Aging 101

Aging 101 for Georgia: Translating Aging Research for the Public


Aging 101 for Georgia has been developed and produced to provide the key information people need to know about aging in Georgia. This video targets older adults and their adult children, as well as those who work with elders. The video incorporates university experts on topics such as nutrition and caregiving, the Director of the Georgia Division of Aging Services, and a number of elders themselves, who share their wisdom and experiences. It can be accessed below and is also available as a free DVD, while supplies last, for those who do not use computers. Aging 101 for Georgia is a 90-minute video, but you can watch it a chapter at a time by clicking on the appropriate heading of interest below. You will also find an accompanying list of some of the very best free recommended web resources for those who need more information.

Aging 101 for Georgia was conceptualized and directed by Dr. Anne Glass, Assistant Director of the Institute of Gerontology in the College of Public Health, on behalf of a statewide collaborative initiative, the Gerontology Education and Training Alliance of Georgia (GET-AGE). The project was funded by a grant from Healthcare Georgia Foundation, and was produced through the University of Georgia's Center for Teaching and Learning in 2009.

Aging 101 for Georgia - Video

Please note:
  1. Introduction (3:46)
  2. Physical Health (6:42)
  3. Healthy Eating (8:32)
  4. Exercise and Healthy Habits (9:18)
  5. Stroke and Healthcare (8:37)
  6. Medications (3:08)
  7. Memory Loss and Lifelong Learning (6:53)
  8. Connecting With Others (5:06)
  9. Fight Ageism (2:19)
  10. Planning Ahead (4:26)
  11. Housing and Long Term Care (4:38)
  12. Caregiving (9:11)
  13. The Aging Network (7:42)
  14. Adjusting to Change (9:41)
*Closed-caption is available on the DVD.
Aging 101 for Georgia - Resource List and Links
  1. Aging Services
  2. Aging: Realities vs. Expections
  3. Brain Health
  4. Caregiving
  5. Chronic Health Conditions
  6. Disaster Preparation
  7. Driving
  8. Extreme Heat
  9. Exercise
  10. Fall Prevention
  11. Financial Planning
  12. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
  13. Health and Healthcare
  14. Healthy Eating
  15. Healthy Weight
  16. High Blood Pressure Hypertension
  17. Home Modifications
  18. Hospitalization
  19. Housing
  20. Long Term Care
  21. Long Term Care Insurance
  22. Medicaid in Georgia
  23. Medicare
  24. Medications
  25. Memory Loss or Dementia
  26. Planning Ahead
  27. Quit Smoking
  28. Service to Others
  29. Sexuality
  30. Social Networks
  31. Social Security
  32. Stroke
  33. Veteran's Information
  34. Volunteering and Civic Engagement
  35. Workplace
  36. General Listings
  1. Aging Services

    1. The Georgia Division of Aging Services
      http://aging.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHR-DAS/

    2. Find your local Area Agency on Aging and other services by county or region
      http://www.georgiaservicesforseniors.org/

    3. National Eldercare Locator
      http://www.eldercare.gov

    4. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) offers an online screening service to help you find the benefit programs that may be of help to you
      www.benefitscheckup.org


  2. Aging: Realities vs. Expectations

    1. Then Does Old Age Begin? (7/2/09) U.S. News & World Report
      http://www.usnews.com/blogs/planning-to-retire/2009/07/02/when-does-old-age-begin.html

    2. Growing Old in America: Expectations vs. Reality (2009) Pew Research Center (for more information and the actual report referenced in the article above)
      http://pewsocialtrends.org/pubs/736/getting-old-in-america


  3. Brain Health

    1. For a variety of brain games to challenge your brain and help keep it healthy (AARP)
      http://www.aarp.org/health/healthyliving/brain_health/

    2. Myths about Aging and the Brain, AARP
      http://www.aarp.org/health/brain/aging/myths_about_aging_and_the_brain.html

    3. Normal Aging, Dr. Adam Gazzaley
      http://memory.ucsf.edu/Education/Topics/normalaging.html

    4. The Aging Brain (Episode 5 from The Secret Life of the Brain), PBS
      http://www.pbs.org/wnet/brain/episode5/index.html


  4. Caregiving

    1. Eldercare at Home by the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging
      http://www.healthinaging.org/public_education/eldercare/

    2. for Caregivers 2007 by MetLife Mature Market Institute and National Alliance for Caregiving in cooperation with the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
      http://www.caregiving.org/pubs/brochures/resourcesforcaregivers07.pdf.

