Resources
Although you can find accurate and useful information on the Internet (along with plenty of pointless but oddly alluring distractions), be careful. The web has become an advertising whirlpool. Sites that appear reputable and unbiased are often the fruits of large corporations or trade associations and have one underlying message: Buy a hearing aid! Get a reverse mortgage! You need more insurance! Some cater to advertisers, swaying information to please a drug company or retirement community, and others have “free advisers,” who get commissions for selling you something or signing your parent up for a housing facility, financial tool, or other product or service.
While the book has a index of dozens (maybe hundreds) of good sites, here are a few of the most useful ones:
AARP
AARP offers all sorts of information — referrals, resources and guidance on virtually every topic — for elderly people as well as their families.
Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is an oasis for anyone with, or caring for someone with, Alzheimer’s. The site provides an abundance of information on the disease, on coping and caregiving, and on local association chapters.
BenefitsCheckUp
Run by the National Council on Aging, this search tool shows you what federal, state and local benefits your parent is eligible for. Definitely worth a quick check as your parent might be eligible for a variety of discounts and help paying for medical care, utilities, food and other basic needs.
Caring Connections
Run by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, this site helps families plan ahead, make medical decisions, and find a local hospice. You can also download state specific advance directives.
Department of Veterans Affairs
Through their website, the VA offers information about benefits for veterans and their dependents.
Eldercare Locator
The Eldercare Locator, run by the Administration on Aging, will lead you to the “area agency on aging” where your parent lives, which should be your first stop as you research local services, benefits and options.
HealthFinder
For more detail about a wide range of medical issues another federal website, which will lead you to articles from a variety of respected institutes, universities, journals and agencies.
NIH SeniorHealth
For easy-to-read, basic health information aimed specifically at seniors, try this site of the National Institutes of Health.
Family Caregiver Alliance
Based in California, this organization offers all sorts of support to caregivers.
Mayo Clinic
The Mayo Clinic offers solid, unbiased information about diseases and symptoms. The site also has a Symptom Checker.
Medicare.gov
A government site aimed at educating consumers about Medicare health plans and policies, government publications and fraud.
Medicaid.gov
States have different rules concerning Medicaid, but you can get basic information and resources at this federal site.
National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
The coalition’s website has information on nursing home and other long-term care facilities, and can lead you to advocacy groups and ombudsmen in your area.
National Family Caregivers Association
The website has all sorts of information and resources for caregivers.
National SHIP Resource Center
SHIP will direct you to the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (yes, they excluded the “A” in the acronym), which provides one-on-one health insurance counseling and advice to people on Medicare.
Well Spouse Foundation
If your parent’s primary caregiver is your other parent, then be sure that he or she is getting the support to do that job. The Well Spouse Foundation offers emotional support, information and referrals to local chapters.
