This Senior Resource Page
has been established as a public service and as a convenience to the
community.
Listings on this website do not infer an endorsement or recommendation
of the businesses or agencies listed nor of the products and services
they provide.
This page cannot be
maintained without some input from its
users: Please send us your favorite Websites and assistance pages and
let
us know whenever you find a "broken" (non-working) link. Just send an
Email to krumme(at)comcast.net
Thank you!
Click for Detailed Resource
Categories and Individual Organizations:
nihseniorhealth.gov/ is a new
Web site featuring health information from the National
Institute of Health.
This website for older adults was developed by the National Institute
on
Aging and the National Library of Medicine, both part of NIH.
This is a talking web site. Click the "Turn
Speech On" button at the top
of the page to hear the text read aloud. On any page, click the content
to
hear the information. Additional options: "Enlarge Text" and "High
Contrast".
Adult Abuse and Prevention
[DSHS, State of Washington - Hotline: 1-866-EndHarm (1-866-363-4276)].
"If you suspect abuse of a vulnerable adult in Washington State call the statewide abuse hotline number
at 1-866-EndHarm (1-866-363-4276). It’s up to all of us to stop the abuse"
Nursing Home & Elder Abuse Law Center
"We specialize in elder abuse and elder neglect lawsuits against
nursing
homes and other long term care facilities throughout California. Our
mission is to obtain justice for our clients when there has been
neglect or abuse by a nursing home."
Aging
Deliberately
"Aging Deliberately is a business that educates and motivates people to
plan for their aging in the long-term – and helps older people and
their families to make
well-informed choices when someone needs care and there’s no longer
time to plan ahead.d."
Seattle Times Archive on "Aging Deliberately"
Amen Clinics [Daniel
Amen]
Daniel G. Amen, MD is a physician, child and adult psychiatrist, brain
imaging specialist, bestselling author, Distinguished Fellow of the
American Psychiatric Association and the CEO and medical director of
Amen Clinics, Inc. (ACI) in Newport Beach and Fairfield,
California, Tacoma, Washington and Reston, Virginia .
ACI is the world leader in applying brain imaging science to clinical
practice. ACI has the world’s largest database of functional brain
scans related to psychiatric medicine, now totaling more than 50,000
scans, and the clinics have seen patients from 75 countries.
Arrowhead Gardens (Housing4Seniors/SHAG)
"Senior Housing Assistance Group, (known throughout the northwest as
SHAG) is Washington 's largest non-profit organization dedicated to
providing affordable, age and income qualified rental apartment living
communities for senior and disabled senior persons. With communities
located from Bellingham in the north to Olympia in the south, SHAG
properties are also located in Auburn, Federal Way, Kent, Kirkland,
Lakewood, Lynnwood, Puyallup, Renton, Seattle and Tacoma."
Assistance Programs
A service that identifies federal and state assistance programs for
older
Americans.
The National Council on the Aging created BenefitsCheckUp to help older
adults to quickly identify programs that may improve the quality of
their
lives
Assisted Living Source
"Our comprehensive directory can help you find the right Assisted
Living
Community, Nursing Home, Retirement Community, Alzheimer's Care
Facility, or Independent Living Community."
Assisted Living: National
Center
(NCAL)
[the assisted
living voice of the American Health Care Association
(AHCA), the nation's largest organization representing long term
care providers.]
BenefitsCheckUp.org
A service that identifies federal and state assistance programs for
older
Americans.
The National Council on the Aging created BenefitsCheckUp to help older
adults to quickly identify programs that may improve the quality of
their
lives
Blake Island [Seniors: This is a very
worthwhile destination in Puget Sound with a view of Seattle & the
Space Needle and many short & longer walks!]
PDQ: National Cancer Institute's
comprehensive cancer database
[Physician Data Query]
It contains evidence-based summaries on
a wide range of cancer topics including adult and pediatric cancer
treatment, supportive and palliative care, screening and detection,
prevention, genetics, supportive and palliative care, and complementary
and alternative medicine.
OncoLink (U.of Penn)
OncoLink's blogs gives our readers a chance to react to and comment on
key cancer news topics and provides a forum for OncoLink Experts and
readers to share opinions and learn from each other.
Caring Connections= a
program of the National Hospice and Palliative
Care Organization
(NHPCO), is a national consumer engagement initiative to improve care
at the end of
life, supported by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Caring Connections tracks and monitors all state and federal
legislation and significant
court cases related to end-of-life care to ensure that our advance
directives are up to
date.
Center
for Aging (Univ. of Hawaii, Manoa)
"The Center on Aging (COA) was established in 1988 to:
1) stimulate and coordinate gerontological and aging instruction,
research, and community services and,
2) promote collaboration between the University and other organizations
concerned with aging."
