Government Websites with info on Health & Nutrition

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International Council on Active Aging
ICAA leads, connects and defines the active-aging industry and supports organizations and professionals that develop wellness environments and services for adults over 50. Its network spans 10,000 organizations managing 40,000 locations in 37 countries that cater to the health and well-being of older adults.

Administration on Aging
US Dept of Health & Human Services seeks to develop a comprehensive, coordinated and cost-effective system of home and community-based services that helps elderly individuals maintain their health and independence.

Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the lead Federal agency charged with improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare.

The Aging of the United States Population (great stats & charts)
These charts from SeniorCare.com using public information show how the senior population is expected to climb to 83,000,000 by 2050.

AgingWell Hub
The AWH is a collaborative research & development initiative aimed at delivering solutions and services for aging well across the continuum of care. The diverse group of organizations include MIT AgeLab, Philips, Humana, and more.

Alcoholism and Drug Dependance
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence provides info on Seniors & Drugs.

Addiction Treatment
DiscoveryPlace.com offers this Ultimate Guide to Addiction Treatment for Seniors with Medicare.

Alzheimers.gov
Free government information about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center
The U.S. Congress created the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center in 1990 to “compile, archive, and disseminate information concerning Alzheimer’s disease” for health professionals, people with AD and their families, and the public.

Americans with Disabilities Act
Information & Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Anxiety & Depression Association of America
ADAA is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety and mood disorders, OCD, and PTSD and to improving the lives of all people who suffer from them through education, practice, and research.

Assisted Living Research Institute
Beyond raw data and information, AssistedLiving.org offers insights and solutions to problems seniors, caregivers and influencers face every day.

CARE Act
The Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act is model legislation developed by AARP and enacted in about 30 states, but slightly differently in each case. The law generally requires that hospitals: (1) Record the name of family caregiver(s) on the medical record, (2) Inform family caregivers when their loved one is to be discharged, and (3) provide them with education and instruction of the medical tasks he or she will need to perform for the patient at home.

Center for Health and Democracy
CHD is a non-profit led by healthcare expert and insurance industry whistleblower Wendell Potter that works to transform America’s system of health coverage. The organization’s core belief is that healthcare should be driven not by industry profits and greed, but by the needs and rights of every American.

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
The CDC offers information on topics such as healthy living, diseases & conditions, emergency preparedness, environmental health, traveler’s advisories, and workplace safety.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Part of the US Dept of Health & Human Services, this federal agency administers Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program

Community Care Smart Assistive Technology Collaborative
This Australian project offers opportunities for training, information-sharing and collaboration on smart assistive technology has been funded by the Queensland Government through the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services. Their YouTube channel has many educational webinars.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Empowering consumers to take more control over their economic lives

DigitalLiteracy.gov
This is the destination for digital literacy resources and collaboration and for sharing and enhancing the tools necessary to learn computer and Internet skills needed in today’s global work environment. Topics include using a computer or mobile device, software & applications, etc.

The Dementia Friendly America Initiative
Dementia Friendly America is a multi-sector collaborative on a mission to foster “dementia friendly” communities.

Disability.gov
Disability.gov connects you to important information about disability benefits, health care and housing programs, as well as tools and resources for students making the transition from high school to college or work. You can also learn about programs in your community that can help you find a job, access transportation and get the services and supports you need to live independently.

Drugs@FDA
Search by drug name, active ingredient, or application number.

Eldercare Locator
A public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging that helps older adults and their caregivers find resources and services in their area by zip code

Eldercare Resources
Fact sheets, publications, links and other useful information for older adults, caregivers, and professionals by HHS

FDA’s Mobile Medical Applications Guidance (43-page PDF)
Contains nonbinding recommendations for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff.

Food & Drug Administration
The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, blood transfusions, medical devices, devices emitting electromagnetic radiation, veterinary products, and cosmetics.

HHS Initiative on Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCC)
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) supports a large number of programs to prevent and manage MCC that pose a significant and increasing burden on the health of Americans.

Hospital Locator & Comparison
The Hospital Compare website was created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to promote reporting on hospital quality of care. Find care facilities by zip code and compare them with peers using medical records data the hospitals voluntarily submit about the treatments their patients receive. We like the service but think it needs patient input too, like Angie’s List.

Home Use Devices: How to Prepare for & Handle Power Outages
FDA gives advice for medical devices that require electricity. 20-page booklet (PDF) includes personal emergency contacts.

HUD.gov
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Independence, Technology, and Connection in Older Age
In this 80-page report, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), makes several recommendations to address America’s aging population with independence technology.

Independent Student’s Guide to Healthcare
This guide for first-time health insurance shoppers, from BestColleges.com, helps them transition to their own healthcare and offer tips on finding the right doctors.

Insurance Company Rate Increases
Find out about your own insurance company and how they justify their increases at Healthcare.gov.

