Websites chock full of resources for seniors, caregivers

by Center for Personal Finance editors

NEW YORK (6/13/06)--As more adult children slip into the role of caring for elderly parents, it's critical for caregivers to have credible resources at their fingertips, and many of those resources are available online (SmartMoney.com June 2006).

SmartMoney.com found 10 useful websites worth bookmarking:

Eldercare Locator (eldercare.gov): Need to find an adult daycare center near you? Plug your ZIP code into this website from the U.S. Administration on Aging to find links and phone numbers for adult daycare and other county and state offices.

BenefitsCheckUp (benefitscheckup.org): Need to know which benefits--prescription assistance, nutrition, property-tax, veterans' assistance, and housing programs--a particular senior qualifies for? The National Council on the Aging's database sorts through more than 1,100 federal, state, local, and private programs.

Medicare (Medicare.gov): Learn the ins and outs of Medicare, how to file an appeal if a claim is denied, and all about long-term care.

Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living (ccal.org): Get unbiased information on assisted-living facilities. Know what questions to ask and how to spot red flags.

Social Security (ssa.gov): Use the online application form instead of waiting in line at the office. Click on the benefit calculator to find out how much your check might be.

ElderWeb (elderweb.com): This is like a Google search engine for elder issues. Need to find lost records, such as marriage and birth certificates? Ask a question--you'll get answers with this comprehensive site.

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela.org): Need to set up a living trust, durable power of attorney, estate plan, or health-care proxy? Start here. Learn about these tools and search the directory for lawyers you can trust.

AARP (aarp.org): Search for articles on a multitude of topics, and find out about member benefits, discounts, and insurance products.

National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (caremanagers.com): Many adult children live far away from their parents. Geriatric care specialists make the job of caregiving much easier and ease some of the guilt (The New York Times June 3). Learn more and view a directory of practitioners on this website.

Family Caregiver Alliance (caregiver.org): Learn about current social, public-policy, and caregiving issues, and tap local community resources.

For more information, read "Six Strategies for Helping Senior Parents Manage Their Money" in the Home & Family Finance Resource Center money savvy section.