These sites are in no particular order. Since sites move into and out of existence and alter their addresses, I cannot guarantee that these will all work when you try them.
A Sociological Tour Through Cyberspace
http://www.trinity.edu/~mkearl/
Sociologist Mike Kearl of Trinity University has obviously invested considerable time in developing a web site with numerous interesting links and great visuals. Aside from general information about the discipline of sociology and links relevant to that discipline, he includes a section entitled "Exercising the Imagination: Subject-Based Inquiries." Two of these subject-based inquiries (Sociology of Death and Dying and Social Gerontology) are especially pertinent to this book. Visit the "Death Clock" and see your probable date of death, or learn how the aging of the population is going to have repercussions in every aspect of social life.
American Sociological Associationi --Section on Aging and the Life Course
http://www.soc.duke.edu/~aging/index.htm
Just as the psychologists have a specialized division focusing on aging and the life course, the American Sociological Association also has a membership section addressing issues related to aging. This home page gives you access to recent newsletters, membership information, data resources, and a description of sociology=s role in the study of aging and the life course. Included are links to other aging organizations and groups.
Older Americans 2000: Key Indicators of Well-Being
http://www.agingstats.gov/chartbook2000/default.htm
Federal Interagency Forum on Aging -Related Statistics has summarized data from a range of sources in the government and made it available on a unified site. Data on economics, health, demography and other useful topics can be found here.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
http://www.hcfa.gov/
The Centers, formerly the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), are from the federal agency that governs the Medicare and Medicaid health care programs. Their site provides a description of the agency, information for consumers and professionals on Medicare and Medicaid, and managed care plans related to both programs. Data on national health care expenditures, individuals covered by Medicare and Medicaid, and health care service utilization are also provided. Easy navigation to each option and other government links is also offered.
Community Health Status Indicators
http://www.communityhealth.hrsa.gov
This site, funded the federal government's Health Reousrces and Services Administration, provides data on demographic, health, and economic characteristics of every county in the U.S., and some comparative information with "peer" counties.
Fedstats Site
The Fedstats web site is intended to provide users with easy access to government statistics on a wide range of topics. The site organizes and provides access to information that is collected and made available on-line or through publications from numerous federal agencies. It is a "one stop shopping" site and allows you to search by topic for information that may be relevant to you across a range of governmental agencies.
AgeLine
http://research.aarp.org/ageline/home.html
AgeLine is a resource that has been around for a while and is very useful to researchers (including those having paper assignments). It is a searchable database of thousands of articles from journals and magazines on topics related to aging. AgeLine, supported by AARP, has a thesaurus of aging terms that can be used as keywords in a search on a particular topic. Helpful on line "how to" descriptions make this an easy way to identify and review the abstracts of materials you might find useful to your own research or project. It even includes a "How to" chapter on researching a term paper!
HRS/AHEAD Studies
http://www.umich.edu/~hrswww/
This site provides information on two of the largest research projects to collect information about the economic, social, and health status of older adults. The two studies, the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Asset and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old Study (AHEAD) are still collecting data. Information on design of these studies, their goals, funding, and initial publications are provided on this very active site. Anyone interested in seeing the "nuts and bolts" of large-scale data collection would do well to visit this site. Both are large, national, longitudinal studies funded by the National Institute on Aging, with a variety of rich data that will be useful to researchers and policy makers.
National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging (NACDA)
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/NACDA/
The National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging, located at the University of Michigan's Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), has been a substantial resource for researchers interested in secondary analysis of existing databases. NACDA archives and maintains a large number of datasets that can be retrieved by members of ICPSR for research purposes. The site lists research studies by topic, providing an abstract for each, and gives information on downloading information or datasets, if you are eligible. NACDA enables researchers to benefit from the data collection efforts of many of their colleagues to answer questions relevant to the field. Although not the "friendliest" site listed, a perusal of the NACDA holdings section will give you a flavor of what this organization is all about and perhaps some ideas for your own research.
Age Data
http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/age.html
This is a linked web site maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau. It provides access to national, state, or local sources of information on demography from the Census Bureau. International data are also available. There is a search process available for a $40 fee for any census from 1900 to 1990 to request specific sets of information. In general, the census provides both statistics on current populations and projections for population change/growth through these sites and their printed publications.
