Health Gateway Program  

At Tutu's House

“Exploring health information on the Internet"

Senior Resources on the Net

Watch out! Senior “cybernauts” are coming on fast. Did you know that individuals age 50 and older use the Internet as many hours a week as 19 to 25 year-olds? (Georgia Tech’s 1997 Seventh WWW User Survey) In fact, Seniors gather at Tutu’s House in the Health Gateway area to learn how to use the Internet and send e-mail.

A number of agencies and organizations have developed seniors’ health Web sites. With the increasing need for high quality and local information about aging, senior health and eldercare services, a few healthcare providers have developed senior oriented features on the Internet. Some of the sites listed below may help you find what you are looking for.

National Institute on Aging (http://www.nih.gov/nial) patient features include related links; Alzheimer’s disease information and publications; booklets on NIA research, menopause cardiovascular disease, and communications between patients and physicians; brochures and fact sheets for the public; press releases; and public service ads.

America’s Guide Seniors Infoserver (http://www.americasguide.com/AG2/search.html) from MLK consulting, Inc. offers a good search tool for locating seniors resources geographically, including continuing care communities; assistived living, skilled nursing, Alzheimer's, and hospice care facilities; home, helath services; pharmacies; hospitals and clinics; medical equipment rental; insurance information; maintaining independence at home; and much more.

Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) (http://www.doi.state.id.us/consumer/consumer.htm), a service of the Idaho Department of Insurance, offers answers to extensive health coverage questions. Topics include: HMO, long term care, Medicaid, Medicare, other insurance such as CHAMPUS, SSI, and home health.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts (http:www.bcbsma.com/hresource/hotlinks.html) and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Dakota (http://www.bcbsnd.com/medicaring.html) both have special feature for seniors and links to many senior organizations and agencies.

Columbia/HCA hospitals offer a program called National Association of Senior Friends (http://www.medtropolis.com/senior/) which provides a range of services such as seniors activities, book discounts, car rental discounts, a Senior Friend credit card, discounts on prescriptions, and much more.

Seniors-Site.com (http://www.seniors-site.com/) is dedicated to provide a unique, informative, interesting, and entertaining Internet website for: senior cititizens, adults 50+, your children, grandchildren, and caregivers.

50 Plus Fitness Association (http://www.50plus.org/pages/directory.htm) is an international organization devoted to information about, motivation toward, and participation in exercise and fitness while aging. We believe that the bridges between those all important elements of involvement are crucial and the unique reason for our existence.

SeniorLaw (http://www.seniorlaw.com/index.htm) provides senior citizens, their families, attorneys, social workers, and financial planners, access to information about Elder Law (Elderlaw), Medicare, Medicaid, estate planning, trusts and the rights of the elderly and disabled.

Administration on Aging (http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/pages/welcome.html) includes information designed for Older Americans and their families as well as those concerned about providing the opportunities and services to enrich the lives of older persons and support their independence.

SeniorNet's (http://www.seniornet.org/) mission is to provide older adults education for and access to computer technology to enhance their lives and enable them to share their knowledge and wisdom.