    3. Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, Americus, GA
      http://www.rosalynncarter.org/

    4. Caring for a Person With Alzheimer's Disease: Your Easy-to-Use Guide from the National Institute on Aging (2009) (148 pages)
      http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/CaringAD


  5. Chronic Health Conditions

    1. For Health Tips on a variety of chronic health conditions, by the American College of Physicians Foundation, available in English or Spanish.
      http://foundation.acponline.org/hl/htips.htm


  6. Disaster Preparation

    1. Just in Case: Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults and Caregivers (12 pg booklet) from the National Family Caregiver Support Program
      http://www.aoa.gov/PROF/aoaprog/caregiver/overview/docs/Just_in_Case030706_links.pdf


  7. Driving

    1. Test Your Driver IQ test
      http://www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety/driver_ed/a2004-06-23-drivingiq.html

    2. Driver Safety course
      http://www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety/driver_program/a2004-06-21-whatisds.html

    3. Driver Safety online course
      http://www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety/driver_safety_online_course.html

    4. When to Stop Driving
      http://www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety/driver_safetyissues/a2004-06-21-whentostop.html

    5. Helping the Senior Driver in Your Life
      http://www.aaaseniors.com/


  8. Extreme Heat

    1. It's Too Darn Hot: Planning for Excessive Heat Events by the Environmental Protection Agency
      http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/factsheets/itdhpfehe/index.htm

    2. Heat Stress in the Elderly, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
      http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/elderlyheat.asp

  9. Exercise

    1. For the new 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines (76 pages)
      http://www.health.gov/PAguidelines/guidelines/default.aspx

    2. Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide From the National Institute on Aging (124 pages)
      http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/ExerciseGuide/

    3. Aerobic Activity May Keep the Brain Young (6/29/09)
      http://www.unchealthcare.org/site/newsroom/news/2009/June/bullitt

  10. Fall Prevention

    1. Recommended on Fall Prevention
      http://healthyagingprograms.org/resources/Fall%20Prevention%20Rec%20.pdf

    2. Preventing Falls Among Older Adults, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
      http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/preventadultfalls.htm

    3. Falls Prevention Center of Excellence
      http://www.stopfalls.org/

    4. Home assessment tools
      http://fcs.tamu.edu/families/aging/fall_prevention/home_assessment_tools.php

    5. Information for families based on research
      http://fcs.tamu.edu/families/aging/fall_prevention/risks_for_falls.php

  11. Financial Planning

    1. A New Perspective on ?Saving? for Retirement, AARP (2009)
      http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/i22_saving.pdf

    2. Financial Security: Retirement Planning (2009) Cooperative Extension System
      http://msuextension.org/publications/FamilyFinancialManagement/MT200201HR.pdf

  12. Grandparents Raising Children 

    1. Georgia GrandFacts
      http://www.grandfactsheets.org/doc/Georgia%20%2007.pdf

  13. Health and Healthcare 

    1. Premier government website developed by the National Institutes of Health
      www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov

    2. Finding Your Way: Checklists May Help You Stay Healthy, August 2006, AARP
      http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/healthyliving/articles/finding_your_way_3.html

    3. Health Information for Older Adults from the CDC
      http://www.cdc.gov/aging/info.htm

    4. Pocket Guide to Staying Healthy at 50+ for Men and Women From AHRQ
      http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/50plus/index.html

    5. Talking to Your Doctor: A Guide for Older People (2005), National Institute on Aging (48 pages)
      http://www.nia.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/90DF996C-DF5F-4245-B7CA-B2E1B993D8C7/0/TWYD_Final.pdf

    6. Talking to Your Doctor: A Guide for Older People in Spanish
      http://www.niapublications.org/pubs/conversando/Conversando_con_su_Medico.pdf

    7. Health Tips (en espanol) from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
      http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/espanoix.htm

  14. Healthy Eating

    1. Dietary Guidelines for Americans
      http://www.health.gov/DietaryGuidelines/dga2005/document/html/brochure.htm

    2. Getting Older. Living Healthier. Feeling Better.
      http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/toolkit/olderadults/OAbrochure.htm

    3. Know Your Fats
      http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/toolkit/olderadults/OAfats.htm

    4. My Pyramid
      http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html

    5. Nutrition Education Issues for Older Adults
      http://ncsu.edu/ffci/publications/2008/v13-n3-2008-winter/johnson-park-penn-mcclelland-brown-adler.php

  15. Healthy Weight

    1. Best Way to Measure Body Fat, February 2009, CNN
      http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/healthyliving/articles/the_best_way_to_measure_body_fat.html