Choice
Advisory Services, Inc.
["Serving seniors & their family members in King & Snohomish
Counties
since 1993"]
CHOICE Advisory Services was established in 1993 to assist
seniors and their family members in
locating
appropriate housing and care services. We are experts in
information regarding assisted living and adult family
home options.
[including new drugs, new approaches to
surgery or radiation therapy, new combinations of treatments, or new
methods such as gene
therapy]
"A clinical trial is a research study that helps determine whether new
treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical
trials on volunteers are the fastest
and safest way to find treatments that work on people." [Source:
www.nidcd.nih.gov/]
National Cancer
Institute: Clinical Trials [Find Trials/ Trial Results /
Educational Materials / "Noteworthy
Clinical Trials"]
What are "Clinical Trials"?
National Cancer Institute: Search for Clinical Trials
Search NCI's list of 8,000+ clinical trials now accepting participants,
or use more search options to search the set of 19,000+ clinical trials
that are no longer recruiting.
`
ClinicalTrials.gov [A
Service of the National Institutes of Health]
"ClinicalTrials.gov is a registry of federally and privately supported
clinical trials conducted in the United States and around the world.
ClinicalTrials.gov gives you
information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations,
and phone numbers for more details. This information should be used in
conjunction with advice from
health care professionals"
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle)
... search options to find clinical trials that are being conducted at
the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the University of
Washington and Seattle Children's.
Contact information is located on the description page for each study.
Please check back periodically as the information provided is being
updated.
Compare the Quality of Health Care
[for Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Dialysis Facilities]
A federal government Website managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Computers & Seniors
Seniors
Compute! [Seattle]
Learn computer skills and bring the world to your finger tips.
Communicate with friends, family and the world.
Coverage: Explore your options [www.healthcare.gov/]
[Find out which private insurance plans, public programs and community services are available to you.]
A federal government Website managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W. - Washington, D.C. 20201
[Find out which private insurance plans, public programs and community services are available to you.]
[How to prepare for a visit with your doctor; what kinds of questions
to ask]
Talking
With Your Doctor: A Guide for Older People [Nat. Inst. on Aging]
Why Does It Matter? How well you and your doctor talk to each other is
one of the most
important parts of getting good health care. Unfortunately, talking to
your doctor isn’t always easy. It takes time and effort on your part as
well as your doctor’s.
Talking With Your Doctor [Medline Plus]
"Visiting a doctor's office can make you nervous, impatient, or even
scared. You may have only a few minutes...
Later, you might remember something you forgot to ask. Or you may
forget what the doctor or nurse said. Being prepared can help you get
the information you need."
Talking with Your Doctor [NIH: Senior Health (The talking Web
site)]
Planning Your Doctor Visit ;
Your Visit to the Doctor ;
Asking Questions ;
Conversations After Diagnosis ;
Frequently Asked Questions ;
Videos
DRUGS
Prescription Drug Program (Washington State)
The Prescription Drug Program has developed several tools, released discount card programs, and pooled resources with other organizations with the same goal in
mind...providing information and programs that serve the residents of Washington and their current needs for prescription drug purchasing assistance.
Drug Digest
[incl. Interaction checker]
"DrugDigest is a noncommercial, evidence-based, consumer health and
drug
information site dedicated to empowering consumers to make informed
choices about drugs and treatment options."
ElderNet (National)
A seniors' guide to health,
housing, legal, financial,
retirement, lifestyles, news
and entertainment information
on the World Wide Web.
Elder
Pathways Ltd. [Consultation; Geriatric Care Management for Tacoma,
Seattle, Olympia & Everett]
"It is the mission of Elder Pathways, Ltd. to provide humane
and dignified care for elders and their families
through individualized
planning, education, advocacy and high standards of
professional practice."
ElderRage [—or—
Take My Father...Please! How To Survive Caring For Aging Parents]
Are You At Your Wit's End With Elder Care
And coping with an elderly loved one who:
• Makes unreasonable demands, wanting all of your time?
• Is experiencing memory loss or dementia / Alzheimer’s?
• Is obsessed with ill health, but refuses to see the doctor?
• Has become depressed, manipulative, distrustful or hostile?
• Refuses any mention of caregiving or elder care help?
Then you'll love this riveting true story, written with compassion, heart and humor—and realize that you're not alone.
Elderwise (Capitol
Hill, Seattle)
A cultural and artistic enrichment
program designed to promote
healthy aging for seniors through a multi-faceted venue
based
on respect for the wisdom of elders. Elderwise is a registered
non-profit
organization and a member of the Washington Adult Day Service
Association.