National Institute on Aging
http://www.nih.gov/nia
The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the federally-funded National Institutes of Health, is involved with both basic and applied research on physical, social and psychological aspects of health as people age. Their web site provides information on their research agenda including extramural research (funding to outside groups, such as university-based researchers) on biology of aging, behavioral and social research, neurosciences and neuropsychology, and geriatrics. In addition, NIA funds its own research labs (internal programs) and provides a number of free publications that are available via E-mail requests. To find out what is "hot" in aging research, one good place to look is the NIA web site.
International Data Base (IDB)--from U.S. Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbnew.html
Ever want to know what population pyramids will look like for Albania, Guatemala, or Sierra Leone in 2025? Visiting the IDB site provided by the U.S. Census Bureau will enable you to look at projections for population and detailed characteristics of various countries or regions of the world. Choose from a large number of countries and look at the aging rates of the populations (via population pyramids) or at statistics in tables. It is also possible to download IDB data, but review the requirements in advance and be prepared for a large data set!
Booklets for Health Professionals and the Public
http://www.nih.gov/nia/health/general/general.htm
At this site you can learn about booklets available from NIA on health issues facing older people. Currently available are booklets on Alzheimer's disease, menopause, and the effect of aging on the heart and arteries. Some additional booklets available are "In search of the Secrets of Aging," which reviews current information on the physiology of aging, theories about physical aging and longevity; and "Talking with Your Doctor: A Guide for Older People," which provides information about selecting a physician, discussing sensitive topics, and communicating effectively with your
physician. If you find a booklet you would like to have, go to the NIA home page, Health Information section, for ordering information.
Geropsychology Central
http://www.premier.net/~gero/geropsyc.html
This site, organized by Michelle Planche from the Psychology Department at Louisiana State University, is a clearinghouse for information related to the psychology of aging. It focuses on links to sites useful to geropsychology professionals (such as professional organizations and upcoming conferences) and on providing information and services to older adults. The "Senior's Corner" section provides a listing of a variety of services. Other than the rather eerie pictures of cross-sections of brains from dementia patients, this is a very useful site for locating more specific information on psychological issues.
American Psychological Assn. Division 20: Adult Development and Aging http://aging.ufl.edu/apadiv20/apadiv20.htm
The American Psychological Association's Division 20 includes researchers, teachers, and practitioners focusing on adult development and aging. This site is run by that association and includes information relevant to students (information on student organizations and graduate study), teachers (syllabi, film, and text information), as well as a clinician's guide for information on psychopathology and mental health and on-line publications (a newsletter and "vital aging," having to do with psychology's concept of successful aging). It also carries links to many other useful sites.
Alzheimer's Association
http://www.alz.org/
The Alzheimer's Association is the national organization that provides information and resources to families of Alzheimer's disease and advocates on behalf of research and support for victims of this illness. Their site describes caregiver resources, the latest in research and medical treatments, and issues of public policy, among other contents. Links to other sites are included. As an activist organization on an issue related to the mental health of older adults, this site provides a different view of mental health and aging issues.
Retirement Research Foundation
http://fdncenter.org/grantmaker/rrf/new.html
The Retirement Research Foundation is dedicated to supporting programs and projects that better the lives of older Americans. This site outlines areas of funding interests, including improving the quality of long-term care services, and educating/training professionals who serve older adults. This site also provides Foundation related press releases (awards and grant information) as well as fact sheets surrounding older adults.
United States Department of Labor
http://www.dol.gov/
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), created by Congress in 1913, is responsible for securing the adequacy of workplaces in America. This comprehensive web site offers information about DOL and its programs, and an opportunity to explore department agencies. The "labor related data" option links the user to access the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site described below. Media releases, the history of minimum wage and the budget for fiscal year 1998 are also topics to explore. A DOL search function is also available.
U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
http://stats.bls.gov/
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a national agency within the United States Department of Labor. The BLS gathers, assesses, and disseminates data in the field of labor economics. The agency's web site offers overviews of surveys on employment trends, productivity data, and projections surrounding the labor force, industries, and occupations. The 1997 economy is presented in terms of labor force statistics, productivity, and price indexes; the option to view the data graphically is also available. Opportunities to explore other federal statistical agencies is available as well as publications and research papers, and listings of 1998 and recent archived news releases.
United States Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov/
The United States Census Bureau collects and disseminates data about demographics, the population, and economy of the United States. This site offers information about the Bureau, including its organizational structure and employment opportunities. The current U.S. population and world population data are also available as well as current economic indicators and information on businesses and income, and labor force statistics. To assist the user, a manual and subject search option is provided. A "just for fun" function is also offered, and is more of an interactive approach as the user learns about geography and statistics.
