| |
|
Government Agency Listings |
| The
Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging
(AAA) offers a wealth of information, caregiving and support
services for seniors. Many of their programs are available
free or at reduced cost to individuals with limited means.
Contacting the local AAA should be every eldercare seeker's
first step. For a directory of Area Agencies on Aging
in other Virginia locations, click
here. For Maryland
locations, click
here. District of
Columbia residents should contact the
Office on Aging. |
| The
Administration on Aging,
an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human services,
was created in 1965 with passage of the Older Americans
Act. It is the premier federal government agency dealing
with aging issues. |
| The
National Institute on Aging,
(NIA) a division of the National Institutes of Health,
is the chief federal research agency dedicated to aging-related
topics. The NIA and the National Library of Medicine jointly
sponsor
NIHSeniorHealth.gov,
a senior-friendly website that allows for enlarging the
text and listening to all content as recorded speech. |
| The
National Institutes of Health,
of which the above-mentioned National Institute on Aging
is but one division, includes such others as the National
Cancer Institute, the National Eye Institute, the National
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and many more. Go to their
main site and click on Health Information for a huge selection
of resources on scores of topics. |
| The
Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center
(ADEAR), a service of the National Institute on Aging,
offers extensive educational materials on Alzheimer's
disease and related disorders. |
| The
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ) is another of our pet sites. Check here for evidence-
based information for both patients and professionals
on the diagnosis and management of many medical disorders.
(The AHRQ also operates the National Guideline Clearinghouse,
a resource for health professionals seeking best medical
practice recommendations on a variety of topics.) |
|
|
| |
|
Transportation Resources |
|
Connect-A-Ride is
an excellent free transportation help line offered by
the Jewish Council for the Aging at (703) 323-6494. Certified
Information Specialists provide personalized information
and referrals to volunteer agencies, private fee-for-service
providers and specialized programs. |
|
Seniors-On-The-Go!
is a Fairfax County program that provides discounted taxi
coupons to seniors who meet income eligibility requirements
(less than $40,000 per year for individuals or $50,000
for married couples). |
|
MetroAccess is the
Washington area curb-to-curb transportation program for
people with functional limitations due to disability. |
|
Fastran is the Fairfax
County program that provides limited bus or taxi transportation
to individuals who meet income or disability criteria. |
| Arlington County residents
can avail themselves of several programs for seniors and
those with disabilities offered by the
Arlington County Department of Human Services. |
|
|
|
|
Resources for Seniors
There
are many excellent resources available to help seniors, their caregivers
and families. Ready Hands is constantly updating its database of such
resources. Here are just a few of our favorites: |
Resources for the Visually Impaired
Visual impairment due to macular degeneration,
retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and many other
diseases affect millions of Americans. Every year about 50,000 Americans
become blind. About half of all blind individuals are over the age
of 65. Our favorite resource is the
National Federation of the Blind, the nation's
largest and most influential organization dedicated to serving the
visually impaired. The NFB offers extensive information and resources,
including an excellent catalogue of reasonably-priced aids and appliances. |
Fall Prevention and Home Safety
About one out every three seniors over 65
experiences at least one fall in any given year. Falling is a major
cause of disability and even death in the elderly, and fear of falling
cause many seniors to curtail physical and social activities. Fortunately,
much can be done to reduce the risk of falling. An excellent starting
point to educate oneself in this area is the
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control,
a division of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Another good information source on falling is the
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons,
the professional organization representing the specialty of orthopedics. |
Caregiver Support
Caregivers face unique demands and stresses.
The Well Spouse
Association is a national
membership organization which gives support to the wives, husbands
and partners of the chronically or disabled. Local chapters offer
regular support group meetings.
Another excellent organization for caregivers is the
National Family Caregivers Association
(NFCA). The NCFA believes in a philosophy of self-advocacy and self-care
for family members responsible for a loved one.
Finally, we also recommend the
Family Caregiver Alliance, an organization
founded in 1977 to serve as a public voice for caregivers, a champion
of their cause and source of extensive practical information about
caregiving. |
Disease-Specific Non-Profit Organizations
Most people may already know about these, but if you or a family member
have one of these disorders and you haven't checked, all these organizations
are excellent sources of help and information. Most have local chapters
near your area. For Alzheimer's
Disease, there is of course the
Alzheimer's Association, with its many
programs and services for patients, caregivers and professionals.
Information on various forms of arthritis
and related disorders can be found through the
Arthritis Foundation.
The
American Diabetes Association is a great
resource for diabetics and one of our favorites. There is loads
of patient information. Also take a peek at their section for health
care professionals to see what clinical practice recommendations
this highly respected body publicizes for doctors, dieticians and
diabetes educators.
Most people know that one of the best educational
resources for individuals with heart disease is the
American Heart Association. However,
many do not know that one of its divisions is the
American Stroke Association, which offers
similarly valuable resources for stroke victims and their families.
Finally, for cancer sufferers and those
caring for them, the
American Cancer Society's services and
programs are invaluable. |
| |
|
