Caregiving & Long Term Care - Websites for Older Adults 2009

CARIE: The Center for Advocacy for Rights and Interests of the Elderly
http://www.carie.org/

Eldercare At Home
www.healthinaging .org/public_education/eldercare

Eldercaer Locator
http://www.eldercare.gov/

Eldercare Online
http://www.ec-online.net/

ElderWeb
http://www.elderweb.com/

Extended Care
http://www.extendedcare.com/

Family Caregiver Alliance
http://www.caregiver.org/

Find A Hospice
www.nhpco.org/Directory/

National Alliance for Caregiving
http://www.caregiving.org/

PA Long Term Care
http://www.aging.state.pa/

Information and Website provided by ISAP (Innovative Services to an Aging Population) Appointed by commonwealth Libraries, members include public librarians, library educators, and representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, AARP, Area Agencies on Aging, Regional Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Social Security. Provides leadership and focus from a state-wide level on public library services for older adults and their families and caregivers.

Positive Aging Radio

Positive Aging Radio - for help with managing a variety of aging and caregiving issues.

Sundays at 8am. Tune in to 1360 AM, WMNY, or listen live on: WMNY 1360

Sunday December 13
Your Health Information, How to Have What You Need, When You Need It
Special Guests: Lorraine Buffalino and Melanie Santarelli, of MyMediFiles

Sunday December 20
Take Care with Jennifer Antkowiak
Special Guest: Jennifer Antokowiak, KDKA TV 2 Morning News Anchor, Author, Mom of 5, and Caregiving Coach.

Weekly Features:

• Senior Centers - Weekly talk with a Senior Center Director, or a participating Senior, about their Center and the activities they have coming up.
• Honoring Birthdays – Upcoming Birthday announcements on air for those fortunate enough to be turning 75 and up.
• Caregivers Corner – Weekly tips for caregivers
• Free Services & Programs for Seniors - Weekly featured free service or program available to local seniors.

Upcoming Topics:

• Senior Fraud – Discussion with PA State Attorney General’s Office on senior fraud, and how to avoid it.
• When Parents Refuse Help – What You Can Do
• Family Aging and Caregiving Issues- Do You Need an Elder Mediator?
• Long Term Care – Who Really pays?
• Moving to a Retirement Community – How to Downsize and Organize
• Home Care / Home Health Care – What is the difference
• Ebay – How and What to Sell, & DIY versus Using an Ebay Agent
• Rehabilitation - New options and technology
• Finances for Seniors - Should Seniors be Transferring their Assets to the Kids?
• Funding Non-Medical Home Care
• Senior Housing – How to choose Independent, Assisted Living, or Personal Care Homes
• Community Programs that Help Seniors Stay at Home
• Family Caregiver Contracts – Can your relative get paid for the care they provide?
• Special Senior Guests - Great examples of positive aging

Past Topics:
Now You Can- Listen to past shows in the Positive Aging Radio Archives

Digital Natives

Digital Native ... or Not?: Learning Computers Later in Life a blog post which discusses the phenomena of older adults being left behind when it comes to learning how to use technology effectively. Cahalan gives many examples of different print texts that can be found and used in your local public library that will help the everyday older adult to use technology more efficiently. Check out this blog for more information.

PANPHA Senior Services Select Resource Guide

These Senior Services Select website resources with consumer information may be of interest:

• Learn about the not-for-profit difference as it relates to senior services and care
• Explore long-term care housing and service options
• Help determine what services best suit your needs
• Review payment options for aging services and long-term care
• Discover important check lists that can assist in your decision-making process
• Reference our Glossary of Senior Services Terminology for definitions of commonly
  used terms
• Search PANPHA Senior Service Providers

Assistance to Caregivers

Ask Medicare (www.medicare.gov/caregivers) offers tools and information that helps caregivers and those they care for make informed health decisions. The site also offers a free e-newsletter, personal stories and tips from caregivers and important insights on challenging issues, such as transitioning a loved one to an assisted living facility, selecting and paying for care, coping with a chronic illness, and helping with hospitalization.

If you know a caregiver who could benefit from Ask Medicare, please click on this flyer. This tool provides information about Ask Medicare along with other agencies and organizations that can help.

Medicare Open Enrollment occurs from now until December 31st, and offers an important opportunity to ensure that beneficiaries have the drug and health plans that will best meet their needs for the coming year.

We also hope that you will visit Ask Medicare and sign up for the e-newsletter for caregivers. Read the Nov/Dec edition here:

www.cms.hhs.gov/MyHealthMyMedicare/downloads/AskMedicare_nov2009.pdf

In this edition:

• Medicare Helps Manage Diabetes
• 2010 Part B Premium
• Open Enrollment Is Here!
• What You Should Know About SNF Care
• Medicare and You 2010
• National Alliance for Caregiving
• 7 Tips to Help a Parent with Part D

The more we all know about the challenges and joys of caregiving, the more support we can provide to caregivers, who do so much for others.

Information provided by Monique Scott of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

H1N1 News

Below please find 2009 H1N1 Virus Updates from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. There are also important resources in the message below to help protect families and communities from H1N1.

2009 H1N1 UPDATES

• Flu activity is already higher than what is seen during the peak of many regular flu seasons. Almost all of the flu viruses identified this season so far are 2009 H1N1.
• All states have placed orders for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and more orders are expected daily. Vaccine is arriving in thousands of places across the country. Because the vaccine distribution system varies by state, the vaccine situation on the ground may differ from community to community.
• The 2009 H1N1 vaccine is taking longer to produce than manufacturers initially expected. Scientists, doctors, and manufacturers are working around the clock to produce this vaccine safely, effectively, and as quickly as the science allows. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through state and local health departments, will continue to make the vaccine available as soon as it comes off the production line.
• Clinical trials conducted by the National Institutes of Health and the vaccine manufacturers have shown that the new H1N1 vaccine is both safe and effective.
• In the past, flu pandemics have been characterized by multiple waves. Scientists and doctors recommend H1N1 vaccination even if flu activity slows, as it could resume later in the season.

FLU.gov is a one-stop resource with the latest updates on the H1N1 flu. On this site, you can find information on How to Prevent and Treat the Flu, Flu Essentials and Why the H1N1 Vaccine is Safe and Recommended by Health Experts. To look up where to get vaccinated in your state, visit the Vaccine Locator. This information is updated regularly as more doses are shipped each week.

An additional resource is the CDC hotline, 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), which offers services in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Heard a rumor? Visit Myths & Facts to run a fact check.

Information provided by Claudia Koenig of the PA Department of Education

Library Programing that May Interest You

Good Afternoon: our local Red Cross is giving us information on flu prevention, as well as, hand sanitizer wipes for each library. They will come in a box that you can leave out for your patrons. We are also talking with Blue Cross to get additional hand sanitizer for libraries.

Also if you are interested in a programming option, the Red Cross will provide the following program(s) for your library. Please contact Jane Robinson directly if you're interested in the programming.

• What is a Flu Pandemic?
• How is Influenza Virus Spreads
• Public Health Prevention Strategies
• Developing a Preparedness Plan for Yourself and Your Family
• Developing a Preparedness Plan for the Workplace
• Preventing the Spread of Infection in the Workplace

We are hoping to present this information throughout Allegheny County. The presentation we have developed is an hour long and includes video, PowerPoint lecture, activites, and hand-outs. Our goal is to impact as much of the community as Possible, as quickly as possible.

Jane Robinson Community Disaster Education Intern for the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter can be contacted at 412-263-3140 or RobinsonJane@usa.redcross.org

Information provided by Beth Mellor, ACLA