If you want unvarnished internet healthcare resources for seniors, where nobody has anything to gain except to do the right thing for the common good, a good place to start is with websites that carry no advertising. Then, look for websites maintained by non-profit or governmental organizations whose mission is to inform without bias or a financial agenda. Every website recommended on these two pages meets these criteria.
Your first stop for health information on the Internet should be www.MedlinePlus.gov. It is from the National Library of Medicine, and it is free. This website will always give you good and accurate facts. Medline Plus information is reliable, current, written by professionals and free of ads.
Covering hundreds of topics, with thousands of pages, the website is very comprehensive and features:
- Health topics pages
- Drug and supplement information
- Medical dictionary and encyclopedia
- Directories
- Interactive health tutorials
- Health news
The Medline Plus Senior resource section (www.medlineplus.gov/olderadults.html) has answers to seemingly any question you could ever have about Senior Health. Medline Plus is so comprehensive you may feel no need to look elsewhere.
Other Reputable Websites and Important Senior Topics
Topics addressed by the following 17 websites include Caregiving and Older Adults, Insurance, Medicine & Payment Help, and Advance Care Planning. Each one of these websites has been recommended by two or more unbiased Senior Care Professionals.
Caregiving and Older Adults
- National Alliance for Caregiving (www.caregiving.org) offers research, support groups, and resources for all kinds of caregivers
- Long-Term Care Information (www.longtermcare.gov) provides facts and tips about planning long-term care arrangements
- Florida Elder Care Advice (www.xyzadvice.info) Need a Florida Elder Care website. This copy us used here to hold the space for now.
- Eldercare Locator (www.eldercare.gov) offers information about senior services.
- VA Caregiver Support (www.caregiver.va.gov) gives information specific to caregiving of veterans, including a support line (855-260-3274)
- National Institute on Aging (www.nia.hih.gov) Leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and methods to extend the healthy, active years of life. NIA is the primary federal agency supporting and conducting Alzheimer’s disease research.
- Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) comprehensive Information on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia symptoms, diagnosis, stages, treatment, care and support resources.
Insurance
- Healthcare.gov (www.healthcare.gov) helps you find insurance options and make choices
- Veterans Affairs (www.va.gov/health) details Veterans health benefits, health programs and locations of VA facilities
- Benefits.gov (www.benefits.gov) gives facts on all types of government benefits
Medicine & Payment Help
- Pillbox (www.pillbox.nlm.nih.gov) provides facts about pills, pictures of each pill and side effects.
- Consumer Med Safety (www.consumermedsafety.org) offers tips for taking medicines safely including storing, discarding, and poisoning.
- Needy Meds (www.needymeds.org) details free or low-cost medicine payment programs (800-503-6897).
- RxAssist (www.rxassist.org/patients) explores payment help with medicines and give links to free or low-cost healthcare programs.
Advance Care Planning
Healthcare plans for the future is an important step to make sure that you will get the medical care that you want. These websites will provide the information you will want to have.
- National Institute on Aging (www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/advance-care-planning) provides tips and help for advance directives, how to select someone to help you make health decisions, and more.
- Caring Connections (www.caringinfo.org) gives information and support for planning ahead and includes links for advance directives for all states.
