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Government Information for Seniors Workshop

 

Introduction

PURPOSE: to give you an idea of how government information may be useful to you.

GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES

  • NPL is a federal (and state) depository library. Over the past two years, we have become a model electronic federal depository, providing access to the majority of our collection online through our catalog.
  • Free access - all subjects: health, education, history, legislation, and more.
  • The Reference Desk can assist with any questions you may have, providing support with both hard copy (print, CD and microfiche) and online information.

WHY WEB SITES?

  • More government information is exclusively online – sites are better every day.
  • For currency, look online first.
  • Online tools:
    • Search for services in your area, for your particular need.

TODAY’S SESSION:

  • An overview of government sites for seniors with some examples:
    • Gateway sites
    • Finances
    • Consumer Assistance
    • Health / benefits
    • Travel
    • Finding services from govt. and community agencies.
  • If we do not have ample time to view each site, they are listed on this handout.

FOLLOW ALONG

You can adjust your browsers to show larger text:

  • Open Internet Explorer
  • On toolbar 
    • View, then Text Size
    • Select Larger or Largest  

Selecting the HOME icon will take you back to the WORKSHOP MAIN PAGE..

TO ACCESS THE WORKSHOP MAIN PAGE AT HOME -

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Gateway Sites

1. USA. GOV FOR SENIORS
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors.shtml

  • Miscellaneous links of interest for seniors run down the center of the page.  
  • Use links on left side to look for information by more refined topics, contact information or organization.
  • Note the Featured Sites and Online Services on the lower right.
  • Note the search bar on top of the page on the right. Enter a keyword(s) and this will search both federal and state government sites, not necessarily for seniors.

TIP: use the top left corner icon (flag) to go to the USA.gov home page.

Activity: Find information about health insurance for children being raised by grandparents.

Activity:  Find volunteer opportunities.

2. ADMINISTRATION ON AGING – FOR ELDERS AND FAMILIES

http://www.aoa.gov/

  • Comprehensive overview of services and programs, targeted at individuals with economic and social needs.
  • The search bar at the top of the page on the right will search AOA only.
  • “Elders & Families > Elder rights & resources” has links to various topics of interest to seniors.
  • Note the news and information tab at the bottom of the page.

3. GOOGLE UNCLESAM
http://www.google.com/ig/usgov  

  • You will be limiting your search to government resources, rather than the entire web.

Activity: Find results for "electoral college" in government sites and in general web sites. Compare.   

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Benefits

 

1. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
http://www.ssa.gov/

What is useful here?  See information and get answers without waiting on hold.

  • The links on the top narrow your search to retirement, survivors, disability, etc.
  • Retirement estimator.
  • How to apply.
  • The questions on the right will filter down to additional questions to assist you to browse.
  • The links on the left address topics that are commonly requested..
  • Contact us (email, write, call or visit).
  • Note the News on the right side.  

How hard is this to use? 

Activity:Find how much income you can earn while receiving social security benefits.

Remember: web sites may not be smart – you may have to try multiple searches to get to the precise topic you need.

2. MEDICARE
http://www.medicare.gov

What is useful here?  

3. Benefits Checkup from NCOA. 
http://www.benefitscheckup.org/ 

Developed and maintained by The National Council on Aging (NCOA), Benefits CheckUp is a web-based service to screen for benefits programs for seniors with limited income and resources. There is a questionnaire to complete to find the appropriate benefits. This website includes more than 1,550 public and private benefits programs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, such as: 

* Educational assistance
* Employment
* Energy assistance
* Financial
* Health care
* Housing
* In-home services
* Legal
* Nutrition (including Food Stamps)
* Prescription drugs
* Social Security
* Tax relief 
* Transportation
* Volunteer services

4. GOVBENEFITS.GOV
http://www.govbenefits.gov

What is useful here – one place to search for Federal and State benefits, by going through an online questionnaire. 

  • See Highlights for current issues, and Benefits Quick Search for a targeted search.
  • Respond to a questionnaire about yourself to see the types of programs for which you qualify.

Confidential – does not save your information!!                                       

                                              

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Consumer Help

1. CONSUMER ACTION HANDBOOK
http://www.consumeraction.gov/

What is useful here? Practical advice to use when things go wrong, or when you just have a question. 

  • The bars on the left side of the page expand with lists of subtopics.  The "Specific Audience" bar includes information for persons with disabilities.
  • Take a look at the consumer tips (at the bottom of the page).
  • There is a sample consumer complaint letter and e-mail.
  • There is a search engine at the top left of the page, with responses accessing the consumer action website and other websites.
  • The Consumer News and Featured Links on the right side of the page change to the page topic.

Activity: Where would you find information on resolving problems with a credit card bill?
[path consumer topics – credit – credit cards - credit billing disputes]

Nice feature – note the news on the right side is now all about credit cards.                                                       

Activity: Try to find information about avoiding foreclosure.

  [path housing – avoiding foreclosure].