Emeritus Senior Living
At Emeritus Senior Living, we offer a variety of senior living apartments to choose from. Each community offers unique services and amenities specifically designed with seniors in mind.
HQ: Emeritus Senior Living
3131 Elliott Avenue, Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98121
206-298-2909
Emeritus Promotes Brain Health
["The brain is the most complex and magnificent system in our universe. At Emeritus, we’re passionate about good brain health for our residents, families, staff and our surrounding community. As part of this commitment to brain wellness, we are pioneering programming in assisted living to promote and maintain the brain.
Below is a collection of links to tips for caregivers needing a little extra help."]
Encore (Retirement) Communities [Kitsap County & Shelton]
"There are four Encore Communities; three in Silverdale and one in Shelton, Washington. These four Encore Communities offer a variety of living options and health care services from private country cottages for independent retirement living to assisted living and innovative programs providing care for Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias."
ERA Care Communities
ERA Care is the only retirement community network to have an exclusive
relationship with the #1 nationally-rated UW School of Nursing.
Through this
collaboration, state-of-the-art wellness programs have been
developed
and are available at all ERA Care Communities.
Fall prevention: 6 tips to prevent falls [Mayo Clinic]
Falls put you at risk of serious injury. Prevent falls with these
simple fall-prevention measures, from reviewing your medications to
hazard-proofing your home.
Martial arts fall techniques decrease the impact forces at the hip
during sideways falling.
by Groen BE, Weerdesteyn V, Duysens J.
J Biomech. 2007;40(2):458-62. Epub 2006 Feb 9.
"Falls to the side and those with impact on the hip are risky for hip
fractures in the elderly. A previous study has indicated that martial
arts (MA) fall techniques can reduce hip impact force..."
Family Caregivers [National Association...]
'Rosalyn Carter said it best: “There are only four
kinds of people in the world – those who have been
caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those
who will be caregivers and those who will need
caregivers”. Caregivers are needed for family members
of all ages. With appropriate information and
support, family caregivers can help their loved ones
across the lifespan.'
Snap for Seniors
... offers a searchable database of listings for over 60,000
senior service providers in the U.S:
licensed senior housing and Medicare-certified home healthcare
providers across the country, continuing care retirement
communities (CCRCs), independent living retirement communities, and
facilities that provide assisted living, residential care, nursing and
rehabilitation.
Games: Northwest
Senior Games
"The Competition is open to men and women who do not gain livelihood
competing in the sport entered. Participants must be 50+ by December
2009 for all sports. In some sports, commissioners are accepting
players as young as 40."
Living Legacies: How to Write, Illustrate, and Share Your Life
Stories
by Duane Elgin and Coleen Ladrew
Legacy: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Personal History
by Linda Spence
Old Friend From Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoir
by Natalie Goldberg
Genomics: Family History Public Health Initiative (CDC)
In 2002, the Office of Public Health Genomics (OPHG) started the Family
History Public Health Initiative to increase awareness of family
history as an important risk factor for common chronic diseases such as
cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, and to promote its use in programs
aimed at reducing the burden of these diseases in the U.S. population.
Golden Eagle Pass Program
[A yearly pass honored at all Forest Service, National Parks Service,
Bureau of Land Management, and US Fish and Wildlife Service sites
charging fees for entrance into federal recreation areas, use of high
impact recreation areas and developed day-use recreation sites which
may include picnic sites, low development boat ramps, trailheads,
visitor centers, and parking.]
Golden Age
Passport
Golden Age Passport
(for citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are age
62 or older)
The Golden Age Passport is a lifetime entrance pass to national parks,
monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife
refuges that charge an entrance fee. The Golden Age Passport admits the
pass signee and any accompanying passengers in a private* vehicle if a
park has a per vehicle entrance fee. Where a per person entrance fee is
charged, the Golden Age Passport admits the pass signee, spouse, and
children.
Grandparenting
["Never have children, only grandchildren"]
Internet destinations devoted to Seniors. Friendly environmen
t where
older adults and their families could better connect with each other
and find really useful information and services.
Seattle Area Happiness Initiative (SAHI)
SAHI "is a project of Sustainable Seattle's Gross National Happiness Initiative. The mission of the Seattle Area Happiness Initiative is to
provide a comprehensive assessment of wellbeing and to engage & inspire people, organizations and policy makers to action."
This survey offers you an enjoyable way to learn just how well you are
doing in the nine domains of happiness identified by researchers around
the world! These include:
psychological well-being;
physical health;
time or work-life balance;
social connection and community vitality;
education;
access to arts, culture and recreation;
environmental quality and access to nature;
good governance;
material well-being.