Social Security Administration Home page
http://www.ssa.gov
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides a great deal of information on various topics including Social Security (SS) benefit information and forms, how to apply for services, direct online services, SS budget and planning, and SS laws and regulations. Quick access to the Office of Research, Evaluation and Statistics (ORES), which offers continuing data and research examinations of the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs, is offered. In addition, current SS information, the most requested top ten SS services, and frequently asked questions are presented. Lastly, separate educational pages for children ages 6-12, teens, teachers, and parents are offered.
Maxwell School: Center for Policy Research, Syracuse University
NIA-Sponsored Research Projects
http://www-cpr.maxwell.syr.edu/
The Center for Policy Research (CPR) is part of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. CPR conducts research and related projects in areas including aging and income security policy. This web site offers information about Syracuse University, the Maxwell School, and CPR. It provides links for the user to quickly access the Center for Demography and Economics of Aging and the CPR Aging Studies Program. The user can also explore National Institute on Aging-sponsored research studies as well as other economic and income related projects.
Administration on Aging/Older Americans Act http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/pages/aoafact.html
One of the major pieces of legislation establishing the "aging network" was the Older Americans Act (OAA). This site, provided by the Administration on Aging, the governmental agency charged with fulfilling the mandate of the OAA, describes the legislation and how it has been implemented. The OAA provides a wide range of services based on a combination of age and need at the federal, state, and local levels.
Senior Law
http://www.seniorlaw.com/index.htm
This site, which is maintained by attorneys Goldfarb & Abrandt specializing in Senior Law, provides information on legal/legislative updates in Medicare and Medicaid, a reference to articles on elder law topics, and other senior law information. If you are seriously interested in the law, you may wish to check out their "way cool sites," which includes topics reaching well beyond senior law.
American Association for Retired Persons-Where We Stand http://www.aarp.org/where.html
As the largest membership group in the country, the American Association for Retired Persons is active in developing positions, advocating on behalf of causes related to older adults, and encouraging/educating older adults to be vocal on their own behalf. This site contains issue papers describing AARP's stand on a variety of topics from advance directives and elder abuse to older drivers and federal entitlement programs. There is also information about hot policy topics, including managed care and Social Security, and informational "how to" segments for those interested in lobbying or expressing their views to policy makers.
National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSC)
The National Council of Senior Citizens is an activist organization for older adults, working on a range of issues from housing and the Older Americans Act to improvements in health care coverage. Their issues and some analysis of current developments relating to them in Washington (and elsewhere) can be found on this easily-navigated site.
National Aging Information Center (NAIC)
http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/naic/
The National Aging Information Center (NAIC), operated by the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA), is a central source for a wide variety of program- and policy-related materials and demographic and other statistical data on the health, economic, and social status of older Americans. Established under the Older Americans Act (OAA),
NAIC opened its doors to the public in September 1995. It is a useful gateway to other sites and statistical information through its alphabetical site index.
Association for Gerontology in Higher Education Student Page
http://www.aghe.org/studepg.htm
The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education has a page of resources for students. It includes information on a database (with tailored searches available for a $10 fee for students) to identify specific types of educational programs in gerontology/geriatrics nationwide, information on scholarships and fellowships for advanced study in aging/gerontology, and information on careers in aging for the potential professional.
Elderhostel
http://www.elderhostel.org/
Elderhostel has been a source of social activity, travel, and education for older adults for many years. A visit to their web site demonstrates the richness and diversity of education/travel programs they offer and provides a notion of what some adults do in their retirement years. Although courses do carry costs and primarily cater to a middle-class clientele, some scholarships are available. Check out activities located at a wide range of locations throughout the U.S. and Canada ("Programs in the U.S. and Canada") and view some of the courses available in your state or elsewhere through the online catalogs.
Senior Net
Senior Net is a non-profit organization of 30,000 or more computer-using adults ages 50 or above. The goal of the site is to enhance the lives of those in this stage of life and to share knowledge that is useful to the group. This lively site has a lot of information and linkages to other useful sites related to active, engaged maturity.
Senior Women Web
Started by a mature journalist, Senior Women Web is a site focusing on issues of concern specifically to women. It includes news stores, sections on art, politics, fitness, and media and provides linkages to other woman-oriented web sites.
Baby Boomers Envision Their Retirement
http://research.aarp.org/econ/boomer_seg_toc.html
This page, provided by AARP, outlines results of a study done of the baby boom cohorts as they look toward later life. The results demonstrate considerable diversity among baby boomers and differences between these cohorts' expectations and the current older population. The methodology of their study and the findings are outlined on this site.