance and support through our seminar series,
Care Management Consulting Service, the Caregiver Club and Care Across
the Border.
HELP a community-funded, non-profit
(charitable) information resource that assists older adults and their
caring family and friends by providing information, planning and problem-solving
services, on government program, legal healthcare-related issues that
specially impact older adults.
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The Gold Violin
This is a great site that offers dignified, high quality gifts and tools
that seniors can really use. It was recommended by Susan Stamberg on
NPR as a source of handy items with good design, high quality construction,
and made with respect for the dignity of elders. One look at the choices
of designer canes, the fancy pill boxes, or the talking watches and
you will see many items your elders just "have to have."
Today's Caregiver Magazine
This Magazine has general information on caregiving and caregivers.
There are several different features from the current magazine on topics
in caregiving and an archives of past articles.
bigtreemurphy.com
A wonderful site for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. Beverly
Murphy is a rehab counselor who retired to take care of her husband
when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She has organized this site
with love, good experience, and good attention to detail. This site
has plenty of good advice for caregivers on the difficult issues (incontinence),
on how to develop a supportive living environment, and lots of good
words of emotional support. A heartwarming site to visit.
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Alzheimers Caregiving Tips:
Children of Aging Parents
Children of Aging Parents is nonprofit charitable organization whose
mission is to assist the nation's nearly 23 million caregivers of the
elderly with reliable information, referrals and support, and to heighten
public awareness that the health of their family caregivers is essential
to ensure quality care of the nation's growing elderly population.
National Alliance for Caregiving
(NAC)
National Alliance for Caregiving, A National Resource on Caregiving, NAC
is dedicated to providing support to family caregivers and the professionals
who help them and to increasing public awareness of issues facing family
caregiving.
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Disorganization, Clutter and Hoarding
Children of Hoarders
National Association of Professional
Organizers
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End of Life Resources
National Hospice
and Palliative Care Organization
On this website you can locate a hospice organization anywhere in the
country and obtain hospice/consumer information. Toll free phone is
(800) 646-6460.
Visiting Nurse Association
& Hospice of Northern California
Home care as well as hospice services including prescription coordination,
supplies and equipment, skilled nursing and support services, caregiving
training. Located at 1900 Powell Street, Suite 300, Emeryville, 94608.
American Hospice Organization
On Our Own Terms:
Bill Moyers on Dying
Hospice benefits from Medicare
Find a hospice in your
area
Home
Care Guide for Advanced Cancer/American College of Physicians
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Geriatric Case Manager
National Association
of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
How a geriatric case manager can be helpful to you; how to find a local
geriatric case manager (database).
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Grief and Loss Resources
Sutter VNA and Hospice
Bereavement Program designed to serve people experiencing a significant
loss. They offers a safe and compassionate environment for you to express
your thoughts and feelings about your loved one who has died. The local
offices offer a variety of services to bereaved individuals including
information and referral as well as individual and group support.
On Our Own Terms:
Bill Moyers on dying
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Health/Disease
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Consumer Guide:
How
to research a medical topic online
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Reputable, National Health
Related Websites:
www.healthfinder.gov
Healthfinder, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
is a gateway to more than 1,800 agencies and organizations. Using a
health gateway is often the best first step in a search. Healthfinder
will direct you to preselected, targeted site's unlike general search
engines that do not always produce relevant results. If you're a novice
Web surfer, explore the sites's databases and guides to common health
matters, and the hot topics in the Health News section.
www.medlineplus.gov
The National Library of Medicine, the world's largest medical library,
developed this site, where you can access: information about more than
400 diseases and conditions; a guide to pharmaceutical drugs; links
to National Institutes of Health clearing houses', and other helpful
resources.
www.cdc.gov
Stop here for news about threatening diseases, traveler's health, immunizations,
bicycle safety, dog bites, food-borne illnesses, AIDS, sexually transmitted
infections, and more. M.J. Toooey, deputy directory of the Health Sciences/Human
Services Library at the University of Maryland, enjoys the Hoaxes and
Rumors sections, which debunks myths and corrects misinformation.
