The following resources are provided to help you find products, information, programs, services and other tools and resources on assistive and adaptive technology, caregiving and independent living. Please let us know about other Web sites and resources that you find helpful so we can include them in the Resource Center. 

Note: ILP does not recommend or endorse any of these web sites or their products or services. Please be advised that there are other similar web sites available that were not reviewed and are not listed in this resource center.

LINKS TO ASSOCIATIONS, RESOURCE CENTERS

AND OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Ability Hub - a site where you can find information on adaptive equipment and alternative methods available for using computers. www.abilityhub.com

Abledbody.com – is a consumer site with information and tips on assistive technology and innovations for people with disabilities and their families and employers; the site features news, tips, expert opinions, blogs and other resources. www.abledbody.com

Abledata – a popular Web site with a database for searching for assistive and adaptive technologies and other resources, including objective data on devices and technologies. www.abledata.com

ActiveForever – this online store features products for independent living ranging from mobility and low vision aids to fitness, physical therapy and diet and nutrition products as well as other medical equipment and supplies. www.activeforever.com

AdaptMy.com – features products to make your home accessible that are also stylish and decorative as well as affordable; you can find adaptive accessories for the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and entryway; and the site offers live assistance from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. www.adaptmy.com

Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) – a network of community-based resource centers and assistive technology developers providing support to adults and children with disabilities. www.ataccess.org

Alzheimer’s Store – unique products and information for those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. www.alzstore.com

Aroga – is a Canadian-based online store featuring assistive and adaptive technology products and downloads; most of the products are designed to facilitate computer use by those with vision impairments and limited physical access. www.argoa.com

Assisted Living Store – run  by  private company in Minnesota and featuring disposable and other products and gadgets.  www.assistedlivingstore.com

AssistiveTechNet – a national public website featuring assistive technologies and links to state programs. www.assistivetech.net

Assistive Technology Industry Association – the trade association for AT industry manufacturers, vendors and suppliers. www.atia.org

California Assistive Technology System/AT Net – providing technical assistance on assistive technology, product borrowing services, low-interest loans and other services. www.atnet.org

California Telephone Access Program – provides special phones to California residents who have difficulty hearing, seeing, moving and speaking. www.ddtp.org

EnableMart – a web-based store featuring a range of assistive and adaptive technology products ranging from vision, hearing and mobility to ergonomics and environmental controls. www.enablemart.com

Gold Violin – helpful gadgets and devices for maintaining independence, including gift ideas for people with age-related limitations and impairments. wwwgoldviolin.com  

HITEC – sell products for those with hearing impairments; the site features watches, clocks, smoke detectors, alarms and other products made specifically for those with hearing loss. www.hitec.com

Independent Living Aids – products designed to help people with low vision limitations and hearing loss live active lives. www.independentliving.com

Job Accommodation Network Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) system – this tool allows users to first select a disability and then explore various accommodation options and ideas for use in the workplace and educational settings. www.jan.wvu.edu/soar/index.htm

Microsoft Accessibility – Microsoft’s Web site featuring products to make a computer more accessible to those with hearing, vision and physical limitations. www.microsoft.com/enable/

Mobility Advisor – is an educational guide on wheel chair options, mobility aids, disability resources, and recreational outlets that enhance the lives of individuals of all ages who need mobility assistance. www.mobility-advisor.com

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research – the federal government’s central agenda (within the Dept. of Education) for research on and information about improving the lives of people with disabilities.   www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/index.html

Ocelco – an online store featuring products ranging form assistive living aids to equipment and supplies for professional caregivers. www.ocelco.com

RehabTool.com – a Web site offering products and tools for making the computer more user-friendly for adults and children with disabilities. www.rehabtool.com

RehabTools.com – is an online store selling assistive and adaptive technology products plus a forum where you can ask questions, get advice from experts and share experiences with others; the site also has a resources section with links and a search function for finding AT products. www.rehabtools.com

SightConnection – is an online store featuring products for those with vision loss; the store is run by the Seattle-based Community Services for the Blind and Partially-Sighted, s nonprofit social service agency; the agency also operates a walk-in store in Seattle. www.sightconnection.com

Simple Comforts – offering a range of enabling devices, ergonomic tools,  arthritis aids, dressing and grooming devices and gift ides for people with impairments. www.simplecomforts.com

Spin Life – an online store for manual and power wheelchairs,  mobility scooters, lift chairs, vehicle lifts and other assistive products for people with disabilities. www.spinlife.com

Technology for Long-Term Care – a government-sponsored web site that provides information on and assessments of assistive technology aides that can be used for people living in long-term care settings. www.techforltc.org/ltc.cfm

LINKS TO GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS

AND OTHER SOURCES OF HELP AND INFORMATION ON CAREGIVING

AARP Caregiving Section - a special section of AARP’s Web site devoted to information and resources on caregiving, including long-term caregiving and a locator for finding certified aging-in-place specialists (CAPS). www.aarp.org/family/caregiving/

AARP State-by-State Guide to Nursing Home Performance Data – AARP has put together this list of  links to state government sources of quality, safety and other report card information for nursing homes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It’s a great addition to the information found in Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare service (see below). AARP’s list is updated as states post new performance data.

