Gerontology Websites

Topics

Consumer Oriented
Professional Organizations
Federal Information Sites
National Organizations/Research/Information
Alzheimer's Disease
Caregiving
Curriculum Resources
State and Area Resources
Foundations

Consumer Oriented

American Association of Retired Persons

http://www.aarp.org/
The American Association of Retired Persons is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association dedicated to shaping and enriching the experience of aging for its member and for all Americans. It is the largest organization of midlife and older persons in the country. In addition to providing information and services to seniors, this site has extensive information about health and wellness, learning issues, policy and research initiatives.

AgeNet http://www.age-net.co.uk/
Senior Net http://www.seniornet.com/
Both AgeNet and SeniorNet provide information and resources for older persons themselves. Frequently, the materials are also useful to professionals and educators.

National Federation of the Blind

http://www.nfb.org/
In recent years, the National Federation of the Blind has increased its focus on vision impairment in seniors. Information is available on this web site, and a resource and training kit will soon be available. Local contact agencies and professionals also can be identified from this web site.

National Hispanic Council on Aging

http://www.nhcoa.org/
The site addresses issues and concerns of aging Hispanic Americans.

National Indian Council on Aging

http://www.nicoa.org/
The site addresses issues and concerns of aging Native Americans.

Self Help for the Hard of Hearing

http://www.shhh.org/
SHHH is an organization for hearing impaired adults, but can provide useful information to anyone interested in hearing loss associated with aging.

Senior Link

http://www.seniorlink.com/
Website dedicated to the care of the elderly, and their caregiver. Topics range from medication and nutrition, to communication, grief, financial and legal issues, counseling and crisis intervention.

Professional Organizations

The American Geriatrics Society

http://americangeriatrics.org/
The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a professional organization of health care providers dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all older adults. With an active membership of over 6,000 health care professionals, the AGS focuses on shaping attitudes, policies and practices regarding health care for older people.

Association for Gerontology in Higher Education

http://www.aghe.org/
The primary national organization providing gerontology support for faculty and students in higher education. The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville is a member of AGHE, which is now a branch of the Gerontological Society of America. This web site provides access to an extensive array of publications and directories for higher education offerings in gerontology, including curriculum support and syllabi for various aging topics. There is a national data base of educational programs, and policy information on various issues.

Gerontological Society of America

http://www.geron.org/
The Gerontological Society of America is a non-profit professional organization with more than 5000 members in the field of aging. GSA provides researchers, educators, practitioners, and policy makers with opportunities to understand, advance, integrate, and use basic and applied research on aging to improve the quality of life as one ages. GSA publishes three journals in aging and sponsors a widely attended national convention in the Fall of each year.

American Society on Aging

http://www.asaging.org/
National organization of service providers involved in the aging services network - formal or informal. Publications and resource materials are available, and there is an annual conference with a broad range of topics addressed.

Federal Information Sites

Centers for Disease Control

http://www.cdc.gov/
Excellent resource for data on aging, initiatives such as Health People 2010 and the new World Health Organization classification of disability and functioning, and national sources of information regarding the health of aging Americans. Useful publications, Fact Books, and health promotion materials.

Federal Aging Statistics

http://www.agingstats.gov/
Resource for basic statistics on aging and older adults.

National Center for Health Statistics

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/
A site linked with the Centers for Disease Control and helpful in identifying statistics for curriculum, research, and/or grant development.

National Institute on Aging

http://www.nia.nih.gov/
Primary federal funding agency for aging research. Good source of current research information and initiatives.

Administration on Aging

http://www.aoa.gov/
Branch of the federal government responsible for most federally funded programs and services for older adults. Site is good resource for information about aging, services, families, caregiver needs. Site also provides helpful links to other resources.

U.S. Census Bureau

http://www.census.gov/
Current census demographics.

Center for Medicare and Medicaid

http://cms.hhs.gov/
Resource for understanding Medicare and Medicaid guidelines as they apply to older Americans and to professionals and agencies serving older adults.

Social Security Administration

http://www.ssa.gov/
This site is the official guide to understanding the history, benefits, and financing of the Social Security programs of today. While oriented toward consumers, it provides useful information for practitioners and educators.

Area Agencies on Aging

http://www.n4a.org/
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging is the umbrella organization of 6555 area agencies on aging in the United States, as well as over 230 Title VI Native American aging programs.

National Organizations/Research/Information Sites

Alliance for Aging Research

http://www.agingresearch.org/
Good source for research updates and trends.

American Federation on Aging Research

https://www.afar.org/
Information on disease, biology, health, exercise, and spirituality, among many other topics associated with aging and the elderly. Good resource for current research.

