Chapter 2 - Getting to Know a Different Body

  • Self Help for Hard of Hearing People is a nonprofit, educational organization that offers good links and information and identifies free screening sites throughout the country during annual Hearing Loss Week. Contact them at 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20814; 301-657-2248; www.shhh.org.
  • A great way of keeping track of sleep patterns that your parent can share with their doctor is to get a copy of the National Sleep Foundation's sleep diary. Call 202-347-3471 or visit their Web site at www.sleepfoundation.org.

Chapter 3 - Not-So-Normal Aging: The Physical Side

  • National Association for Continence
    P.O. Box 8310
    Spartanburg, SC 29305-8310
    www.nafc.org
  • National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases
    31 Center Drive, MSC 2560
    Bethesda, MD 20892-2560
    www.niddk.nih.gov
  • The Lighthouse National Center for Vision and Aging (www.lighthouse.org) has helpful information for those with vision problems, and a terrific catalog of devices to make life easier and vision better. They can also tell you where a low vision clinic is located near you. Call 1-800-334-5497, or their TDD line, 212-808-5544. On their Web site you can see how your parent sees with glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular generation!
  • An excellent Web site with links to plenty of other top-notch sites is by the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases at www.niddk.nih.gov. The American Diabetes Association is another great resource. Call them at 1-800-342-2383 or visit them on the Web at www.diabetes.org.
  • For more information, contact the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 1232 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20037-1292; 202-223-2226; www.nof.org. Or contact the National Institutes of Health, Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases, 1232 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037; 1-800-624-BONE; www.osteo.org.
  • Arthritis Foundation Information Line, 1-800-283-7800; www.arthritis.org.
  • American College of Rheumatology, 400-633-3777; www.rheumatology.org.
  • For more information about COPD, contact the American Lung Association , 1-800-586-4872; www.lungusa.org.

Chapter 4 - Not-So-Normal Aging: The Mental Side

  • The Merck Manual of Geriatrics is a classic medical reference book on identifying, understanding, and treating conditions that affect the elderly. You can now get it for free on the Internet. Just go to www.merck.com. You'll also find the Merck Manual Home Edition online for all of your family members.
  • National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Hopeline (1-800-622-2255 or www.ncadd.org)
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (212-870-3400 or www.alcoholics-anonymous.org)
  • National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (1-800-729-6686 or www.health.org)
  • Al-Anon Family Groups, Inc. (1-888-4AL-ANON or www.al-anon.alateen.org)
  • National Institute of Mental Health's Depression Awareness and Treatment Program (1-800-421-4211 or www.nimh.nih.gov)
  • National Foundation for Depressive Illness (1-800-248-4381 or www.depression.org).

Chapter 5 - Brain Attacks (Strokes) and Heart Attacks

  • The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has a top-notch Web site describing brain attacks and prevention strategies. Visit them at www.ninds.nih.gov.
  • The National Stroke Association offers an excellent Web site (www.stroke.org) for stroke victims and their families. You can also track down stroke support groups near you from the site. Or you can call them at 1-800-STROKES.

Chapter 6 - Alzheimer's Disease and Cancer

  • The Alzheimer's Association is an excellent organization that offers a wide range of information and support services. The have a nationwide network of chapters that hold monthly support meetings. Visit their Web site at www.alz.org to find a chapter near you, receive medical information, link to great resources, get expert advice online, and obtain a caregiver guide; or call them at 1-800-272-3900.
  • To receive the latest information on new treatments, track down clinical trials, or find a national Alzheimer's Disease Center near your parents, contact Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) at 1-800-438-4380. They also have a terrific Web site (www.alzheimers.org) that can connect you directly to the 29 national Alzheimer's disease centers throughout the United States. The site also keeps you posted on the results of the latest research.
  • There are two excellent organizations dedicated to cancer education and treatment. The first is the National Cancer Institute (1-800-4-CANCER or www.nci.nih.gov ). Click on their Clinical Trials icon to find a clinical trial. The other is the American Cancer Society (1-800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org).

Chapter 7 - Managing the Health Care Maze[md]Even from a Distance

  • To find a geriatric assessment center near your parent, call your local hospitals. Most university-based hospitals have a geriatric specialty and perform such assessments. You can also call the American Geriatrics Society at 212-308-1414, or visit their Web site at www.americangeriatrics.org. They can send you a list of physicians certified in geriatrics or e-mail information to you.
  • Living Strategies is a new eldercare solutions company that will track down a geriatric care manager for you and oversee his or her work. Visit them at www.livingstrategies.com. For a list of geriatric care managers in your area, contact The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers at 520-881-8008 or www.caremanager.org. You can also check the yellow pages under Social Workers, or your local area agency on aging.

Chapter 8 - Pills and Your Parents

  • Want to know the skinny on the drugs you or your parents take? Check out the National Library of Medicine's Web site at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus. It offers a guide to 9,000 prescription and over-the-counter medications. Very well done and understandable!
  • The National Library of Medicine's www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus is a great Web site for up-to-date consumer information on medications, over-the-counter drugs, and new discoveries. It also offers terrific links and related information.

