Government Information for Seniors Workshop
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.
- Free access - all subjects: health, education, history, legislation, and more.
- Reference Desk will assist with any questions you may have.
- Help with navigating paper/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:
- Finances
- 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 large text:
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Open Internet Explorer
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On toolbar
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View, then Text Size
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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 -
- Go to the NPL home page http://www.nashualibrary.org/.
- Select Ibrowse databases.
- Select "Government" in the drop-down list box under the yellow (adult) Ibrowse picture.
- Select "Additional Resources" from the selections at the top of the Government webpage.
- Select Government Resources for Seniors Workshop Notes .
- You can add this URL to your favorites, if you wish.
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1. USA.GOV FOR SENIORS
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors.shtml
- Note search bar on top of the page on the right. Enter a keyword(s) and this will search both federal and state goverenment sites, not necessarily for seniors.
- 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.
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
- The search bar at the top of the page on the right will search AOA only.
- “Elders & Families > Elder rights & resources” has links various topics of interes to seniors.
- Note news and feature articles about topics of interest.
3. GOOGLE UNCLESAM
http://www.google.com/ig/usgov
- Why? Google can be a good tool.
- You can limit 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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1. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATIOIN
What is useful here? See information and get answers without waiting on hold.
- Links on top narrow search to retirement, survivors, disability, etc.
- Retirement estimator.
- How to apply.
- Questions on right will filter down to additional questions to assist you to browse.
- Contact us (email, write, call or visit).
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
What is useful here?
- Plan choices are explained, and online personal filtering helps you select.
- Menu on left helps you filter down to the desired information.
- Search tools [scroll down]: find and/or compare facilities.
- Nursing homes, hospitals, physicians, etc.
- Try the Long-Term Care Planning Tool.
- Related to drug plan:
- Compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
- Learn More About Plans in Your Area
- Formulary Finder
- Lower Your Costs During the Coverage Gap
- Claims and fraud information – under “billing”.
- Change your address, get a replacement card, etc.
3. BenefitsCheckup from NCOA.
http://www.benefitscheckup.org/
Developed and maintained by The National Council on Aging (NCOA), BenefitsCheckUp 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
What is useful here – one place to search for Federal and State benefits, by going through an online questionnaire.
- Respond to a questionnaire about yourself to see the types of programs for which you qualify.
Confidential – does not save your information!!
Back to Top ***************************************************************
1. CONSUMER.GOV
What is useful here? Information from many agencies in one place -
- Categories are at top, news and highlights below.
- Note the direct links for such items as Identity Theft and Do Not Call Registry (icons around the news and highlights).
- The Food and Product Safety categories have links to recalls, as well as a link to recalls on the home page.
- There is a Search facility on most pages searching all government sites.
- Select the Map link for a site map and the About link for good information about the site.
2. 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 onformation 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.
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 foreclusure.
[path housing – avoiding foreclosure].
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1. 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. NEW!
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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1. SENIORHEALTH.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.
- Use the site index to go directly to more specific information for each topic.
- Good assortment of health videos and exercise stories. Also training tools for those interested in helping older adults search for online health information.
2. MEDLINEPLUS
This is what Seniorhealth links to for more information. Why?
- Current.
- Well-designed.
- Authoritative information.
- Not sponsored by a drug company!!
- There is a search box on each page.
- Tabs at the top of each page show 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.
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
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 catagories:
Activity: search heart disease, NH
Select and review.
Main page has other ways to search:
- By disease, sponsor, location or drug intervention(searching within specific fields).
Read background information about what clinical trials are, and how they work.
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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 infomation by state rather than topic.
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1. ELDERCARE LOCATOR
http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare/Public/Home.asp
What is useful here? In a few steps, you can find services in your area and can call toll-free.
- click on the “+” icon for additional information about the result.
2. NH ServiceLink
http://www.state.nh.us/servicelink/links.html
- A statewide network of locally-administered, community-based resources for seniors, adults with disabilities and their families.
- Contains links to many community-based resources.
- Browse by category under "Find Help".
- There is a useful Benefits Checkup under “Links”.
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1. USA.GOV FOR AMERICANS TRAVELING AND LIVING ABROAD
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Americans_Abroad.shtml
What is useful here: a lot!
- Links to tips and practical advice, from customs information to getting medical care while abroad.
- Browse by topic, there is no search facility.
- Especially useful is Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad (http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1185.html)/
2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
What is useful here?
- All the parks and sites, in one place, easy to navigate.
- You can browse in "Find a Park" by name, location, activity or topic.
- Also contains a search facility.
Activity: Search for golden age passport (recently replaced by National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass– Senior)
(Search from home page) www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm
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.
4. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Travel to Washington, or travel virtually by browsing the online exhibitions.
- Search by topic or gallery.
- Find a list of current exhibits.
- Available in several foreign languages.
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.
- Search facility
Activity: Find information about“bald eagles”.
Note that the search will find USGS information only.