Center on an Aging Society

http://ihcrp.georgetown.edu/agingsociety
The Center on an Aging Society at Georgetown University is a Washington-based, non-partisan public policy institute that fosters critical thinking about the implications of an aging society. The Center studies the impact of demographic changes on public and private institutions and families of all ages.

International Longevity Center

http://www.ilcusa.org/
The ILC is an organization whose mission is to help societies address longevity and population aging in positive and productive ways and highlight older people's productivity and contributions to their families and society as a whole. The organization is part of a multinational research and education.Dr. Robert Butler, former head of the National Institute on Aging, is the head of the agency.

National Council on Aging

http://www.ncoa.org/
This is the nation's first association for organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting the dignity, self-determination, well-being, and contributions of older persons. There is a strong community and service delivery emphasis, and the site contains publications and research related to aging and the elderly.

National Academy on an Aging Society

http://agingsociety.org/
The National Academy on an Aging Society is a policy institute of The Gerontological Society of America with a mission to promote innovative and responsible thinking on issues arising from the aging of our society.

National Hispanic Council on Aging

http://www.nhcoa.org/
The site addresses issues and concerns of aging Hispanic Americans.

National Indian Council on Aging

http://www.nicoa.org/
The site addresses issues and concerns of aging Native Americans.

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Association

http://www.alz.org/
Extensive information about nature of Alzheimer's disease (and other dementias), current research and practice, caregiver needs.

Caregiving

Family Caregiver Alliance

http://www.caregiver.org/
Community-based nonprofit organization addressing the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home.

National Family Caregivers Association

http://www.nfcacares.org/
This site provides assistance to family caregivers and professionals including statistics and detailed reports on the status of caregiving in the US.

Curriculum Resources

Association for Gerontology in Higher Education

National Association of Geriatric Education Centers

http://www.nagec.org/
The National Association of Geriatric Education Centers promotes better health care for older persons through information dissemination. The NAGEC includes the national network of 45 Geriatric Education Centers, and offers professional development opportunities to educators and community practitioners.

State and Area Resources

Division of Aging and Adult Services, Arkansas Department of Human Services

http://www.state.ar.us/dhs/aging/index.html
Useful information for many links to sites related to agencies on aging, including a directory with information about programs and services provided in each county for the state of Arkansas. This site is helpful to older Arkansans because it has many choices for information on long term care services as well as various senior programs throughout the state.

Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging

http://aging.uams.edu/
The Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging is a division of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences campus in Little Rock. It provides extensive services and educational programs for older adults and for practitioners working with elders.

Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education

http://www.schmiedingcenter.org/
The Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education is located in Springdale, Ark., and is affiliated with the Reynolds Center and with the Area Health Education centers. The Schmieding Center provides comprehensive geriatric health care and educational programs, particularly for caregivers for the elderly.

Foundations

American Federation for Aging Research

http://www.afar.org/
AFAR's mission is to promote healthier aging through biomedical research. The organization supports biomedical research that promotes healthier aging and furthers our understanding of the aging process and its associated diseases and disorders; works to build a cadre of new and young scientists in aging research and geriatric medicine; offers opportunities for scientists and physicians to exchange new ideas and knowledge about aging; and promotes an awareness among the general public, in the United States and abroad, about the importance of aging research.

American Health Assistance Foundation

http://www.ahaf.org/
The American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) is a registered nonprofit charitable organization that has dedicated over 25 years to funding research on age-related and degenerative diseases, educating the public about these diseases, and providing emergency financial assistance to Alzheimer's disease patients and their caregivers.

The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging

http://www.healthinaging.org/
The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA) is a national nonprofit organization established in 1999 by the American Geriatrics Society. We aim to build a bridge between the research and practice of geriatric and the public, and to advocate on behalf of older adults and their special health care needs.

The John A. Hartford Foundation

http://www.jhartfound.org/
Founded in 1929, The John A. Hartford Foundation is a committed champion of health care, training, research and service system innovations that will ensure the well-being and vitality of older adults. Its overall goal is to increase the nation's capacity to provide effective, affordable care to its rapidly increasing older population. Today, the Foundation is America's leading philanthropy with a sustained interest in aging and health.Through its grant-making, the John A. Hartford Foundation seeks specifically to enhance and expand the training of doctors, nurses, social workers and other health professionals who care for older adults, and to promote innovations in the integration and delivery of services for all older Americans.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

http://www.rwjf.org
The Foundation seeks to improve the health and health care of all Americans. To achieve the most impact with our funds, we prioritize our grants into four goal areas:

a. To ensure that all Americans have access to basic health care at reasonable cost.

b. To improve care and support for people with chronic health conditions.

c. To promote healthy communities and lifestyles.

d. To reduce the personal, social and economic harm caused by substance abuse tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs.