Wednesday, December 24, 2008

MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures Encore Career Survey

Thinking about programming and services related to second careers? You're on the right track. Check out this 2008 MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures Encore Career Survey.

Examiner.com published this article earlier this summer highlighting the survey findings, Groundbreaking New Survey Asks American Workers, Ages 44-70, About Longer Working Lives.

Thanks to Sara Jane Lowry from the Northland Foundation for sharing this article.

NIH Senior Health Bookmarks

Visit the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to request bookmarks about the National Institutes on Health (NIH) bookmarks.

Also download their Toolkit for Trainers, a set of lessons for librarians to use to help older adults learn how to find reliable health information online.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Dance as Exercise

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette featured this video in their multimedia center in September showing how a local company called Touchtown has created an exercise system for seniors that combines video and music to keep folks moving.

This connects with our recent visit from Michael Stephens and Thomas Frey the idea of libraries using space for innovative services such as exercise, video production, small theaters and the list goes on. Imagine what you would do with a library flex space...

You Control Your Money

Have you been hearing things like:

I have a money problem.
I want to avoid a money problem.
I want to learn how to handle money and finances.

Visit You Control Your Money, the website of the Financial Education Consortium of South Western PA, promoting financial literacy in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Lecture Program

A new talk on Forensic Anthropology has been added to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Lecture Program offered to the libraries all over Pennsylvania. This addition will be perfect for the CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: New York and Bones fans in your community.

These presentations are supported by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

For more information about the program and other topics visit the Outreach Lecture Program website.

Capitol Words

Capitol Words visualizes the most frequently used words in the Congressional Record, giving you an at-a-glance view of which issues lawmakers address on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. Capitol Words lets you see what are the most popular words spoken by lawmakers on the House and Senate floor.

Words can be searched for with results including the lawmakers who used them. It could make for some interesting programming on the top words used by Congress. Our Conversation Salons may like to discuss some of these top words. Before you look, what do you think the top words would be?

Thanks to Karen Brooks-Reese, Teen Services Coordinator at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, for sharing this great link.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Here to Help & Stay Warm PA

Connect your patrons with ways to save on heating costs.
Check out Stay Warm PA.

Looking for resources on programs to help make ends meet during the economic crisis? The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania just launched this new site to easy online access to resources on a variety of topics.
Check out PA Here To Help.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Brain Training

Two interesting links sent along to me today:

+ The Pew Internet & American Life Project reports on:
Adults and Video Games.

+ And the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that:
A walk on the Web is good for the brain.

Office of Consumer Liaison’s Newsletter

Office of Consumer Liaison’s latest newsletter including a highlight about the new Long Term Living Website launched by the Department of Aging:

http://www.ins.state.pa.us/ins/lib/ins/consumer_liaison/English.pdf

Thursday, December 4, 2008

ALA: Library Accessibility Toolkit

Check out this “Library Accessibility – What You Need to Know” toolkit series of 15 tip sheets developed by the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies to help librarians in all types of libraries understand and manage access issues.

Shaping Outcomes Online Tutorial

Shaping Outcomes is an online tutorial in outcomes-based planning and evaluation (OBPE), developed for the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). It educates participants in the key concepts of project planning and evaluation centered around patron outcomes, not library activities. It was specifically designed to present the terminology and philosophy of OBPE that the IMLS at one time presented in workshops for its grantees and continues to look for in grant applications. This online course is open to all librarians for a fee of only $150 per team, with full scholarships available (funded by IMLS).

Click HERE to find out about registering.
Click HERE to see the course overview.

Registration allows for personal coaching by an experienced instructor. For some librarians and teachers, “CE” credits may be available. Questions can be directed to Marilyn Irwin, Shaping Outcomes Project Co-Director.

ACLA Gaming Trunks

The ACLA gaming trunks have gotten a little facelift! We’ve read your feedback and we hear you! We’ve added some new games and some new accessories which will soon be available for use:

• Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (with 2 guitars)
• 2 new board games: Scattergories and Pictionary
• 2 additional Mario Kart wheels for each trunk (that makes 3 total)

Once we purchase shipping containers big enough for everything, these new items will be ready to be bundled with the pre-existing trunks. The trunks as-is are still available for use, but these new items won’t be ready to share until the end of December. Feel free to sign-up to use them here in the new year!

2009 Open Enrollment for Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is reminding people with Medicare that, starting November 15th, they will be able to make changes in their health and prescription drug coverage for 2009. The Medicare annual coordinated election period for Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plans runs from November 15 through December 31, 2008.

