Links

This page is organized into general information, death and dying issues, legal info, housing search, caregiver resources, drugs, and specific health issues.

GENERAL INFORMATION

www.elderweb.com - This is a tremendous site with lots of information, both on eldercare and on resources. See the article on Long Term Care financing; most Americans still believe Medicare is going to pay for nursing home costs!

www.HIProtector.com - Hip protectors are under-garments that help prevent a fracture in case of a fall. Falls are a leading cause of bone breaks leading to disability among older folks, so this is a site worth checking.

AARP

Community Council of Greater Dallas - Community Council of Greater Dallas has Eldercare information

www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare/Public/Home.asp - The ElderCare Locator helps you locate eldercare resources. This is particularly helpful when your parent lives in a different area of the country.

www.caremanager.org - This is the official website for the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. If you are looking for a PGCM near your family, go to the ‘find a care manager’ section.

www.benefitscheckup.org - National Council on Aging Benefit Screening – this is the place to see if you qualify for any assistance programs.

The State of Texas site to compare nursing homes, assisted living communities and other agencies that provide care for older adults.

GOVERNMENT (return to top)

www.tdoa.state.tx.us
- The Texas Department on Aging (TDoA) is now part of the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS). The services formerly provided through TDoA are now provided through DADS - http://www.dads.state.tx.us/index information on state programs, housing.

www.texasmedicarerx.org - This is the place to find information from the Texas Dept of Aging and Disability Services about Medicare Part D.

www.ncoa.org - National Council on Aging

www.ssa.gov - Social Security Administration Online

www.medicare.gov - Go to this site to compare nursing homes, find a physician,

www.cms.hhs.gov/pdps - This is the website for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/drugcoverage.asp - is a Medicare Learning Site for questions about Medicare part D, prescription drug coverage.

www.medicare.org

www.tdi.state.tx.us/consumer/medsup.html - Texas Department of Insurance Medicare Supplement Insurance Rate Guide

www.benefitscheckup.org – Find out if you receiving all the benefits for which you are eligible

CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ASSISTANCE (return to top)

www.agenet.com - Solutions for Better Aging Find Problem Solving Eldercare Products

www.silverts.com - Clothing that is easier to get into and out of for folks with various kinds of difficulties such as arthritic fingers, bladder spasms, and other inconveniences.

www.sammonspreston.com - Catalog of products to make daily life a little easier.

www.seniorshops.com - Suggestions for gifts to be welcomed by your favorite elder

CAREGIVER ASSISTANCE (return to top)

www.wellspouse.org - An organization of spousal caregivers, this site has information on how to cope, support groups, and more.

www.caregiver.com - Today's Caregiver

www.elderlifeplanning.com - Resource for information about caring for aging parents and finding the most appropriate resources such as: home health care, assisted living, community day programs, and nursing homes.

www.caregiving.com

www.nfcacares.org - National Family Caregivers Association

www.eldercareadvocates.com

www.caremanager.org - National Assn. of Professional Geriatric Care Managers

FUN & GAMES (return to top)

www.theseniormomentsgame.com - This is a board game developed by the daughter of an Alzheimer's parent. The goal of the game is to get your man "home". You do this by answering questions according to where your man lands on the board. Questions are delightful ways to keep the elder engaged, such as 'tell a story about your grandmother', or 'what 3 things do you need to make a dress?'

www.reminisce.com - One of my favorite magazines, this has articles about the way life used to be, photos, recipes, and a monthly 'Do you recognize this car?". Great for discussions on visit, wonderful gift.

www.wheniamanoldwoman.com - The delightful poem, "When I am an Old Woman, I shall wear purple....", and information about gifts, and the Red Hat Society.

