National Resources

These links focus on aging resources nationally. For additional links to national web sites that have a caregiver focus, click here.

AARP: www.aarp.org. Organization for persons fifty and older provides member services, advocacy, and free information on aging issues. Topics to explore include Health, Learning, Life Answers (Caregiving, Safe Driving, etc.) Computers (Internet Tutorial), AARP Bulletin, Legislation, Money (Consumers, Careers), Research, and Travel/Leisure (Games). Under Member Services, select Gifts for discounts from Gold Violin and Third Age Gifts.

Able Data: www.abledata.com. U. S. Department of Education funds this site, which provides information about assistive devices and companies that sell them. For other sites with this type of information, see Caregiver Websites.

Administration on Aging (AOA): www.aoa.dhhs.gov. Federal agency that provides funding and direction for many programs for seniors and caregivers including the Caregivers REST Project, an AOA demonstration grant that is paying for the development of the AgingCareFL web site (the one you are using now) by St. Petersburg College and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. The Administration on Aging web site describes federal programs in a number of languages, and there is help for caregivers. The site links to Eldercare Locator, an AOA-funded service for finding resources in any state.

Alliance for Retired Americans (formerly National Council of Senior Citizens): www.retiredamericans.org. Organization representing interests of retired workers, especially union workers, regarding issues such as prescription drug coverage.

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA): www.aahsa.org. This national organization is made up of not-for-profit nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities, senior housing, assisted living facilities, etc. committed to affordable, ethical long term care. Web site includes consumer information about choices.

American Association on Aging: www.asaging.org. Organization committed to enhancing knowledge and skills of those serving older persons and their families.

American College of Sports Medicine http://www.agingblueprint.org/tips.cfm Active aging tips on excercise, physical activity, and nutrition as well as links to other sites that provide information for healthy aging.

American Dietetic Association: www.eatright.org. Web site of national organization for dieticians and other professionals provides information for consumers on healthy lifestyle, nutrition tips, and listing of dieticians by area.

American Geriatrics Society Foundation: www.healthinaging.org. Public education on geriatrics (medical topics related to aging) and caregiving. Links to web site of American Geriatrics Society (professional organization of geriatric physicians, etc.), www.americangeriatrics.org.

American Health Care Association: www.ahca.org. Membership organization for professionals in long term care field. Promotes quality in nursing home care.

American Medical Association: www.ama-assn.org. Click on Patients to find Health Information, Atlas of the Body, Medical Library, and Reference Center.

American Society on Aging: www.asaging.org. Membership organization dedicated to improving skills and knowledge of those working with older people. Generations and Aging Today are publications available to public.

Assisted Living Federation of America: www.alfa.org. Organization representing non-profit and for-profit assisted living facilities. Web site includes Consumer section with Consumer Checklist (what to look for in a facility).

Better Business Bureau: www.bbb.org. National site for consumer and business guidance. Encourages ethics and fairness in marketplace. Has a Find a (Local) Better Business Bureau feature.

Benefits Check Up: www.benefitscheckup.org. Service of the National Council on Aging (NCOA). Free, confidential, personalized report on benefits eligibility for individuals. Also includes Benefits Check Up RX, a personalized report on prescription assistance programs to which you may be entitled.

Beverly Foundation: www.beverlyfoundation.org. Research and education in areas of transportation and long term care with goal of improving life for seniors.

Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov. Federal government public health site includes disease information and older adult health section. For more web sites with health information, see Caregiver Web Sites.

Eldercare Locator: www.eldercare.gov. Administration on Aging-funded project to help people locate aging resources in any state. Also lists the Eldercare Locator toll-free number for answers to questions about resources in a chosen area.

Elder Hostel: www.elderhostel.org. Non-profit organization provides national and international educational travel programs to persons 55 and over.

Experience Works: www.experienceworks.org. A national non-profit organization (formerly Green Thumb) that provides training and employment services for mature workers. Web site lists local contacts, links to Geezer.com.

Federal Consumer Information Center (FCIC): www.pueblo.gsa.gov. FCIC distributes consumer-oriented publications from many federal agencies. The telephone number for the National Contact Center, an information line, is included.