                               

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Finance

1. MYMONEY.GOV
http://www.mymoney.gov/  

  • All financial advice from federal agencies in one place.  
  • Categories are on the left side of the page. Examples of categories include:
    • saving and investing  - How to read financial statements, how to check your broker, information on mutual funds, savings bonds, and more.
    • retirement planning  - links for social security, IRS, Federal Trade Commission and more.
  • Tools and Resources includes various calculators such as Investing, Social Security and Home Values
  • Does not have a Search facility, has Browse only.
  • The "Share" bar connects you to several facilities where information can be shared.   

Another resource: Top 10 ways to prepare for retirement (Department of Labor ( DOL)):

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/Publications/10_ways_to_prepare.html

 

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 Health

1. SENIORHEALTH. GOV
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/ 

What is useful here? Current health information in a user-friendly format. 

  • Notice features at top for changing text size, contrast, and adding audio.
  • Easy to navigate:
    • Find topic by first letter on home page, or
    • Use Categories on home page to funnel down to desired topic, or
    • Go to Site Index to go directly to more specific information for each topic.
  • The home page has a good assortment of health videos and exercise stories. Also there are training tools for those interested in helping older adults search for online health information.

2. MEDLINEPLUS
http://www.medlineplus.gov 

This is what Seniorhealth links to for more information. Why?

  • Current.
  • Huge amount of information, but very well-designed.
  • Authoritative information.
  • Not sponsored by a drug company!!
  • There is a search box on each page.
  • There are categories of information on the left side of the home page, plus tabs at the top of other pages showing these categories of information– easy navigation.
  • Health Topics
    • Select Health Topics to select Demographic Groups > Seniors’ Health
    • Contains Health and Wellness information, interactive tutorials and Health Check Tools.
  • Note Current Health News, Featured Site and In the Spotlight on the home page, plus additional links on the right side.

  How difficult is a search? There is a search box at the top of each page.

Activity: Search for “night vision”.

Scroll through the results– notice it has automatically searched all categories including drugs, encyclopedia and dictionary, news, etc.  Search results are grouped by collection (e.g. health topics, external health links, drugs and supplements) and also by cluster (e.g. cataracts, surgery, diabetes). 

Notice information from non-government organizations is included. 

3. CLINICAL TRIALS. GOV
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ 

What is useful here? Find clinical trials related to a certain condition, find out whether they are recruiting, if you may be eligible and how to get in touch. 

Search box allows you to combine categories:

Activity: search heart disease, NH

Select and review.

The main page has other ways to search:

  • By condition, sponsor, location or drug intervention.
  • The Studies Topics link categorizes all studies.

Read background information about what clinical trials are, and how they work.

 

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Housing

1. HUD SITE FOR SENIORS
 http://www.hud.gov/groups/seniors.cfm

  • Browse for helpful links for such topics as staying in your home, finding an apartment, retirement and nursing homes, etc.
  • Provides both state and federal sites.
  • You can go directly to information by state rather than topic.

 

 

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Service Locators

1. ELDERCARE LOCATOR
 http://www.eldercare.gov 

What is useful here? In a few steps, you can find services in your area and can call toll-free. Finding local agencies that can help older persons and their families access such home and community-based services as transportation, meals, home care, and caregiver support services

    • Select the “+” icon for additional information about the result.

2 . NH ServiceLink
http://www.nh.gov/servicelink/index.html

  • A statewide network of locally-administered, community-based resources for seniors, adults with disabilities and their families.
  • Categories at left include a Caregiver Corner.
  • Search for services by location and category.
  • Use the Site Index to view a well-organized list of links.
  • There is a useful Benefits Checkup under “Links”.

 

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Travel

1. USA. GOV FOR AMERICANS TRAVELING AND LIVING ABROAD
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Americans_Abroad.shtml

What is useful here: a lot!

2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
http://www.nps.gov

What is useful here?

  • All the parks and sites, in one place, easy to navigate.
  • You can browse in "Find a Park" to find national parks in any state.
  • Go to the Advanced Tool Search and Map to find a park by name, locaton, activity or topic.
  • Also contains a search facility.
  • Go to www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm to find out about the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Senior Pass. - Cost $10.

3. NATIONAL REGISTER TRAVEL ITINERARIES  
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/

What is useful here: itineraries!

Take a place, like Shelby, North Carolina or a theme like the history of aviation, or women’s rights - each of these is a web site highlighting the historic sites associated with your place or theme.  There is always a:

  • Map.
  • List of the sites, with history and visitor information

You can also search for itineraries by state, 

4. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
http://www.si.edu 

Travel to Washington, or travel virtually by browsing the online exhibitions. 

  • Search by topic or gallery.
  • Find a list of current exhibits.

5. USGS RECREATION SITE:
http://recreation.usgs.gov/index.html

The United States Geological Survey is the sole science agency for the Department of the Interior.

  • For outdoor types: maps, bird watching, boating information, etc.
  • Browse by topic.
  • Provides other sites, gateways and information, about that topic.
  • Go to the black square on the upper right to access a search facility.

Activity: Find information about “bald eagles”.

Note that the search will find USGS information only.

 

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