Internet Resources
The internet can be the source of accurate and useful information: however, a great deal of inaccurate information is also readily available. Care must be taken to check on site reliability. To the best of our knowledge, the following is a list of reliable caregiver sites that you may find helpful.
- www.caregiving.org National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit coalition of national organizations focusing on issues of family caregiving. Alliance members include grassroots organizations, professional associations, service organizations, disease-specific organizations, a government agency, and corporations. The site provides helpful information related to caregiver concerns.
- www.elderlawanswers.com This site provides answers to legal questions relevant to caregiving as well as lists of eldercare attorneys.
- www.caringbridge.com Site provides free, personalized websites that support and connect loved ones during critical illness, treatment and recovery. The personalized website enables families to communicate easily with a network of friends.
- www.caringinfo.org State specific advance directives can be downloaded from this site.
- www.medicarerights.org Information about Medicare rights and benefits
- www.shiraruskay.org The Shira Ruskay Center of the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services provides assistance to the NYC community facing advanced serious illness or loss. They offer practical help and guidance as well as a supportive community of caring, knowledgeable professionals.
- www.lotsahelpinghands.com Free site that enables families to create a private, web-based site to organize family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues – a family’s ‘circles of community’ – during times of need. The group calendar can coordinate activities and mange volunteers. Announcements, message boards, and photos enable communication and information sharing.
- http://www.totallifechoices.org/ This is an excellent site which explains Proxy legislation and provides copies of the NY State Advance Directives form. It also provides assistance to register proxy documents in a secure national registry so that documents can be available to physicians and hospitals immediately. They send a wallet card which explains how to access this information. Remember that a proxy document is only as good as the conversation with the proxy before it is signed.
- www.nextstepincare.org Excellent new website for family caregivers – recently developed by the United Hospital Fund – the purpose of this site is to ease the transitions that inevitably occur when people make transitions from hospital to home or rehab etc.
- www.familycaregiversonline.net An excellent site that is well organized, easy to navigate and provides useful information.
- http://nyhealthaccess.org This website is a joint project of Selfhelp Community services, the Empire Justice Center & The Legal Aid Society. It provides escellent up to date information on entitlement, etc. The following link will take you to NYS specific information about an important program that may be useful to some. An Overview of Medicare Savings Programs in New York. Links to NYS forms and policy directives are included. Most notably, New York is one of the states mentioned that has NO LIMIT on assets – making this program available to many more seniors and people with disabilities.
- Things to Know About Assisted Living The NY Times blog by Jane Gross on the NEW OLD AGE: Caring and Coping brings you to an interesting series of articles on caregiving. This brings you to one article rather than the entire blog. From this page there are links for many kinds of caregiver resources.
- www.healthcare.gov This innovative new website developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services helps you understand all the health insurance options available in your local area for you and your family. After answering just a few basic questions, the website’s insurance finder will identify public and private coverage options that might be right for you. As the website grows, you will be able to research helth plan quality ratings, learn about disease prevention, and compare health plan prices all in one place.
- www.thefamilycaregiver.org A directory of articles, newsletters, resources and helpful advice and information for caregivers. Also information on Caregiver Community Action Network (CCAN), a group of state by state individual volunteers comprised of current or former family caregivers who provide information and support.
- www.nutrition.gov U.S. Department of Agriculture’s interactive healthy eating site. Click on “Life Stages” and then on “Seniors” for in-depth information on what to eat as we age.
- Nassau County Department of Senior Citizen Affairs Links to information, caregiving, and services in the county.
- New York State Office for the Aging Links to state and local offices and resources.
- www.benefitscheckup.org Prescription drug assistance for people on Medicare who have limited resources and resources.
- Shelter Rock Public Library Website A wealth of senior directory listings, websites, links, and contact numbers in many categories. Local libraries should have similar information on their websites.
- Maryland “A Guide for Family Caregivers” A comprehensive guide to caregiver issues. Can be viewed or downloaded in PDF format from website
- National Institute on Aging An informational site and an arm of the National Institute of Health doing scientific research to understand the nature of aging. Formed by Congress in 1974, it provides leadership in aging research, training, and programs relevant to aging at hospitals, universities, and public and private organizations.
- Living Long and Well Into the 21st Century online PDF document with many links to research and resources to find effective interventions that will allow people to live long and well in this century.
- GoodEndofLife This website is intentionally simple. It is designed to help you think about planning your end of life. It focuses on the qualitative aspects of your experience.
- Live Online Chats with Alzheimer’s Experts This website provides opportunities to connect with both experts and other caregivers.
- MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger: Savvy Living
- Next Avenue is a website from PBS stations that inspires America’s 50+ generation to live the most meaningful, vibrant life possible. Our site features thousands of articles, videos and slideshows all designed to help you make the most of your life’s second half. Visit us today at www.nextavenue.org.