Chapter 10 - Home Health Care

  • For more information about home health care, contact the National Association for Home Care, 228 Seventh Street S.E., Washington, DC 20003; 202-547-7424. Their Web site (www.nahc.org) offers a Home Care and Hospice Locator and an online guide on how to choose a home care provider. Or contact the Visiting Nurse Association of America, 3801 East Florida Avenue, Suite 900, Denver, CO 80210; 1-800-426-2547 or www.vnaa.org.

Chapter 11 - Remaining at Home: Making It Work

  • The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), along with the Home Builders Association, has a great Web site that gives you ideas and resources on how to design a senior-friendly home for independent living. AARP will also send you a free packet on how to safely remain at home. You can mail a request to AARP Fulfillment EEO#1397, 601 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20049; or order online at www.aarp.org/programs/connect. You can also visit their Web site on home designs at www.aarp.org/universalhome.

Chapter 12 - Living in the Community: Services and Transportation

  • You can find your area agency on aging in the phone book listed in the white pages under Area Agency on Aging, or in the government blue pages under Aging or Senior Services. Or call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 for the name and number of the area agency on aging closest to you. You can also contact your state's unit on aging listed in Appendix B. If you're interested in more information on area agencies on aging and what they offer, check out their national association Web site at www.n4a.org.
  • AARP offers a 55 ALIVE Mature Driving Program that gives classes to drivers 50 and older to improve their skills and to avoid accidents and traffic violations. It's an eight-hour course for a mere $10 and is open to anyone. Graduates of the course usually receive discounts on their auto insurance! For a class near you call 1-800-772-1213 or visit the AARP Web site at www.AARP.org/55ALIVE.

Chapter 13 - Housing Options

  • HUD operates a special Web site (www.hud.gov/senior) for seniors regarding housing issues. HUD also offers housing counseling centers. Call HUD at 1-888-569-4287 to find the center nearest you.
  • The National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification provides excellent information on how to modify the home, resources available to finance modification, and supportive services to help your parent stay at home. The Center is run by the Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern California. Visit their Web site at www.homemods.org, or call at 213-740-1364.

Chapter 14 - Assisted Living

  • Some assisted living facilities are voluntarily going through an accreditation process that will be launched in January 2001. These facilities are being reviewed by experts in the field to determine if they meet certain standards. The national group that accredits them is CARF: the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission. Ask the facility if they have a certificate from CARF or visit their Web site at www.carf.org. You can also search for facilities that are members of the nonprofit group AAHSA (American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging) at their Web site: www.AAHSA.org.

Chapter 15 - Choosing a Nursing Home

  • There are 131 Veterans Administration-run nursing homes in the country. To find out about one near you and if you are eligible, call 1-800-827-1000 or go to www.va.gov.
  • Get the latest survey inspection report on any nursing home in the country by going to www.medicare.gov. Click on Nursing Home Compare and you can search for homes by name or location. Some states are providing even more detailed information on nursing homes on the Web, so also check out your state's official web site.

Chapter 16 - Living in a Nursing Home

  • The National Citizen's Coalition for Nursing Home Reform has excellent information on resident's rights and the laws that oversee nursing homes (www.nccnhr.org or 202-332-2275). The Administration on Aging has an excellent Web site that provides you with a list of area agencies on aging and ombudsmen. It also has a resource section with over 200 links (www.aoa.gov, or call their Elder Locator at 1-800-677-1116).

Chapter 18 - Caring for Someone at Home: The Basics

  • CaregiverZone (www.caregiverzone.com). This excellent site is a one-stop shop for information, services, and resources for caregiving. The site was designed by a social worker in senior services.
  • Caregiver Survival Resources (www.caregiver911.com). This site is maintained by a couple who have 35 years of professional caregiving experience. The site is easy to use, offers questions and answers on caregiving, links to other resources, and a chat room.
  • An excellent video series, Aging Parents: The Family Survival Guide, tells you all about how to care for your aging parent. It's been endorsed by the National Council on Aging. The cost is $99 (perhaps a local hospital would buy it and loan it out). Check it out on the Web at www.agingparents.com or call 1-888-777-5585.
  • The American Dietetic Association (www.eatright.org). At this site you can search for a registered dietician near you for a consult.
  • The Tufts University Nutrition Navigator Nutritionists (www.navigator.tufts.edu). This site reviews and rates a zillion Web sites on nutrition. You can hyperlink to those they review.
  • Mayo Clinic's Health Oasis (www.mayohealth.org/). This site is fun and user-friendly, offering articles on nutrition, a virtual cookbook, and Ask a Dietician. You can even send in your favorite recipe for a “makeover” on how to make it less fattening and more healthy. Click on the Nutrition Center on the home page.
  • You can order The 36-Hour Day through Johns Hopkins University Press by calling 1-800-537-5487 or go to www.press.jhu.edu. It's also available at most bookstores. It's a must-read for anyone taking care of someone with Alzheimer's.