Federal Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov. U. S. Federal Trade Commission provides online articles, consumer publications, consumer protection, and opportunity to file complaints against companies. Click on Consumer Protection.

First Gov for Consumers: www.consumer.gov. Federal consumer information resource covering new products, food, money, health, transportation, home and community, etc.

First Gov for Consumers Identity Theft: www.consumer.gov/idtheft. U. S. government's central site for identity theft. Read publications, print Identity Theft Affidavit form, and file online complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

First Gov for Seniors: www.seniors.gov. Federal government site for seniors. Choose federal portals such as First Gov or click on links to federal and state agency sites. Includes information about seniors and computers, health and fitness, travel, and legislation.

Geezer.com: www.geezer.com. An e-commerce web site sponsored by Experience Works to provide senior artisans with a place to market their works.

Generations On Line: www.generationsonline.com. A non-profit organization promoting Internet literacy for older Americans. Offers online instructional software for those who have never used a computer. Some libraries and senior centers are purchasing this software to make it available.

Gerontological Society of America: www.geron.org. Membership organization provides aging research information to professionals in the field of aging.

Government Benefits: www.govbenefits.gov. New official government benefits web site. Free personalized benefits test or general search for benefits.

Gray Panthers: www.graypanthers.org. National organization of intergenerational activists dedicated to social change.

Healthfinder: www.healthfinder.gov. Site sponsored by the U. S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Information on prevention, diseases, health care providers, etc. Includes online tests and medical dictionary.

Homecare Online: www.nahc.org. The National Association for Home Care & Hospice sponsors this site. Click on Consumers, then on How to Choose a Home Care Provider.

Hospice Foundation of America: www.hospicefoundation.org. Education and advocacy regarding dignified treatment of persons during last months of life.

Long Term Care Living: www.longtermcareliving.com. Includes a Glossary of long term care terms and articles on financial options, how to discuss long term care choices with family, etc. This site is sponsored by the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living.

Meals on Wheels Association of America: www.mowaa.org. Organization encourages partnerships and provides training for programs that provide home-delivered or congregate meals.

Medicare: www.medicare.gov. U. S. government site for persons with Medicare. Includes Prescription Assistance Program Information, Medigap Compare, and Nursing Home Compare by state and region.

MEDLINEplus: www.MEDLINEplus.gov. " A free, comprehensive, authoritative, up-to-date health information web site from ...the National Library of Health and the National Institutes of Health, with the support of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation and the American Medical Association Foundation."

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA): www.naela.org. Click on Public, then on Questions and Answers When Looking for an Elder Law Attorney. The site also provides a listing of elder law attorneys by area.

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging: www.n4a.org. Organization representing the 655 area agencies on aging (AAA's) and more than 230 Native American aging programs throughout the U. S. Provides advocacy to ensure that services and resources are available to older Americans.

National Association of Geriatric Care Managers: www.caremanager.org. Explains what a care manager is and provides names of care managers anywhere in U. S. Especially helpful if considering a private-pay care manager.

National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services: www.nanasp.org. Membership organization for professionals in aging and nutrition fields.

National Caucus and Center on Black Aged: www.ncba-aged.org. Organization dedicated to improving quality of life for elderly African Americans and low-income minorities.

National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL): www.ncal.org. NCAL Survey results and Consumer Guide with Checklist for Prospective Residents

National Center on Elder Abuse: www.elderabusecenter.org. Provides fact sheets about abuse and neglect, advocacy, and how to report.

National Center for Victims of Crime: www.ncvc.org. Provides public policy, civil litigation, and related information for victims of crime. Service Includes toll-free Helpline and Virtual library.

National Clearinghouse for Long Term Care Information www.LongTermCare.gov
A website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provides information and resources to help seniors and caregivers plan for long-term care (LTC) needs.

National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare: www.ncpssm.org. Advocacy organization for health and retirement security. Includes Find Your Representatives feature and link to SPRY Foundation site. Also includes a video commentary on privitizing Social Security. Use the following link: www.ncpssm.org/socialsecurity and click on box 60 seconds on Social Security to view.

National Council on the Aging (NCOA): www.ncoa.org. Membership association that works with organizations and professionals to promote dignity and self determination of older persons.