    2. For a Healthy Weight, Find Your Balance Between Food and Physical Activity
      http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/toolkit/healthfacts/weight.htm

    3. The secret to losing weight from WebMD: Food and Fitness Planner
      http://www.webmd.com/diet/food-fitness-planner

  16. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

    1. High Blood Pressure Age Page (2007) National Institute on Aging
      http://www.nia.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D9BB15A3-FBEF-4DFE-931E-FA0CD314AB73/0/High_Blood_Pressure.pdf

    2. High Blood Pressure Age Page in Spanish
      http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/Spanish/hiblood-sp.htm

    3. High Blood Pressure, from National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
      http://nihseniorhealth.gov/highbloodpressure/toc.html

  17. Home Modifications

    1. ARP Home Design
      http://www.aarp.org/life/homedesign

    2. Home Modification Fact Sheet, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging (2003)
      http://www.usc.edu/dept/gero/nrcshhm/resources/fs_home_mod.pdf

    3. National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modifications: Georgia Listings
      http://www.usc.edu/dept/gero/nrcshhm/directory/ga.htm

    4. WELLcome Home...Keeping You Where You Want to Be
      http://www.bsu.edu/wellcomehome/index.html

  18. Hospitalization 

    1. Hospitalization, American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging
      http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/chapters_ch_trial.asp?ch=12

    2. Hospitalization Happens: A Guide to Hospital Visits for Individuals with Memory Loss (18 page booklet) from the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center of the National Institute on Aging
      www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/happens.htm

  19. Housing

    1. Housing for Seniors: Georgia
      http://www.hud.gov/local/ga/homeownership/seniors.cfm

    2. Housing Options
      http://www.arfamilies.org/health_nutrition/aging_place/housing_options/housing_options_handout1.pdf

  20. Long Term Care

    1. Georgia long term care ombudsman
      https://www.georgiaombudsman.org/default.asp

    2. Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Rating
      www.medicare.gov/NHcompare

    3. Where to Begin a Search Among Nursing Homes in Georgia
      http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Include/DataSection/Questions/ProximitySearch.asp

    4. Culture Change Network of Georgia
      http://www.culturechangega.org/index.html

  21. Long Term Care Insurance

    1. Do You Need Long-Term Care Insurance? (2003). Consumer Reports
      http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/insurance/longterm-care-insurance-1103/overview/

    2. 4 Ways to Cover the Cost of Long-Term Care, U.S. News & World Report, 3/11/09
      http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/best-nursing-homes/2009/03/11/4-ways-to-cover-the-cost-of-long-term-care.html?PageNr=2

    3. 7 Tips for Buying Long-Term Care Insurance, U.S. News & World Report, 3/11/09
      http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/best-nursing-homes/2009/03/11/7-tips-for-buying-long-term-care-insurance.html

  22. Medicaid in Georgia

    1. For information about long term care, home and community-based services, and eligibility
      http://dch.georgia.gov/00/channel_title/0,2094,31446711_31944826,00.html

  23.  Medicare

    1. General information
      http://www.medicare.gov/

    2. My Medicare - allows you to access your personal Medicare information
      http://www.mymedicare.gov/

    3. Medicare Cost-Sharing Requirements for 2009, AARP
      http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/health/fs151_medicare.pdf

    4. Medicare Interactive, a resource provided by the Medicare Rights Center
      http://www.medicareinteractive.org/

    5. Medicare Basics: A Guide for Families and Friends of People With Medicare, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (July 2009) (56 pages)
      http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11034.pdf

    6. Senior Health: Medicare Basics for Caregivers, National Institute of Health
      http://nihseniorhealth.gov/medicare/toc.html

  24. Medications

    1. Samples of medication lists
      http://www.safemedication.com/safemed/MyMedicineList.aspx? OR
      http://www.macoalition.org/Initiatives/docs/ambulatoryPatientMedList.doc

    2. List of medications with photos
      http://www.mypillbox.org/med_list.php

    3. Medicines: Use Them Safely Age Page (2007) National Institute on Aging
      http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/PDFs/Medicines-Use_Them_Safely.pdf (English)
      http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/medicine-sp.asp (Spanish)

    4. Updating the Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults (2003). Archives of Internal Medicine.
      http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/163/22/2716

      1. For listing by medication in this article:
        http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/163/22/2716/TABLEIOI20821T1

      2. For listing by health condition in this article:
        http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/163/22/2716/TABLEIOI20821T2

    5. How to Avoid Drug Interactions in the Elderly
      http://www.imwr.com/issues/articles/2006-10_17.asp

  25. Memory Loss or Dementia

    1. Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter
      http://alz.org/georgia