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/caregiving/articles/state_guide_to_nursing_home.html

Aging Care – is a community for caregivers of aging parents with tips, advice, information and helpful resources for caregivers, including Forums for chatting with experts and other caregivers. www.AgingCare.com

All SeniorHomes.com -  this free resource can help you find all kinds of assisted living, nursing homes, independent living, retirement communities and memory care options in your local area. The site also has a library of articles and other resources on senior housing topics. www.allseniorhomes.com

A Place for Mom – is a referral service that links families with nursing homes, assisted living facilities, Alzheimer’s care, home care and retirement communities; eldercare advisors also are available for online consultations. www.aplaceformom.com

Benefits Checkup – a site sponsored by the National Council on Aging, helps you find out if you or the person you’re caring for are eligible for federal, state and locals benefits as well as private benefit programs like utility bills and other help for all 50 states and DC. www.benefitscheckup.org

California Caregiver Resource Centers – a network of centers offering information, education, respite, care planning and support resources for caregivers in California. www.californiacrc.org

Care.com – is an online clearinghouse that matches people looking for caregiving services for aging parents and other special needs situations with caregivers who are looking for jobs; once you join, you can search by city, view caregiver profiles, perform background checks and chat with potential candidates; it’s an inclusive site, so you can also find house sitters, home care workers, pet sitters, child care specialists and others in the “caregiving” professions. www.care.com

The CareGiver Partnership – is a women-owned web-based service offering home health supplies and assistive living devices. The site features product specialists available to answer questions, and you can get samples of incontinence products to try before you buy them. There are also caregiving resource links and access to the site’s Physician Assistant and to a Mayo Clinic-trained nutritionist. www.caregiverpartnership.com  

Caregiver Resources – sponsored by the Federal Government, the Web site provide inks to information on caregiving, where to find help for providing care, long-distance caregiving, benefits, support for caregivers, and other helpful information. www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Health/caregivers.shtml

Caregiver’s Home Companion – a community for caregivers, including a resource directory, articles and information on caregiving topics, weekly columns by experts and an online forum for connecting with other caregivers. www.caregivershome.com/

Caring.com – is a site with information on caregiving topics and the ability to link and chat with other caregivers and experts primarily for people caring for their aging parents, although many of the topics are helpful for all caregivers. www.caring.com

Children of Aging Parents – is a nonprofit, charitable organization created to help caregivers by providing reliable information, referrals and support. www.caps4caregivers.org

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) – on this site are two documents that can help you understand the rights of caregivers who are working and must juggle the demands of their jobs and caregiving duties. Both documents are written for employers to help them adopt policies that prevent discrimination. But they’re a good resource for working caregivers who want to know what employers can and cannot do, and what would constitute discrimination. The EEOC’s “Enforcement Guidance” for employers is at http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/caregiving.html  A second document, with case studies to help employers prevent discrimination, is at http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/caregiver-best-practices.html

ElderCare Online – is an online community for people caring for aging spouse, parent, relative or neighbor, featuring a forum, articles, resources and a weekly chat on caregiving topics. www.ec-online.net/

Family Caregiver Alliance – an association providing information, education, services and advocacy on caregiving; provides links to other resources, discussion groups, advice tools, a family care navigator for locating programs and services by state, and other resources. www.caregiver.org

Family Caregivers Online – is a Web site sponsored by the nation’s Area Agencies on Aging provides tools, resources and information on various caregiving topics.  www.familycaregiversonline.com

Family Caregiving 101 – features articles and information on caregiving, including a message board for posting questions and messages; the site is co-sponsored by the National Family Caregivers Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving. www.familycaregiving101.org

Institute for Safe Medication Practices – this is a Web site where you can check on the safety of medications that someone you’re caring for (or you) may be taking. Fill out the online form listing the medications and the Institute will send you a report with safety ratings for the medications, known interactions, possible side effects and reviews submitted by other patients. www.consumermedsafety.org

Me And My Caregivers – is designed to serve both you as a caregiver and the person or people you’re caring for; in addition to resources and tools, the site offers a store, a forum for connecting with other caregivers, a blog and classified ads. www.meandmycaregivers.com

Minding Our Elders – is both a Web site and a blog where caregivers as well as Boomers and seniors can share their experiences, tap into eldercare resources and get advice and news updates on caregiving topics and research. www.mindingourelders.com

National Caregivers Library – an online collection of articles, checklists, forms and links to information on caregiving and caregiving resources. www.caregiverslibrary.org

National Family Caregivers Association – information, educational materials and other resources on caregiving for the entire family. www.thefamilycaregiver.org