When you complete this survey, you will receive an instantaneous
well-being score (!) for each of these domains and you will be able to
compare your score with the median results for others who have taken
the survey. You will find that the 135 questions in this survey will
encourage you to think about your life in new ways and about what you
can do to be happier.
Antecedents of Seattle's Gross Happiness Index:
The Greater Victoria Happiness Index Partnership
What is a happiness index?
There is a growing recognition of the need for more comprehensive measures of development and progress in both the developed and developing worlds...
www.grossnationalhappiness.com/
[Coronation Address of His Majesty King Khesar, The 5th Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan, 7th November, 2008]
www.healthcare.gov/ 2010
Website covering decision and plan options under new health care
legislation.
Health Information:
MedlinePlus
....Information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus brings
together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of
Health (NIH), and other
government
agencies and health-related organizations. Preformulated MEDLINE
searches are included in MedlinePlus and give easy access to medical
journal articles. MedlinePlus also
has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical
encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news.
Older Adults: Why Is Health Literacy Important?
"....differences in access to formal education and literacy training, the complexity and technical nature of health information, and the
natural processes of aging may compromise older adults' capacity to use health information and make sense of messages...."
Developing Materials to Match the Health Literacy Skills of Older Adults
"Do you want to communicate health messages to an older adult audience?
Whether you're developing print or online information, broadcast media or delivering a health presentation, this web site is for you.
This section will provide tools and resources to help you improve your communication with older adults and address health literacy barriers."
Home Instead Senior Care
The Home Instead Senior Care family network of locally owned franchise
offices was developed with a passionate desire to be your trusted
in-home care agency, to help your family keep your aging mother,
father, grandparents or friends in their home as they grow older.
Family Resource Home Care [www.familyresourcehomecare.com/]
"Most of us want to remain in our home as we grow older, or fall into
poor health due to illness or disability. But when performing personal
care and household tasks become difficult, or if more skilled nursing
care is called for, remaining at home can be a challenge. Family
Resource Home Care can help."
[Offices in Seattle, Tacoma & Bellevue]
Home Safety & Security for Seniors [homesecurity.net]
"In recent years there has been a big growth in the use of medical alert monitoring services in the home, both as part of a home security system
or as a standalone monitoring service. Medical alerts combine two components, a base monitoring station that transmits to a central monitoring
center and a wireless wearable device—usually a button-activated pendant, wristwatch or clip on device that lets you quickly send a distress signal
to your monitoring company in the event of a sudden medical emergency."
HOSPICE CARE
Hospice of Jefferson County [Part of Jefferson County Health Care]
"Our focus is on reducing pain and enhancing quality of life while
providing comfort and support. We develop an individualized program
providing medical, emotional,
psychological, financial, social, and spiritual care when requested."
Hospice of Kitsap
County
"Hospice is a concept of caring that emphasizes palliative (comfort)
rather than curative treatment; quality of life rather than quantity of
life. Expert medical care is
given, and the most effective pain symptom relief is provided. The
patient and family are all included in the care plan and emotional,
spiritual and practical support are
given based on the patient’s wishes and family’s need "
History of Hospice Care
"The term “hospice” (from the same linguistic root as “hospitality”)
can be traced back to medieval times when it referred to a place of
shelter and rest for weary or ill travelers on a long journey. The
name was first applied to specialized care for dying patients in 1967
by physician Dame Cicely Saunders, who founded the first modern
hospice—St. Christopher’s Hospice—in a residential suburb of London."
Hospice - A Home Based Service [LHC Group]
"Our hospice program is perhaps the best example of our mission in
action. Every professional on our team embraces the philosophy of
always putting patient needs ahead of all else. In hospice care, this
is crucial to the physical and emotional well-being of the patient."
Housing, Home Care"Our comprehensive directory can help you find the
right Assisted Living Community, Nursing Home, Retirement Community,
Alzheimer's Care Facility, Independent Living Community or Home Care
Service. Simply search our Free Directory and Request Information from
a Community or Home Care Service."
New Life Styles: The Source for Seniors (Guide to Senior Housing &
Care
providing comprehensive, quality information on senior residences and
care options. This information will be available, free to all that need
it. We will lead the market by maximizing quality and advertising
exposure for our partners.
SHAG: Senior Housing Assistance GroupSenior Housing Assistance Group, (known throughout the northwest as
SHAG) is Washington 's largest non-profit organization dedicated to
providing affordable, age and income qualified rental apartment living
communities for senior and disabled senior persons. With communities
located from Bellingham in the north to Olympia in the south, SHAG
properties are also located in Auburn, Federal Way, Kent, Kirkland,
Lakewood, Lynnwood, Puyallup, Renton, Seattle and Tacoma.
H1N1
Influenza Updates
(WHO)