National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE): www.talkaboutrx.org. Non-profit coalition with goals of educating consumers to make sound decisions regarding medicines, drug safety, etc.

National Fraud Information Center: www.fraud.org. Source for information about telemarketing fraud and Internet fraud.

National Hispanic Council on Aging: www.nhcoa.org. Advocacy and information for Hispanic elders.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: www.nhpco.org. Advocacy, information for professionals, Hospice Locator, free consumer brochures on communicating end-of-life wishes, Medicare hospice benefits, etc. NHPCO has a new site for consumers with information about Advance Directives, caregiving, pain management, grief support, etc. at www.caringinfo.org. The new phone number to request Advance Directive documents is 800-658-8898.

National Institutes of Health (NIH): www.nih.gov. Health information, scientific resources, grants information, etc. Click on Institutes for links to various NIH Institutes, Library of Medicine, and Centers for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, Minority Health, and Research Resources.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): www.nimh.nih.gov. Fact sheets on mental health conditions and emotional aspects of terrorism, etc.

National Institute on Aging (NIA): www.nia.nih.gov. Click on Health Information, followed by NIA Publications List/Video List for NIA Resource Directory for Older People, "Age Pages," free exercise books in English or Spanish, and inexpensive exercise video. Web site also includes NIA research, grants, and training information and Minority Aging Newsletter.

National Library of Medicine: www.nlm.nih.gov is the main site, but www.MEDLINEplus.gov includes a medical encyclopedia and wellness, exercise, and drug information.

National Policy and Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging: www.fiu.edu/~nutreldr. Information for nutrition, aging network, and long-term care professionals.

National Self Help Clearinghouse: www.selfhelpweb.org. Collects and distributes information about support and self help groups nationwide. Search Self Help Sourcebook online for sources of support for many different needs.

National Senior Games: www.nsga.com. Non-profit organization promoting senior health through competition in Senior Games and Senior Olympics.

National Service Corps (NSC): www.nationalservice.org. Oversees national volunteer programs for seniors and others.

National Weather Service: www.nws.noaa.gov. Local Forecasts and Warnings, Radar and Satellite images, National Maps, etc.

National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC): www.4woman.gov. Health information for women. Also includes sections on health issues for men and for minorities.

Older Women's League (OWL): www.owl-national.org. Grassroots organization with chapter network that focuses on issues unique to women as they age. Provides research, education, and advocacy.

Project Action Accessible Traveler Database: www.projectaction.org/paweb. An Easter Seals-sponsored site with online database of resources such as accessible local transportation, van rental companies, travel agencies, and hotel shuttles. This database should be helpful to physically or mentally challenged travelers. Includes caregiver section.

Retirement Research Foundation: www.rrf.org. Large private foundation devoted solely to improving life for aging persons. Includes grant information.

Senior Net: www.seniornet.org. Organization whose goal is educating older adults regarding use of computers and Internet. "Learn to Search the Web" and other online courses are free. Web site Includes Internet Glossary and listing of local Senior Net centers where persons fifty and over may take low-cost classes.

Social Security Administration: www.ssa.gov. Information, available in many languages, about various Social Security benefits such as retirement and disability, tax changes relating to benefits, consumer alerts, and more.

Spry (Setting Priorities for Retirement Years) Foundation: www.spry.org. Foundation dedicated to successful retirement provides research and education.

Third Age: www.thirdage.com. A web site for baby boomers. Information on retirement issues and health, online games and classes, and caregiver section.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: www.hud.gov/offices/pih/pihcc. Answers questions on public housing, locates Public Housing Authorities nationwide, and answers questons of low-income seniors related to housing. Toll free number is 1-888-245-8938.

U. S. Department of Justice: www.usdoj.gov. Provides information about elder justice, domestic violence, victims of crime, and faith-based initiatives.

USAA Educational Foundation: www.usaaedfoundation.org. Click on Order Booklets for Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully or click on Auto Safety to view online. Self tests and tips to help you stay in shape to drive and suggestions for other types of transportation after giving up driving.

Veterans Administration: www.va.gov. United States Veterans Administration site has benefits information including health, disability, memorial, etc.