To learn more visit Open Enrollment Center or read the press release.

For more information on the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder and Medicare Options Compare New Plan ratings compare tool click here: www.medicare.gov. Under “Search Tools” select “Compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans” and then “Find and Compare Plans.” For health plan ratings, select “Compare Health Plans and Medigap Policies in Your Area.”

You may also be interested in this publication: Medicare’s Information on Quality to Help You Compare Plans.

AARP Money Management Program

  • Do you know an older adults who needs assistance in budgeting or paying their bills on time?
  • Are you seeking a meaningful volunteer opportunity or know someone who is?

Ursuline Senior Services’ AARP Money Management Program, sponsored by the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging, assists low-income elderly persons who have difficulty with their financial affairs and have problems maintaining their finances. This program matches trained volunteers with seniors that need help budgeting and assuring their bills are paid on time. Read more.

To download the Money Management brochure to share this service with your community.

'Libraries offer seniors more than books'

Newsday.com featured this article on November 29th highlighting many library services for older adults including Allan Kleiman's 'Senior Spaces' initiative at Old Bridge Public Library in New Jersey. Commonwealth Libraries will be presenting four 'Senior Spaces' workshops with Allan Kleiman in the new year. More information to come!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

National Gaming Day | November 15

ALA
POPULAR GAMES SUPPORT LITERACY IN U.S. LIBRARIES, Libraries gear up for National Gaming Day @ Your Library

American Libraries
Gaming, Learning, and Libraries Symposium 2008

PaLA Older Adult Resources

Thought you may enjoy these resources from Allan Kleinman's PaLA session Grandma's Doing Web 2.0! Are You?. Allan explored the new ways in which older adults are using the web and other technology resources including wii for gaming, blogs for personal history, and much more.

Visit the following links to learn more:

Pew Internet & American Life Project:
Demographics of Internet Users, 2008
Seniors and the Internet, 2006

Generations on Line
Libraries and other organizations can simplify the Internet for older adults with this software. Users can check their email, share life stories and more with this friendly interface.

cRANKy
Past the stereotypical name, you'll find a good search engine. Quick out the top searches good for collection development ideas.

ELDR
A magazine online and print that celebrates aging.

ThirdAge
Includes online classes, regular articles with featured authors. One of many sites geared toward Boomers.

Eons
An online social networking community for Boomers.

The Ageless Project
Discover personal blogs from many generations.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Fit Brains

Check out Fit Brains, an online collection of games to exercise the brain. And there's a local connection with Pittsburgh based Dr. Paul Nussbaum, clinical neuropsychologist and national leader in Brain Health.

www.fitbrains.com

Friday, October 17, 2008

Neighborhood Legal Services

At our last Older Adult Forum, Public Benefits Attorney Frank Pistella and Elder Law Attorney Meghan Tighe joined us from Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS).

Visit their website to learn more about Older&Wiser®, Elder Law Project and other valuable services provided by NLS. Frank Pistrella is also able to visit interested libraries to provide an informative program to your community about NLS.

November is...

National Long-Term Care Awareness Month,
National Family Caregivers Month, and
National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.

To learn more visit:
American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance,
National Caregivers Association,
Alzheimer's Association.

FREE Brown Bag Opera Concerts

The Pittsburgh Opera is hosting FREE Brown Bag Opera Concerts on Saturdays at noon throughout October through May. On select Saturdays from 12:45-2:45 the Opera Up Close at which folks can get an inside look at the music with the Maestro, meet the artists, and get the inside story about the upcoming opera.

For more their information about these free Saturday offerings CLICK HERE to download the flyer with full details.

To learn more about other Opera talks and reviews visit the Pittsburgh Opera's General Interest page.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Age in America

This week Libraries for the Future announced the launch of new website, AgeinAmerica.org "part of a project aimed at capturing and updating images of aging in the United States. The website reflects insights from museums and libraries working together in three diverse communities to spark local conversations about the meaning of age and the changing role of the older adult in the home, the workplace, and the community." (From the mission of Age in America.) Learn more by visiting, AgeinAmerica.org.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Economic Stimulus Payments | Check Status Online

Visit the IRS website to check on the status of Economic Stimulus Payments. After providing the taxpayer's social security number, filing status, and number of exemptions claimed on the return, the program provides details on when and how the payment was made.

