Senior Resources

We've searched the Web to find the most helpful information and resources for seniors. Whether you're looking for government or state programs, information on health, safety, or prescription drug side effects, or how to stop those irritating telemarketing calls, these links will bring you a wealth of information.

Click links to jump to...

• Federal government programs
• Minnesota State sites
• Non-profits
• Educational Opportunities
• Safety and recalls
• Health, wellness, prescription drugs
• How to get off marketing lists
• Finances, law and taxes
  
• Nursing home comparisons
  
• Publications/online resources

Federal government programs

Social Security Administration
The official Website of the Social Security Administration with information on calculating and applying for benefits, replacing cards, and other news. (To sign up online for Social Security Retirement Benefits.)

Medicare
Information on Medicare coverage, including the prescription drug program.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Information on these programs, including choosing a Medicap insurance policy.

USA.gov
Senior citizen information and services from the U.S. government. The site has many links to other government agencies.

Administration on Aging
Provides a comprehensive overview of a wide variety of topics, programs and services related to aging, including an Elders and Families section designed to assist older persons obtain information on services available to them.

National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information
Developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this site provides information and resources to help you plan for future long-term care. Topics include cost of care, public programs, planning steps, and services and providers.

National Institute on Aging
The Institute leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. It supports and conducts research on aging and has a variety of publications available on such topics as healthy aging, care giving, and medications. (Go to Publications)

Minnesota state sites

Minnesota Board on Aging
First established in 1956, the MBA is one of the pioneers in the field of aging policy, information and assistance. It works closely with its Area Agencies on Aging, which are located throughout the state to provide services to seniors.

Office of the Attorney General - Seniors
This section of the Attorney General's site is a comprehensive guide for seniors. It contains advice about fraud, estate planning, wills and many other topics

Senior Link - Statewide Resources for Seniors
Online access to statewide community resources for seniors, their families and caregivers. The Senior Section of MinnesotaHelp.info will help seniors focus on finding the help they need on such things as transportation or meals.

Minnesota RxConnect
Created by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, this site provides information related to prescription drugs, the use of generics, safety and cost saving tips, and programs available to help low-income Minnesotans with the high cost of prescription medicine.

Non-profits

Benefits Checkup
A service of the National Council on Aging, this site maintains a list of federal, state, local and private programs that can help pay for prescription drugs, utility bills, meals, health care and other needs.

Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network
MnCAAN promotes opportunities for the intentional active engagement of older adults in the creative arts to improve their health and quality of life.

Minnesota Senior Corps
The Minnesota Senior Corps administers three nationally funded programs designed to assist the elderly in our communities to volunteer to help others.

Vital Aging Network (VAN)
The Network promotes the self-sufficiency, community participation and quality of life of older adults. VAN sponsors monthly forums and other ventures.

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over.

National Resource Center on Nutrition, Physical Activity & Aging
The site contains information on nutrition and physical activity.

Educational Opportunities

Elderhostel: Adventures in Lifelong Learning
Elderhostel offers in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning experiences for almost every interest and ability. There are "learning adventures" in all 50 states and more than 90 countries abroad. You can search by zip code for programs in your area.

Center for Senior Citizen Education, St. Thomas University
The Center for Senior Citizens' Education is a community outreach program of the University of St. Thomas. It presents educational and cultural programs specifically designed to foster and support life-long learning.

University for Seniors, Unversity of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD)
University for Seniors (US) provides lifelong learning for individuals age 50 and older. The educational program focuses on humanities-based opportunities for intellectual and cultural development, but also includes options for social events and field trips.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OILLI)
The Institute is a membership-based community of older adults in the Twin Citites area. Members choose from more than 180 courses and activities a year. An affiliated, noncredit program of the University of Minnesota College of Continuing Education, OLLI is guided by a member-elected board of directors, working through volunteer committees

Safety and recalls

Minnesota SeniorSafe
Sponsored by the Minnesota Safety Council, this site has information on fall prevention and other safety tips.

Recalls.gov
The site contains recent recalls issued by six government regulatory agencies. You can also find information on recalls on the U.S.Consumer Product Safety Commission's site.

Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
U.S. Food and Drug Administration alerts on food and drug recalls and alerts

National Crime Prevention Council
The Council has a section with information directed on crime prevention tips for seniors, including personal safety information.

SeniorDrivers.org
Tips and resources for driving safe by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

AARP Driver Safety
Includes schedule of AARP Driver Safety education classes in your area and how to save money on auto insurance by doing so.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Preventing Falls
Facts, figures and tips on preventing falls. Among people 65 years and older, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.