Network of Care – Web site with links to caregiving resources and to a range of health and social services programs and agencies for Riverside County, California and other counties in the state (plus other states). http://networkofcare.org/home.cfm

Nursing Home Compare – this Web site, sponsored by Medicare, offers quality, safety and staffing information on 17,000 Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing homes. It includes a 5-star rating system so you can compare nursing homes based on safety and quality information. The site also offers checklists, information on how to select a nursing home, and how to pay for nursing home care. http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare

Parentgiving – a new site for caregivers, Boomers and sandwich generation members on caregiving for aging parents, with information resources, news, blogs and forums.  www.parentgiving.com/

SeniorInfo – offers a database of 8,000 assistive living facilities in California; you can compare facilities by cost, style, feel and other amenities; you can also access senior living experts to help you find the right home for a loved one. www.seniorinfo.com

ThirdAge – a general online community for Boomers and aging  mid-lifers, the site has a special caregiving section (for some reason located under Relationships and Sex) with articles and resources, an ask the expert feature, discussion boards, groups and videos on caregiving topics; registration required for full participation. www.thirdage.com/caregiving

Today’s Caregiver – the Web site for the publication hosts forums, libraries and other resources for caregivers to ask questions, get advice, and find helpful information. www.caregiver.com

LINKS TO GROUPS, ASSOCIATIONS

AND ORGANIZATIONS PROMOTING INDEPENDENT LIVING

Age In Place At Home – a Web-site based resource for products, services and information that can help you live in your own home as you age; the site includes a directory of businesses specializing in aging in place products and services, and idea center, and information on universal design. www.aipathome.com

Aging in Place Initiative – a nonprofit initiative launched by Partners for Livable Communities and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) works to involve local communities and their residents in efforts to make their communities a place where people can age in place. www.aginginplaceinitiative.org

Ask the House Therapist – provides information on how to get started on making your home accessible; you can ask universal design specialists for tips and advice on making your home accessible and sustainable as you and your loved ones age. www.askthehousetherapist.com

BenefitsCheckUp – sponsored by the National Council on Aging, this online clearinghouse helps seniors with limited income and resources find government and private benefit programs that help pay for prescription drugs, health care, rent, utilities and other needs; you can also apply for the Extra Help program through Medicare’s Prescription Drug Program. www.benefitscheckup.org/

Braille Institute – local centers offer programs and courses for people with low or failing vision to help them better manage their daily lives; every center also has a store with consumer products designed to help make everyday tasks easier to perform. www.brailleinstitute.org 

California Foundation of Independent Living Centers – the organization of independent  living centers located across California. A searchable database helps you locate a local independent living center for your zip code. www.cfilc.org

The CareGiver Partnership – is a women-owned web-based service offering home health supplies and assistive living devices. The site features product specialists available to answer questions, and you can get samples of incontinence products to try before you buy them. There are also caregiving resource links and access to the site’s Physician Assistant and to a Mayo Clinic-trained nutritionist. www.caregiverpartnership.com  

Centers for Independent Living – this searchable directory provides links to almost 400 Centers for Independent Living located across the U.S. where you can find information and referrals for independent living services, independent living skills training, peer counseling and advocacy resources; the site is sponsored by the University of Montana. http://rtc.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/CIL/centersShowAll.asp

Eldercare Locator – a U.S. Administration on Aging-sponsored Web site that will help you find local agencies in every U.S. community that can help older persons and their families access home and community-based services, including like transportation, meals, home care, and caregiver support services.  www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Home.aspx

Gilbert Guide – is a comprehensive site with information on home care and independent living, including a database for locating home care resources and facilities. www.gilbertguide.com

Host & Care – a Web site that matches people who are looking for someone to provide 24-hour in-home assistance or companionship for an aging parent or loved one with people seeking a place to live. The site offers affordable background and reference checking tools and various social media resources for personal communications prior to making a commitment, which is intended to be a temporary, not permanent, arrangement. www.hostandcare.com

Job Accommodation Network – is a Dept. of Labor-sponsored organization that provide free services for employers, employees and others on worksite accommodations for people with disabilities; the site includes a searchable database of accommodation options in work and educational settings, and a publications and resource section with links to articles, information and other resources (with a Spanish translation page). www.jan.wvu.edu/index.htm

National Council on Independent Living – an advocacy organization that advances independent living and the rights of people with disabilities. www.ncil.org

National Rehabilitation Information Center - a federal resource with links to disability and rehabilitation-related resources for employment, financial assistance, advocacy, AT, education and more. www.naric.com

The Senior List – helps you match seniors with service providers, housing, caregiving and other senior-related business in your local community; you can find local service providers, view consumer ratings and business reports on local providers and businesses, rate providers and businesses and even add a provider or business that isn’t listed. www.theseniorlist.com   

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                           The TOOLS FOR INDEPENDENCE initiative is sponsored by the Independent Living Partnership