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Entry bubble Resources for Seniors and Caregivers

By: Nancy | May 29, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

May is Older Americans Month. And while there are just a couple more days left in the month, as far as I'm concerned, people age 65 or better are worth honoring every day.

If you or someone you care about is in this age group, the information in USA.gov's Senior Citizens' Resources section can help make your life--and your loved one's--a little easier.

seniors picnickingAs time goes by, everybody thinks more about health. The Health for Seniors section is full of great resources to help in understanding Medicare's prescription drug coverage plan; dealing with changes in sleeping habits as you get older; and recognizing and managing depression. You can also use the drug interaction lookup page to find out how your medications, food and alcohol affect one another.

Money's important--especially when you’re on a fixed income. The Money and Taxes for Seniors section can help you with everything from creating or updating your will and estate plan to checking to see if, as a Social Security recipient, you're entitled to an economic stimulus payment this year.

Most people want to stay in their homes as long as possible as they age. See the Housing for Seniors section to find out how to make safety and other lifestyle modifications and to learn how to prevent falls around the house.

Seniors are common targets for scams. The Consumer Protection for Seniors section links to important resources like the Consumer Action Website to help you avoid getting swindled and learn how to fight for your rights as a consumer, and the Administration on Aging's Elder Rights and Resources page to help with legal assistance and advice.

Use the Education, Jobs and Volunteering for Seniors section to find out how using your years of experience and wisdom can help change your community or the world as you volunteer locally with Senior Corps, internationally with the Peace Corps or as you work for a company that values mature workers.

And if you're helping a senior family member or friend, use the Caregivers' Resources section to find out about respite and home health care agency options. Learn about providing long distance caregiving and getting support for yourself as you care for your loved one.

As a senior or a caregiver, what are some of the best resources you’ve found online to make your life easier?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: health   money   nancy   safety   senior   taxes  

Comments (2):

blue comment bubble Posted by Bernaby on May 29, 2008 at 10:28 AM EDT

The "golden age" of retirement is turning into being the "tarnished age" as we should have suspected all along.

There are so many things to be concerned about....and the first thing should be "should you retire in the first place." All the stories I read on the Internet concerning the psychology of retirement just about tell the same thing...the concern for money, health and what to do so life doesn't get too boring.

The best advice I can give, having stopped working at the age of 63, over 20 years ago, is to find something to do...at least part time to keep the brain working productively. I continued my work as an editor-writer, but did it on my own time, with my own hours, working when I chose to and not when someone else set the time.

After doing it for going on 20 years, it has worked. In the beginning, I worked on 10 newsletters for non-profit (mostly) groups, pricing my work below the average to not only get the work, but gove the non-profit a way to save money. It's down to two currently.

In addition, I volunteered with a Senior Volunteer group and now teach a "Meet The Masters" course for second and first graders at a local elementary school, plus I am also managing editor for my condo publication. My wife teaches in the lower grades at this same school to read better.

I still get to vacation twice a year: usualy a visit to my California-based daughter, and a cruise. Long flights are no longer on my itinerary due to health problems.

Basically, keep busy. Keep the brain active. And get on the treadmill for at least 20 minutes, for a minimum of five days a week...all of which should make the "tarnished" age a little more "golden!"

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blue comment bubble Posted by Chillin N Chino on August 08, 2008 at 12:39 AM EDT

My parents are from an older generation than most of my friends parents are. My dad is 60 years old and my mom is 54 years old. Although this isn't that old to a lot of older people, this is extremely old to people my age. Which are late teens, early twenties? My mom has been doing this thing, which you buy homes that have been taken over by the bank and fix them up and sell them to make a profit. Although the first time she has done this it ended up being for the worse. She hasn't done another one of these transactions since, but hopefully she will take another chance and try again. Hopefully everything will turn out for the better. The main reason why she was doing this was, because she didn't won’t me or my brother to have to care for her when we got older and she grew too old to take care of herself and my father. i tell her all the time that I would never put her in a home, I just don't feel right about it. I don't care what it takes I'll always make sure that my parents are well taken care of. Even if that means buying them a house next door to mines, or building them a house in my backyard. My mom says that when I get older and have my own family, that I can't afford to care for two old people also. So we came to an agreement that I would buy her and my father their dream house and we would pick out a wonderful caregiver to care for them when I can't. Although this seems like a reasonable plan, I can't seem to rap my mind around someone else taking care of my parents. I mean after all they have taken care of my all these years, why not return the love by caring for them when they can't care for themselves. As you can tell I have a very strong relationship with both my mother and my father and I will not just let anyone care for them. Who ever this person may be in the future, has to be responsible, loving, trust worthy, and patient, very, very patient. I think that these resources that were listed above are great for people, Children that may be in the same boat I will be in; in many years. Don't just let anyone in make sure you trust them and like them. Make sure your parents love them!

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