Chapter 19 - You Can't Do It All

  • The following caregiver Web sites provide great information, as well as host chat rooms and discussion boards: www.caregiver911.org, www.caregiverzone.com, and www.caregiving.com.
  • To find an adult day services program near you, call the National Adult Day Services Association at 202-479-0735 or visit their Web site at www.ncoa.org/nadsa and ask for a directory of adult day programs by city and state.

Chapter 20 - End-of-Life Matters and Hospice

  • At Dr.Ira Byock's Web site (www.dyingwell.org) you'll find that each book is linked to Amazon.com so that you can get a synopsis of the book. The award-winning Growth House site (www.growthhouse.org) brings together just about everything you need to know on dying and death. It also offers synopses of the books they recommend. Bookmark these sites!
  • I recommend the following Web sites on hospice care: Hospice Foundation of America (www.hospicefoundation.org), 1-800-854-3402; National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (www.nhpco.org), 703-243-5900; American Hospice Foundation (www.americanhospice.org), 202-223-0204.
  • Visit Medicare's Web site (www.medicare.gov) and click on "Important Contacts," where you can find the phone number of the regional home health intermediary. Give them a call and they'll tell you how to contact the Medicare-certified hospices in your area. You can also call Medicare at 1-800-633-4277. Or visit the National Hospice Organization Web site(www.nhpco.org); you can click on a map that will give you a list of hospices in your area.
  • Some other sites of interest include Death with Dignity National Center (www.deathwithdignity.org), 202-530-2900; Americans for Better Care of the Dying (www.absd-caring.org); and Last Acts (lastacts.rwjf.org).
  • Aging with Dignity is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting better care of the dying. They offer an excellent advance directive known as Five Wishes that also serves as durable health care power of attorney. You can view a copy at their web site and then order it. Go to www.agingwithdignity.org or email them at FiveWishes@agingwithdignity.org or call 1-800-562-1931 to purchase a copy.

Chapter 21 - Got to Have Those M & Ms: Medicare and Medicaid

  • To locate your local Social Security office to apply for Medicare, call 1-800-772-1213 or check out their top-notch Web site at www.ssa.gov.
  • To search and compare Medi-gap policies and for tips on buying policies, visit www.medicare.gov/MGCompare. Get a free copy of the Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare at this Web site or call 1-800-633-4227 to order. SHIP (Seniors Health Insurance Program) counselors offer free health insurance advice and can help you sort through Medicare. Call your local area agency on aging (listed in the blue pages of your phone book) to contact your local SHIP program.
  • To search and compare Medi-gap policies and for tips on buying policies, visit www.medicare.gov/MGCompare. Get a free copy of the Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare at this Web site or call 1-800-633-4227 to order. SHIP (Seniors Health Insurance Program) counselors offer free health insurance advice and can help you sort through Medicare. Call your local area agency on aging (listed in the blue pages of your phone book) to contact your local SHIP program.

Chapter 22 - The Saving Private Ryan Generation

  • The procedures to get burial benefits and copies of the forms are available at the VA Web site (www.va.gov); just click on Burial and Memorial Benefits. You can also call 1-800-827-1000 or write to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration (403A), 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20420. Your funeral director is probably also aware of the benefits and can help make arrangements for you.

Chapter 23 - Beating Out-of-Pocket Expenses

  • One Web site that's a must-visit is www.insure.com. U.S. News & World Report and Money magazine voted this site as a best on insurance and as a "Best of the Web" site. It has excellent material on insurance, including a Complaint Finder that reports an insurance company's record by state. You'll find specific news on your state and a link to your state's department of insurance. It also taps Standard and Poor's insurance rating data bank. For A.M. Best's ratings online, visit its Web site at www.ambest.com.
  • The Shopper's Guide to Long Term Care Insurance, developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), includes a worksheet to help you compare policies. To order this guide, write to NAIC Publications, 2301 McGee Street, Suite 600, Kansas City, MO 64108; 816-783-8300; e-mail pubdist@naic.org. Ask for it by name or by publication number: LTC-LP.

Chapter 25 - Lawyers, Wills, and Estate Planning

  • The National Association of Elder Law Attorneys offers a registry of elder law attorneys nationwide. Visit its site at www.naela.com and you can search for lawyers by specialty and location. You'll get the contact information you need and great links to other legal resources. You can also contact the association at 1604 North Country Club Road, Tucson, AZ 85716; 520-325-7925.
  • For a terrific, up-to-date review of laws, regulations, and legislation that affect seniors, along with a list of resources, check out www.seniorlaw.com.
  • Nolo's legal Web site (www.nolo.com) offers you all kinds of resources and access to highly rated books, including Nolo's Will Book by Denis Clifford and Plan Your Estate by Denis Clifford and Cora Jordan. Visit the site or call 1-800-992-6656 to order Nolo's Willmaker, a CD/ROM Win/Mac program that takes you through an easy interview format to complete a will. Another good resource is AARP's Legal Hotline Technical Assistance Project, which runs 21 senior legal hotlines throughout the country. Call 202-434-2164 or visit www.aarp.org/foundation/hotline.