Libraries as Community Centers

The idea of the library as 3rd place, market place, or community space is spreading! Libraries are a vital space for people of all ages, and as you know older adults. Thought you might enjoy these blog postings:
How has your library been used as a 3rd place for older adults?

In thinking about libraries as a community space, many of the points noted in Children’s Library of the Future: 10 Commandments are pertinent to services to all age groups.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

IRS Tax Tool Kit

Tax questions? Visit the Tax Tool Kit, brought to you by the IRS and the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS).

Social Security Website Redesign

Social Security announces homepage redesign at www.socialsecurity.gov. This includes a free 2 minute video about the website (available from the homepage).

Sign up to receive an e-newsletter daily, weekly or monthly.

Neighboring libraries getting into the game…

This recent article highlights what Peters Township Library fun older adults are having gaming at the library.

Seniors enjoy fun, socialization with video games at library
Observer-Reporter (Washington, PA), June 20, 2008
by Terri T. Johnson Staff writer

You can view the article by going to http://www.observer-reporter.com and searching ‘wii’.

'The 40-70 Rule'

This article from June 18 in The Almanac about talking with aging parents about various topics may be of interest: The 40 - 70 rule: crucial for boomers with senior relatives.

A 14-page booklet, The 40 - 70 Rule: A Guide to Conversation Starters for Boomers and Their Senior Loved Ones, is available by calling Home Instead Senior Care at 412-276-2400 or downloading a copy at www.4070talk.com.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Americian Stroke Association | Power to End Stroke

The American Stroke Association provides a variety of resources on their website including the 5 warning signs of a stroke, defining types of strokes, and reducing risks.

Power To End Stroke is an education and awareness campaign of the American Stroke Association that "embraces and celebrates the culture, energy, creativity and lifestyles of African Americans. It unites African Americans to help make an impact on the high incidence of stroke within the community."

Visit http://www.strokeassociation.org/ to learn more.

IRS Announces Campaign for Retirees and Disabled Veterans

From the IRS newsroom: "IRS Launches Summer Push to Reach Retirees and Disabled Veterans Who Have Yet to File for Their Economic Stimulus Payments."

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

TodaysSeniorResource.com

Check out this new local resource for older adults: www.todaysseniorresource.com

Todays Senior Source brings the wide variety of resources available to older adults and caregivers in the Greater Pittsburgh Region together to provide a unique one-stop source for senior citizen and caregiver services, products, information and support.
Simple and Free.

For more information on how the website began read:

'Web site a source for senior citizens' by Virginia Linn, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Satellite Broadcast: “Health Implications of Caregivers"

When: June 25, 2008, 1-2:30 PM (Eastern Time)

Caring for a loved one?

  • Learn about the impact caregiving is having on your health.
  • Learn simple tips to preserve your health while caring for a loved one.
  • Hear about programs specifically developed to support you.
REGISTER: http://www.blsmeetings.net/caregivers/

This is the third in its series of satellite broadcasts focused on family caregivers from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in partnership with the DHHS New Freedom Initiative (NFI).

Friday, May 30, 2008

FREE Course @ Temple University’s Center on Intergenerational Learning

Temple University’s Center on Intergenerational Learning is now offering a free online course entitled “Capturing Experience: How People 50+ Can Help Your Organization.” The course, which includes 4 modules can be access at the following: http://cil.templecil.org/.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

New Medicare-covered Equipment and Supplies Program

Visit www.medicare.gov for regular spotlights and updates. This July locally a new program will begin for Medicare-covered equipment and supplies: Medicare-covered Equipment and Supplies Program.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

"Large Print Best Practices for All Libraries"

Learn more about Large Print Best Practices for All Libraries and Readers through Library Journal's webcast. This 60 minute webcast originally aired on April 29th, but will continue to be available for twelve months on-demand by registering on the following webpage: http://w.on24.com/r.htm?e=105916&s=1&k=D6480D10E01356C62AEF3FAFE017AAA1.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Pennsylvania CAREgiver Magazine

Pennsylvania CAREgiver Magazine is free to readers in Western Pennsylvania. For your free subscription visit http://pacaregiver.caring.com/pa-features.

Find local resources for caregivers and older adults online at http://pacaregiver.caring.com.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Center for Healthy Aging: Community Health Ambassador Program

This 6-week program for people 50 years of age promotes health and emphasize healthy living. Learn more about the upcoming class schedules across the county by visiting:
http://www.healthyaging.pitt.edu/ambassador.html.