Wisdom on the Web
The Internet has a number of sites that offer resources for senior citizens.
At https://www.benefitscheckup.org, the National Council on Aging gives free access to details on federal and state assistance programs for older Americans. It takes about 15 minutes to input your financial information in a questionnaire. BenefitsCheckUp then lets you know what programs you might be eligible for and how to apply. You don’t have to identify yourself by name, just by details such as your age, income and ZIP Code.
The Social Security Administration offers retirement planners on its site, at https://www.seniors.gov. It’s got details on insurance, housing planners and travel tips with currency calculators. There’s also a checklist for seniors on dietary supplements.
Another useful resource is at https://www.seniorlaw.com/resource.htm. SeniorLaw offers links to all kinds of legal and health-related sites and phone numbers. Its resource page links to help on elder law and care, government agencies, searchable statutes and court decisions.
For older adults who wish to work, the Employment Development Department’s Senior Worker Advocate Office, at https://www.edd.ca.gov/swaoind.htm, offers a resource directory with everything from guidance on career planning to training and education and job-finding services.
The office works with the public and private sectors to give the state’s senior workers access to employment-related resources and information.
At https://www.seniorsites.com, you can find information on nonprofit housing and services for seniors. It covers more than 5,000 communities in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico. The site includes links to senior housing resources, suggestions on selecting a facility and a directory of national and state senior housing associations.
Similarly, Senior Options, at https://www.senioroptions.com, can help you locate living facilities, adult day-care centers, home health agencies and hospices in the U.S. The services are listed by state and city or county.
And HomeStore has listings at https://www.springstreet.com/seniors, where you can look for housing geared to seniors. The site explains various kinds of facilities, from independent living to nursing homes. The listings work pretty much like the rest of HomeStore, including pictures, floor plans and contact information when available.
At https://www.senior-center.com, amid the indistinguishable links to advertisers, you can get tips and book recommendations on activities such as gardening, tracing a family tree and cooking.
Grandparents can find interesting topics on grandchildren at https://www.igrandparents.com. It covers such challenges as imparting family values and traditions, understanding perplexing tax laws and saving to help defray college expenses.
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Michelle Maltais is a broadcast producer and copy editor at The Times.