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www.intelihealth.com
The Harvard School of Medicine stores an array of carefully reviewed,
reliable materials here for all to see. For example, search for information
on "stroke" and you will receive basic fact sheets, numerous
feature articles, news reports and a diary to help keep track of your
blood pressure. Two site programs can be especially useful. Symptom
Scout asks questions about symptoms and offers clues for diagnosis.
Topicdoc searches MEDLINE, which has a database of 11 million articles,
to target the most promising studies. The University of Pennsylvania
School of Dental Medicine also oversees a large body of material about
dental health and peiodontal disease.
www.mayoclinic.com
Click on this site, affiliate with the well-known Mayo Clinic, and you
will feel at ease with the organized layout. Check full in-depth articles,
and the editorial content also makes you feel secure. The site offers
an index of diseases listed A-Z, 11 Condition Centers (Alzheimer's for
example), and eight Healthy Living Centers (such as Women's Health).
If you're faced with various medical tests and treatments, consult the
Helath Decisions Guide section, which walks you through options. Do
note, however, that the slant on informations is potentially limiting,
since Mayo Clinic specialists provide most of the content.
www.medem.com
The American Medical Association, along with six other physician speciality
groups, founded this site. Other specialty groups, founded this site.
Other specialty groups and state medical societies now contribute information.
You'll find straightforward, peer-reviewed articles on common ailments.
However, the library's rare conditions section may disappoint. "The
library has good, credible information, but it's not research-oriented,"
says M.J. Tooey. "If I were interested in lung cancer, I'd get
an overview here, then go to a cancer-specific site to answer more complex
questions".
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www.webmd.com
WebMD is part of an ambitious project by a national health-care company
to link patients, physicians, hospitals, and health insurers in an electronic
health network. It has experienced cutbacks but remains heavily used.
The Disease and Conditions section helps you zero in on a specific health
problem. Search topics by three different interests: Health and Wellness,
New Diagnoses, and Living with Illness. Keep your eyes wide open when
reading "sponsored" sections, since commercial pressures may slant information.
www.4women.gov
Part health encyclopedia, part women's advocate, this National Women's
Health Information Center site draws on thousands of publications from
a federal clearinghouse. It also has valuable special-category sections,
such as minority health, women with disabilities, and a roundup of men's
health materials.
www.mentalhelp.net
This comprehensive guide offers more than 40 Issues and Disorders Centers
and more than 25 Information Centers (such as Child and Adolescent Development,
and Marriage and Family Therapy). Other related sites: National Mental
Health Association(www.nmha.org),
American Psychological Association(www.apa.org),
and National Institute of Mental Health (www.nimh.nih.gov).
A network of medical librarians can assist you with your questions
about medical and health Web sites, says Jean Shipman, secretary of
the Medical Library Association Board, and director of the Tompkins
McCaw Library, Virginia Commonwealth University. She suggests contacting
the National Library of Medicine at 800/338-7657 or www.nnlm.gov
AgeLine Database from AARP
Books and articles about life at 50+
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ALS:
When a Loved
One Has ALS: A Caregiver's Guide
ALS(Lou Gehrig's Disease)
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Arthritis:
Arthritis Foundation
Information, resources, online community
National Institute of Arthritis
and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
CDC Website
on Arthritis
NOAH
Website on Arthritis
Arthritis/ John
Hopkins Hospital
The Arthritis Guide
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Cancer:
Moffitt Cancer Center
Patient Information, Research, Helpful links
The American
Cancer Society
Information and resources. Input your zipcode and get resources in the
area you need services in. The Alameda County Chapter: 1710 Webster
Street, Oakland, Ca (510 832-7012) hours: M-F 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Women's Cancer Resource Center
Services include free therapy, information and referral hotline, legal
services, resource library, peer support groups, in-home support services.