SITES on SPECIFIC HEALTH ISSUES (return to top)

www.americanheart.org

www.arthritis.org - This is the Arthritis Foundation website with the current copy of the Arthritis magazine, or order a print subscription. There is also a buyer’s guide for lifestyle gadgets that make living with arthritis easier

www.rls.org - Restless legs syndrome

www.nami.org - National Alliance for Mental Illness

www.nof.org - National Osteoporosis Foundation

http://www.cancer.org - American Cancer Society

http://www.lungusa.org - American Lung Association

http://www.nami.org - National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

http://www.partnershipforsolutions.org - Partnership For Solutions: Better Lives For People With Chronic Conditions

http://www.nof.org - National Osteoporosis Foundation

www.HIProtector.com - Hip fracture prevention/ osteoporosis

www.sleepfoundation.org

ALZHEIMER'S (return to top)

www.enhancedmoments.com - A must-visit site! A book, videos, suggestions on how to enhance life for dementia patients, and you.

www.alz.org

www.alzdallas.org - Local information about the Alzheimer's chapter, including support groups.

www.alzforum.org - Recommended by Dr. Kevin Gray at UTSW, this site has a weekly newsletter

www.geriatric-resources.com

Dementia and Driving - A site hosted by the Hartford insurance

SIGHT IMPAIRMENT (return to top)

www.lighthouse.org - Resources such as magnifiers, readers, lighting to assist in adapting to life with reduced vision

www.dallaslighthouse.org - Accessibility and independence - Talking watches - Big-button phones - housewares - Oversized clocks - Magnifying mirrors - Lighting solutions - Games

www.macular.org

www.enhancedvision.com - "Innovative low vision solutions" catalog

PARKINSON'S DISEASE (return to top)

www.pdf.org

www.parkinson.org

END OF LIFE CONCERNS (return to top)

www.lastacts.org - Site for campaign to improve end of life care.

www.agingwithdignity.org - America's most popular advanced directive

www.growthhouse.org - Resources for life-threatening illness and end of life care.

www.adec.org - Assn. for death education and counseling, their vision is a world in which death, dying, grief, and bereavement are recognized as significant aspects of the human experience.

www.widownet.com

www.vista-care.com - Areas that have Vista Care Hospice in the U.S.

DRUGS & MEDICAL ISSUES (return to top)

http://www.flexitol.com/index.html - Flexitol is a range of skincare products for foot and nail care along with treatments for dry skin. Flexitol Heel Balm has been recommended by dermatologists for my older clients for rough, dry and cracked feet. It can be used as a treatment and preventative therapy in between pedicures or including use by diabetics.With daily use it keeps your feet soft, smooth and supple. It also helps prevent blisters and friction during exercise and when "breaking in" new shoes.

www.gmhfonline.org – Website of the Geriatric mental Health Foundation, established by the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry to raise awareness of psychiatric and mental health disorders affecting the elderly, eliminate the stigma of mental illness and treatment, promote healthy aging strategies, and increase access to quality mental health care for the elderly. Explore this site for mental health information for older adults and their families, to find a geriatric psychiatrist, for news of Foundation programs and events, and much more.

www.rxlist.com - Internet drug index – look up formation on particular drugs

www.institute-dc.org - Cost Containment Institute in Washington, D.C. has information about free or discounted drugs from manufacturers

www.rxassist.org - Rx Outreach is a Patient Assistance Program developed by Express Scripts Specialty Distribution Services, Inc. (ESSDS). The program provides qualified low-income individuals and families with access to generic versions of brand name medications.

www.medscape.com - A good site to use to look up information on drugs or specific diseases

www.healthfinder.gov - Guide to reliable health information from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

www.ccgp.org - Geriatric resources and information from Certified Geriatric Pharmacists

www.medherb.com - Medical Herbalism

www.medicare.gov/Prescription - Prescription drug assistance

www.nida.nih.gov - National Institute on Drug Abuse

www.nlm.nih.gov - National Library of Medicine

www.mediscene.com - Good site for researching medicines

http://www.vnaa.org - Visiting Nurses Assn.

FINANCIAL PLANNING (return to top)

www.tugglerussell.com

STAY AT HOME (return to top)

www.netgrocer.com - Grocery shop online

www.texasreversemortgage.com

www.homemods.org - Meeting the needs of older persons to age at home, National Resource Center on Supportive Housing

www.adaptenv.org - The site for 'universal design', educating builders and contractors to make housing in which we can all safely age at home

LEGAL INFORMATION (return to top)

Most lawyers are NOT aware of specific age-related issues or of the changes in specific Texas elderlaw. That does not stop them from charging you for out-dated or erroneous advice. Ask if your attorney is a member of NAELA, or knows about it. Caregiver issues often are about guardianship, which is very difficult in TX. Most attorneys want to advise about estate issues because there is money in it. Be careful out there!