Resources and Information for Older Adults

Every question has an answer.  The secret is in knowing where to look and whom to ask!  Below are many informational resource sites that can help answer frequently asked questions.

• Alliance for Aging

http://www.allianceforaging.org/consumers/get-help-information     -  Useful connections to resources in the state of Florida for seniors,  caregivers, professionals and the general public

• Benefits and Government Assistance Eligibility Tool

         http://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-finder#benefits&qc=cat_1

• Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates

  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.html

• Consumer Action Handbook

  http://www.usa.gov/consumer-action-handbook/order-form.shtml

• Consumer Protection for Seniors

  http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors/Consumer.shtml  -  Consumer fraud, elder rights, advocates for nursing home residents, etc.

• Court Records – Order Online

  http://www.pacer.gov/

• Credit Cards – File a Complaint

  https://help.consumerfinance.gov/app/creditcard/ask

• Credit Reports – Free

  http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports

• Diet and Nutrition – Track Your Diet

  http://www.choosemyplate.gov/supertracker-tools.html

• Disabled Parking Permits

  http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/disabled_pkg.html

• Do Not Call Registry

  https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

• Education, Jobs, and Volunteerism for Seniors

  http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors/Education.shtml  -  Adult education, AARP working options, Senior Corps, etc.

• End-of-Life Issues

  http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors/EndofLife.shtml   - Advance directives, estate planning, hospice, etc.

• Family History and Genealogy

  http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/History-Family.shtml

• Federal and State Agencies for Seniors

  http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors/FederalState.shtml  -  Administration on Aging, Social Security Administration, Veterans' Health Administration, etc.

• Financial Advisors and Brokers – Check Them Out

  http://www.sec.gov/investor/brokers.htm

• Financial Helpline of the FL Dept. of Financial Services Div. of Consumer Services  - answers questions about insurance and financial issues and files complaints on a consumer's behalf

  1.877.693.5236 or http://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers

• Florida Consumer Guides (English and Spanish)

  http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/Consumers/UnderstandingCoverage/Gui...

• Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs

• http://www.floridavets.org - provides information and services and operates an assisted living facility and nursing homes. Call them at (727) 518-3202 or visit the web site.

• Florida Mature Driver Information

http://www.flhsmv.gov/FloridaGrandDriver/ -  information about safe driving, licensing and refresher courses for drivers 55 and over

• Food Stamps

www.myflorida/accessflorida/

• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

  http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Grandparents.shtml  -  Find grandparent programs in Florida and get information about benefits, assistance, and more

• Health Tutorials – Interactive Health Education Resources

          http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorial.html

• Heart Risk Calculator

  http://cvdrisk.nhlbi.nih.gov/calculator.asp

• Hold My Mail

  https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/

• Housing for Seniors

• http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors/Housing.shtml  - Reverse mortgages, in-home help, nursing home comparison, and more

• Laws and Regulations Concerning Seniors

  http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors/Laws.shtml   -  Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Medicare Modernization Act, Social Security Act, etc.

• Legal Assistance

           http://www.lsgmi.org/   - Legal Services of Greater Miami

• Medicare Plan Finder

• https://www.cms.gov

• Military Service Records Requests

  http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/   

• Money and Taxes for Seniors

  http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors/Taxes.shtml   - Investing, tax counseling, estate planning and more

• Nursing Home Guide -  Find facilities, licensure information, mapping directions and much more

http://www.FloridaHealthFinder.gov   

• On Guard for Seniors– Financial education for seniors

http://www.MyFloridaCFO.com/OnGuard

• Operation S.A.F.E.  -  Stop Adult Financial Exploitation

          http://MyFloridaCFO.com/SAFE

• Pillbox – Identify an Unknown Pill

  http://pillbox.nlm.nih.gov/index.html

• Recalls – Product and Company Search

  http://www.recalls.gov/

• REFER - Florida Department of Elder Affairs searchable resource database

         http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/quickguide.php

• Retirement

  http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors/Retirement.shtml  - Pension plans, benefits calculator, retirement ages etc.

• SHINE Program (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders)

• http://www.floridashine.org - is for seniors and people with disabilities and provides counseling on Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance, prescription assistance programs, and other health insurance issues. You may also call the local office at (305) 670-6500 ext. 11256 or the Florida Department of Elder Affairs toll-free number (800) 963-5337 or TDD (800) 955-8771.

• Smoking – Tools to Help You Quit

  http://smokefree.gov/

• Social Security

  http://www.ssa.gov/

• Taxes – Federal Tax Forms and Publications

  http://www.irs.gov/uac/Forms,-Publications,-and-Other-Tax-Products

• Taxes – Refund Status Check

  https://sa1.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp

• Travel and Recreation for Seniors

  http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors/Travel.shtml  - Amtrak senior discount, Parks and Recreation senior pass, older drivers, travel tips etc.

• Veterans' Gravesites Locator – U.S. Sites

  http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/

• Veterans Affairs Benefit and Health Applications Online

  http://www.va.gov/onlineapps.htm

• Vital Records

  http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Family-Issues/Vital-Docs.shtml

• Weight Assessment

         http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/patmats.htm

• Your Money Matter$  -  financial education

         http://www.MyFloridaCFO.com/YMM

• ZIP Code Lookup

  https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action