Housed at 5741 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland 94609. (510) 420-7900 (for
TTY call (510) 548-9288); Spanish speaking callers use (510) 548-9286
ext 309. e-mail: info@wcrc.org
Cancer Net
Oncologist-approved cancer information from the American Society of
Clinical Oncology.
National Cancer Institute
National Alliance of
Breast Cancer Organizations
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
Medline
Information on Lung Cancer From the National Library of Medicine
Abramson Cancer Center of the University
of Pennsylvania
Alliance for Lung Cancer Advocacy
Cancercare
A national non-profit organization whose mission is to provide free
professional help to people with all cancers through counseling, education,
information and referral, and direct financial assistance.
Cancerpage
A website recommended by AARP.
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COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease):
Medline
database on COPD
American
Lung Association on COPD
Treatment Options and Support
Aging Initiative
The website provides a wealth of information about the EPA’s efforts
to protect the environmental health of older persons, including Chronic
Lung Disease.
American Lung Assoc of California
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Diabetes:
American Diabetes Association
National Institute of Diabetes &
Digestive & Kidney Diseases
CDC on Diabetes
Medline Diabetes Database
Veterans Health Administration
on Diabetes
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The Fall Prevention:
Temple University Fall Prevention Project
- Check it out!
Some things you can do to reduce your risk of falling
- In-Home Safety
Check
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Hearing Impairment:
Hearing
Impairment Links
Untreated
Hearing Loss Linked to Depression, Anxiety, Social Isolation in Seniors
from: National Council on Aging, Inc.
Center for
Hearing and Deafness/University of Buffalo
American Academy
of Audiology
American Tinnitus Association
National Association of the Deaf
Sound
Advice on Hearing Aids / Federal Trade Commission Heart Disease
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Heart Disease:
American
Heart Association
Mended Hearts
For more than 50 years, Mended Hearts has been offering the gift of
hope and encouragement to heart patients, their families and caregivers.
National Coalition for Women with
Heart Disease
International Task Force for
Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease
Medline
information on Heart Disease
UC Irvine Heart Disease Prevention
Program
Yale University
School of Medicine, Heart Book
Coronary Heart Disease
Explained, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Web MD, Heart Disease
Center
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Health Care Centers:
Over 60 Health Center, Services include: extensive health and social
services, preventive education and screening services. 1860 Alcatraz
Ave, Berkeley 94703 (510) 601-6060 M-F 8:30 -12p m. and 1 p.m - 5 p.m.
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Hypertension:
Hypertension/American Heart
Association
Hypertension Education
Foundation
Medline
database info on high blood pressure
An
Introduction to Pulmonary Hypertension, Mayo Pulmonary Hypertension
Clinic
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Incontinence:
Elder Care "How To" Survival Guide:
Focus: incontinence
Incontinence information
from the How To Care/Elder Care Survival Guide
National Association for Continence
Information, books, "Resource Guide" Of products and services. Referrals
to local support groups. P.O. Box 8310, Spartanburg, SC 29305 1-800
252-3337 (BLADDER)
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Multiple Sclerosis:
The National Multiple Sclerosis
Society
The national MS Society's two San Francisco Bay Area chapters offer
a wide range of support and services for persons with MS and their caregivers.
Programs include short-term individual counseling, respite grants, caregiver
wellness retreats, financial assistance for equipment purchase or repair
and equipment lending libraries. The MS Society also publishes free
booklets in English and Spanish on a variety of topics. Contact the
Northern California Chapter at 800-fightms or 510 268-0572 or visit
them on the web. Residsents of Santa Clara County may contact the Silicone
Valley Chapter at 408 988-7557.
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Osteoporosis:
National Osteoporosis
Foundation
Foundation for Osteoporosis Research
and Education
Osteoporosis Online
Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases
- National Resource Center
Osteoporosis - Women's Health Channel
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Parkinsons:
American Parkinsons
Disease Association
My Parkinsons
My Parkinsons is a free resource for people with Parkinson's disease,
their healthcare providers, and their caregivers. Patients and caregivers
can ask questions of the site specilists and participate in forums,
chat rooms and live education events. Health care providers can access
healthcare management tools and clinician only forums and chat rooms
to share information and experiences.
