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Point and click
–
Online database
will lead to service connections
More and more
people are finding out that the Internet is one of
the easiest ways to find information about anything.
Along with that, more and more older people access
the Web every day. Soon, finding detailed
information about services for older adults will be
just a click away!
Last year historic
long-term care reform was passed in the legislature.
Included in the 2001 reform was support for a
network to provide choices about long-term care
options for consumers. The result included expanding
the Senior LinkAge Line® to include a new
interactive web site that should be up and humming
this fall.
The "Resource
House" Database, an electronic listing of
information about long-term care resources, as well
as other human services programs, is user-friendly
and is accessible to the public via the Internet.
Using the Web site,
older adults can find appropriate programs, services
or community facilities that will help them to be
independent. The database will demonstrate program
features and services so that the Web surfer can
take action and make his or her own choices. For
example, when searching for housing, older adults
might try searching for housing that is close to
shopping, on a bus route, close to family or has
transportation available.
Similar to how a
cash machine works, the Web site leads you through a
six-step question process to narrow your personal
needs.
You can also search
for detailed information about adult day services,
in-home services, legal help, financial assistance,
transportation and much more!
You will be able to
have an e-mail address and send e-mails to agencies
in the database asking them specific questions.
There is also a place where you can enter your own
information that allows you to save your favorite
searches or send the results of your search to
others.
The "Resource
House" Database will be available for your use
in late September. You will be able to access the
database at www.mnaging.org.
Many older adults
do not have computers or experience in using them.
The Minnesota Board on Aging realizes that not
everyone knows how to "surf the Internet."
To bridge that gap, Senior Surf Days were developed
in 1999. A Senior Surf Day takes place at a
community location near you and, using State Health
Insurance Assistance Program counselors, teaches you
how to use the Internet to learn about Medicare,
Medicare fraud waste and abuse, and other services
available to you. Senior Surf Days have become
extremely popular with waiting lists at many sites.
To find a Senior Surf Day near you, call the Senior
LinkAge Line® at 1-800-333-2433.
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