Justice.gov
U.S. Department of Justice — a resource to report unfair or illegal treatment.

Department of LABOR
About worker’s rights

Latino Health Resource Guide
As they say, “Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States, but remain largely underserved from a health care standpoint.” This guide is full of state and national resources for many of the biggest health care risks faced by the Latino community, in English and Spanish.

Legal Resources and Considerations for Seniors and Persons with Special Needs
This guide by Just Great Lawyers provides information about what legal concerns elderly and disabled individuals might face, and how to address them appropriately if these rights are violated.

Medicare.gov
Official U.S. Government site for Medicare

Medicare and Home Health Care
32-page PDF booklet covering who is eligible, covered services, how to find & compare home health agencies, and your Medicare rights

Medicare Provider Charge Data
This database reveals previously secret information about what hospitals charge for common inpatient services, showing significant variation across the country. Read about it at Secret Hospital Charges Disclosed.

Medicare versus Medicaid
A quick comparison by CaregiverConnections

Military and Veterans Benefits
A resource collection by Military.com

Money Saving Tips for Seniors
Many listed resources to help seniors cut costs, save money, avoid scams, plan retirement, and find assistance.

My Family Health Portrait
A free PHR by HSS.gov and built on Microsoft HealthVault. Enter your family health history. Print and share with family or your health care worker. Save so you can update it over time. Integrate with EMR / PHR.

National Aging in Place Council
NAIPC is a network of professionals from the private, public and non-profit sectors who can help you plan for your future housing and care needs.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The NCCAM is the Federal Government’s lead agency for scientific research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

National Institutes of Health
NIH, part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency, making important discoveries that improve health and save lives. Thanks in large part to NIH-funded medical research, Americans today are living longer and healthier.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health works to reduce the burden of neurological disease – a burden borne by every age group, by every segment of society, by people all over the world.

National Institute on Aging The NIA has been at the forefront of the Nation’s research activities dedicated to understanding the nature of aging, supporting the health and well being of older adults, and extending healthy, active years of life for more people.

NIH Senior Health
NIHSeniorHealth.gov makes aging-related health information easily accessible for family members and friends seeking reliable, easy to understand online health information. This site was developed by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM) both part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Nursing Home Abuse Guide
The mission of nursinghomeabuseguide.org is to provide free, accurate and up to date information on nursing home injury and abuse, as well as the actions you can take to protect your loved one.

Patient-Centered Medical Home
The US Department of Health & Human Services hosts this Resource Center with information on the PCMH, also called the Primary Care Medical Home. PCMH is a starting point for a new model of transforming the delivery of primary care. As I describe here, the name is a bit confusing, so here are other articles on the topic.

Paying For Senior Care
Understand your Financial Options for Assisted Living, Home Care and other forms of Long Term Care.

PEATworks.org
Tools, resources, and collaboration in the pursuit of accessible workplace technology, in cooperation with the US Department of Labor

Pets for the Elderly
The Pets for the Elderly Foundation (PFE) is a 501 (c)(3) public charity whose mission is to provide companionship to senior individuals through pet ownership, while saving the lives of companion animals in shelters; animals which might otherwise be destroyed due to lack of appropriate homes, and space limitations.

Canine Caregivers for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Patients
About a new breed of service dogs.

Cats for Seniors
The American Humane Associate describes pet adoption advice.

Physician Compare
Search by location (zip code or city/state) and specialty for information about Medicare-enrolled Physicians and Healthcare Professionals and compare how patients rate their experience with doctors as well as how the doctors perform on a dashboard of clinical and outcomes measures.

Physicians for a National Health Program
PNHP is a non-profit research and education organization of 18,000 physicians, medical students and health professionals who support single-payer national health insurance.

Preventive Medicine Organizations
The Nurses Guide to Preventive Medicine, Patient Education & Health Literacy lists nearly 100 organizations dedicated to the prevention of disease and the prolonging of life through medical and educational tactics applied at the local, national, and international levels.

Health is PRIMARY CARE
Health is Primary is a communications campaign by America’s Family Physicians to advocate for the values of family medicine, demonstrate the benefits of primary care, and engage patients in our health care system. Our aim is to build a primary care system that reflects the values of family medicine, puts patients at the center of their care, and improves the health of all Americans.

Single Payer FAQ
Excellent coverage of the need for health reform and the Public option (e.g. Medicare for All), by Physicians for a National Health Program.

Sleep Guide for Seniors
This guide was developed by MattressHelp.org to provide helpful information and tips focused on aging and sleep for seniors. It is fairly comprehensive and has dozens of quality reference links for even more information on sleep wellness.

Social Security Administration
The official website of the U.S. Social Security Administration

State Resources
Resources to support older adults and their caregivers can vary from state to state. See what is available to you from HHS.