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Stroke:
National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke
AARP, Ageline
A database to research any illness including stroke
UCLA Stroke Center
Mayo Clinic Web
Page on Strokes
Medline information
on stroke
Stroke Information Directory
The Brain
Attack Coalition
The Brain Attack Coalition is a group of professional, voluntary and
governmental entities dedicated to reducing the occurrence, disabilities
and death associated with stroke.
Stroke-TIA.org
An educational resource on stroke and tansient ischemic attack (TIA)
Patient
Information on strokes from 'docguide'
Medical news and information for patients or friends/parents of patients
diagnosed with strokes.
Stroke
information on Yahoo
The Internet Stroke Center
On-line stroke support and information
A non-profit, family based organization
The Stroke Center Trials
Directory
National Center
on Health Statistics/Stroke
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Vision Impairment:
AARP:
Shedding some light on Macular Degeneration
National Association for Visually Handicapped
The National Eye Institute, National
Institutes of Health
American Council of the Blind
The American Foundation for the Blind
Lighthouse International
Lighthouse International is a leading resource worldwide on vision impairment
and vision rehabilitation. Through its pioneering work in vision rehabilitation,
services, education, research and advocacy, Lighthouse International
enables people of all ages who are blind or partially sighted to lead
independent and productive lives.
Visions, Services for the Blind
and Visually Impaired
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National Library Service for the Blind
and Physically Handicapped through a national network of cooperating
libraries, NLS administers a free library program of Braille and audio
materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the US by postage-free
mail.
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
National Federation of the Blind
Voice of the Nation's Blind
Resources for Rehabilitation
Providing free Christian publications
and programs for persons with visual impairments
www.jewishBraille.org
The Jewish Guild for the Blind
The Jewish Guild for the Blind is one of the countrys foremost vision
care agencies.
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Housing
Does
your home meet your needs or your elder friend/relatives/partners needs?
This site is the AARP designed list on 'universal design"
According to a recent AARP housing survey, 83 percent of older Americans
want to stay in their current homes for the rest of their lives. They
find their homes comfortable and convenient and feel secure and independent
here. However, as people age, the design of their homes play an increasingly
important role in how they manage their daily activities. Homes that were
perfectly convenient at age 55 can cause problems in later years, as diminishing
physical abilities make daily routines more difficult without some design
modifications.
What You Should Know : Take a good look at your home
Simple alterations can prevent one-third of all accidents. These changes
not only increase your safety but enhance your comfort and increase the
likelihood of your remaining independent in your home and community. So
it is important to look at your home with a critical eye. Use the checklist
that follows to identify problem areas in each room. note any ideas you
have for improvement.
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Information and Referral
National
Elder
Care Locator
(800) 677-1116
TDD/TTY: 711
Elder Care Locator is a free nationwide assistance service (and a model
program) to help older persons and their caregivers locate support resources
or give information about long-term care planning. You may call this
number with the city, state, zip code of a town an elder lives in and
they will connect you with the Aging Information and Referral Services
Agency for that area. This is an excellent resource for Long-Distance
Caregivers. Eldercare Locator links caregivers with state and local
resources that enable older persons to remain independent in their own
homes.
State
California Department of Aging
Website provides resource information on services and programs available
to seniors and adults with disabilities throughout California.
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Respite
The Arch National Respite Locator
This locator service helps parents, caregivers and professionals
find respite services in their state and local area. The services is
also useful when a family travels or must move to another state.
800 Eastowne Drive, Suite 105
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Ph: (800) 604-9655
Fax: (919) 490-4905
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Legal/Financial/Advocacy
BenefitsCheckUp
The National Council on aging created this service that identifies
federal and state assistance programs for older Americans. After entering
simple information, such as age, income and zip code, BenefitsCheckup
explains which benefit programs the inquirer may be eligible for and
how to apply for them. The whole process takes less than 15 minutes
and is completely confidential; as such, it doesn't require the user's
name, address, phone number, social security number, or other information
that could be used to identify them
Estate planning information.
Estate, retirement and long-term care planning, Medicare/MediCal and more.
HICAP
(Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program) Statewide toll free
number: 1-800-434-0222 Alameda County (510) 839-0393 Contra Costa:
West County: (510) 374-3943; Central County: (925) 313-1720
Medi-Cal
Alameda County Services Agency, Oakland (510) 383-8523
Fremont (510) 795-2428
Livermore, Tri Cities 1800-952-8627
Beneficiary Information; "Your Medi-care Handbook" 1997 ($2.00)
Medicare Basics
and Overview
Call Social Security Administration (SSA) at 1 800-772-1213. You can
also call the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
at 1 800 MEDICARE (1 800-633-4227). The SMS website features a brochure
entitled Medicare Basics.
NSCLC
Advocates nationwide on behalf of low-income elderly individuals
and persons with disabilities. It provides litigation assistance,
research and consulting support, national policy representation,
training and manuals and periodicals.
US Government site for people receiving
Medicare
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Long Distance Caregiving
"How to Care"
/ Elder Care Survival Guide
National Association of Professional
Geriatric Care Managers
How a geriatric case manager can be helpful to you; how to find a local
geriatric case manager (database). Very valuable resource for long distance
caregivers.
Long
Distance Caregiving: Family Caregiver Alliance
Long
Distance Caregiving, Elder Care Locator (Resource finder)
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Mental Health
National
Institute of Mental Health (Crisis in Geriatric Mental Health)
American Association for Geriatric
Psychiatry
American Psychological Association
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
American Psychiatric
Association
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Nursing Homes
California Advocates for Nursing Home
Reform (CANHR)
This is an excellent state of the art web site with valuable data related
to selecting a nursing home in the area of your choosing. Click on "Nursing
Home Guide" put in the city and this site will give you a list of nursing
homes, the number of beds, information about what financing is accepted,
what health issues are accepted, and shows the facilities record including
violations it has been cited for.
California Advocates for
Nursing Home Reform (CANHR's Guide)
CANHR's guide has in-depth information on all 1400+ nursing homes in
California**, including interactive searches, comparisons, and details
on violations, staffing and services. Go to "Nursing Home Guide."
Nursing
Home Compare
("The Official US Gov Site for People with Medicare")
The primary purpose of this tool is to provide detailed information
about the past performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified
nursing home in the country.
Dementia Care/Special
Conditions (CANHR fact sheet)
A guide to preventing abuse
in Long Term Care Facilities (CANHR fact sheet)
Suggest
clothes for a nursing home
How
to file a complaint against a nursing home (A CANHR fact sheet)
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Public Benefit Programs
BenefitsCheckUp
The National Council on aging created this service that identifys federal
and state assistance programs for older Americans. After entering simple
information, such as age, income and zip code, BenefitsCheckUp explains
what benefit programs the inquirer may be eligible for and how to apply
for them. The whole process takesless than 15 minutes and is completely
confidential; as such, it doesn't require the user's name, address,
phone number, social security number, or other information that could
be used to identify them.
Information about
applying for Medicare
Call Social Security Administration (SSA) at 1 800-772-1213. You can
also call the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
at 1 800 MEDICARE (1 800-633-4227). The SMS website features a brochure
entitled Medicare Basics.
Rebuilding Together (Formerly
known as Christmas in April)
a national nonprofit organization whose mission
is to preserve and revitalize houses and communities, ensuring that
low income seniors and persons with disabilities remain safe and independent.
Volunteers and skilled tradespeople perform such tasks as home modification,
painting, cleaning, carpentry, plumbing and electric work. Rebuilding
Together has programs throughout the Bay Area.
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