Aging in the Know

Aging in the Know: Your Gateway to Health and Aging Resources is a public service of the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging. This web site offers information on health care issues, including specific diseases, and advice about what questions you may want to ask your physician as they relate to your diseases and conditions. There is also information on receiving care in your community, rehabilitation services, hospitals and nursing homes, and end-of-life care. Visit this site at: http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/default.asp

American Red Cross Guide on Caregiving

The American Red Cross focuses on disaster and emergency prevention, preparation and response. As part of its effort, the American Red Cross has developed a guide on Family Caregiving. The guide helps caregivers understand how to create safe living spaces, provide medications, prevent injuries, and other important topics. The guide also comes with a DVD. Contact your local American Red Cross chapter for more information, or visit the web site at: http://www.redcross.org

Environmental Health Hazards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Aging Initiative has developed fact sheets that outline simple steps for protecting your health, particularly for older adults with chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, asthma, and COPD. The fact sheets have been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, Italian, French, Arabic and Russian. To access these fact sheets, visit: http://epa.gov/aging/resources/factsheets/index.htm#fs.www.epa.gov/aging http://epa.gov/aging/resources/factsheets/index.htm#fs.www.epa.gov/aging]

Help for People with Disabilities

The federal government has developed a one-stop web site for people with disabilities. This site has much to offer to caregivers as well, including information on Medicare and Medicaid benefits, long-term care, transportation, assistive technology, housing and support services. Visit this site at: http://www.disabilityinfo.gov

Medicare

Medicare provides health care and prescription coverage for people 65 years of age and older, for those who are under 65 and have disabilities, and for those of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease. For information about Medicare, visit: Medicare and You 2008 at http://www.medicare.gov/spotlights.asp#medicare2008.