Health, wellness, prescription drugs

Aging in the Know
Created by the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging, Aging in the Know offers up-to-date information on health and aging, including information on common diseases and disorders that affect older adults.

Senior Recovery Program
The Senior Recovery Program (Maplewood, Minn.) provides outpatient alcoholism and chemical dependency treatment exclusively for seniors.

Drug Information
DrugWatch.com is a comprehensive drug reference featuring extensive information about thousands of different medications and drugs currently on the market or previously available worldwide. This site includes up-to-date information about prescription and over-the-counter medications and details about associated drug side effects to aid in the protection of patients and consumers.

LightBridge Healthcare Research, Inc.
Information and educational training materials for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia. LightBridge's Website offers information on Alzheimer's disease, caregiving strategies and tips, articles on the latest research, and an online community of caregivers sharing personal experience and expertise.

Mayo Clinic
The site contains such health related information as medical conditions, treatment decisions, drugs and supplements.

Merck Source
Health condition guides, resource library, health tools and the Merck Home Manual.

Medline
Health information from the National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health.

NIH Senior Health.gov
This Web site for older adults was developed by the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine, both part of the National Institutes of Health.

WebMD — Drugs, Treatments and User Reviews
Search for prescription and over-the-counter medications by brand or generic name, or by condition.

Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs
This site provides free guidance for consumers on prescription medicines. Best Buy Drugs is a public education project. It will help you talk to your doctor about prescription drugs, and find the most effective and safe drugs that also give you the best value for your health care dollar.

AARP Consumer Guide to Prescription Drugs
Information on drugs, prices and choices.

Carol.com
Carol, The Care Marketplace, allows Twin Cities' consumers to compare health care services, practitioner credentials, quality dimensions and costs — with or without insurance. Carol works with insurance companies to verify membership and provide cost estimates for care packages.

BrainWeb — Brain Resources for Seniors
Brain Resources for Seniors provides older adults and their caretakers with links to sites related to brain health, education and general information. It's produced by the Dana Foundation, a private philanthropy with principal interests in brain science, immunology, and arts education.

How to get off marketing lists

National Do Not Call Registry
The Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at this Web site. Registering your home or cell phone is free.

World Privacy Forum's Top 10 Opt Outs
A non-profit, public interest research group. Its Top 10 Opt Outs page has links and phone numbers to get consumers get off marketing lists.

OptOutPrescreen.com
The official Website of the Consumer Credit Reporting Industry, this site processes requests from consumers to opt out of unsolicited offers of credit or insurance.

Direct Mail Preference Service
The site allows consumers to remove their names from email and direct mail list and also includes tips on protecting your identity from being stolen.

Finances, law and taxes

Securities and Exchange Commission
Resources and links to help seniors stay on top of their finances. Includes topics such as investing wisely, products to know about and calculators.

Law for Seniors
Law for Seniors is a program of the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education with support from the Arizona Supreme Court and State Bar of Arizona. However, the site has general information regardless of the state you live in.

IRS Tips for Seniors in Preparing Their Taxes
Information from the IRS for seniors.

AARP Tax Aides
The AARP Tax-Aide program offers free one-on-one counselling, as well as assistance on the telephone and internet to help individuals prepare basic tax forms

Senior Investor Resource Center
Tools to help you avoid being the target of fraud, presented by the North American Securities Administrators Association.

Nursing home comparisons

If you have a nursing home in mind and want to see how it is rated, both the State of Minnesota and Medicare have lots of resources.

Minnesota Annual Health Care Inspection Findings
Facilities that are federally certified are inspected by the Minnesota Department of Health on behalf of the federal government, The State also inspects about a dozen state-certified homes such as the five Minnesota veterans homes. Facilities are rated overall and on health inspections, nursing home staffing and quality measures.(You can also review complaints made to the State Health Department.)

New Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Ratings
Medicare uses a five-star rating to compare nursing homes. Each facility is rated from a low of one star to a high of five stars based on three critical areas: health inspection results, quality measures, and staffing levels. An overall rating is also provided.

Publications/online information

Gold Age Magazine (St. Cloud)
Professional Publication for Assisted Lifestyles in Minnesota. Features a variety of facilities for its cover story. Its goal is to inform the decision makers as well as the public on matters relating to their lifestyle.

AlzheimersSpeaks.com
Information on speakers and resources for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. Alzheimer's Speaks was developed as a resource for professionals and public alike, to provide easy access to a variety of services, tools, concepts and products when dealing with the disease.
Alzheimer's Speaks' philosophy is that working together and sharing knowledge is the best way to win the battle against this disease.

Disabled Online
An online portal that provides web directories, forums, chat rooms, shopping and classifieds for people with disabilities.