The Internet Connection During 

The Golden Years

by Laura Emery, Field Editor

According to the American Association of Retired Persons, a large number of U.S. adults over 50 � more than 40 million -- are spending more and more time online. They do a little bit of everything. They�re banking, buying, searching, communicating, reading, and contributing.

In short, they�re staying connected.

The ease and convenience of computers provides many older individuals with a convenient portal to staying in touch with their loved ones, and an easy way to take care of personal and business matters. It has never been easier, and more important, for senior citizens to stay connected and up-to-date.

The World Wide Web is a great resource for issues facing those going through their golden years. Here are a few Web sites that exist solely to help senior citizens, and their families, enhance the quality of their lives in a variety of different ways.

American Association of Retired Persons

www.aarp.org 

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over. The organization leads positive social change and delivers value to members through information, advocacy and service. AARP also provides a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and services for its members.  

Active in every state, AARP celebrates the attitude that age is just a number and life is what you make it.

Solutions For Better Aging

www.AgeNet.com

This Web site contains articles on everything from how to choose a nursing home, elder abuse, elder rights and legal resources, and wills and estate planning.

Health Care Financing Administration

www.hcfa.gov

This government body is responsible for the management of Medicare and Medicaid.  It publishes a broad range of materials for the consumer that describe the benefits and rules for eligibility of these two programs.

Options For Older People

www.housingcare.org

This is a Web site for older individuals, their families, caregivers, advisors, and all those who work with and for them. Regardless of age, circumstances or ambitions, this Web site will help individuals explore options before making decisions about where to live, and any support or care needed. It contains detailed information on how to maintain, adapt or improve the home, find care of home help services, find and move to retirement or extra care housing, and choose the right care home.

National Council on the Aging

www.ncoa.org

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is dedicated to improving the health and independence of older persons and increasing their continuing contributions to communities, society, and future generations. NCOA�s programs help older people to remain healthy, find jobs, discover new ways to continue contribute to society after retirement, and take advantage of government and private benefits programs that can improve the quality of their lives. NCOA is also a national voice for both older Americans and community organizations, leading advocacy efforts on important national issues affecting seniors.  

MedLine Plus

http://medlineplus.gov

MedlinePlus is a great Web site, because it can help answer many health questions. MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations. Preformulated MedLine searches give easy access to medical journal articles. MedlinePlus also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news.

Alliance for Retired Americans

www.retiredamericans.org

The mission of the Alliance for Retired Americans is to ensure social and economic justice and full civil rights for all citizens so that they may enjoy lives of dignity, personal and family fulfillment and security.

WrongDiagnosis.Com

www.wrongdiagnosis.com

This Web site contains a disease and symptom research center that has information on over 3,000 different medical conditions, with more being added all the time.

Stamps, Cards, & Groceries

There are a number of Web sites that can help senior citizens conduct day-to-day business from the comfort of their own home. Avoid leaving the house to pick up stamps and other mailing supplies by ordering them online at www.usps.com.

Need a quick way to send cards to the grandchildren? At  www.cardsremembered.com, you can have a paper greeting card delivered with your own personal message (in a number of different realistic hand-written fonts) with only a few clicks of the mouse.