    2. Alzheimer's Disease: Unraveling the Mystery (80 pages) from the National Institute on Aging
      www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/Unraveling

    3. Health Tips: Dementia, American College of Physicians Foundation
      http://foundation.acponline.org/hl/ht_dem_en.htm

  26.  Planning Ahead

    1. The National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information offers an information and planning resource, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
      http://www.longtermcare.gov/LTC/Main_Site/index.aspx

    2. A House in Order: A Planning Guide (2007; 22 pages) Ozaukee County Aging Services Department, Wisconsin
      http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1836

    3. The Five Wishes document is available from Aging With Dignity
      http://www.agingwithdignity.org/  

    4. End-of-Life: Helping With Comfort and Care (2008) (72 pages) National Institute on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
      http://www.nia.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D2709A8E-0818-467E-86D9-DD3254571481/0/End_of_Life_booklet_final.pdf

    5. List of for Improving Palliative and End-of-life Care (includes GA Advance Directives)
      http://www.geron.uga.edu/pdfs//EOL_ResourceList2008.pdf

  27. Quit Smoking

    1. Smoking Cessation for Older Adults: It's Not Too Late!
      http://www.tufts-nemc.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=13490

    2. Health Tip: Smoking, American College of Physicians Foundation
      http://foundation.acponline.org/hl/ht_smo_en.htm

    3. Smoking Among Older Adults Fact Sheet (September 2008), American Lung Association
      http://www.lungusa.org/site/c.dvLUK9O0E/b.39862/

  28.  Service to Others

    1. Volunteer Opportunities
      http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/Volunteer_Opps/Volunteer_Opps.aspx

  29. Sexualty

    1. Sexuality in Later Life, National Institute on Aging
      http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/sexuality.asp

    2. Study Finds Many Older Americans Sexually Active, by Joseph Shapiro (8/22/07)
      http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13872116

    3. Falling in Love Again: It's Never Too Late (By Abigail Trafford, The Washington Post, February 10, 2009)
      http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/06/AR2009020603082.html

  30. Social Networks

    1. Aging: Remaining Socially Active Aids Motor Skills (6/29/09) New York Times
      http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/health/research/30agin.html?_r=1

    2. Social Support, Networks, and Happiness (2009) Population Reference Bureau
      http://www.prb.org/pdf09/TodaysResearchAging17.pdf

  31.  Social Security

    1. Social Security: 2008 Georgia Quick Facts, AARP
      http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/ss_facts_08_ga.pdf

    2. Fast Facts & Figures About Social Security, 2008, Social Security Admnistration
      https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts/2008/

    3. Social Security Finances: Findings of the 2009 Trustees Report, National Academy of Social Insurance (8 pages).
      http://www.nasi.org/publications2763/publications_show.htm?doc_id=910750

  32. Stroke

    1. Explaining Stroke, National Stroke Association (20 pages) (2007)
      http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/ExplainingStroke_web.pdf?docID=3321

    2. Types of strokes and animated comparison of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke
      http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TYPE

  33. Veteran's Information

    1. Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors (2009)
      http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/current_benefits.asp

  34. Volunteering and Civic Engagement

    1. Civic Ventures and Awards
      http://civicventures.org/

    2. Late-life Civic Engagement Enhances Health for Individuals and Communities (2006). The Journal on Active Aging.
      http://www.comingofage.org/documents/Civic_engagement.pdf

    3. National Senior Service Corps
      http://www.seniorcorps.gov/

    4. Senior Service Corps in Georgia
      http://www.seniorcorps.gov/about/role_impact/state_profiles_detail.asp?tbl_profiles_state=GA

  35. Workplace

    1. Making Work More Flexible: Opportunities and Evidence, November 2008, AARP
      http://www.aarp.org/research/work/issues/i11_work.html

    2. White Collar, Blue Collar, Gray Hair: The Changing Composition of Georgia's Workforce (2007) AARP
      http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/ga_workforce_07.pdf

  36. General Listings

    1. AARP has developed and maintains an extensive database of internet resources (they claim over 900 links) related to aging.?
      http://www.aarp.org/internetresources/

    2. Health Implications of Caregiving - Satellite Broadcast Resource List (2008)
      http://www.blsmeetings.net/caregivers/docs/NFI3ResourceListHealthImplications.doc

If you have comments or suggestions about this resource list, please send an email to aging101@geron.uga.edu or call Anne Glass, Ph.D., at the Institute of Gerontology at The University of Georgia at 706-425-3222.